Letter to the Editor: Leave White Center Library at Its Current Location
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, by Burien resident Robert L. Price.
In reading the results of the King County Library Board meeting of February 26th 2013 it is noted that they voted to buy some property on 107th SW and build a new building in lieu of expanding the old one at 112th SW & Ambaum.
Several people attended this meeting and asked the board to withhold their plan until a meeting could be called with the White Center people whom would be affected with this plan. They said no, and voted to continue with their new plan.
The voters of White Center did not vote to move the library, only to have it enlarged and updated. It does not make any sense to buy another piece of property to build on when they already own the one the present building is on. It would be better to use that money in expanding and updating the present building.
Letter to the Editor: “Mr. Block’s pornographic Facebook post of a degraded woman was not representative of me, but moreover, it was directly degrading and offensive to Burien as a whole.”
The following “Letter to the Editor” was sent to Burien Daily on Monday, February 25, 2013 by Burien resident Lauren Berkowitz. The views and opinions reflected in this letter should be taken as those of the author.
Dear Editor (previously sent to the Burien City Council for record)
I am a resident of Burien; as such, I am a constituent of Mr. Block and of all of you. To restate, I feel that it is your job as councilpersons to represent me, my neighbors, and our community. Last December, not only was Mr. Block’s pornographic Facebook post of a degraded woman was not representative of me… it was directly degrading and offensive to Burien as a whole.
Some find this post to be harmless, or all in good fun, or something of the sort. Clearly Mr. Block and I disagree on what is appropriate, offensive, and funny, but Mr. Block’s public officialdom renders our differing personal opinions moot. Is this really how Burien wants to be thought of by our neighboring cities? Because of the lack of privacy controls, this post was visible presumably to Mr. Block’s employees, friends, family, minors, news stations, and – not insignificantly – the many constituents he represents. It was neither a joke nor harmless. (more…)
Letter from Burien Little Theatre
BLT gives thanks
It’s the time of the year when we pause to give thanks. BLT has much to give thanks for. I have volunteered at BLT for over seven years. I have seen the theater grow, both in quality and stature. I have seen it go from people looking surprised and asking, “Burien has a live theater?” to people coming up to me in a store asking, “What is playing now at the theater?”
BLT has been blessed with wonderful donors who are making better live theater possible. BLT donors give in every amount from $1 to $5,000. Every donor is amazing, and every donation deeply appreciated. (more…)
White Center Business Owners Support Annexation by Burien
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by a group of White Center businesses owners who support the annexation of unincorporated King County by Burien.
Letter to the Editor: As responsible White Center business owners, we support annexation to Burien. Burien does not have a problem with vandalism, open alcohol, drug dealing, or prostitution in its commercial district, and we think that’s a good idea for White Center, too. Burien is in better fiscal shape than 90% of Washington cities and wants to maintain our public library and parks rather than having them closed or fall into disrepair with the county. Burien wants to maintain the uniqueness of White Center and give us an active voice in shaping the future together, including economic development and zoning.
These are real benefits for local families and businesses – not a scheme by a fiscally irresponsible city or the offer of a low bidder as portrayed in a recent Seattle Times Op-Ed piece by Mark Ufkes, president of the White Center Chamber of Commerce, and Don Malo, president of Independent White Center (IWC) PAC. To quell the concerns of those anxious about the soundness of Burien’s fiscal calculations, our state legislators have even pledged to endorse legislation for a safety net for the annexation if and when one is ever needed. In reality, White Center is not independent now – its services and future are dictated by King County policies and we share one county representative with 200,000 others. With Burien, we will have 7 representatives and much better coordinated services. (more…)
Letter to the Editor: Barbara Dobkin in Support of Annexation
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by North Highline resident, Barbara Dobkin on November 2, 2012.
Volunteers have been walking their neighborhoods and talking to residents about the benefits of annexation. Factual information about the annexation of North Highline has been provided at several community forums sponsored by the City of Burien, details of which are available on Burien’s website at http://www.burienwa.gov/index.aspx?NID=321.
The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC) sponsored an Annexation Information Forum on October 4, which was covered by WhiteCenterNow and can be viewed by following the link on the NHUAC website northhighlineuac.org.
Understandably, questions still persist about what is one of the most important decisions that will impact the North Highline Community. (more…)
Letter to the Editor: Debi Wagner Opposing Annexation
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by Burien resident, Debi Wagner.
Neighbors and Voters of Area Y/North Highline/White Center there is no law that requires us to annex to a city. No one in King County or in Washington State government claims that such a law exists. Additionally, the King County Library Board has never stated that the White Center and Boulevard Libraries will be closed if we don’t annex to Burien. Both of these libraries are currently in the City of Burien and are not part of this annexation vote.
Independent White Center PAC is registered with Washington State and is a group of concerned citizens from Area Y/North Highline/White Center, Seattle and Burien. We are not just a few wealthy land owners in North Highline; we are many of your friends and neighbors. When surveyed, most Area Y residents/we stated that we wanted to remain independent and not annexed to any city. (more…)
Letter to the Editor: Pat LaMoine “I am against Annexation”
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by unincorporated King County resident Pat LaMoine on October 25, 2012.
Hi I’m Pat LeMoine and I am against being annexed by the city of Burien.
What helped solidify my opinion are the dozen or so newly annexed Burien residents of Area X that I have talked to. I have heard complaints ranging from higher taxes, no improvements in services, to a city hall hostile to its own citizens. A recent favorite of mine was walking into a local beauty salon to let the owner know about changes she will have to make to her signage under Burien Municipal Code if annexed. As the owner gazed in perplexed astonishment I notice a waiting customer whose eyes began to light with fire “YOU DO NOT WANT TO JOIN BURIEN!” She exclaimed then with blood boiling she went on to talk about all the taxes http://www.burienwa.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1118 that she now has to pay as a result of being annexed to Burien. She reminded me of Kathy Parker who under oath testified before the Boundary Review Board on 1/9/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9zn2lOyJpg (51 minutes in) and presented the board with a petition signed by 2000 residents of the newly annexed Area X who where so unhappy that they wanted to leave Burien. Keep in mind that only 1,380 voted for annexation from a population of over 14,000. At that same meeting I estimate 80% of the audience where residents of Burien warning the rest of us not to join. (more…)
Vote Yes on Burien Annexation of Unincorporated King County
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by the Northing Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC).
The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC) urges a YES vote for annexation of “Area Y” to Burien (Proposition 1 at the end of your ballot). Our support is based in large part on the positive impact of Burien’s 2010 annexation of our neighbors to the south. Roads have been paved, long neglected parks have been improved, and the people have been given a voice and a say in their future.
A Burien annexation will ensure that the White Center and Boulevard Park Libraries will not be moved out of the communities they currently serve. Without Burien’s advocacy these essential community resources would have already been lost, but without annexation, according to the King County Library Board, they will be closed.
A few individuals who own significant amounts of land in North Highline and have advocated for years for a Seattle annexation, now want you to believe that we can remain unincorporated or “independent”. Neither is true. At NHUAC’s October 4 Annexation Forum, State Senator Sharon Nelson, and Karen Freeman, from King County Executive Dow Constantine’s Office, made it clear that the State Growth Management Act and King County Policies, require us to be part of a city. In addition, King County’s fiscal crisis will continue to result in drastic cuts to our services. (more…)