Oregon's successful Measure 37 property rights salvo is boosting support just across the Columbia River in Washington state's Clark County for a similar statewide rural property owners revolt, as The Oregonian reports (quick, 3-step reg. req.). And - closer to Seattle - in eastern King County.
Now, in addition, Washington State Rep. Toby Nixon (R-45) is seeking a committee hearing in the Democrat-controlled House on HB 1500.
It has to do with how a new county can be established, and that's no academic question. King County, even apart from it's egregious bungling of votes in the 2004 gubernatorial election, continues to alienate rural residents with heavy-handed regulation, imperious decision-making and declining services. A small taste here, from the second-linked (Seattle Times) story above:
Myra Lemson, who lives and grows roses on an acre-plus east of Redmond, says her complaints go back years: She had to pay for a private road to get access to her home; she says she pays the same taxes, yet gets a lower quality of public services (such as slower police-response times) than those in more urban areas. Under the new rules, she could have to pay for a permit to remove the blackberries that plague her property and house rats."I am a Democrat, and this has been a struggle for me," Lemson said. "The only members of the council who have even responded to my concerns are Republicans."
A 1998 Washington state Supreme Court ruling indicated half of registered voters in a proposed new county must sign petitions to force further consideration of the issue. Among other things, HB 1500 lowers the threshold to 25 percent.
A root concern in eastern King County, discussed here at Sound Politics before, is the county's dictatorial Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). It restricts use of up to 65 percent of their land for property owners in unincorporated parts of the county. Even if they bought before the new rules were imposed - with nest eggs in mind, having hoped to subdivide their parcel and sell some for home construction - there is no compensation for the government-effected hit to their investments.
As a Seattle resident who looks favorably on high-density development in the city and expanded public transit in the city and suburbs (go ahead readers, flog me, I'm used to it by now), I nonetheless cannot stomach the arrogance of King County in imposing the CAO on rural property owners with no compensatory framework. Similar regulations are what fueled Measure 37 in Oregon, and that train is riding right into Washington within the next few election cycles.
And while it's all too easy for my fellow Seattleites, most of them sneering, dismissive liberal clones, to belittle and mock the re-nascent eastern King County secession movement, I believe that, ah, excuse me for framing it this way, "choice" is the operative word here.
Unreasonable obstacles to a public vote on secession should be removed. That will likely not occur with Democrats in control of the legislature, but it is never to soon to begin agitating. Toby Nixon is on the right track.
Geographically, King County is absurdly huge: the boundaries to the east go far beyond any reasonable distance. It makes no sense whatever for folk who live in the largely rural and far-flung unincorporated parts of King County to NOT be able to decide for themselves whether to have their own county government.
Yet, once again, the political establishment's response is to subvert the will of the people to decide their own affairs. Make that, the Democrats' response.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at January 27, 2005 07:02 PM | Email ThisThere is no better time to begin a new county then now!
FREEDOM!!!
Posted by: Joe on January 27, 2005 07:53 PMPierce County has their own version of the CAO! And this trend of imposing liberal government and radical enviro's will on the people is spreading like a cancer in this State!
I don't own land in any measurable amount (over 2 acres)...but I would love to one day! To think that the county can dictate to me - how I use my land is absurd!
This is not a King or Pierce County issue! This is an American issue! This is a constitutional issue.
Everyone has a stake in this! Simply amputating yourself from King County is not going to stop this. The entire idea of grabbing land rights from the people is wrong!
Posted by: Deborah on January 27, 2005 07:59 PMNah. Not unless you call yourself a hero.
The problem with ignoring planning concerns in favor of one's own exclusive interests is the old "Tragegy of the Commons."
Bassically it means that a bad general outcome can come about for all if everyone acts exclusively in their self interest. Its somewhat of a Liberatrian approach to urban and rural planning.
If anyone wants to see what happens to an area without planning, look no futher that south Pierce County, a sprawling ugly set of Burger Kings, Blockbuster videos, and strip malls. Its like watching the old cartoons where the background keeps repeating itself.
