Disqus - Latest Comments for plewis

Re: ‘Dandy’ solution for struggling Auburn - Auburn Reporter

plewis — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:37:07 -0000

I saw this letter and decided to comment. One of the first acts when I came into office was to do something to clean up downtown. We started Clean Sweep as a one time effort. We had to bring out several three-man steam cleaners just to clean out the filth, the needles and corruption in downtown. The old bars with walls filled with drugs and hypodermic needles are long gone. the alleys filled with waste have disappeared. The heroic effort of the Cavannagh family might show some dandelions today but at least they tried. Two of the original six catlyst blocks are now done with over 200,000 sf in new construction completed. Auburn has been at the center of a renewal for the Puget Sound Region. The Plaza, the extended plaza will be done this spring, then the Promenade and with it those new blocks, less the dandelions, will rise and I will fight hard to make sure the Cavannaugh bock is one of them. Let's pick a flower of hope and pride instead of the weeds of days gone by.

Re: City reorganizes, eliminates 22 more positions - Auburn Reporter

plewis — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:15:40 -0000

I received several emails about some of the statements being made so I thought I'd respond to some. Contrary to some opinions 'politician' as it is used today doesn't apply to me or our councilmembers. We're just businesss people, retired, parents, grandparents. I really never have been known for being politically correct just direct. So, I said what I meant. People that know and support me know that as well.

We've had ro make some cuts like business all across the U.S. We've re-organized to provide the service that needs to be delivered. We've tried to streamline process and become more efficent. That's part of the deal. Want me to talk in a negative manner? Isn't going to happen. Never has, never will. For Planning and Public Works we are streamlining, we are becoming more efficent. Does it work in every place, every way? Of course not but all of us in your city are committed to trying to do our best.

Yes, we've done some layoffs. I don't go into union discussions. I will say your Council has voted time and time again to add officers, add equipment, add training. They are on the record for what they have done for the safety of this community and I am proud to be associated with them.

Yes we've paid for costs already in our budget. Some are dedicated funds that can only be used for very specific purpose. Some like finally getting a shuttle for our people have been in process for years and have finally come about. It is pretty easy to decide one cost against another but Council and I have been trying to reset the expense budget at a lower ongoing level because of lower ongoing income budget, not trimming one year costs and deciding which can be accomplished. We need responsible long term planning not political quick fixes.

As far as warehouses and distribution centers the statement is we no longer get the sames tax from them. It is absolutely correct that they can provide jobs and good jobs. But the overwhelming majority of warehouse and distribution spaces are huge users of space that employ very few people per square foot. A notable exception would be the Safeway Dristribution Center. Unfortuantely it is an exception and without an ongoing source of income to replace the sales tax income we no longer receive we cannot afford the replacement and preservation costs of the roads the big trucks use these facilities. It costs a great deal more to fix and preserve a freight corridor. We know ghey must be completely redone about every seven years and that is millions of taxpayer dollars per lane per mile.Preservation dollars are almost impossible to get a county, regional, state or federal level. That is the reality we face today.

We are hoping that the warehouse and distribution folks will work with the industrial cities to find ongoing funding for the preserrvation of our vital freight corridors while that option is still open to us.

Re: Candidates clash in mayoral debate at the Ave - Auburn Reporter

plewis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:56:03 -0000

There was a shortgage discovered by the city's Finance Department. There was an investigation by the Police Department. The results that came back were inconclusive so I immediately asked that the King County Prosecutor's office be brought in to run a separate investigation. That investigation ended without a conclusive finding that the prosecutor was willing to take to court. In the meantime I required the Finance Department and Police Department, directed by the Human Resources Department take actions to institute controls to make sure that type of situation could not take place again and those changes were checked and verified by a state audit.

