RE: "Residents not toasting runway," Times/News Dec. 17.

Good article but I truly do not understand why smart people like Mayor Sheckler would believe the Port of Seattle on anything having to do with the airport.

The Port has continually misled people.

When they expanded the runway across 188th it was supposed to the last runway expansion.

The Port will not be satisfied until they can rival O'Hare and pave over half of Burien.

Just look at the Port's current and past performance. They continually have problems with audits, contracts, and personnel and year after year nobody gets seriously punished.

We elect commissioners as reformers and they either are outvoted by the established commissioners or they succumb to "the dark side" and become the establishment.

Until the Port is able to kick the property-tax habit, and change its apparent "free public money" attitude, nothing will change.

Larry Hughes

SeaTac