Burien got a surprise gift from the Legislature in the closing hours of its recently ended session-a $1.6 million appropriation for a Town Square parking garage.
"It was a real nice surprise," City Manager Mike Martin said last week.
Burien City Council members reviewed designs of possible public art for Town Square at an April 23 study session.
A proposed "centerpiece" work, which would be located in the public plaza at Town Square, resembles a tilted, upside-down auger.
I want to thank the Burien City Council for open meetings where and when we, Burien citizens, can hear their discussion and their process for decision making.
I am glad for their discussion and dialogue with artist Dan Corson and the Arts Commission and their proposal of a piece of art for the Town Square.
Dan Corson has a wonderful art at Cedar River Water Shed, with drums and music.
I've just seen an artist's rendering of the centerpiece to be placed in the newly remodeled Burien Town Square. I hope that the City of Burien will allow the public to see the artwork before it is commissioned! After all, your tax money is paying for it.
To me it looks like an auger. I am told it's supposed to represent the history of Burien. The edges of the round circles have saw teeth. This represents the lumbering industry, which is a part of the city's history. Again, that would be hard to decipher, since the teeth are hard to see.
I attended the Burien City Council study session on April 23. I was there for another topic, but sat through a presentation by the Arts Commission and was shocked to see the piece of art they've chosen for the main piece for Town Square.
It was amazing that such a controversial looking piece was being pushed without public comment (at this non-televised session).
For a Town Square park that is supposed to be a place to relax and reflect or to enjoy lively community celebrations, the sculpture recommended by the Arts Commission does not appear very appropriate.
Frankly, it portends of something rather vicious and threatening. May I suggest something more playful and/or serene?
Emelie McNett
Burien
I am a parent of two children that have been in the Highline School District for eight years. I am concerned with the reform math curriculum, "Investigations" (elementary school) and "Connected Mathematics (middle school), that our district has embraced in the past several years.
With all the hype lately about the importance of math and improving the math scores of our students, I am surprised that more scrutiny hasn't been given to this method of teaching.
Imagine this: You are given an equation to figure out, but not given the means to do it.
Leviticus 19:15 declares, "You shall not commit a perversion of justice: you shall not favor the poor and you shall not honor the great, with righteousness shall you judge your fellow."
From the above Biblical quote, the ancient sages of Israel knew a thing or two about political science. The greed and corruption of the wealthy is well-documented, but to "favor the poor" is also considered a perversion. Tell me this ain't true!
Not only is it true but pandering to the "victimized" masses (real or imaginary) leads to a dictatorial administrative state.
The first time I saw Sea-Tac Airport it was called Bow Lake and I was driving a 1933 Plymouth on Highway 99, a two-lane road with long stretches of nothing between Tacoma and South Park.
We lived at Star Lake and I was headed for work at Boeing.
There were some scattered restaurants like Banfield's Halfway House and The Blockhouse next to the Spanish Castle dance hall at Midway. The Ranch, Feasters, the Green Parrot, the Bluejay, and Roses Chicken were in Federal Way.
A KING-TV cameraman was arrested for obstruction after refusing multiple officer orders to move away from a SWAT incident in the High Point area. Although crews from other stations complied and filmed from other locations, this cameraman argued with officers and sergeants.
