Letters to the Editor

The one-sided piece about PenMet’s  ‘successes’ should be read with skepticism.  Ms. Kingsbury, the current Board president seeking re-election in the fall, cannot be considered neutral. This is a thinly veiled campaign piece, also laying the groundwork for a future PenMet request for more tax money. As a park neighbor /constituent, my observations over several

Washington is in the midst of a housing crisis. According to the National Association of Home Builders’ 2025 Priced Out report, more than 80% of Washington residents can’t afford to buy a home. In Gig Harbor, the situation is even more extreme. The average home price here hovers around $900,000 — meaning you’d need an

Gig Harbor Council missed the mark on passing Ordinance 1540. This ordinance allows up to two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for each principal dwelling unit on any parcel that meets the city’s minimum lot size in that zone. The Council stated they passed this ordinance to comply with a state law that requires cities to

Aren’t we all getting kind of tired of all these letters from Mr. MacLaughlin? It is one thing to ask legitimate questions of the Pen Met Parks Board. But I find it annoying to read these almost endless nitpicking legalities. I believe that most of us here in the Gig Harbor area are appreciative of

Letter to the editor by Craig McLaughlin of Fox Island

Roger Henderson’s letter regarding the property tax exemptions to developers is a bit misleading. He states “Many of the very people who serve us at our local restaurants, grocery stores, shops or working in our city government fall into the 50% to 100% range of the area median income. These are the faces of folks

Regarding the recent Letter to the Editor | “Hands Off Protest Shows Something has Shifted“; While the writer frequently uses the word authoritarian and lists 18 areas of government that he wants the administration’s “hand off” of, nowhere does he give evidence of what he calls the dismantling of our democracy, not one shred. Social

As housing prices soar and rents continue to outpace incomes, the dream of stable, affordable housing slips further out of reach for thousands of families. In cities across the nation, the challenge is clear: we need more affordable housing — and fast. One proven solution lies in a policy tool that’s often misunderstood yet deeply

Does Gig Harbor need some affordable housing? Yes. Should growth pay for growth. Yes, it should. At the April 28 Council meeting Ordinance #1542 was introduced. This ordinance will establish a Multifamily Property Tax Exemption. When this bill passes, developers will not be paying any Gig Harbor residential property taxes on their affordable housing for

In an era where so many public systems are under scrutiny, I’d like to take a few minutes to highlight a local institution that over the past few years has quietly and steadily enhanced the quality of life for our community: PenMet Parks. PenMet has transformed from a modest park and recreation district into a