A number of reader friends have asked me what I think about Burien's long studied plan to annex the whole North Highline area including Boulevard Park and White Center.

My answer is I want what is best for the residents in the area. We now live in Burien and we don't vote on the issue but having lived in both areas, my feeling is if any city takes over those areas being abandoned by county Executive Ron Sims because he does not want to continue losing millions of dollars then Seattle is best suited to subsidizing the area.

It is richer and has a lot more power. The big Emerald is far more able to stand the losses than little old Burien.

Mayor Greg Nickels, who often comes to Burien for lunch, says he loves the contested area very much and seems determined to snatch it out the arms of Burien's City Council. Yet, strangely, his own council has been dragging their collective feet ever since Ron Sims threatened to stop perhaps vital services.

I am not sure if he can legally do this but a number of Seattle's council are not sold on the wisdom of taking on Mister Sims' funding problem.

I am no expert on the subject but I am puzzled why either city wants to take on the burden.

Does having greater numbers in population give a city greater clout for federal and state grants? Is there some political advantage in state legislative races having more Democrats or Republicans? The contested areas are most assuredly Democrat.

Do I have a bias? Am I afraid of higher property taxes in Burien? I admit I am concerned about taxes hurting some on fixed incomes. Our newspapers have always supported improving schools and providing the best police and fire protection.

We have taken the lead for civic improvements parks and playgrounds working with activists like Dottie Harper, Cyndi Upthegrove and Gertrude Finney, and political leaders Paul Barden, Ed Munro, Dow Constantine and Dave Upthegrove, to name a few.

Elsbeth and I both started in White Center and have numerous friends on both sides of the present city limits,

We have lived there, worked there, laughed and cried there. And want only the best for the people who call it home on both sides of Roxbury.

We have always been a White Center booster, our kids went to Evergreen High and we resent the people who think it is funny to refer to it as Rat City. It is NOT funny or clever. It is degrading.

FITZ QUITZ and

that is the PITZ

Kevin Fitz, first famous for being a star paper carrier for me at the White Center News when he was 12 has decided to hang 'em up and close his doors at Burien's immensely popular Meal Makers restaurant.

What am I and thousands of others going to do without his great Chicken Squeezer salad?

Caught in the middle of the battle between the Burien City Council who want his location for a road in the upcoming town square and the Strobel family, owners of the building and lot Kevin, accepted $35,000 from the council to cover what he spent on attorney fees. The city also will pony up money for his business.

I asked him to lend me the money instead of going to a casino or visiting Acapulco and he said it is going back in the bank. He wouldn't say what he plans to do but I told him his old paper route might still be available.

I jest but it is sad.

However, Kevin is a fighter and will probably land on his feet somewhere. It is the community that is wounded.