In regards to the Sept.12 article (Housing authority could buy Lock Vista), I am opposed to the Seattle Housing Authority buying the building.

First, according to their web site, Seattle Housing Authority's mission is to enhance the Seattle community by creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable living environments that foster stability and self-sufficiency for people with low incomes. If you can afford to pay $700-800 rent, you don't need their help. And if you are a senior, then why aren't you living in the Seattle Housing Authority's attractive and well-designed senior/disabled housing buildings and only paying a flat or fixed percentage of your income for rent?

Second, if the building is more valuable to be converted into condos, then that is the way it is going to be. It is called the free market. If you don't like it, don't live in a choice neighborhood, particular one with a waterfront view. The renters got their view apartments at a below market price for many years. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

Third, nowhere in all these liberal, pity poor little me stories does anyone talk about the difficulty in finding affordable housing for those folks who choose to work hard but can't afford Seattle's typical $500,000 house so they choose to move into a condo instead. Don't they have any rights? And shouldn't we encouraging these conversions to increase the city and county's property tax base as a converted building is worth more than a mere apartment building?

Fourth, I find it hypocritical of the Seattle Housing Authority wanting to buy this building to preserve the waterfront views of its predominately "white" residents while it is trying to redevelop (bureaucrat for move them out) predominately minority really low income Yesler Terrace with its wonderful views. Why should this building be exempt? What about the property owner's rights which is never talked about in these stories? Or are we going to take their property without paying just compensation, which would be the market value after conversion, not as an apartment building?

And by the way, I'm a renter but I refuse to take the party line of the housing activist crowd.

Keith Gormezano

Phinney Ridge