City officials announced this week that they are hosting a screaming session to solicit feedback from Islanders on the upcoming light rail project and related changes to I-90 access. The session will be held this Thursday, January 19th at the Community Center.
“We’re always looking for ways to take the pulse of the community,” said the City of Mercer Island’s community outreach liaison, B. Rocco Bahma, “and from what we see on social media, what Islanders really want is more opportunities to scream at us.”
“The First Amendment gives me the right to shout at government officials,” said Island resident Ole Yeller, “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“I try scolding my kids, but they always have their earbuds in,” said local concerned citizen Harriet Malm, “I’m looking forward to really giving it to someone who’s required by law not to ignore me.”
Asked what they’ll be screaming about, Malm said, “Did you know that as an island, Mercer Island is a body of land entirely surrounded by water? That’s undoubtedly the work of Sound Transit, but what kind of incompetent city officials allowed it to happen?”
Added Yeller: “In the last city council election, I voted for the guy who promised all of us tricycles. I still don’t have my tricycle. Where’s my tricycle?!”
Islanders who are planning to attend this week’s meeting won’t confine their behavior to screaming. Said one: “We’ll also do what we’re known for doing at city council meetings: Making loud, passive-aggressive remarks while other people are talking.”
City officials say that they welcome the vociferous feedback from engaged members of the community, “Nothing inspires municipal employees to do their best work more than a bunch of millionaires telling us how to do our jobs,” said Bahma, “and when it’s over, we get to go back to doing exactly what we were going to do anyway.”