1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Dear Representative Larsen, I want to thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of Washington’s 2nd Congressional District. I especially appreciate your steadfast advocacy for voting rights and your support for legislation to end partisan gerrymandering and increase transparency around dark money. In times like these, defending our democracy from erosion is essential, and your work in that area deserves real recognition. However, I am writing to voice my concern over the coming policy that will be requiring people to pay for parking in order to access public transit like the light rail. Choosing to force commuters to pay for parking is counterintuitive, even obscene, when we are trying to encourage people to choose sustainable, public alternatives over cars. This policy creates a financial barrier that disproportionately impacts working-class individuals and actively discourages ridership—undermining our shared goals of reducing emissions, easing congestion, and promoting equitable access to transportation. This is where the proposed wealth tax could make a real difference. Implementing a 1% tax on assets over $100 million—an incredibly modest ask of the ultra-wealthy—could generate the necessary funding to keep public transportation truly public. That means making access more affordable, including eliminating fees like paid parking at transit hubs. Rather than placing more of the financial burden on everyday Washingtonians, we could build a system that encourages participation through accessibility and equity. This would strengthen our climate goals, increase ridership, and support economic mobility. On another note, I’d like to draw your attention to a disappointing decision made by Governor Ferguson regarding that same wealth tax, which he recently dismissed as “improbable” or “impossible” to implement. This refusal to consider such a tax directly threatens the sustainability of programs like the WA Cares Act and universal school lunch initiatives. If this small tax were enacted, it could significantly reduce the need for austerity measures and furloughs. As a federal representative, your influence and support in aligning federal funding and priorities with these state efforts would be deeply appreciated. Lastly, your efforts to protect marine resources through legislation like the reauthorization of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative are commendable. Preserving our local ecosystems is not only essential to our environment but also to our economy, identity, and future generations. I hope you’ll continue to fight for policies that prioritize the needs of the many, remove barriers to equitable access, and challenge the privileges of the ultra-wealthy.