Well, it’s been a whirlwind of decisions this week, isn’t it? First, Amy Buckler stepping into that Housing Division Assistant Director role at Commerce—she’s been around the block more times than I’ve had hot dinners, and I’ll say this: she’s got the experience to handle the housing crunch, but I still can’t help but think of when the city had a real housing plan, not just a list of permits and deadlines. I remember when we had that hardware store on the corner of 1st and Jefferson, where you could get a hammer and a cup of coffee all in one stop, and everyone knew your name—now it’s a coffee shop with a $6 latte, and the only thing we know is how many permits are being filed. And another thing, I’ve been thinking about how many times we’ve had to ask the city council to slow down on those new housing projects, but they’re moving like a herd of goats on a hill—no patience, no planning, just "let’s build it now."
And speaking of building, Thurston County’s just approved that quarry expansion, logging 30 acres for gravel, and I can’t help but think of the old days when we used to have the orchard on the hill overlooking the river, where kids would play tag and pick apples straight from the tree. Now it’s all about the "economic development" and "job creation," but what about the people who actually live here? I mean, I’m not saying we should stop progress, but could we at least have a little bit of a conversation about what we’re losing? I remember when the Port of Olympia used to host those little community events on the boardwalk, you know, the ones where everyone brought their lawn chairs and shared stories, not the fancy events they’re planning now for the Dancing Goats Building. And another thing, I’ve been hearing about all these new church projects and subdivisions popping up, but where are the places for us to sit and talk without it being a development meeting?
Oh, and I have to mention the Marine Drive NE project—starting August 28, they’re resurfacing the road, and I’m sure it’ll be just fine, but I can’t help but think of the time when we used to have free parking all over downtown, and you could just pull over and chat with your neighbor for a minute. Now it’s all about the traffic alerts and "potential delays," and I’m not sure what’s worse—having to drive around the block three times to find a spot, or having to sit in a meeting about why we don’t have parking anymore. I mean, I know it’s progress, but sometimes I just want to go back to when we could park anywhere for free and the only thing we had to worry about was whether the ice cream truck was coming down the street. That’s all for this week. You know where to find me.