UPDATE: White Center annexation hearing coverage on WCN

| West Seattle news | White Center

7:05 PM: If you’re interested in tonight’s Boundary Review Board hearing – the next major step in Seattle’s proposal to annex White Center and vicinity – but couldn’t be there, we wanted to let you know we’re chronicling it live on partner site White Center Now – just go here.

9:36 PM: The first night of the hearing is over; more people are on the list to testify, and that will resume at 7 pm Tuesday. When everyone who wants to speak has spoken, the board will deliberate; if that’s not done within a few hours tomorrow, the board also has set aside Thursday as a potential third night.

Marty June 14, 2016 (10:36 am)

Just what Seattle needs, more problems.

WSB June 14, 2016 (10:43 am)

And there are those who say Seattle would cause problems. Whatever your sentiment, if you want to be on the record with it, the public testimony continues tonight, 7 pm, same place, all welcome. It’s not a final decision – eventually the Seattle City Council would have to decide whether or not to send it to North Highline voters, and then they would have their say – but it’s an important one. – TR

Smokeycretin9 June 14, 2016 (1:34 pm)

Maybe White Center is a problem BECAUSE it isn’t really governed by anyone. It’s a no man’s land between two cities. MAYBE if Seattle had it, some of the lawlessness would go away.

Marty June 14, 2016 (2:10 pm)

“White Center isn’t really governed by anyone”. Really? My point is that the area has an above average level of violence, crime, shooting and gang violence. Is that what we really want to add to our city? Will that suddenly turn White Center into a peaceful, cultural center?

AMD June 14, 2016 (3:04 pm)

Yes, really. KCSO has, what is it now, three officers for all of North Highline? Not three at a time, three total. No special investigative task forces for gangs or other units. And way less regulation on other things like parking and such that also make the unincorporated area a more enticing place to set up shop than Seattle.

White Center’s issues and eventual fate affect people who live and work near the city line a LOT. Incorporation would be great for them. Even if that were not the case, I’m not personally inclined to keep people segregated just to try and keep “their” crime out of “my” neighborhood.

Seattle has the resources to effectively manage this now-urban area. Residents shouldn’t have to live without these services just because there are criminals taking advantage and setting up shop next door. If anything, the crime issues are an argument FOR annexation.
AmandaKH June 14, 2016 (3:24 pm)

Actually Marty, the “violence, crime, shooting, and gang violence” you are referencing is actually in South Delridge – on the Seattle side (or right on the line at Roxbury). Or maybe like many folks, you consider anything on the south side of Barton St. to be White Center. Delridge community advocates have long been trying to bring awareness to the fact that the city have spent 0 (zero) capital improvement dollars in the Westwood/Highland Park Urban Village in the past 20 years. And because of that neglect, and declining support from King County, the area is in serious trouble. It is better than it was, sure, but without a serious investment from the City, your West Seattle neighbors will continue to bear the brunt of the crime. So, Yes! Let’s annex White Center! Yes! Let’s do some joint planning and get serious about supporting this diverse and long undeserved community.

Diane June 14, 2016 (3:52 pm)

I went to the hearing last night to learn; pros/cons; I
would suggest others do the same; way too much misinformation circulating

Space Dust June 14, 2016 (7:16 pm)

The only reason Seattle wants to Annex is tax revenue…

What you will get with the Annex,

Seattle sick leave

Seattle $0.05 bag fee

Seattle minimum wage

Bicycle lanes

Higher taxes on all your utilities

…and the list goes on.

rob June 14, 2016 (8:28 pm)

guns going off every weekend on alki car theft through the roof in seattle homeless encampments all over the place in seattle 300 cops short in seattle can ‘t wait to be part of that party

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