Money

Oil alternative sought by Burien accountant

Though many drivers seem to be helpless in the fight against rising gas prices, one local tax advisor is helping create a company that could bring some change at the pumps.

Ian Briscoe, who owns a tax preparation business in Burien, is the chief financial officer of a new company that aims to make bio-diesel more of a regional product.

By localizing bio-diesel production, the company, Planetary Fuels, plans to reduce transportation costs that commonly cut into profit margins in the current alternative fuel industry.

Keeping bio-diesel in the state from producti

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I-946 aims to punish the poor

Several years ago, I was part of a team leading a retreat for Lutheran pastors in northwestern Washington on the theme of the church's mission to work for social justice. We asked each minister to review his or her family history going back two generations and specifically to examine their experience of work. All of them recalled a past of being hard-working, faith-filled and family-oriented.

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Column stance backed

I completely agree with Ralph Nichols’ view on national sovereignty and immigration. As one of the world's oldest current representative governments, we deserve better than to be treated like a refugee camp for people who would use taxpayer-paid services to the extent that there aren't enough resources to provide to legal, tax-paying residents.

And the argument that illegal immigrants are essential to the economy by performing jobs Americans won’t do is utterly erroneous. Don't tell me there are jobs Americans wouldn't do!

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Senator rebuts column

In response to the recent Ralph Nichols editorial that began with a quote suggesting citizens’ liberty and property are in jeopardy when the Legislature is in session, I would offer this quote from Thomas Jefferson:

"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion."

I think all of us should strive to inform, and not to inflame the people.

To that end, I would like to point out that none of the bud

Neighborhood

Proposition #1 gets an F from city voters

It's back to the drawing board for the Federal Way school district.

On February 7, Proposition #1, a $245 million bond measure to finance an extensive renovation and rebuilding plan of the district's schools and facilities, received a 52% approval, falling short of the necessary 60% required for passage.

Failure to garner enough votes for a supermajority passing thwarted plans to begin construction on new schools, a performance auditorium and an environmental learning center.

As a result, area homeowners will not see their property taxes increase for the t

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Reliable power makes us strong

When we get up in the morning, we flip a switch and the lights go on; we turn a valve and shower in hot water; and we pop a bagel in the toaster.

Reliable and safe electricity is something we take for granted in America. We assume it will always be there and realize what we have only when the power goes out.

In Washington, low cost and reliable electricity is the foundation of our economy. It is the reason energy intensive industries from aluminum production to high-tech silicon wafer fabrication are located here.

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Burien lawmakers oppose repeal of gas tax

Times/News Correspondent

The Burien City Council has declared its opposition to Initiative 912, which would repeal Washington's 9.5 gasoline tax increase that the Legislature imposed earlier this year.

Lawmakers voted 5-1 on Oct. 8 to oppose the statewide initiative, which will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Councilman Gordon Shaw cast the lone dissenting vote.

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Trail Troubles

Alex Russell

A month after the completion of a new stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail, a local business owner still has safety concerns about the trail running along industrial Ballard.

"I don't want to see anybody get hurt but the problem is the bicyclist...is the one that's going to get injured, and commerce, industry is going to get shut down," said Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil.

A central part of Aakervik's business is trucking fuel to his waterfront business.

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Bolanos favors viaduct re-build

In 1992, Angel Bolanos moved to Seattle from Ecuador without any ability to English speaking ability, but now he is running for a second time for the Seattle City Council.

He said in an interview last week that he will win the primary in two weeks.

Bolanos ran against Council member Jim Compton in 2003 and came in third with 18,000 votes. Compton was re-elected.

"I was an unknown, no one knew about me," said Bolanos. "People believe we need change."

At the time, Bolanos said he was working full time and raising a family.

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