Business Week's best selling book called "The Tipping Point" describes how New York changed itself from a crime-ridden city to a Jewel of Pride in a few short years.

It was based upon the broken window theory. The idea is that if you see an abandoned house and one person throws a rock and breaks a window, another will do the same, thus creating a downward cycle in the homes and neighborhood.

They found the opposite is also true; little positive changes pay huge dividends. They started by arresting those people who would jump over the toll stations at the subways. At first, the police, due to the low fines and huge time consumption, ignored this. But when motivated by public option, even government can be effective and efficient. They cut this down to less than 30 minutes per violator. In addition to this, they removed all subway cars with graffiti until they were repainted. It worked well.

Well, what does this have to do with Burien? We have the same people panhandling for four years around Burien, and many being brought in daily from downtown to do the same. Someone runs this business and gets paid a fee from the panhandlers for a drop-off and pick-up service.

Not that I am against helping people. I, like most Americans, pay my taxes and tithe to the churches. No other country in the history of the world "has or is" giving as much. But it is like anything else; I cannot force you to eat fresh fruits and vegetables vs. fast food. If I have a weight problem, it is my choice not another's.

We have people living under the library, parks, etc.

We also have little gang members selling drugs to the kids at the bus stop one block from the station. (Not that I am against the police--they do a fine job and I am proud of them)

Do you see this in Kirkland? No, you do not, because their self-worth is much higher than this. Does anyone know that the new town square property is selling for over $350 a square foot and a few blocks away homes are selling for $2 million more than many homes in sought after Madison Park or Kirkland

Burien is no longer a second-rate city. Isn't it time for our self-image to grow up as our city already has done.

Do you vote Yes or No for a first class Burien?

Bill Cullins

Burien