I put off responding to the accusations made by Jeff Upthegrove in the Times/News' Sept. 20 Letters column. Like most of the people of Burien, I prefer to stay in the background on City government debates, let the community activists on either side of the issue be loud and outspoken, take the heat for their arguments, and ask the tough questions.

The debate over whether or not Burien should annex North Highline is one such issue. While I do not agree with some of the words or tactics used by the opponents of the proposed annexation (or proponents for that matter), I was offended when Jeff made his accusation that anyone that was against the annexation was either an elitist or a racist.

It's funny how, in today's world, if someone disagrees with your views; he is either ignorant or intolerant. I am neither.

It is every Burien resident's right-no, obligation-to question how any proposed change in his city will affect them and their family. Only the ignorant will say, "I have no idea who's right about the financial impact of an annexation, and I don't really care."

Citizens know that, in general, a city has no money that it does not get from its citizens and businesses in the form of taxes and fees.

If the city proposes taking on significant additional financial obligations, it will affect their taxes, fees, and level of services. If they are going to pay for annexing North Highline, what's in it for them?

Proponents say it will make us more diversified. Burien is becoming more diversified every day without annexing other areas. How is moving the city line north going to change that?

It makes good bragging rights for the city government, but may not increase the quality of life for the current Burien residents. I doubt that Burien residents only shop within the city limits, only visit within the city limits, or only eat within the city limits. Whether or not we annex North Highline, we will still shop there, eat there, and visit there.

If Seattle annexed North Highline, would we cease going there? The diversity of the area is really unaffected by our decision to annex or not-but the cost to Burien residents may well be.

Jeff says that opponents to annexation are opposed because of their "cynical, self-centered desire to keep away "undesirable elements." If Jeff is talking about crime, everyone wants to keep crime away from their neighborhood. Unfortunately, there is already crime in Burien, already crime in North Highline.

Whether or not we annex North Highline, they will still be our neighbors-and criminals will still move back and forth across city boundary lines.

If Jeff is talking about keeping away different races or economic classes (an offensive accusation), again, whether Burien or Seattle annexes North Highline does not move people, only boundary lines and costs.

Unfortunately, Jeff has not made any convincing arguments on why Burien should annex North Highline, only made wild accusations against the opponents of the annexation.

Burien residents have every right to ask what will it cost, where will the city get the money, and what is in it for me if I agree to help finance this acquisition?

If they don't think that they are getting complete answers or that the city has looked at all of the alternatives to mitigate the costs, they have the right to demand better answers-and not be accused or elitism or racism instead.

After all, the cost of annexation will be borne by Burien's rich and middle-class and poor of all ethnic backgrounds-who have the right to ask, "What's in it for me?"

Steven Rea

Burien