‘Beginning of a conversation’: Seattle rep pitches annexation to standing-room-only White Center crowd

(Also published on partner site White Center Now)

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Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog/White Center Now co-publishers

Just because White Center (and vicinity) voters said no to Burien doesn’t mean they’re ready to say yes to Seattle.

That was abundantly clear during tonight’s standing-room-only annexation “conversation” at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge, barely a block south of the city-county line.

Some in attendance loudly voiced skepticism and outright distrust of the city’s motives and even suitability.

Others asked simple questions about what changes annexation would bring.

The city’s longtime point person on annexation, Kenny Pittman, led the discussion, saying he wanted to offer “basic information” and answer questions, and promising more meetings and “outreach.”

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He’s been working on the annexation issue for 12 1/2 years, he told the crowd of 50+, which included White Center community advocates and entrepreneurs.

He recapped why it’s on the front burner now – as first reported on our partner site White Center Now, Governor Inslee has signed a Legislature-passed bill that will divert millions of sales-tax dollars to Seattle to cover the costs of taking on the added residents and acreage.

Early on, he said annexation isn’t going to happen overnight:

If the city seeks and gets Boundary Review Board permission and the county sends it to voters in what remains of unincorporated North Highline, the earliest vote would be November 2017, and a “yes” vote then would lead to annexation taking effect in early 2019. Or, the timeline could be a year behind that, Pittman said.

Arriving late due to a transportation snarl, Karen Freeman from King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s staff underscored what the county’s message has long been – that the area must be annexed, because the county is not equipped, nor intended to, provide urban services.

Some wondered why White Center couldn’t become its own city. That was studied, said Freeman, but there just wasn’t a big-enough population/tax base for that to work.

That answer did not go over well with everyone.

But the informal presentation, and Q/A, ran to the basics, too. Such as – who would provide services, if county residents became city residents? The North Highline Fire District currently serves the area; its fire station on SW 112th would become a Seattle Fire Department station, said Pittman, and services would be provided as needed from north of Roxbury as well (West Seattle has five fire stations; South Park has one).

The Seattle Police Department would add officers, Pittman said, mentioning the number 40, at one point. Several outspoken attendees clearly believed they would be needed, repeatedly mentioning concern over Seattle’s crime rate, and the fact that some Seattleites are augmenting police with private security. Safety isn’t just a matter of police, Pittman countered, saying watchful neighbors are vital too, even where he lives (which, he volunteered, is in the Thurston County city of Lacey).

For schools, the area would remain with Highline Public Schools, until and unless HPS and Seattle Public Schools sought and reached some sort of agreement, which would then require approval by the Puget Sound Educational Service District. That sort of agreement is not currently being sought, it was stressed: “At this time, we are not looking at that at all.”

Pittman suggested that North Highline would get extra educational services as a result of annexation anyway, because of what the city has added on, including the Families and Education Levy, and the new Seattle Preschool Program.

He also declared that property tax would be lower after annexation, and acknowledged that would sound impossible, given the current complaint that people in Seattle are passing tax levies nonstop. The reduction, Pittman suggested, would be because residents would no longer be paying special levies for basic services such as roads, fire, and libraries.

That last point is one of contention, because King County Library System’s brand-new White Center Library is opening soon, a library for which WC community advocates and library supporters fought long and hard, built years behind schedule. The city and county are talking now about its fate, but at the very least, KCLS might continue managing it for a while after annexation.

Other questions – What would the transition for businesses be like? The question came from Proletariat Pizza proprietor Mike Albaeck:

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The city has a business tax, Pittman acknowledged, though it’s not charged to those making below $100,000 a year. A business license is required. And while some might be concerned about Seattle’s so-called $15/hour minimum wage, it’s not up to that level for anyone yet, and small businesses currently are paying $12/hour, said Pittman.

