#Italics# Mukilteo’s long-anticipated waterfront redevelopment took a giant step backward last week when the City Council voted 4-2 to authorize Mayor Joe Marine to take actions that will …

In November we’ll have elected three new councilmembers (two are not running for reelection and Steve Schmalz is running for mayor against incumbent Joe Marine). That turnover creates an …

With summer 2025 drawing to a close, Mukilteo’s waterfront—and the City’s handling of it—deserves a serious Reality Check. From speed cameras to modified mufflers to parking …

I’ve been a strong advocate of a Voluntary Nighttime Curfew (VNC) at Paine Field (PAE) for more years than I care to admit. Over the past year or so I’ve been trying very hard to …

After 18 months of watching a constantly moving target, Mukilteo’s new automated traffic cameras (aka ticket cameras) are live (I think) and busy issuing tickets. I’ll admit, as a …

Mukilteo’s waterfront area has something for everyone, but with the busy season approaching fast, Mukilteans face obstacles getting to the waterfront, including ferry traffic, Lighthouse Park …

This month’s Reality Check was postponed a week in part because I wanted to get a little more information regarding the 911 misuse ordinance (Ordinance No. 1515) prior to writing about what …

Kakistocracy (kak-us-stok-ruh-see) noun: “A government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens.” B y now, most of us realize the Economist’s word …

Over the past few years, I’ve thought and written about people-safety issues a lot. But I’ve never used the term “people safety,” instead using more restrictive terms like …

Editor’s note: Part 1 of Kevin Stoltz’s misadventures on light rail was published last week. A fter missing my flight at Sea-Tac, I hung my head low and made my way to the Alaska …

This month’s Reality Check is a two-parter and chronicles my (mis)adventures as an interstate commuter between Mukilteo and the Vail, Colorado area for almost four months without using a car. …

Reality Check has been on hiatus for the past several months. The reality is, I came to a point in July where I felt there was nothing positive I could write about. It seemed like I was rehashing …

It should come as no surprise to most who read this column that I’m passionate about safe pedestrian access to and at Mukilteo’s waterfront area. It needlessly has been and continues to …

Many years ago as a young engineer, one of my positions was as a noise staff engineer for the local aircraft manufacturing company. When interviewing for the noise staff position I remember my …

As I write this edition of Reality Check I’m reminded of the sheer beauty of the Mukilteo waterfront and one of the reasons we moved here so many years ago. For me, mornings begin with a jog …

Several months ago while planning a family trip to Kauai, my wife Dana and I had a choice of flying from Seattle direct to Kauai (LIH), or flying from Paine Field (Seattle Paine Field International …

The Sound Transit Lynnwood Link Extension (light rail to Lynnwood) is scheduled to open later this year yet there’s been no City Council discussion of how riders will get between the Mukilteo …

This month marks the third anniversary of the opening of the new Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. And in case you haven’t noticed, the combination of staff shortages, maintenance problems associated with …

This month marks 40 years for me in Mukilteo, a little over half in mid-Mukilteo and almost 20 years where we currently are in Old Town. When we (my wife Dana, son Zak, daughter Kate, and me) …

In this edition of Reality Check we’ll delve into the City’s proposed automated traffic safety cameras (RCW 46.63.170) on SR-525 southbound near Fourth Street (Rosehill Community Center/public …