Regarding the (July 29) Mark Pitzner letter:
Again the issue of public access to Lake Burien is clouded with irrelevant statements.

Public access would violate no property rights. The citizens have a legal right to the surface of Lake Burien because it is a public asset and a public right of way.

However, they do not have physical access because it is surrounded by private property. Some of the public already uses the lake, they just happen to be waterfront property owners.

What we have is a public resource now available for the exclusive use of a privileged few. If the city were to buy property on the lake for a park, it would not violate anyone's property rights.

Mr. Pitzner states, "The city of Burien has been contemplating ruling that the public suddenly has the right to use what was once formerly (sic) private property."

If that was true, I'd join him in opposition, but I challenge him to back the statement up with some sort of evidence.

Lee Moyer
Burien