He added that it’s not just a matter of paying and getting nothing in return, the city offers economic development. And that’s when a skeptical attendee spoke up passionately, saying White Center isn’t just “the unincorporated area,” it’s a small town, one of the last “blue-collar neighborhoods,” with a lot of pride. “I don’t want to see a Starbucks on every corner,” she declared, accusing the city of “ignoring us … forever.”

She was countered by longtime White Center resident and former Chamber of Commerce leader Mark Ufkes, who said he’s been talking with Pittman for the dozen or so years that Seattle annexation has been an on-and-off possibility.

ufkes

But, he warned, if Pittman was going to be the only Seattle rep evangelizing annexation, “(it) will be voted down.”

More skepticism followed. The first questioner declared she considered the Seattle City Council to be “weird.” (The council would have to sign off on sending annexation to North Highline voters.)

questions1

Questions about zoning veered into concerns that developers would “run amok” as they are perceived to have done in Seattle, and would densify the area. What would happen to zoning? Pittman was asked. Freeman suggested that was a bright spot, as Seattle has a community-planning department, which the county does not have, though it did just hire a planner to work on Vashon Island issues.

Pittman added that the planning would involve adjacent neighborhoods as well, such as Highland Park and Roxhill, as had been requested by the nearest West Seattle community council, Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights CC (here’s our coverage of the recent meeting at which that was discussed; Pittman had spoken there about the annexation process’s status).

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Members of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the potential annexation area’s lone community council, were there tonight, and asked pointed questions too.

(corrected) Another attendee wondered if Seattle would increase the amount of low-income housing in White Center. Pittman said the area is not and would not be a “dumping ground.”

How would annexation affect transit? an attendee asked. The county is responsible for it, but the city has been paying extra to buy additional service, Pittman mentioned, funded by the Seattle Transportation Benefit District‘s sales tax and car-tab tax.

What about parks and the birds they draw? Pittman replied that they would be transferred to the city.

Seattle would not take over all utilities, though – the areas served by sewer and water districts would keep that service (some of the potential annexation area has water service from Seattle Public Utilities, and that would continue).

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A mix of information and consternation continued until the meeting closed at 6:30 pm as promised; Pittman thanked everyone for taking time “on a beautiful day” to show up and speak up.

WHAT’S NEXT: No schedule yet for the promised additional meetings. Pittman said the city will have a website and other ways of obtaining information. You can also watch the Boundary Review Board’s site for meeting agendas – proposed Seattle annexation would have to show up there, and go through board hearings and decisions, long before getting to voters.

P.S. A Seattle Channel crew recorded the meeting; we’re checking with SC to find out about plans for broadcast/webcast. … 11:16 AM: SC tells us they were shooting for a report on the public-affairs series City Inside/Out, expected to debut “late next week.”

46 Replies to "'Beginning of a conversation': Seattle rep pitches annexation to standing-room-only White Center crowd"

  • WenG March 18, 2016 (7:53 am)

    Beginning a conversation = you’ll be priced out within five years. Kent uber alles.

  • dsa March 18, 2016 (8:08 am)

    White Center can then be destroyed by Seattle developers like West Seattle has if they annex.

    • AMD March 18, 2016 (8:37 am)

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Seattle have MORE regulations and limitations for developers than unincorporated areas?

      They don’t decide to develop a lot (or neighborhood) just because it’s in city limits.  If anything it will be nice to have more say in the developments when they do happen (as they will eventually whether the area is incorporated or not).

    • John March 18, 2016 (9:32 am)

      dsa,

      Exactly when was West Seattle destroyed by developers?

      Uninformed nonsense? 

      Or intentional false propaganda?

      Just read a few of dsa’s many  posts for an extremely negative  perspective.

       It’s as if dsa is attempting to fulfill a false prophecy. Post one hundred times that West Seattle is ‘destroyed’  by development and maybe a few will believe it.

      Perhaps dsa also decried when the old RAT WWII housing project was destroyed and the beautiful new Greenbridge community was developed.   

      It is always interesting the life of a lie versus truth.  