This is the time in a campaign when some will try for that last minute 'revelation' of some inappropriate activity. Every incident has been checked and double checked by the media later on and not only have we instituted new controls but made the changes open to the public.
Pete Lewis
Mayor of Auburn

Re: City to receive $250,000 for downtown redevelopment - Auburn Reporter

plewis — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:14:47 -0000

Had a few people contact me about this so I will respond. The legislature passed a bill that allows Auburn to receive $250,000 a year for twenty-five years for a total of $3,000,000.
Now in addition to that we started about four years ago on a plan for a federal grant from the Federal Economic Development Agency and we have been approved for $3,000,000 for downtown infrastructure.
For twenty years the downtown businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and many citizens have been involved with the development of three sucessful plans that provided the base for how the six catylst blocks are developed. Two are nearing completion. Division Street between Main and Third South will be redeveloped into the Promenade. That will redo all of the water,sewer, storm, power, fiber, allow for a twenty foot sidewalk, benches, play features for our children (and those young at heart) and biking paths for all. The city's investment in infrastructue is development's requirement to come to a city. As the economy recovers we will be ready for that development. The most recent figures given to Council suggest that over a thirty year period the return to the city in fees, sales tax and property tax will be about one hundred and eighty seven million dollars. We must find a way to raise the income all of us in the city have lost over the last ten years without higher taxes from our citizens. These blocks and others owned by the private sector can the start of new income with investment that can come to other parts of our city so we have the business we want where we want it and out of our neighborhoods. Hope that answers your concern.
Pete

Re: Mayoral race update: Challenger Haugen speaks up

plewis — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:15:55 -0000

Well, it is just me and only me. No one else has written even a single line for me or in my name. I cannot imagine why some one would believe otherwise but you are certainly welcome to your opinion.As far as the style of writting, it's the only one I've got!

I will answer in all public forums to candidate questions. I think it the correct thing to do. It is up to the voters to decide who answers and who does not.

My website is mayorpete.org, My email is mayorpete@comcast.net. You can call and ask me any question at 931 3041 or to verify who has answered and will continue to do so.
Pete Lewis
Mayor of Auburn

Re: Mayoral race update: Challenger Haugen speaks up

plewis — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:11:42 -0000

For the youngauburn citizen. First, the newspaper is trying to set up such a debate and I do hope it takes place.

As to the possibility of a flood. Get flood insurance this year for two reasons regardless of where you live in the city.
If there is going to be a problem it could be this is the year.
Second, if the federal government changes the flood plain maps whatever rate you get this year will be grandfathered and most likely lower.

First, call the Chamber of Commerce for the authorized insurance agents that can give you information on flood insurance. It does need to be some one trained in the sale of the federal flood insurance policy to give you correct information.

Now about the possibilities of flooding.
Last year there was a big storm. It rained here and in all the areas up to and behind the dam for some days. There was so much water coming off the hillsides between here and the dam that the Colonel of the Corps of Engineers could not release any of the water behind the dam.

Later when the storm was over they found that the earth embankment or abutment next to the concrete dam was leaking water through to the Green River below.so they worked on solutions starting in January and the four cities along the Green of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila started meetng with the Corps and King County. We started holding public meetings in March every where we could find a place and we are still doing that today.You can find our potential flood area maps on our web site at www.auburnwa.gov. You can call our Emergency Manager Sarah Miller 876-1909 or just call my office at 931-3041 for updates. That area over by Les Gove is not in any Green River flood map and I do not believe it will be for the White which is controlled by the Mud Mountain Dam. But there are other concerns. If we do have a flood this winter and that is not at all certain then if the storm or flooding continues first the storm water system and then possibly the sanitary sewer system can back up onto the streets.You need to have floor insurance and to have your policy checked.

Again, it is only a possibility that there will be a storm of enough size and length to affect us. If we see one of those 'pineapple express' weather systems start to form we can have 6-8 days notice. If the weather arrives and keeps coming we will all be watching. If any water is released at the dam it takes 6 hours for that water to reach Auburn.

We have been working with the other cities, the county and the Corps all summer to identify problems and work out solutions. the other three mayors and I meet with the Colonel of the Corps on a regular basis. The Corps and the county have been filling in low spots on the levees and me and others spend a bit of time walking them. We have been gathering equipment and working on coordinatng plans. I asked Council for an emergency proclaimation when the county and the other three cities did so we could get more equipment through the federal government ordered now when we need it to be ready. Worst case we've published evacuation routes but we also know those could change if Mother Nature doesn't develop a storm the way we think. We will keep you up to date and my promise to the people of Auburn has always been as soon as I know you will know. I hope this information helps. Know that you can always email, call, write or come into see me any time you need to to make sure you understand or feel the need for help or assistance.
Pete

Re: Mayoral race update: Challenger Haugen speaks up

plewis — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:32:16 -0000

Thank you for asking the first questions. I do hope both of us will respond. I had pretty much stopped commenting while all of the negative stuff was beng done.
So, this and any other real questions I appreciate the chance to answer. Let's got through it.

