I disagree with Joanna Buehler’s claim that the Sammamish City Council is wrong to consider the input of its residents affected by the SMP update. I’ve been to nearly all of the SMP meetings. Without exception, residents have offered respectful and thoughtful comments for improving the draft SMP. Citizen participation in government decision-making is not intimidation.

It should be welcomed and encouraged.

Ms. Buhler’s bizarre comparison of property owners to tobacco companies and global warming deniers is nothing more than a ploy to smear opponents of her position and an attempt to discredit them without addressing the merits of their arguments.

The fact is, the state SMA requires a balance between environmental protection and property rights.

Like other basic rights, our federal and state constitutions protect the basic right to own and use private property. Councilman Fellinge is correct that such rights should not be restricted without strong evidence supporting the need to do so.

I applaud both the City of Sammamish and the Sammamish City Council for carefully and thoroughly weighing both the health of our lakes and the basic rights of our citizens in preparing the SMP update.

Stuart W. Carson

Sammamish