Library's building based on citizens' foundation

Ken Stern | Feb 13, 20190

The trip, but not this editorial, was stalled by weather. Your role and participation are more important now.

Since democracy never sleeps, get ready for your assignment. Thursday Mayor Ramon Hayes leads a delegation to the state legislature, taking part in City Action Days. Hayes 2019 commitment is gaining additional state funding for the La Conner regional library, perhaps matching the $500,000 secured by area legislators last year

He brings a team for the meetings with our three District 10 legislators and our “neighbor,” newly elected District 40 Position 1 Representative Debra Lekanoff. It includes our county commissioner, Ron Weston. They are eager to discuss the role of the state legislature in providing a grant that will boost the library toward the $3.2 million needed to construct the new building.

They meet, in that time honored tradition of citizens petitioning their legislators. They do so on behalf of La Conner’s children, its elders, its teens, its job seekers and those seeking a good book or a place to meet, to nap or just get out of the cold and wet.

They go representing this community: They are exercising our First Amendment right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Those of us in the La Conner regional library district – which has the same geography as the school district – don’t have a grievance so much as small pockets. In the absence of a countywide library system to equitably share the bounty of the county with our small population, little La Conner must look to the largess of the state.

The citizens of the library district must do their part. The La Conner delegation’s visits will be short, maybe 30 minutes. Your calls, emails, and paper letters will remind our legislators of those visits and do more to make a lasting impression.

Don’t delay. You read this editorial. Here are the phone numbers and contact information. Call today. Call now.

Senator Barbara Bailey: (360) 786-7618, [email protected]

Representative Dave Paul: (360) 786-7914, [email protected].

Representative Norma Smith: (360) 786-7884, [email protected].

Representative Debra Lekanoff: (360) 786-7800, [email protected].

The state representatives have the same mailing addresses: P.O. Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600.

Senator Bailey’s mailing address: P.O. Box 40410, Olympia, WA 98504

Our “winter week for the history books” has caused the Association of Washington Cities to cancel the City Action Days. Your need to contact your legislators is now greater. Since the La Conner delegation could not carry the message that more state funding is needed, your delivering that message by a phone call, emal, or a mailed letter is even more critical.