Mercer Island Neighbors

Holding the city to its own word.

A group of residents committed to the island we chose to call home.

Who we are

Ordinary residents. Serious concern.

Mercer Island Neighbors is an informal group of Mercer Island residents who love this community and want to keep it the kind of place people choose it for. We are not a political organization, and we are not opposed to any particular group or institution. We are neighbors who believe the city should be held accountable to its own stated mission.

That mission is straightforward. We showed it on the main page, but it bears repeating. Mercer Island has long described itself in clear terms, and for good reason. The city's own materials capture it well:

"Just over five miles long and two miles wide, Mercer Island is a true island community consisting of high quality residential areas, preserved parks and open space, as well as miles of developed shoreline… Mercer Island has been widely recognized as one of the premier residential communities in the State of Washington." City of Mercer Island  •  mercerisland.gov

That last phrase is important: premier residential community. Not a commercial hub. Not a regional destination. A residential community, with parks, open space, and shoreline that belong to the people who live here.

When the city considers actions that move away from that identity, including permanent rezones, weakened enforcement, and hearings timed to minimize public participation, we believe residents have both the right and the responsibility to say something. That is what we are doing.

We are not lawyers or lobbyists. We are people who live here, who pay attention, and who think the rules should apply equally to everyone. If that describes you too, we would love to hear from you.


Get in touch

We want to hear from you.

Whether you have questions, a story to share, a concern about what you've seen in your neighborhood, or you simply want to know more about what's happening — send us a note. We read everything and we will get back to you.

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