If the economy stays down then sales tax and property tax to the cities goes down. Every city's general fund is taxpayer money plus sales tax. Those pay the salaries.
Do you think the economy is going up soon? Really?
No, I don't. I think the economy has reset to a lower level and that new 'base' is permanent. I think sales tax receipts this year on our current businesses is the new beginning and we may see 3-4% growth a year, if that, for the next five years or more. What's worse for al of us is that huge change in state of Washington tax policy approved by the legislature that guts all of our manufacturing business sales tax and sends it to richer communities and at almost every state session the 'mitigation' or partial reimbursement we get we are specifically told is on the block to be taken away. For us that is over $2 million dollars a year lost to the citizens. So, we've been dealt some pretty tough cards.

Are you going to increase income? Sales Tax? Property tax?

Sales tax. But first you cut cost.
Auburn has always been a poor community. We have never had much so we've always had to be frugal.We've cut budget five tmes in the last 18 months we laid off 24 of our friends and neighbors, Auburn employees just a short time ago. The problem is while much is made from time to time to trim a one time cost, it is the on going year after year costs that must be cut to make a difference in a city's budget.

My priority knowing the economy would change someday was to find new and increased sales and property taxes from busness. Make business more sucessful. Bring in more business, where we want it but not in neigborhoods. Downtown, Supermall, north end by 277th, that's the plan. Since property tax is a third of city income and we get 67% of all property taxes from business and all sales tax which is over a third of city income we have got to work together to increase that income.

If you are not then which employees are you laying off first?
One of my worst days in office is when I had to cut employees. This is not some giant corporation. We all know and work with each other. My wife has made each employee a birthday card every year, makes baby blankets for each new child born to staff. we all care about each other.

it is the same for the retailer down the street from you, the doctor's office, day care, auto shop and manufacturer. The small businesses of Auburn, foundation of this community, have all had to do the same exact thing. So many owners and managers have sat at their desk late at night knowing they would have to call people in and tell them those same words knowing what it could do to them, their career, their family and their homes.
All of us in position to make that decision worry about that choice every day. we watch the news, just like you, we hear a monthly report, get news of someone closing or gloomy fnancial news and we wonder if we wll be placed in that awful position again. Is there one of us that wants to do so? No. Is there that possibility we must always consider if the economy were to get even worse? Of course. As the good steward of the people's money I must do all I can to provide the essential services we need as best as can be delivered.

with all that gloom and doom we will more forward with the downtown redevelopment and see new business open and redevelop a new Promenade to attract business, watch Supermall expand in the spring and continue to work with the developers on the 277th property. We wll stand alongside Councilmembers Singer and Wagner with their exciting possiblities at the Environmental Park, push for every single dollar at every single table we can find to bring money that should have gone to Auburn for decades - finally bring that money back to Auburn. I will fight for every dollar, every business every single day.

These are the tough questions that must be answered. Thank you for the opportunity.
Pete

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:24:03 -0000

I'm going to take some time to answer these comments. I am surprised at the growing negativity of these attacks. They seem to go way past a campaign.

The fire department will not endorse the present mayor Pete Lewis.
*Shelley, the Fire Department did not endorse anyone, including you when you were running or your partner runnng against me now and they specifically told you how they felt.

The Valley Regional Fire Department was formed to take the fire department out of the regular tax loop ,by removing the fire department out of the city budget. Twenty million dollars of tax payers money that had been allocated for the fire department . This enabled the mayor to use the fire funds allocated for the fire department for general use instead, such as police needed for new annexed areas, painting the police cars black and white at $6,000.00 a car, and development money and more.
*At the time the Fire Authority was proposed the City Council was very specific that savings from moving the Auburn Fire Department to a three city Authority would result in savings that the Council stated they would use to hire more police officers. At the Council meeting after VRFA was approved the Council passed budget to hire new officers.
More than three years later, after a great deal of community support the Police Department reccomended and Council approved bringing back the black and whites. The community still supports it.

