As King County Executive Ron Sims pointed out recently, over 59 languages are spoken in unincorporated North Highline.

Almost 50 percent of our 32,000 residents are from communities of color.

As newly elected members of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and as members of communities of color, we acknowledge the initial efforts of the Council to facilitate public discussions regarding annexation options for our neighborhoods.

We have noted, that very few members of communities of color have participated in recent public forums.

Last summer, the UAC completed an annexation survey of 1,500 North Highline residents. We estimate that around 5 percent of those interviewed were from communities of color, while we are actually 50 percent of the community.

We also have concerns that a complete comparison of the vast differences in services that will result between a Seattle annexation, versus a Burien annexation, have not been effectively presented by the North Highline Council during public meetings.

Based on these concerns, we recommend the following to King County Executive Ron Sims:

A moratorium on annexation declarations by Seattle or Burien until a more effective outreach to communities of color can be developed

We note that many in our communities are not yet homeowners, explaining one factor in why the minority communities are so severely underrepresented in the study outreach. In our view, the study also did not effectively use interpreters during its limited focus group discussions.

Explore segmented annexation for neighborhoods that are closer to Seattle or Burien

Some on the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council have been declaring that all neighborhoods in North Highline must annex in unison, completely to Seattle, or completely to Burien. We feel that this narrow perspective is limiting neighborhood options, and potentially will reduce the choices that North Highline residents have.

A non-binding advisory vote by neighborhood should be scheduled for November 2006

We will be working with the King County Executive to recommend an advisory vote, by neighborhood precinct, in November 2006, as the first step in moving towards more formal annexation votes held in November 2007.

This advisory vote will allow all registered voters to declare, and rank their preferred options (remain unincorporated, Burien annexation or Seattle annexation), neighborhood by neighborhood, and will assist us in determining which neighborhoods prefer an association with which city.

Karen Veloria

Boulevard Park

Doris Tevaseu

White Center