Posted by: Erik on January 27, 2005 08:03 PMFor MANY reasons, King County is too big.
Posted by: Nancy on January 27, 2005 08:36 PMI won't rehash all my arguments here - I already sent them to the county... who promptly ignored them. The core argument is that a council elected by a majority who are unaffected by these rules are "solving" environmental problems by grossly inefficient means. Intelligent (say, market-driven) spending of a tiny fraction of the wealth they're destroying could address all of the core concerns. But of course, then the whole "environmentally-minded" KC populace would have to share this much-reduced bill. Much easier to just take a bunch more out of the pockets of voters who can't kick you out of office. Downright creepy stuff, especially the attitude of Mr. Sims and his henchmen.
I've been hoping that Rossi will at least allow Cedar County to secede from King if they want to, although I know little about his opinions or powers in this department. Anyone have any info to share?
Put one of your typical Seattle holier-than-thou types out in the wilderness, stepping further away than a 100 yards from their SUV, and off a forrest service managed trail, and they would and do panic.
Since the powers-that-be do not respect or appreciate diversity, the people in rural King County definitely should have their own damn county. I suspect that what really worries the rightous Democrats is that if a new county were formed, it would quickly grow to include several cities, probably pushing all the way up to Lake Washington. And, as we all know, that side of the lake is where the money is.
In the county I grew up in, which is very scenic and anti-growth, they compromised on this issue. People are allowed to either (1) pay property taxes at normal rates and do whatever the hell they want, or (2) pay "farm" rates, which are much lower, and which everyone knows means that the land will go undeveloped indefinitely. The catch is that if you change from the "farm" classification to "normal," you have to pay all the back taxes.
That, I guess, is too reasonable of a proposal for the royalty running King County.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on January 27, 2005 08:48 PMBut what chance do they have of a political settlement of the dispute? They're greatly outnumbered.
The city folk want to know that there are nature preserves out there in the hinterlands somewhere, but don't want to purchase the land for those preserves.
Unless the folks who want someone else's land to be used as a nature preserve are required to compensate the owners for this use of the owners' land, there is nothing to stop the abuse of the government's police power.
The minority would always be at the mercy of the majority, if this were a pure democracy -- but it's supposed to be a constitutional republic.
Posted by: Micajah on January 27, 2005 08:49 PMPerhaps if beansprouts and soy milk were regulated in some peculiar way ... all soy milk will be taxed at 200% and the only flavor available will be apricot.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on January 27, 2005 08:59 PMMaybe three or four times a week, I scan through Neal Boortz's online column, Nealz Nuze, mostly as a read-through link to other places and other views. Sometimes, though, one of Neal's own pieces hooks my interest. The exploits of Eric Johnson, a Pack pol and pork-barreler from Savannah, President Pro-Tem of the Georgia Senate, definitely pulled me in. I'll let Neal explain a bit:
"...Eric Johnson wants any government entity in Georgia to be able to seize private property, your home, your office, your raw land, and turn it over to a private developer. Your property would then become an office building, a parking garage, a transportation facility, a baseball stadium, a telecommunications facility or any number of other wonderful things. It would then be operated by the developer for profit, and at some time in the future would be turned over to the government that condemned it.
Now, here's something rather interesting.The idea for this seizure of private property doesn't have to originate with the governmental entity! Under this law a private developer can just cruise around town until he finds a piece of property that he thinks would make a neat public facility. He then goes to his favorite politician and says something like "Look, Sam. I found this piece of property on the east side of town that I think would make a great government office building. The owner wants too much money. If you'll just seize this property and put it in my hands, I'll build that office building. I'll lease it out for about ten years, then I'll turn it over to you. Whaddaya think?..." (emphasis added...
Gee, Myra,it sounds like you should consider changing parties.
Posted by: Brent W on January 27, 2005 10:44 PMSeccession? Revolution is more like it!
Posted by: CR ACTIVIST on January 27, 2005 11:40 PMBassically it means that a bad general outcome can come about for all if everyone acts exclusively in their self interest. Its somewhat of a Liberatrian approach to urban and rural planning.