*There is a whole series of allegations that the Valley Regional Fire Authority does not have proper equipment, that the new Authority station in Pacific is bad, that they don't have a ladder truck can all be checked out at the Authority site.The decisions to share services and specialty units throughout the valley fire agencies has been shown to be an outstanding method of combining services for the good of the people they serve. These are excellent well trained firefighters with great equipment and new vehicles the city could never afford on its own all coming online over the next few years.
I am sorry to see her say our people would not receive emergency services.

My daughters 4,500 square foot home burnt to the ground almost six years ago, just before my move into this modular building and I mean to the ground because of a 55 minutes response time out in Enumclaw. The foundation was all that was left and had to be destroyed and taken away in dumpsters. I thank God above it was only the house.
*I am sorry for her loss. The ability to respond to emergencies was one of the reasons VRFA was formed.

I understand the city is working on a new plan from the ground up for the flooding , asking for more pre emergency money for the expected floods that are possibly coming. We will see how this event is taken care of and watch where the money trail goes.
*We have had emergency plans for a generation. We have been meeting regularly in the city, with the Green River cities and with the county, state and Corps of Engineers since January and will continue to work to keep our people safe. As to the money trail, well that is one part of emergency grangs FEMA is good at in tracking every penny spent.

*Already responded about amblances elsewhere. Repeating something does not make it true.

The head of the fire department has zero fire department experience. How ever I hear he has the same bulling tactics of Mayor Lewis and is the husband of Lewis political manager that works full time in the city of Auburn. How can the citizens feel good about that?
*The current Fire Administrator was the U.S. Marshal for the northwest. He interviewed with the three cities and was chosen to head the first Fire Authority in the state, something never seen before that needed strong management skills and experience.

Lakeland Hills better hope for no 911 emergency calls, because there are no near by emergency aid cars or trucks to come to your assistance. Better check into why! New homes burn down too. New homes and condo’s have over one story units. Better put ladders inside YOUR bedrooms purchase gas mask and heart defibulators.
*Shelley, this is pretty bad when you know the long awaited brand new fire station above Lakeland is under construction right now.

The city has plans to ask for another twenty million dollars for the fire department in two years.
* I have no idea what this is even about but there is no way for a city without a fire department to ask for money for a fire department.
.

A customer of mine tried to move a business into Auburn that would have given Auburn a lot of jobs in private business with private development money, however found the mayor to be purchasing land faster with tax dollar, than he could purchase the land used against private business, private real estate and private development. The mayor was taking control of the land in Auburn, so he developed his business in Federal Way. The mayor pretended to welcome him to Auburn, however purchased every building he was looking at for his private business at twice the going price. So he went away.
*The City Council worked for five years with a large number of separate owners to put together just four blocks in downtown unlike Kent who was able to buy 20 acres in one transaction. There's certainly enough land to be developed in downtown and the city has never hesitiated to say they wanted to sell any land owned to someone who would develop now and still will.

The real estate deals are alike the Massey’s deal. Look at www.shelleyformayor.com.
Building and land get purchased for low dollars from original owners by someone the mayor knows then the mayors friend gets twice the price for the property then the property is developed and the citizens get to pay twice the price it is worth and sometimes do not even own the property afterwards. The city pays years of leases for a building the citizens do not own. Sweet! for who? Not us.
*There is no friend, there is no conspiracy there is only a ruling by the state supreme court that allow a person to say what they will during an election under the heading of free speech.

There's a great deal more of this repeated over and over on severall entries.Making a comment over and over does not make it correct. Perhaps you will want to review all the comments made by the individual and her partner running for mayor.

