Reader view As small business owners in Edmonds, were voting yes on Prop 1

Local business owners Liz Morgan and Beth Sanger are campaigning for Proposition 1, emphasizing its critical role in sustaining Edmonds. The proposed cuts include $3. 6 million from public safety, which would lower police staffing to just 0. 84 officers per 1,000 residents, significantly below state and national averages. Parks and recreation could see a $1.

8 million reduction, risking the closure of vital community spaces such as Yost Pool and the Frances Anderson Center. A further $693,000 cut from the Planning Department would slow down business development, impacting the local economy. The authors note that city staffing levels would drop below 220 full-time employees, the lowest since 2001, leading to potential delays in permits for community events. They argue that these cuts would diminish the quality of life in Edmonds and hurt local businesses that rely on community engagement. The authors assert that Prop 1 represents a necessary investment in the future of their city.

They urge the community to vote in favor of the proposition for the benefit of all residents and businesses.