I agree the Everett situation is way out of control. Almost a touchy subject now with me.
Here is a good example of how their fear-mongering ploy is working. I live on Vashon Island and grew up here. Had to filter KIRO out of the High School PA on a regular basis while attending High School on the Island. I have a friend that grew up right next to the KING tower site on Maury Island. His dad still owns and lives in the house. His family is friends of Jim Tharp the long time engineer for that site that also lives on the island. The kids used to go over and play in the big field where the towers are. Like I said their property is directly south of the KING tower site and share a property line. These kids couldn’t have lived closer to the towers growing up.
Now the oldest son owns property adjacent to the proposed KRKO site in Everett. He uses the land to grow flowers and such for his floral supply business. Originally he saw no problem with the towers. However over time the fear mongers in Everett have gotten to him. And all Jim Tharp and I hear from this kid is how these towers are killing people. I mean this kid (now adult mid 30’s) lived and played next to the KING towers all his life. Now he is convinced that they cause cancer.
That’s all Jim or I hear out of this guys mouth now and its really really annoying to the point of being a strain on the friendship. I tell him there is no known kill zone around these towers. If there were the Vashon Real Estate market would be different. There are more traceable effects from the arsenic fallout from the old Tacoma Smelter on the south end of Vashon Island. And that directly affects the sale of your home to a family looking to raise young children playing in the dirt. I know of two young families on Vashon that sold their south end Vashon homes and moved north on the island to get away from the contaminated arsenic soil on the south end of Vashon Island. So their kids could play in the yard without fear of the kids being contaminated with arsenic. They didn’t move because of the towers they moved because of the Arsenic soil conditions. Conditions I’m sure existed where this fear stricken friend grew up.
I also have a very close friend my same age, we went through High School together and he has lived most of his life on Vashon. He has just been stricken with Leukemia within the last month. I know its not RF related but try telling my other friend that. I’m toung tied when it gets to trying to discuss the KRKO Tower situation.
I have seen first hand what the “Stewards of the Land & Community” are doing in Everett and it’s “Not in my back yard” thinking with “Cold War” era “Fear Mongering”
On the other hand some on Vashon really really want a Community Radio station. I’m sure we could make either (1380 or 1520 Khz) frequency work on Vashon. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first 50KW blasting North. I’m sure Vashon would be open to hosting another 50KW blow torch if you gave the Island some time, or Island Time as we call it. Allot of the same issues that drive Everett also drive Vashon. Topics like the Health of our Environment, Community Issues, Schools, Sports and Transportation and Taxes.
