Listener writes poem for Marshawn Lynch

Happy 2020

Your show, “The Big Show,” brightened the sorrow of my year. It was a distraction from my losses in 2019. I needed that, and I thank you. God bless you, Dori.

– John in Lake Stevens

Dori, I love your way of thinking and working to hold responsible the corrupt people who rig votes into very poor leadership here this sad blue state I once admired. We now need to focus on red votes for 2020. Thank you, Dori. Your voice is definitely needed and much loved by many.

– Russell in Wenatchee

Time to rave about Dave

I like Dave, he is very entertaining. Thanks for filling in for Dori.

– D. in Seattle

David and Nicole, I liked the story about the sewing classes. I agree with your insight as to how sewing teaches life skills. I taught myself to quilt in my 40s. I realized how I could match up points with precision and how much it was like building. I went on, with confidence, to build several structures in and around my rather large chicken coop.

– Michelle in Snohomish

Listener composes ‘Ode to Beast Mode’

A little ditty I composed in honor of Marshawn’s return. Enjoy:

“Is Marshawn coming back? There’s a buzz on the wire!
Confirmed. It’s true! Set the 12s on fire!
From handing out tequila shots in parking lot C,
To taking the rock from number 3,
Can’t wait to cheer you on to victory!

You will always hold a special place with Seahawk Nation; for your grit, heart, and determination.

‘There’s history and unfinished business,’ you say.
Century Link will be rocking to see you play!”

– Scot in Shelton

The criminality of Sound Transit

Before my wife and I got married, she bought a car, and her registration had her Shoreline address on it. She just received her renewal, with the cost being $344.25. I updated her address to our home in Arlington, and the new cost is $68.25. While I’ve heard you talking about the illegal tab fees, I really did not understand how big the difference was. Keep fighting the good fight.

– Scott in Arlington

People of the Year

You made a comment that has been troubling me. You implied that Megan Rapinoe and Greta Thunberg had been selected as Sports Illustrated and Time Persons of the Year because of “a left-leaning media.” I’m sure there were other worthy candidates for the awards, but I believe these two women were acknowledged for their achievements, not their politics. Yours was a gratuitous and demeaning remark, and I’m not even sure you believed it.

– Forrest in Mount Vernon

How can Everett even consider red light cameras?

The City of Everett is asking for red light cameras to be installed. As a longtime resident of Everett and a pedestrian all over this city, I can tell you that Everett’s traffic lights do not even work correctly as they are now. The City Works Department said years ago they can’t be synchronized because they equipment is outdated. The lights have no timers to make them operate differently, no matter if it’s 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. They function the same if it’s a weekend or holiday. If these items can’t be reprogrammed, then how can red light cameras be installed? I’ve lost years of my life waiting to get a walk signal when no cross traffic is present for miles. Everett is dying and the city government is digging a deeper hole.

– Dale in Everett

2020 show changes — no more King of Rock n’ Roll

Dori, I’d advise against too many radical changes in 2020. Please keep giggling Brock, your light and personal banter with Ursula and Nicole, and “down the stretch,” but get rid of Elvis at the end.

– John in Tacoma

Teaching youth to have open minds

I listen to your show almost every day for a short time after work. I agree with about half of what you say, but I like to hear different political views. I am a teacher in Puyallup, and at times I’ve heard you call educators “liberals who are brainwashing the youth.” I wholeheartedly disagree with that. I would like to invite you to come speak to my AVID classes (seventh, eighth, and ninth grades) to discuss the importance of being willing and able to have open conversations with people from all different political viewpoints. I would love you to see firsthand what our school and kids are all about. AVID is a program for students determined to go to college, but who may need more guidance.

– Amelia in Puyallup

Pay-per-mile comin’ to town

Pay-per-mile will be devastating

Hi Dori, I was listening to your podcast about tolling every road and hearing a story about the single dad who drives 100s of miles. So I wanted to share my story. I have to drive a pickup for my job; my company is nice enough to reimburse some of my gas usage. But I have a son who lives with his mother in Oregon City. I have him every other weekend, which means I drive 1,200 miles a month just to pick him up and drop him off. The gas is hard enough to pay; if they make me pay a toll, I will not be able to even seen my son anymore without uprooting the rest of my kids from Puyallup to Oregon.

We both know it won’t be cheaper then the gas tax like your guest said. They will tax me to the poor house or into an RV so I can live with the drug dealers. Please keep up this fight; I will fight with you.

– Adam in Puyallup

I’m really angry knowing that we may have to pay by the mile when I drive for a living for hospice. I live paycheck to paycheck, and drive approximately 600 miles per month. I am single, have a fuel-efficient car, and am tired of constantly hearing about more and more taxes and ways for them to get our hard-earned money.

– Penny in Everett

An alternate idea

Dori, I enjoyed your conversation about the tolling of our roads. I believe the answer to this issue was made very clear in your conversation with the government employee when she said that the cheapest method is taxing people at the pump. Why don’t they place a meter on the charging stations and tax the person charging their car by the electricity they pull, say 2 cents a watt? Meters could be built into or required to be added onto home charging stations. To pay for the startup, put a fee on people buying electric cars. I have a 2005 Prius and I have to pay an extra fee now to add more electric stations. That fee could be used for startup. Is this too simple?

– Matt in Kent

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from 12-3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.