Smokey Point equals the new destination for the Husky Challenge.
Our legislature meets this month for the final play in choosing an additional University of Washington Campus site. I hope and pray our legislature chooses with the present and future needs of our new campus in mind.
Marysville offers 400+ undeveloped, pristine acres for growing numbers of educational buildings, dormitories and intramural sport facilities with access to the centennial trail. There is enough land for all of this along with free and unlimited parking.
Everett offers 25 acres of contaminated land and buildings which first must be removed, costing tax payers in the millions before building can even begin. Everett offers no room for growth, barely enough land for the school, no room for recreational facilities and extremely limited parking with potential fees.
Marysville offers a desirable location for Island, Skagit and north Snohomish County students. Everett offers a bottleneck for southbound I-5 students. Everett is only convenient for students in south county, thus drawing away from the Bothell campus. The reason for building a new campus is for these three north counties, not the south Snohomish County.
Marysville offers a low crime rate while Everett ranks in the top 20 for the nation in crime, making safety questionable.
I ask the legislatures of the state of Washington, which of these two sites will successfully take us forward 50 to 100 years and more?
Jane Roberts
Marysville