I hope that you will review the work that the Valley Regional Fire Authority, our outstanding firefighters, their high level of training and equipment, their goals and future plans.
Please review the work the city, our outstanding volunteers, the citizens who work on all our committees, boards and commissions have accomplished. Check the website, ask the chamber, look at the past issues of the paper to make an informed decision.
Pete

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:34:39 -0000

Shelley, I would prefer your partner who is the one running talk but as you have been advised back before the Fire Authority the city was sued by the amblance companies as the Fire Department at the time had been providing free transport. In this state the only way a city can do that is if can prove service is not available or the service is sub-standard and the city had not done that. The city attorney went to the council with the informaion and an agreement was reached under which the ambulance firms had to meet specific service standards to be allowed to continue the service.
Pete

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:29:40 -0000

I've always tried my best to respond to every inquiry by email or phone or in the mail. I think that the more we communicate the more we understand each other. I really did appreciate your comments and I hope you will continue even past the election. You can reach me with your problems, concerns, ideas and solutions at plewis@auburnwa.gov or mayorpete@comcast.net. Either way I need the input and when you are talking about young families that is exactly who we are working for and must attract if the Auburn of our future is to prosper.

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:04:02 -0000

Youngauburncitizen. I liked your comments SO much. Yes we are planning an Auburn for downtown with things to draw us all in, families, kids and adults alike. We do have to develop a new income source to keep citizen's taxes down but the reality is we must have draws to bring people there. We can't have a theater - the theater owners all have franchises and so far won't let us. We're working on fun centers, upscale bowling alleys, water features like the SprayPark and others Your ideas are all in line with what we must have to bring people downtown. It's not just a place to eat or a cute store front, there's not many big box stores that like downtowns. It really doesn't matter to the big store owners what we want they go by the statistics, the population 'circles' and their hired consultants.
This Promenade you've heard about is not just a street but part of a plaze like area to bring people downtown. Your comments echo so many others and we must find a way to include things like this if our new development will be successful to the new and draw to the old. Keep comments like that coming and - thank you for the picture you painted!

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:13:44 -0000

Mark, I should have said something the first thing but thank you for the statement. I have been voisable and approachable. I've answered every question by the media. I try to answer my emails daily and return phone calls every day as well as the mail.I have shown that my door stands open to everyone and it wll stay that way.

I believe in working together in partnership with the people of Auburn. I've had 30 meetings out in the neighborhoods just this year but I had those neighborhood meetings last year, the year before and the year before that.I'll have them next year and as long as I am in office. Working together we learn from each other, the problems, the ideas and the solutions as a community.

For the last twenty years we have lost revenues due to changes in state and federal laws.We have got to find new ways to fund the essential services our people need without adding to their property tax burden. I loved the downtown of Auburn full of shops and character and have pledged that as we rebuild what has been lost for so long that we would retain that character and small business so central to our Auburn spirit. As that pioneering Cavannaugh family began the work and have since pledged their support to me I have pledged to them that I would continue the effort to rebuild our town. That downtown development can bring new tax revenues to lesses our burdens but we are also working to bring in business big and small all over town.My pledge is to rebuild the business community of Auburn. We must have the development on the north by 272nd to match the needs of the communities there. We must redevelop Auburn Way South to provide for the needs of those communities. I pledge to bring the business of the kind we want to the places we want them to go and keep them out of our neighborhoods.
We will have established business and new. we will work with our manufacturing community, the new green industries and our service and retails businesses. We need the jobs as much as the income and all will be a part of Auburn.

We have been working so long and well together in the neighborhoods and block by block we are making our homes safer and I pledge I will never stop that fight. Rich or poor, hillside or on the flatm new neighborhoods or old we will have a safe community.Police will be a part of the neighborhoods in our neighborhood and the black and whites will be seen by all as a symbol of the partnership with the community.

We are the land of two rivers, a place of parks and trails and our quality of life is so important.I have opened new parks,created new trails and pushed for a trail connection from Seattle to Mt. Rainier and two Tacoma and we have provided more services for the young and our seniors and we will fight to continue that effort.

We are the land of two nations and a place of immigrant families from a thousand years to a hundred days and each and every person is important to me and every heritage is important to that fabirc that makes our community so unique. We will continue to bring people together and bind them to that Auburn we all love.

