Studying editorial “Let’s keep rolling with a car-free Pike Place Market” (Aug. 28, Opinion) was a shock and disturbing. Selling persevering with a car-free Pike Place Market into 2026 utterly misses the historical past and function of the Market.
From its starting in 1907, it was supposed to be a real farmers’ market the place native distributors and purveyors might promote produce, fish, seafood and different edibles on to native consumers and restaurateurs. The oldest constantly working public meals market the nation, the Market has survived a number of makes an attempt by city politics to wreck its existence. It was by no means supposed to be a sightseeing Pacific Northwest meals Disneyland some misguided Seattleites now appear intent on making it develop into by eliminating automobiles by way of its most important roadway and supply path.
Has anybody selling this modification investigated the actual causes for the Market’s life? Or talked in depth with Market distributors for his or her assessments? From the start there’s loads of proof (and Museum of Historical past & Business pictures) of trolley automobiles, horse-drawn carriages, vans, automobiles and bustling consumers who all discovered their place within the coronary heart of a bustling metropolis — and nonetheless can and nonetheless will with continued entry on Pike Place.
Why are some individuals making an attempt to alter what isn’t damaged?
Judith H. Dern, Seattle, member of Buddies of Pike Place Market