      Someone falsely posts that Camp Long is being sold to developers and now I reinforce that lie by pointing out that it was false, as did WSB Editor, but the casual reader take-away becomes a distilled, “I heard they were selling Camp Long”.

  • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (8:28 am)

    Sorry I missed this due to work.  I’d have loved to put my two cents in, especially given all the incorrect nonsense my neighbors seem to believe (that Seattle taxes are 2x White Center’s,  or that King County can do anything to stop run away development, for example) and what I see is a real need to have White Center become incorporated. 

    When I moved back to Seattle in ’07, I couldn’t afford a garden shed, much less a house, anywhere else in the city, so I settled in White Center.  I love it and I love my neighborhood, but I’m so, so tired of everyone treating it like the wild wild west.  WC is my home, not the place to dump your stolen car, or open your shady weed business, or any business that doesn’t want to pay a living wage.  I’m tired of my streets and parks being filled with yahoos coming here shooting off fireworks until the wee hours of the Fourth and leave their trash when they drive back to Seattle or Burien.  I’m sick of the criminals taking advantage of the under-policing and using WC as their meeting place to exchange drugs or gunfire, sick of the ‘speed limits and stop signs’ are optional “because it’s Rat City”.

    Complain and fight it if you want, that’s certainly your right, but annexation is going to come.  And for me, it can’t be soon enough.

  • RF March 18, 2016 (8:37 am)

    I’m curious: how is White Center’s unincorporated status preventing developers out of Rat City?

    • RF March 18, 2016 (8:38 am)

      …I mean “keeping developers out”

    • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (9:42 am)

      It’s not.  But that’s not how fear mongering works.   “If you incorporate you’ll be sorry…” implies that not incorporating will somehow prevent development without having to, you know, explain how that’s ture with facts or evidence.  It allows personal bias to connect the dots. 

  • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (8:39 am)

    @DSA  and @ Weng – See this is the uninformed nonsense I’m talking about.  You say “you” and “they” – meaning you don’t live here.  So quit rambling on with your personal biases about something that you don’t know anything about or have any stake in.

    Development?  What is keeping development from happening in White Center?  Nothing.  What can the citizens of White Center do about it?  Nothing.  The County has no oversight, no staff or budget to ensure even the most basic of city planning duties.  The people of Seattle have a review board and a process for citizen input.  White Center has none of that. 

    Priced out?  Sorry, Weng, that ship has sailed away never to come back.  You think remaining unincorporated is going keep house prices down?   BH Realty stopped by to tell me I can sell mine for twice what I paid; something several of my neighbors have already done.   Housing prices are rising city, county, metro area-wide, and that trend is NOT going to magically reverse because “Rat City!!”.

    • datamuse March 18, 2016 (10:00 am)

      Heck, housing in Tacoma, while still cheaper than in Seattle, is rising in price at a faster rate than in Seattle. It doesn’t surprise me at all that White Center is getting more expensive too. I live in Highland Park myself and come to W.C. often, and I’d guess I get half a dozen letters a year from flippers offering to buy my house. (In fact we are planning to move but not because of housing prices; we want acreage and you’re not gonna find that in the city!)

    • WenG March 18, 2016 (11:35 am)

      Forget me not, I live in White Center.

      Burien isn’t a winner in the economic development dept, so a no-vote there is no surprise. Voting to become part of Seattle means you get more, you pay more,   Development will be dense.  These aren’t necessarily bad things but if people want more control over where their money goes, it’s wise to compare incorporation vs annexation.  Do you agree with the political and civic tilt of Seattle govt? Paying taxes in Seattle doesn’t mean lower crime.  Check the stats. It doesn’t mean better services for the money you’ll pay. It definitely means higher rents for renters, of which I am one.

      Here’s to the next bubble.

  • Denise March 18, 2016 (8:56 am)

    My property taxes went up 1,000.00 in one year. I live just north of WS

    • AMD March 18, 2016 (9:16 am)

      I assume you mean WC.  Property taxes are rising a lot because they’re based on property values which are rising a lot.  The more your house is worth, the more you’ll pay in taxes on either side of the city line.

