Reliable sources are reporting that the mayor and his allies are scheming a surprise attack on our credibility this summer to return to their plans to build the concrete bridge on the beach. Why? This unfortunately happens all too often when one is on the losing side of an argument and chooses to distract from the real issue by trying to make the issue about the opponent. It is a sign of desperation because they know they can’t win on the logic of the argument. Can you imagine the elected leader of our city calling in to question thousands of Edmonds constituents who signed the petition – many of whom voted for him and his allies in previous elections?
What would this scheme look like? Sources are reporting that the mayor is going to attempt to discredit and marginalize all 10,000 people who signed the petition based on his own speculative blind guess. He has no idea how many people who signed the petition are from Edmonds and while we have never claimed that EVERYONE signing it is from Edmonds, the vast majority are and from the greater Edmonds area including thousands of Edmonds voters. We have never revealed exactly how many petition signatures are from Edmonds, so it’s pure speculation on a blind guess. Let me say this logic out loud here: The mayor wants to request that the council change their vote based on a speculative blind guess and political calculus?!
Remember – an estimated 400 locals mobilized to show up to the rally last minute. That was just a sampling of people who are passionate about saving the beach and could actually show up last minute (I heard from many who wanted to be there but had to work the night shift, were in the hospital, or were home with their children – these people should not be marginalized because they couldn’t make it in person to the rally). WE ARE HERE TOGETHER as a community and we feel DISMISSED, PATRONIZED, AND IGNORED BY OUR LEADERS. On this issue you DON’T know better mayor – we do and it’s our town - you are currently in "lame duck" status.
Sources are also reporting that the mayor thinks that Save the Beach is a fad that will fade away through the summer. Major miscalculation! What he fails to understand is that that the paradigm has changed as we remain engaged and can flash mobilize in an instant from both near and far. For example, the weekend before the rally I was in California taking care of my ailing father – but I was still fully engaged online posting updates and doing interviews with media as if I were right here and 90% of what I have done online (website, posting, photos, petition, interviews, etc.) has been done on my 4 year old iPhone 6s. Whereas in previous generations people disconnected during summer, the world has changed because we now stay connected together no matter where we are at any given time – even on vacation in remote places, we are still “here” with the power to mobilize in the short amount of time it takes to send a tweet or a text. We will never go away because we are always online no matter where we are! Additionally, we have several local events that we are planning throughout the summer that will ensure this issue remains visible offline as well. This will continue to be the summer that the people of Edmonds rose up together to save our beach! It’s going to be epic and constant!
So everyone, what can you do? Here are 3 things:
- Continue to promote the petition in person and online – we are at a five-figure number now which gives us even more collective power to get the attention of state and federal leaders as well as the media. Change.Org petition link
- Redecorate the town with signs to Save Edmonds Beach! Make your own or you can soon buy one from our people in our network (we’ll update you with details soon).
- If our own local elected officials won’t listen to us then we need to go above their head and let the governor and representatives know that 10,000 people want them to help us save the beach Write to Governor Jay Inslee who is running for president on an environmental platform. If he wants to have credibility with that platform and votes from Edmonds and beyond, he needs to make his words and actions align by stopping the destruction of this beach and marine sanctuary that is part of the Salish Sea and Coast. You can use/modify the sample letter below – here is his campaign email address: press@jayinslee.com This will only take you 2 minutes!
Dear Governor Inslee,
6 Facts You Need To Know:
1. The Change.Org petition to Save Edmonds Beach now has over 10,000 signatures in less than a month! Edmonds residents and current council majority don’t want the hideous and environmentally destructive concrete bridge on the beach/marine preserve/Salish Sea and Coast.
2. There is a higher rated solution/bridge according to the city research report that saves $20 Million of taxpayer dollars, improves safety, and saves the beach.
3. To date, the State of Washington is the largest funder of this $30 million boondoggle and destruction of the environment.
4. You are running for president on an environmental platform
5. You are the leader of a state that is funding environmental destruction of the Salish Sea and Coast (key to the salmon and orcas ecosystem)
6. We will be working with national news media to expose these facts.
You have a very short window of opportunity to be the hero. The Edmonds City Council just voted 4-3 to stop funding the design of the project but the mayor could reverse it. We need you to pull state funding for this project (or better, reallocate it to the superior option to cross the tracks on the waterfront that is $20 million less and work with Senators Cantwell and Murray to do the same with federal funds).
We are watching. See our webpage (www.SaveEdmondsBeach.com) to learn how much news coverage we obtained just for the city council vote (KING TV, KOMO TV, KIRO TV, Q13, NPR, Everett Herald and locals). We will ramp up news media outreach to national media now that we have 10,000 signatures. We are formally requesting your assistance in saving the beach.
Thank you.
The People of Edmonds