After spending a year watching City meetings, talking to council members, and listening to City staff, I’ve come to the unavoidable conclusion that the vast majority of our City officials don’t like the way our neighborhoods look; don’t like the way they function; and, most unfortunately, don’t particularly care about the opinions of the people living in them.
Kurt Dresner, now running for Council seat #7, is emblematic of this attitude. In his own words (emphasis original):
“There is a group of folks here in Kirkland desperately using every tactic they can think of to hold on to the exclusivity of their neighborhoods. They WANT their neighborhoods to be segregated. That's the point… Now there are some folks for sure under the spell of this group who perhaps don't realize or understand what they are actually advocating for. There are others that are captive to a fear of change and who believe if they argue hard enough that they can stop Kirkland from changing at all. Maybe some of these folks are kind and well-intentioned, and deep down think they are doing the right thing. Maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding! To be frank, I couldn't care less.”
Kurt Dresner, in a December 10, 2024 letter to City Council
The citizens of Kirkland don’t deserve to be dismissed like this. My family and all of our neighbors moved to Kirkland specifically for the neighborhoods. We wanted a safe, quiet place to raise our children. Our current government wants to see our neighborhoods take on Seattle’s form—and Seattle’s problems. If we don’t elect local leaders who will push for managed growth, this is the trajectory Kirkland is on.
Change and growth are happening in Kirkland.
The Sanity Slate believes the City can grow in partnership with existing residents (not in spite of them). They will be fantastic stewards of our City.
Want some other resources? Check these out:
cherishkirkland.com - a non-partisan, centrist, grassroots coalition representing all 13 neighborhoods in Kirkland.
kirklandvotersguide.com - A guide compiled by another Kirkland resident frustrated with what she’s seen at City Hall.