      The tax rates are lower in Seattle than North Highline/WC which means residents pay less per $1,000 of assessed value in Seattle.  

      • Craig March 18, 2016 (3:42 pm)

        Again, AMD… I have to correct you.  Property taxes are NOT “rising a lot because they’re based on property values which are rising a lot.”   As the county website explains, an increase in value does not necessarily
        mean a higher property tax.  Your assessed value determines your share of
        the total tax to be collected, relative to everyone else.  Excluding voter
        approved measures, total taxes collected can only increase by 1% each year.

        http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor/Common-Questions/Residential.aspx

        If Denise lives on the Seattle side, her property tax took a big jump because of all the voter approved measures that have passed in the last year.

  • Al March 18, 2016 (9:22 am)

    This is about one thing and one thing only. To increase TAXATION. 

    • AMD March 18, 2016 (9:38 am)

      Seattle has lower tax rates than North Highline/White Center.

      • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (9:59 am)

        But, @AMD, TAXES.  I said TAXES.  I’ll put my fingers in my ears and “la, la, la” when you ask for facts, figures, statistics or anything that doesn’t play on people’s fears, because…TAXES!!!!!!

  • dsa March 18, 2016 (9:25 am)

    The crime issues should be solved by funding King county.  Money keeps getting  tossed around and never hitting the correct targets.

    As for the presenter, ask yourself, why has Seattle been paying him to work on annexing White Center for the last 12 1/2 years?  White Center is supposed to be banging on city hall, not the other way around.

    BTW, forgotmyname, I used to live there, and do alot of my shopping there.  My bank is there.  I had to quit seeing my dentist there because her building was not ADA.  I think I know WC.  It would be a shame to see it go the way of WS, but it is your unfortunate choice to make.

    • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (9:55 am)

      “used to live there” .  But don’t.  So, please do not stoke the fears of WC to satisfy your personal opinions.  “The Seattle area is over developed” is a fine statement, and one I agree with.  “If you incorporate, it’ll happen to you!” is pointless fear mongering that falsely assumes that saying “no” to annexation is going to prevent over-development.  

      And funding King County?  You want us to pay more taxes because you oppose a neighborhood you left making a decision you disagree with? 

      The annexation or incorporation choice is not going to suddenly lead to WC to “go the way of WS”  over-development with a “yes” nor is it going to prevent development with a “no”.  So, please stop incorrectly telling me and my neighbors that that’s our choice.  

  • AmandaKH March 18, 2016 (9:36 am)

    That must be some magical pot of gold residents of WC are guarding.  I’m a big fan of annexation for many reasons, and I have worked actively for the past two years on the issue of incorporating WC into planning for the Westwood/Highland Park Urban Village.  I spent several years before that on art programming for WC.  But let’s be clear here folks, annexation is not for the benefit of Seattle.    I am more than a little disappointed in the attitude of folks in the meeting last night.  

  • WSB March 18, 2016 (9:57 am)

    @dsa – White Center is NOT supposed to be banging on City Hall.

    The state’s Growth Management Act says that urban areas are supposed to be part of cities – see (4) in this section. And the county’s been basically trying to unload its remaining urban areas (see a bit more explanation in our coverage of what Karen Freeman said at this annexation forum before NH rejected Burien in 2012).

    While our coverage of this does not go back as far as the earliest days of Kenny Pittman’s involvement, it does go back eight years (we started White Center Now in 2008) so we’re steeped in backstory. As we wrote several years back, Seattle had dibs on the remainder of unincorporated North Highline but told Burien before the 2012 vote that they were welcome to have first crack at it. Burien had a city manager at the time who was so intensely interested in that, he was a regular speaker at every meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, keeping community advocates up to date on what was happening in Burien.

    But then in fall 2012, voters in the area said no to Burien. Burien subsequently had a City Council and city manager turnover and went on the record as saying they had no interest in pursuing it further. So now it’s Seattle or nothing.

