Hundreds of Mercer Island residents rushed to sign a petition to put the “Protect Our Parks” initiative on the November ballot after Seattle newspaper The Stranger published an article encouraging them to do exactly the opposite.
The article, entitled The Only Children’s Theater on Mercer Island Might Die Because of Park Purists and subtitled The Infuriating Campaign to Keep Youth Theatre Northwest from Having the Home It Deserves, caused many Islanders who were previously neutral on the issue to take the side of those demanding a vote.
“I hadn’t paid much attention to the whole MICA vs. Protect Our Parks debate,” said Island wool merchant and aspiring playwright Billy Bob Shakespeare, “but when I heard The Stranger was against the POP initiative, I couldn’t sign it fast enough. There’s no freakin’ way I’m taking advice from a bunch of sanctimonious Seattle hipsters.”
Even Islanders who were previously supportive of building MICA in Mercerdale Park have been persuaded to reconsider. “Until last week I was on the MICA Board of Directors,” said renowned dance teacher Ginger Astaire. “Then I read the article in The Stranger. I actually agree with all of its points, but it was so thoroughly one-sided and obnoxious that I concluded the other side needed my help more.”
Leaders of Protect Our Parks were appreciative but measured in their response. Said concerned citizen Ronald Grump: “We’re grateful that The Stranger is convincing people to join our cause. We just hope that none of their readers come to visit Mercer Island.”
Supporters of MICA are chastened by the reaction to The Stranger article but resolve to move forward with their “Decline to Sign” campaign. Said Support MI Parks and Arts spokesperson Fulan D. Hill: “The Seattle Times is going to publish an editorial endorsing the ‘Protect Our Parks’ initiative. We’re confident that will shift popular opinion against it.”