We have working long and hard to rebuild the local streets unrepaired since the seventies. From over one hundrerd miles of poor local roads we are down to less than 30 and they will be done - each and every one. Council approved funding of the minor arterials, tose collector roads like R Street and 12th, 17th and 37th, 51st and 112th and many more and they are now included in a body of work that will be done. There's much to be done and we are working in partnership with the community to find funding for those big regional routes like auburn Way, West Valley, M Street, A Street and others.

We have a emergency situation this winter because of Howard Hanson Dam. We will face it together and I pledge you will be kept up to date with as much knowledge as I have. There will be other emergencies and we will face them together as they come.

More than anything I believe in the people of Auburn, their love and care and their ability to rise above any problem as long as we do it together. Join wth me, vote for me and together we will continue the work we have started for ourselves, our children and the generations to come.

Re: Who’s running for mayor, anyway?

plewis — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:18:29 -0000

Well Shelley, I've said this many times but let's do it again.
Several years ago I was trying to figuure out a way to get more people downtown especially at night until the redevelopment got going, I called J.B. Douglas at the theater to see about the city leasing it for some nights. He and his wife were at wits end as they had a daughter less than a year old born with cancer and needing treatment and a lot of care. They were going to have to devote a lot of time to their child and close the theater and their theater was important to the whole family.
We reached an agreement through the Council who wanted a longer term lease to keep this historic building a theater and bring people back downtown.Children's Theater, live theater, comedy shows, art and cultural events now take place year round.

Jay Thorpe bought the historic Massey's Grocery Building (First supermarket in Washington) from the Massey Family and turned it into the Fun Center.Both Massey and Thorpe are reputable people with excellent reputations. Thorpe invested in the building and turned it into a profitable business. He later sold it to someone on a contract and they ran it into the ground. Jay was ill at the time and couldn't bring it back. The roof was leaking, place empty and moldy when it was purchased.
The developer Oliphant that you have mentioned before bought it from him and then brought it to the Council with a plan for a police station and court. The ownership of his outfit is public record and doesn't include anyone in city government at any level at any time.

Council stated that upon completion they would lease the building with the right to purchase.
The city Council approved and bought a beautifully renovated state of the art police and court building at a great price that kept the history of the Massey Building intact.
The difference between when the developer bought a leaking empty building and the completed structure is all public record and looked at as an excellent designed building featured in several publications as a great deal for all.

The idea of repainting the dark blue police cars back to black and white was brought to me by the Police and enthusiastically approved by City Council and immediately embraced by the residential and business community. The proven fact is the change has been embraced by the whole community and has proven a deterrent to crime.

The Auburn City Council passes the ordinances and resolutions we have operated on as we have been trying to redevelop downtown. We simply must find new sources of income to take the burden off our citizens and what they pay in property taxes. The state and federal government have taken away tens of millions of dollars that used to go into our roads and public safety.

We want development in downtown of the businesses we need and not in our neighborhoods. This downtown development shows a return of over $140 million over 25 years in property taxes and sales taxes.

As for forcing business out of downtown, that's just spreading fear and nonsense. Do you mean the one bar the city bought under former mayor Booth or the bar and pawn shop developers bought? Your city bought one bar after I came into office and we spent months cleaning up what was left behind including the hazardous waste in the alley behind the bars.

We will always support the pioneering Cavannaugh family including their decision to try to redevelop their block and the 8 businesses that closed at that time.
Who else? Not the Crites-Hull block and those businesses that the owners sold to developers not the city. Not the half block of parking sold directly to the city by Sunbreak Cafe for more than a million dollars.

Certainly not the Charlie Wong building or the Liquidator stores sold by the owners.

It's taken far too long but the city and developers dealt with more than ten land owners, many absentee over five years to begin the work to revitalize downtown where Kent got 20 acres in one sale, Renton got 65 acres. It took a long time but now we are moving forward together with citizens, hospital, small business, Auburn Downtown Assoiation, Auburn Chamber, School District, faith coommunity all have been a part of the planning and the work. This is the time to move away from those good old days of years ago when decision were well known to be made in the back of the bar. I was against those times, those good old boys then and I will stand against them now for open doors, open discussion and positive steps to keep moving our community forward for ourselves, our children and the generations to come.