    Certainly many factors to consider … for example, if you think Seattle PD is understaffed, check out KCSO, which sometimes has two patrol officers for the entirety of the area including two major unannexed urban zones, White Center/NH and Skyway – that makes the count for SPD’s SW Precinct look positively luxurious. On the other hand, WC really appreciates its Storefront Deputy – a role that is somewhat similar to the Community Police Team officers in the city, but in some respects goes beyond.

    I’m not arguing for or against annexation – we don’t make endorsements/recommendations – but whether you oppose or support it, facts are vital. And that goes with factchecking what was presented last night – I’m hoping it will be relatively easy to find comparably valued  houses on both sides of the line and look at the tax situation, for example, as it currently stands. 

    Not to be dismissed, either – what does this City Council think about annexation? The last one was skeptical at best. District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold is not a wholehearted supporter, though hasn’t said definitively that she’s opposed, either. But if five councilmembers don’t support sending it to the ballot, it’s a no-go.

    I could go on but will stop here! – TR

    • forgotmyname March 18, 2016 (10:07 am)

      Tracy,

      Thank you!  FACTS.  The issue of WC annexation has for too long been framed by folks (most of whom don’t even live in WC) playing to resident’s  fears on taxes, crime, development, etc. with unfounded claims and personal biases.

    • Question Mark March 31, 2016 (11:16 pm)

      Re: taxes on both sides of the city line. One place to look is the Burien city line at S 116th St. between the area annexed by Burien in 2010 and unincorporated White Center at present. Burien’s tax rate is about 3% lower than the White Center rate in 2016. Possibly not significant, but Burien’s property tax is certainly not higher than White Center. 

      On the other side of White Center, across Roxbury, take two properties in either jurisdiction and subtract out the schools component of both. Then add the Highline Schools levy, $5.1553 per thousand assessed valuation, to the remaining Seattle tax rate. The result comes in about 5% lower than the current White Center tax rate, a bigger difference than between Burien and White Center now.

      What will tax rates be in 2019? Who knows, there are many future tax levies in the winds right now. Is King County able to raise its tax rate significantly in exclusively unincorporated King County between now and then? Not likely.

  • John March 18, 2016 (10:02 am)

    dsa,

    The presenter explained why annexing WC has been on his agenda for a decade… because it makes efficiency sense and is  good for Seattle and good for White Center..  

    As he said, annexation would provide increased funding from the State, better cohesive policing and fire, early childhood education, better wages, better urban services all around and Seattle’s much stricter zoning & building regulations.

    It sounds like dsa is familiar with the old deteriorating White Center, before the vibrant ethnic emergence now followed with the embrace by young urbanist whites opening businesses such as a bicycle shop, coffee shop, cannabis shop, pizza shop, ice cream shop, brew pub, bar, burger joint and other new restaurants.  

  • captainDave March 18, 2016 (11:44 am)

    I can definitely see where White Center businesses would be strongly opposed to Seattle’s anti-capitalist bureaucrats.   I was looking into starting a business in White Center, but don’t want to risk being eventually targeted by corrupt Seattle licensing officials, so we are heading further out of the area.

    • John March 18, 2016 (12:32 pm)

      captainDave,

      Such  outrageous charges imply some knowledge, care to share any proof?

    • Joe Szilagyi March 19, 2016 (3:54 pm)

      “I was looking into starting a business in White Center, but don’t want to risk being eventually targeted by corrupt Seattle licensing officials, so we are heading further out of the area.”

      Yet most businesses thrive with customers, which you will have more of the closer you are to the biggest population center in this quadrant of the entire nation…
  • Chicken4dinner March 18, 2016 (1:38 pm)

    I live in White Center and I’m voting for the annexation because my neighbors have a flock of roosters that crow at all hours of the night and day. Chickens? Fine. Roosters? Those things sometimes start crowing at 1:30 a.m.

    There are lots of other reasons for/against annexation, but keeping unsuitable farm animals out of the city is my reason.

