A recent letter expressed unhappiness that city officials were proposing to raise taxes to pay off the loan that completed the purchase of Chuckanut Ridge. The fact is that the effort to form a park district on the Southside and tax ourselves to permanently keep this important forest in open space/parks zoning is entirely citizen driven. No city officials proposed this taxing district.

Just like the three successful Greenways levies that citizens organized and voted for in order to preserve green spaces in our city, the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District is citizens taxing themselves. The park district will insure that Chuckanut Ridge in its entirety will be preserved for all residents of Bellingham, while only Southsiders within the boundaries of the district will be paying increased property taxes.

This park district will be citizens truly putting their money where their mouths are and paying to preserve this critical habitat that they know so well because it is located near their homes. Preserving their backyard will benefit the entire city. It doesn't get more democratic and grassroots than this.

To sign the park district petition or get more information go to Chuckanutcommunityforest.com.

Michael Chiavario

Bellingham