If ever a clear contrast was made between Seattle and Bellevue, Mayor Ed Murray provided it last week when he unceremoniously dumped all 13 neighborhood district councils in Seattle. Without any hesitation, he told the people of Seattle that he is not interested in their opinions, does not value collaboration, citizen engagement or the diversity of ideas.

His actions are the antithesis to what the city of Bellevue aspires to be on a daily basis. Does the city of Bellevue always get it right? Of course not. But I’m proud to live in a city that promotes civic involvement, a city that constantly seeks to engage with its citizens to learn about the wants and needs of its neighborhoods.

When my wife and I decided to settle in Bellevue, we knew we made the right choice based on the award-winning schools, amazing parks, quality of life and strong economy. Mayor Murray has given us another reason to be thankful that we choose Bellevue.

Jared Nieuwenhuis

Bellevue