    • RickB March 18, 2016 (4:35 pm)

      I wonder if you live near me? My neighbor has a flock of roosters too, if by “flock” you mean two. Though they are very loud for their small size and number.

      (Pro-annexation, WC resident since 2008.)

      • Chicken4Dinner March 21, 2016 (12:14 pm)

        @RickB – Oh goody, there’s multiple neighbors with roosters! Mine has more than 2 but under 10.

  • dsa March 18, 2016 (2:40 pm)

    Roosters is a good reason to vote yes.    Roosters do not belong in crowded environments.  The law Tracy quoted is all about density.

    WC is assumed to join up with someone else.  I haven’t found a reference to this, but I believe that they can incorporate to be *all by themselves*.   Then they could contract with Seattle or Burien for vital services such as police, and handle whatever else they want themselves and nix the rest.  WC could then have 100% control over their own destiny and not be subject to the Seattle silly council.

  • Jon Wright March 18, 2016 (3:28 pm)

    As a Seattle resident, I personally think these unincorporated areas becoming a part of Seattle makes the most sense and would welcome them. But if the affected residents don’t want that, I do not want to see Seattle expend any effort trying to convince them. Let the locals try to form their own insufficiently-funded city or hash it out with King County. Perhaps then they’ll realize Seattle isn’t such a bad option after all.

  • C March 18, 2016 (9:39 pm)

    “I don’t want to see a Starbucks on every corner,”  Really ? Get a reality check…. if Hiroshima Japan can have 17 Starbucks… I think White Center will get as many as Starbucks wants….. 

  • Eric March 19, 2016 (9:09 am)

    So would this mean that our already thinly (news just stated Seattle is in desperate need of at least 200 more officers, while head of the police guild said at least 200 to 400) stretched Seattle police force will then have to patrol White Center?  

    • WSB March 19, 2016 (9:38 am)

      Yes, but they would have money to hire more, as noted in this story. However, as the staffing report (which we have covered before along with the issue in general – the stories last night are because it’s going to a City Council committee next week) and related discussion point out, hiring is a long process, and the department is dealing with attrition such as retirement. There would be at least a year between annexation approval and annexation actually happening. Would that year be enough time to bring even more officers on board? Big question to answer. – TR

  • Eric March 19, 2016 (10:37 am)

    So they will have money to hire if annexed, but aren’t they short of police presence nowbecause of King County is policing them? Are they giving money to King County now, as they would according to your report, they would give to Seattle to help hiring? 

  • Jakers March 19, 2016 (11:49 am)

    Please keep in mind why there is a push from Seattle for this to happen (and this is all verifiable in the city’s 20 year plan which is freely available on line).  

    If Seattle does not drastically increase the amount of low-income and “affordable” housing that it has available, it stands to lose a large amount of federal money; federal money that has already been allocated to other projects and won’t be able to be spent of upgrading White Center’s poor infrastructure.  WC has a large amount of housing that falls into those categories and would fulfill the federal requirements. 

    Seattle also plans to concentrate low-income housing in WC (and Skyway if that is ever annexed).  If that sounds like a plan to keep certain things “out of sight, out of mind” it should.  The term “ghetto” should also come to mind.   

    The infrastructure of WC is sorely lacking currently; where is the money for fixing that going to come from?  The state sales tax money?  Do you think that money will be spent in WC, or somewhere else?   Or will WC just deteriorate further (ala South Park)?  Can all problems be fixed in 6 years when the sales tax money will go away?

    Do you really think that policing will get better under Seattle?  The city has already said that they need to increase SPD’s numbers by at least 200; this does not include 40 more for White Center, and this does not take into account replacing people who retire; where are these 240 cops going to come from?  Where is the money for them going to come from?

    Residents of WC, please do not forget this.   The city of Seattle is not doing this for altruistic reasons or because it will benefit WC; it is being done because it will benefit the city of Seattle as it exists today.

