You call us Outside Agitators; We call it Caring and Compassionate Neighbors

By Karthik Seetharaman and Ingrid Kumar

How Inglewood was wronged

Inglewood is one of Sammamish’s older neighborhoods, home to seniors, disabled residents, and young families. It was hit hardest during the bomb cyclone. Then, on May 24, about 400 Inglewood residents received a letter from the City—without warning—that their streets, long maintained by the City, would become private starting June 30.

The implications were severe: no more pothole repairs, snow removal, speed enforcement, or drainage upkeep. Residents were told to consider forming a private HOA to handle these responsibilities—with just over a month’s notice. Some didn’t even receive the letter.

This wasn’t a policy change. It was an ambush. No engagement. No plan. No support.

We took action and responded

On May 29, longtime Inglewood residents, and long time friends, reached out. They described confusion, anxiety, and a sense of betrayal. This wasn’t a problem individual households could solve. It called for collective action.

So we formed the Inglewood Pothole Patrol, a grassroots network of neighbors determined to raise awareness and stand together. One neighbor suggested a community walk. Another designed flyers. Eight more helped distribute them. On June 1, Inglewood residents and residents from neighboring areas walked the streets of Inglewood, letter in hand, to spread awareness and organize.

The stories were heartbreaking. Seniors voiced distress, unsure how they’d manage. Young families feared rising costs and declining property values. Some asked whether mail and garbage services would continue. Nearly all asked the same question: Why are we being forced to form an HOA while still paying full property taxes? It was clear that the only solution that would work for the community was to keep the roads public. 

As momentum grew, residents contacted attorneys, alerted the media, and encouraged each other to speak up. When we learned of the upcoming City Council meeting, we prepared to show up and speak with compassion and clarity. On June 3rd Sammamish turned up for Inglewood. Over 50 residents, many speaking publicly for the first time, stood together. The Council listened. The June 30 deadline was suspended. A path to collaboration was opened.

This movement didn’t start in a political office. It started in kitchens, living rooms, and driveways with sleepless nights and a simple desire for fairness. It was an example of what democracy looks like when people lead.

Outside Agitators with a Political Agenda?

That’s why it was so disheartening to read a Council candidate’s recent op-ed in a local publication, where he suggested this effort was led by “outside agitators with a political agenda”.

Let’s be clear: we are not outsiders. We are neighbors, residents, seniors, parents, and volunteers. We acted not for political gain but because care was missing from the very system meant to serve us. One so-called “outside agitator”, a Sammamish resident who also spoke at public comment, even offered to pay the taxes needed to restore city services.

Calling citizens “agitators” is a label with a painful history. It was used against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham, where officials tried to discredit him for demanding justice. Dr. King responded: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This principle is the cornerstone of a progressive community and a progressive leader. Sammamish is not an exception to this principle. When one neighborhood suffers, the entire city has a stake in fixing it.

Ascribing “political agenda” to a community action exposes narrowness in thought. Karthik may have grown up in small town in India but he has been brought up imbibing the broad philosophies of “Vasudeiva Kutumbakam” (“The world is a family”) and “யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்” (“Every city is your city. Everyone is your kin.”). The ancient Indian texts further expounds the thought on The World Is A Family, as

One Is A Relative, The Other Stranger,
Say The Small Minded.
The Entire World Is A Family,
Live The Magnanimous.

More troubling: the op-ed’s author was a silent observer in the Facebook group where Inglewood residents organized and asked for help. He offered no support, no guidance, and was absent from the June 3 meeting where his neighbors stood up for each other.

Leadership isn’t about closing ranks. It’s about opening doors. It’s about listening when no one’s watching, and acting with care, even when it’s hard. It's about serving, and volunteering. 

If standing with neighbors in their time of need makes us “outside agitators,” then we’ll wear that label with pride.

Because Sammamish deserves better.