I was involved in Greenways I and II and am very happy with the City Council and mayor for buying the Chuckanut Woods. However, I believe to make 13 Bellingham precincts out of 67 Bellingham precincts pay for the short-fall is unfair. How did they decide that only these 13 should pay for this new park district? Many folks across Bellingham pushed to conserve this land. Why are they not being asked to pay? It will be a separate park system that is not included in our city park system. And it is not clear how the ongoing maintenance will be paid; if these 13 precincts will be responsible for that as well. The new tax can go up to 75 cents per thousand, from the 28 cents which proponents are advising it will be. That could put a burden on a lot of lower- and middle-income families that are in these five neighborhoods. Many folks across Bellingham pushed to conserve this land. Why are they not being asked to pay?

Vote no on the creation of the Chuckanut Community Forest Metropolitan Park District.

Maggie Hanson

Bellingham