  • West Seattle Resident March 19, 2016 (2:20 pm)

    @Jakers,

      So it sounds as though Seattle’s plan is to concentrate low income housing in WC, and also underpolice it? I think my favorite part, was when you inferred that Seattle is going to turn WC into a “ghetto!” Wow!  I’m sure the Seattle  City Council has meetings every day on how to ruin WC! 

     White Center currently does not have the funding to incorporate.

    King county no longer wants it.

    White Center (the part left) has voted not to be annexed by Burien. 

    Burien does not want it.

    How much clearer does it get?

     I am sure that Jakers could write a much more melodramatic post about what will happen when King County finally decides to stop providing services to the area still left. Maybe we will see on under policed ghetto then..

    As a side note, how WC is doing socioeconomically affects all of its neighbors. So it DOES affect others, not just the people who will vote if there is a vote.

  • North Highline Unincorporated Area Council March 19, 2016 (6:26 pm)

    Something that deserves clarification in the story:
    No one on the NHUAC board made any such comment that “White Center would
    become a “dumping ground” for low-income housing”. Concern regarding
    the concentration of more low income housing was expressed by an active
    community member – but the term “dumping ground” was actually made by
    the city representative, Kenny Pittman. The story should be corrected to
    accurately reflect how the term “dumping ground” was used.

  • Margie March 20, 2016 (7:08 am)

    I don’t know what there is to “converse” about. White Center can’t be its own city (at least not with taxing residents to a level that is higher than even Burien or Seattle) . They didn’t want to be part of Burien, the county wants to get them off their plate so Seattle is inevitable.

    The rest of the county is subsidizing White Center, which enjoys the amenities of a city without having to pay for it. The same can be said for Skyway. It’s time for them to step up.

  • My2cents March 20, 2016 (1:10 pm)

    I live in WC and own a rental home in WS. Over the last 3 years my homes assesed values have increased; WS  32%, WC 26%.  The property tax on WC home is 1.5% of assesed value. The property tax on WS house is 1.05%. My WS home is assesed about $80k higher than the WC house but the total property tax paid is less. So the “higher taxes” argument is lost on me. 

    As far as development goes, I believe annexation will bring more. Ask a home developer/builder how he feels about new residential projects in unincorporated King County. Most will say “too much time/effort”, some will say “won’t touch it”.  The extremely understaffed, underfunded county  permitting dept has been compared to a trip to the DMV during coffee break. The City of Seattle has streamlined the permitting and building process even with the added planning, and WC is ripe for development with all of it’s oversized and vacant lots. 

  • Question Mark March 22, 2016 (4:55 pm)

    It’s interesting that so many aspects of what will happen should annexation be approved were forward-looking, but the Seattle minimum wage schedule was not. Minimum compensation in Seattle is required to be fully $15 for all employers on Jan 1, 1999, the earliest possible annexation date …

    • WSB March 22, 2016 (4:58 pm)

      2021 is the first year all workers will be at $15 or higher.

      http://murray.seattle.gov/minimumwage/#charts

      • Question Mark March 25, 2016 (9:53 am)

        My comment in particular was that the meeting discussion revolved around current 2016 wage requirements, when annexation isn’t proposed to be implemented until 2019 at the earliest. It’s just not accurate to be talking about 2016 wage rates in conjunction with the annexation conversation.

        That being said, minimum compensation is, in fact, required to be $15 per hour for all employers beginning Jan 1, 2019 [1]. Until 2025, when the minimum wage will be the same for both small and large employers, some employee compensation for employees of small employers may be optionally paid in the form of tips and/or medical benefits. Small employers whose employees are not tipped and which do not plan to provide medical benefits must pay the entire minimum hourly compensation in cash.

        [1] http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/minimum-wage/small-employers

  • Melissa March 26, 2016 (11:58 am)

    Try proposing Seattle and West Seattle, like Birginia and West Virginia. If West Seattle became a city itself more would consider White center being in the city of West Seattle than Seattle. Good luck

  • Melissa March 26, 2016 (11:59 am)

    ‘Virginia and West Virginia

Sorry, comment time is over.