Tragedy
If anyone wants to see what happens to an area without planning, look no futher that south Pierce County, a sprawling ugly set of Burger Kings, Blockbuster videos, and strip malls. Its like watching the old cartoons where the background keeps repeating itself.
Posted by Erik at January 27, 2005 08:03 PM
We hicks sure are lucky to have someone like you to tell us how to live. (/sarc)
Liberals! Is there anything they don't know?
BTW...your comment is stupid beyond description...why don't you pull your head out of your @ss, and someone can explain why for you.
Posted by: South County on January 27, 2005 11:50 PMI have absolutely no objection to high-density urban development, or mass transit either, per se--but please tell me why I should be forced to subsidize it. Or, as an alternative, point out that mass transit system that doesn't operate at at highly-subsidized loss.
And yet, strangely enough, there are millions of people who would rather live there than in some dense-pack urban Habitrail. Obviously, those people are wrong, and must be denied their choice of lifestyle by the Learned Council of Urban Liberals.
Posted by: Matt J Kurlander on January 28, 2005 03:07 AMhttp://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html
For King County's Richard Sims has declared himself King.
Posted by: Anna on January 28, 2005 07:17 AMBut when in the course of human events....
Posted by: Anna on January 28, 2005 07:57 AMIf anyone is organizing a protest, I'll show up for it.
These people make me sick. They are such spoiled brats.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on January 28, 2005 08:16 AMWell...that wasn't very temperate, was it?
Posted by: South County on January 28, 2005 09:55 AMSeattle City life being to drastically different from rural/semi-rural life, I fail to see how anyone in Seattle should have any say in how the eastern county population live. Most of them don't even travel that far out to the scary boonies, where mountain lions or hicks might attack them.
There has to be a legal process in which Cedar County can come to be. My family lives in Snohomish County and we want move closer to our jobs in Redmond, but not if it means living in King County. Not if I can't buy some acres and design a dirtbike track out back because the snobs living in Seattle see dirtbikes as evil, filthy transports of satan.
And not while the stupidly high taxes eastern county residents are paying are funding downtown Seattle projects that benefit downtown Seattle people.
It's just wrong that King County feeds so much rubbish to everyone else in the State. 'Majority rules' should take into account geographical locations on top of just volume of people.
Go Cedar County, you can do it!
We send over 65% of our tax dollars east of the cascades..to fund THEIR rural lifestyle, while having to put up with sub-standard funding for our schools, urban transit, and cultural institutions.
Screw Eastern washington. Let them secede..please!
In fact, redraw the state lines.
Turn greater Seattle and Portland and form a new state...Cascadia. Let Eastern Washington and Oregon merge with Idaho, and turn into another Mississippi. They can go strip mine all they want, lower taxes all they want, kill public services and send their kids to church for schooling. When these kids graduate, they can work on the farm, or at the local walmart or McDonalds. Enjoy!
I'll stay here in King County..and enjoy the benefits of civilization.
Posted by: M on January 30, 2005 09:09 PMWhen YOU clearcut your land, you take away trees that contribute to cleaner air and water, and wildlife for the rest of us. When YOU sell your land to a developer to pave over, it affects overall rainwater drainage for the region. When YOU burn brush on your property, it affects MY air quality. When YOU subdivide your land, and a "developer" builds 40 suburban tract houses on it, it affects MY traffic, MY air polution and MY property values. The water supply for Greater Seattle comes from rural king county. No way in hell do I want you polluting it with your irresponsible land stewardship. Get it?
I too own land in King County. I can't build a deck on my house, because my neighbors backyard could flood. I can't cut down my trees, because that would decrease air quality in the city, and affect my neighbors shade. I can't put a second story on my house, because this could affect my neighbors view, and lower his property values. When you live in a metro region, everything you do affects others. If you don't like it...leave.
