I didn't know whether to laugh or cry while reading Marco Spani's letter to the editor last week. Does he, my fellow Burien citizen, really think that allowing public access to public property is analogous to touring the gardens of private homes? If so, it confirms my suspicion that some waterfront residents in Burien actually believe that the water itself belongs to them.

What else could the gardens represent in this analogy other than the water? Well, I have news for you, Mr. Spani - the water belongs to all of us. Despite that fact, you're currently enjoying the exclusive use of it.
Having no shoreline to walk along precludes 99 percent of Burien citizens from using a piece of property that belongs to them. This is what the majority of Burien citizens would like to see changed. Contrary to statements in the Highline Times, the community isn't "split" on this issue.

The article you reference cites the "statistic" gathered from a group of under a hundred people who came together to...oh why should I explain to you about the Vision for Burien meetings, Mr. Spani? You and your friends were all there! And, as usual, your well-organized, highly vocal, and well-funded group of concerned citizens flooded the meetings with the monomaniacal fervor to which we have all become wearily accustomed.

Unfortunately for the rest of us, Burien wasn't incorporated until the early '90s and so reasonable zoning laws weren't in place to help us all avoid this debacle in the first place. By 1993, the residents of Burien had gotten sick of out of control development and voted (some of those votes were surely cast by your waterfront owning ancestors!) to incorporate.

Well, with the privileges of incorporation also come responsibilities to our fellow citizens. And while you can, and will, continue to fight against access when you speak publicly (and privately - Ruth Dykeman property deal anyone?...), hopefully our almighty democracy will eventually triumph over your almighty dollar.

Luckily, it seems your financial and political power doesn't extend to Olympia. Personally, I sent a letter of thanks and support to the Washington State Department of Ecology for standing up for the majority of Burien citizens in their response to Burien's proposed Shoreline Master Plan. I implore others who feel similarly to do the same.

Vera Wunderlicht
Burien