Opponents of the annexation of North Highline by Burien reacted negatively last week to the city's decision to declare the full unincorporated area a potential annexation area.

"The decision by the Burien City Council to declare all of North Highline as a planned annexation area is not in the best interests of our communities," according to North Highline Trusted Advocates leader Sili Savusa.

"Burien is a nice town, but does not have the resources or history of working with large ethnic minority populations."

And the White Center Home Owners Association restated its position that Burien annexation is the least best option for North Highline neighborhoods.

Homeowners association members support remaining unincorporated, or if we must annex, then Seattle is the better option," said Mark Ufkes, association president. "Generally, a Seattle address makes our homes more valuable, and property taxes paid in either Seattle or Burien are almost exactly the same, now that the monorail tax has been cancelled.

"Yet Seattle fire, police and other services are far superior to services available in Burien"

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels supports annexation of the entire are to Seattle and the Seattle City Council is currently studying the issue, Ufkes noted.

"If Seattle declares all of North Highline as a [potential annexation area], this will allow Seattle, Burien and the county to work together to find solutions to annexation that meet the needs of the majority of residents."

He added that White Center "needs a government that will facilitate community-driven, neighborhood-friendly, economic development. Our business district has great potential."

Burien studies suggest that if the White Center retail area succeeds, it will compete with downtown Burien, Ufkes said.

"It is our view that Burien will not invest in our retail districts due to this perceived competition."

With a large minority population, White Center also needs the "same commitment" that Seattle has made its minority population neighborhoods," Ufkes concluded. "We are confident that Seattle will make that commitment."

Trusted Advocates represents the large population of limited English speaking and ethnic minority residents in North Highline to make their voices heard and involve them in the community planning process.

In December 2005, Trusted Advocates coordinated a community meeting on annexation, allowing the 200 participants to use electronic polling to identify their annexation preferences, after participating in a series of discussions on services that Seattle and Burien could make available into our communities through annexation.

Based on that electronic poll, almost 60 percent preferred to be annexed by Seattle, said Mengstab Tzegai, a Trusted Advocate member and former Highline School District board member.

"Our families understand that city government services available in Seattle can make our neighborhoods stronger, increase affordable housing, and assist first generation immigrant families in securing the American Dream for themselves.

"It appears to me that Seattle looks at us as neighborhoods, while Burien looks at us as real estate. This concerns me."