Whatcom County families need family wage jobs here. There in zero doubt about that. We can't keep trying to eke out a living on minimum wage when our cost of living outweighs our monthly income. The majority of jobs currently available do not pay enough to support our families and at the end of the day, that is really what matters. What I do know is that no job, whether 1 or 100, should be dismissed as unneeded. Families are hurting for food and shelter and every job brought into this area has the potential to change someone's life for the better. I grew up here; we have a great education system and it would be very beneficial for our graduates, whether from high school or college, to be able to live here and use their education where they earned it, at home. Let's keep our families together in Whatcom County where they want to be and give them jobs they can be proud to have. I am more than happy to sign my name on a line to help my community be able to say they can finally bring in a paycheck they can support their families on.

Joanne Flores

Ferndale