Dollars & Sense: No Future for Woodinville?

I stand with my look-a-like grandson Cole, and wonder if the next generation to live, work and play in Woodinville may not get the chance.

The city of Woodinville recently lost 30% of its primary revenue source due to the state's reallocation of local sales taxes. That leaves a shortfall in the years ahead to cover the basic services citizens expect from the city. It also cripples the ability to promote local business, build tourism and attract outside investments.

Look at what Duvall has done. They turned tens of thousands of city money to hundreds of thousands of county and federal funds that has revitalized their main street boosting local business, attracting visitors and bringing revenues to their city (which is now nearly the population of Woodinville).

Bothell is transforming into a waterfront community. They leveraged $150 million of public funds into $650 million of private investment. City leaders actually promoted their long-term plan to big money partners who shared their vision. Bothell is more than twice the size of Woodinville, and their plan might someday soon make them five times our size and strength.

Woodinville needs a singular vision, a specific plan, an alliance with county and federal officials, and a partnership with investors who support our vision. This starts with an openness to new ideas, new strategies, new neighbors, and new investors. It begins with respect and appreciation to those who have come before, have businesses here now, and who will fuel our future. Woodinville should be open for business, and open to business. Shop local, promote local, grow local.

I hope Cole gets to live, work and play here. You no doubt know a Cole, too.

Our reputation of being aloof and contentious needs an immediate transfusion of friendliness, else there is no future here. The next generation will prefer to live in Duvall, work in Bothell and play in Kirkland. 

What's your vision for 2020? Where do you see us in just eight years? The only engine we have is local business, but to what purpose and in what direction?