The excitement was obvious when Amazon recently announced they would open a new location in Kent. This will mean hundreds of good-paying jobs coming to our area.
However, it isn’t enough. In a city of more than 120,000 people – several hundred jobs are not enough to lower unemployment significantly or help our friends get their homes back.
One of the biggest factors to employers locating here and employees being able to get to those employment opportunities is a successful transportation system. Our transportation system is two parts: roads and transit.
Kent has notoriously underfunded our public works department so it is no surprise that our roads are crumbling everywhere you look. We lack the roads, curbs, gutters and sidewalks needed to have successful infrastructure.
Employers aren’t able to add much traffic capacity to our already congested streets and employees aren’t able to safely get to work in some instances. Parents won’t allow kids to walk to and from school or events because of the lack of safe walkways.
These types of problems are some that prevent large employers like Amazon from locating in our area.
The other element of a successful transportation system is public transit. Kent has been a hub for transit users everywhere – they are able to catch a bus in downtown Kent and the possibilities are endless – you can head to Seattle, Tacoma or many destination cities for work or play.
Our seniors and lower-income population rely heavily on these services for basic transportation needs including commuting to doctor’s appointments and employment. Younger and working aged folks rely upon the system to help get them to and from work when driving and parking in larger metro areas is near impossible and overpriced. And last but not least, our younger population depends on the system to get to schools, parks and after school programs in the area. Kent is the largest city in the state without a Boys and Girls Club or YMCA.
The city of Kent has failed to fund public works and the state Legislature has recently failed to fund our state’s transportation system, so now we as citizens have the opportunity to act.
If you vote no on Proposition 1, the city of Kent will receive no transportation dollars and bus service will be cut throughout Kent. If you vote yes on Proposition 1, the city of Kent will receive $3.1 million to do the right thing and bus service will remain in Kent.
It is unfortunate that it has come to this, but it is now necessary to vote on this critical infrastructure. I urge you to consider seniors, low-income folks and employers looking at Kent. Please vote yes on Proposition 1.
– Bailey Stober
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