As population density increases, individuals impact on others increases. Therefore regulations, and even social services must increase. This is why urban areas tend to be overwhelmingly liberal..we've learned to live with others side by side. This is why rural areas are populated mostly by right-wingers, who tend to be selfish individualists. King County is NOT "god's country"..you can move east of the cascades for that.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one".
Posted by: M on January 31, 2005 06:57 PMOf course, in NJ, your massive property taxes buy you one of the best public school systems in the country. Yes, services cost money.
Seems to apply for taxes in general. The "Evergreen Freedom foundation wackos claim this is the "5th highest taxed state" in the country. Bullcrap.
In NC, we had 6% sales tax, 7% income tax, and higher property tax rates. And this is a red state. Washington states is a tax haven by comparison.
On taxes, its obvious YOU need to take some economics classes. What "effective tax rate" do you refer to? Are you talking about the paltry 1% B&O tax? big deal.
No. I think what you refer to is that the anti-tax wackos always take into account FEDERAL taxes. Of course we have a high average federal tax expenditure. King County has some of the wealthiest people in the nation here..think that skews things a bit. These people buy a lot of stuff, which raises revenues from sales tax. Finally, sales tax, until last year, was not deductable from federal taxes, so that skewed the numbers. Dig deeper, and you'll find we pay FAR less in taxes than most "normal" states.
This does be the end of the world as we know it when they do say this ruling at supreme court that the stakes have been raised by 6 times now
that only the money pulling in and educated and business savy can hold land - even farming may not be enough to show one pulls in revenue
so fight business with business pull together and start a business for nature - more inns I say
and get direct TV show 'fine living' helpful
in saving money actually
everybody become a realtor or real estate proffesional
welcome to supreme territorialness
the prehistoric age has only just begun
so read those law books and real estate books
everybody must read read read the law law law
bring in renue revenue revenue
even though no such thing as needing tax for IRS
thius does be mind game since no such thing as money
drink plenty of water
and order some real estate books from amazon.com ya'll
and info from internet print out
start a law library
being a lawyer can be and realtor (and educated in developement or developer can be the easiest job in the world)
read those county minutes !
problem be not reading minutes in town
I know I wish we could have more fun
but this be one manner how the future doesn't as soon end up a concentration camp
new manner of lifestyles: easier than ever travelers to stay at hotels hotels generate revenue
want keep farms turn into a hotel or bed and breakfast get some others into attachment to this place and make it appealing to bring in money for the town and establish that before they get to your should bulldozed and somebody come in and do it
by planning can do something
turning into nature preserve might not be the answer since they sometimes will end up selling land to the government
so do cabins and all sorts of beutiful planned recreational places for
if want plan I am a private designer
show a pic of place and I'll draw a pic of an ideal bed and breakfast (natural plants and animals that should be there for geography and make list of plants that attract any animal preferred) or something to help start business for quite small fee of $20.00 for any size drawing
we live in world that supposed to be knowing all we do affects others
reason for floods - cutting trees - they are stars - they soak up all the rain water and send balanced fogs into the air then they bring balanced rains
best thing one can do scoop out leaves and break trees growing in stream also earths veins and need to free
more important than anything to fix the water not pollute the water since water be more sensitive than
second transplant trees
and help squirrels since they planted all the ancient forest by accident of leaving bulbs not
found by them esp. all big oak trees
not birds they didnt do that but birds hep flowers to grow
giving them a seperate feeder for themselves over there where see them most
each squirrel prolly plants dozens of trees
in lifetime
eating something else if at rural place
can get tularemia from eating them
getting mad at them for coming into the attic (don't spread disease or eat dead things)
and meditate on third eye - everyone of power has to that
we were all meant to be nature spirits if we are meant to stay on the planet terrestria (earth)
those who don't wanto be nature spirits are the ones that must build a spaceship to leave and have the experiment of living on that since the experiment of living on earth be meant to be
some libran
business and malls are part of that freedom not part of anything
suns gonna heat up the photon belt soon
and also mother nature knows who who friends are
furthermore emotions are us and aren't human best emotionelss can be positive
humans mirror their existance
yes they will if they don't do for earth all they can