I write this letter to point out something very important missing from Southwest 152nd Street nearest Ambaum Boulevard Southwest. It is the disabled access on the south side of the street.

There is no "lip" or ramp for people to use, nor is there even a disabled parking spot on that side of the street. I suppose that one could use the north side of the street and wheel their way across the street, but why should anybody be forced to do that?

And what about those who use an assistive "walker," force them to do that much walking across a busy street?

I also suppose that one could use the ramp that is at the crosswalk, but that would require the disabled person to make their way to the street to use it. Needless to say, that is not good for anybody, let alone someone using a walker or a wheelchair.

Didn't the city of Burien just remodel the street for better access to the retail establishments? I can tell you of a few people that won't be accessing those stores and restaurants right now.

I had heard that the city of Burien did not want to put any disabled parking spots on the street. Is that true? And with the Northwest Paralyzed Veterans Association building just across the street, I cannot believe that it is true.

It must have been an oversight on the city of Burien's part, and on the part of anyone else involved in the planning of the new, more "accessible" street.

I cannot imagine how embarrassing it was to the planners when they finally realized about their oversight. It would not have cost the city much more to paint one or two of the parking spaces with the disabled symbol and put up a sign.

It also would hardly have cost anything to put a lip or ramp near one or two of the parking spaces so people with mobility issues could more easily have access to and dine at the restaurants in that area.

For what reason was the street renovated in the first place if the city is unable or unwilling to offer accessible sidewalks? Wasn't that the whole reason why the street was renovated - for easier access to the shops?

I await a fix to this problem and so do the rest of the residents of Burien.

Tom Fletcher Jr.

Burien