Open Letter to Council: Preserve the Heart of Burien - Protect Businesses & Public Well-Being

“Change will happen when Burien stops being owned by outside interests, period.” - S. Locklear

This letter is from Burien-News reader and long-time Burien resident Sandra Locklear.[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Burien-News or Daniel Media. If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.]by Sandra Locklear.I recently submitted the following letter to the Burien City Council (BCC) in support of the small business Aya Yoga Oasis in downtown Burien, to whom we are grateful for courageously speaking out and for encouraging others to do the same. But after speaking out, this business, which serves as a sanctuary from the chaos of life, was subsequently targeted and its power wires were cut.In my letter to the current iteration of the BCC, I hoped to provide a bit of historical context on how we got to this low point in our community and suggest a way out. Our local yoga studio is not the only small business being affected; I have received a myriad of complaints from other businesses downtown. Folks can go to the City of Burien’s website to read all letters to the BCC.

Dear Mayor Schilling, Deputy Mayor Mora, and Councilmembers Garcia, Akey, Matta, Moore, and Andrade,

I am writing to you as a resident of Burien for fifty years, over which time I have seen and experienced a LOT of change, some of it NOT for the better in our fair city.For example, the growth of a homeless encampment and open drug markets in downtown Burien. This situation has become a critical issue, not only for businesses and patrons but also for the vulnerable individuals who find themselves without shelter and in the grips of addiction.While I understand that homelessness and drug addiction are complex issues requiring thoughtful solutions, I’ve been stymied by the lack of action from this city council to address this growing crisis. The encampment and drug market are not only a public health and safety concern but also a humanitarian one. It’s untenable and demoralizing for ALL as the continued presence of these encampments and associated illegal activities threaten local businesses and the welfare of Burien’s residents.Word has it that small locally owned businesses may be forced to close. The roots of this destabilization hark back to Burien’s 2017 city council, which was elected with an influx of big money from outside interests which changed the tone of our home-town elections and then radically changed the direction of our city. It was an ugly, contentious election, setting neighbor against neighbor. Since what is happening now is the evolution of that u-turn the BCC took back in 2017, I sincerely thank this BCC council for doing its best to course correct.Because the question is, who is really in charge here? I was a part of the City of Burien’s much-anticipated incorporation event in 1994. Long term residents have not forgotten the main reason for becoming our own city: to separate our community interests from Seattle‘s stronghold/stranglehold. That reasoning still stands today. The BCC ought not be capitulating to the bully on the playground.Change will happen when Burien stops being owned by outside interests, period. Inaction on this critical issue is unacceptable and won’t be forgotten, just as the history of our fair city is still remembered by some.Please consider the long-term impact of your response to this crisis and act swiftly to preserve the heart of Burien. The well-being of our community members, both housed and unhoused, depends on your leadership and decisive action for the greatest good of ALL concerned.Respectfully,

Sandra Locklear50-year Burien resident

[NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.][caption id="attachment_15968" align="aligncenter" width="594"]

Homeless Tent Encampment at 152nd and 2nd in Burien (image by Burien-News)[/caption]