For at least three issues of the Highline Times, Vera Wunderlicht has ranted on about how democracy is not working correctly in Burien. Vera has raised false assumptions and written a number of derogatory comments about Marco Spani.

It is clear from the content of Vera's letters that Vera has never read the 1997 Burien Comprehensive Plan, the 1997 Burien Environmental Impact Statement or the state Shoreline Master Plan guidelines.

Additionally, Vera has not done any historical research on Burien or Washington state.

There are hundreds of privately owned lakes in Washington state. These lakes and the submerged shorelines were fairly sold by the state to private owners. The private owners have cared for and maintained these lands-not the general public or general tax dollars. Most of these private lakes are so small and limited in function that they cannot and should not be open to physical public access by thousands or hundreds of people annually. It would degrade and destroy their ecological functions.

While the water in these bodies belongs to the state, the state does not advocate (as the first priority for their use) opening them to the general public.

Vera seems to assume that the major purpose for the shorelines and the waters of the state is that they be human public playgrounds. However, by law, the state and federal government disagree with Vera. The priority for the use and protection of the shorelines is as follows:

1. Recognize and protect the statewide interest over local interest
2. Preserve the natural character of the shoreline
3. Result in long term over short term benefit
4. Protect the resources and ecology of the shoreline
5. Increase public access to publicly owned areas of the shorelines
6. Increase recreational opportunities for the public in the shoreline
7. Provide for any other element as defined in RCW 90.58.100 deemed appropriate or necessary.

Public recreational access is the lowest priority for the use of the shorelines. Some waters of the state have been banned from general public access for health and safety issues. Vera does not understand the Shoreline Master Plan and how democracy works.

We did not see Vera giving testimony during the Shoreline Master Plan process in Burien. Vera is not a registered voter in the state of Washington. Vera-if you really exist under this name-register to vote and take the time to read the relevant city, state and federal documents on the shorelines topic before ranting weekly about how democracy does not work.

Robert C. Howell
Burien