The Mariners should pay for the AquaSox’s field, not taxpayers | Opinion

Mariners should cover stadium costs

The love of baseball makes people totally irrational.

Win the World Series. Go team go.

This is the feeling that I, and millions of others in the Pacific Northwest, have for the Seattle Mariners.

And the Seattle Mariners’ AquaSox farm team are a great asset to the Mariners.

But let’s not be irrational about it.

It is rational for the Mariners to invest $40 million to refurbish the existing Everett School District owned AquaSox Stadium — where Ken Griffey, Dan Wilson, Felix Hernandez, Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and many more played.

The Seattle Mariners are worth over $2.2 billion dollars. The $40 million investment needed to renovate Funko Field in Everett represents less than 2% of the Mariner’s worth.

It is irrational to spend $137 million to build a brand-new stadium in Downtown Everett at the expense of state, city and county taxpayers.

As a rational business expense, the Mariners could loan or give $40 million to the Everett School District. The investment supports the AquaSox, the Seattle Mariners, the local Everett school district and millions of Mariner fans.

Sounds like a good Mariner investment to me.

John Martin, Mountlake Terrace

Local intersection is dangerous

I live on Highway 7, the Mountain Highway. The intersection where Highway 161 enters Highway 7 south of Alder Lake is so dangerous! Last week, there were two more fatalities there. Last summer, a couple on a motorcycle were killed instantly.

How many people must die before something is done? In this day of solar power, can’t there at least be a flashing red stop sign?

A roundabout goes in where a park will soon open, but people die up here and no one cares.

Janis Isom, Eatonville

Re-elect John McCarthy

There are many reasons to re-elect John McCarthy as a Port of Tacoma Commissioner. I met John when we were freshmen at Seattle University in 1967. We were later roommates in law school and have remained close friends.

John is a person of great integrity, demonstrated through his many years serving as a judge. John has a wealth of experience. He was a longshoreman in his early days and first served on the Port Commission from 1983 through 1992.

John is a home-grown leader. He was born in Tacoma and has fought for improvements across Pierce County all his life. He is a critical thinker who always has the best interests of the people of Pierce County in mind when making Port decisions. He has always carefully reviewed facts and listened to opinions before doing what he believes is best for the greater good.

Please vote for John on Nov. 4.

Tom Roach, Seattle