by Jack Mayne Updating Burien’s biennial budget halfway through drew attempts to slash the budget for city police and to increase the cost of living increase for Burien city workers. After two and a half hours of back and forth, on Monday night (Nov. 16), the Burien City Council voted to delay the final vote on the changes to the biennial budget until its next meeting on Dec. 7. It also heard a complaint that police north of 128th Street in Burien treated people in a “condescending way, dismissively and, at times, abusively.” The complaint came from Jon Scherer, the candidate who lost a challenge to unseat Mayor Lucy Krakowiak in the Nov. 3 election. Increased city staff pay After a long discussion, the Council approved a slight increase in the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for employees of the city, from 1 percent to 1.1 percent, an amount that Finance Director Kim Krause said it is “very, very small … less than $10,000.” The Council during budget discussions were told by City Manager Kamuron Gurol that he was proposing a 1 percent salary increase instead of the 2 percent the Council had originally had in the 2016 budget proposal. Krause said the 1 percent figure is 90 percent of the Consumer Price Index figure and 1.1 percent is the CPI projection. Councilmember Gerald Robison moved to raise the amount to 1.1 percent. “As one of our constituents pointed out, it is not really a COLA if it does not keep up with the cost of living,” Robison said. He said the lower limit on cost of living increases was passed during a time when the city was in a worse financial situation and was done instead of cutting city staff. It is the “appropriate time” to drop the lower limit and “insure that the staff gets pay increases with the cost of living.” Krakowiak said she favored keeping staff increases at 1 percent because “we are just coming out of a tough financial time.” Councilmember Steve Armstrong asked what the dollar difference to the budget is between a 1 percent and a 1.1 percent figure and [caption id="attachment_93343" align="alignright" width="225"]BerkowitzBurienCC111615 Councilmember Lauren Berkowitz[/caption] Berkowitz wants 2 percent Councilmember Lauren Berkowitz moved to go back to the original budget proposal of a 2 percent staff cost of living increase. “A 2 percent COLA is almost so low it is not a COLA,” she said, adding it was unfair to a “hardworking staff and we want to retain the best staff. A 1 percent COLA is probably not even going to do it, but it is certainly better than undermining staff by taking away budgeted money that was already allocated to them and say, never mind, we are not going to give it to you after all.” She said she would support lower increases but felt she should “at least fight for 2 percent.” Robison said it was a cost of living amount and not a merit raise and “I believe a cost of living increase should track the cost of living increase,” but said “we have raised city staff salaries at less than the cost of living for the past few years.” Councilmember Debi Wagner said Berkowitz’s proposed raise to 2 percent would mean spending the city’s approved 1 percent property tax increase “on ourselves, again” if it went to staff salaries, that little would be left over for other city projects. Armstrong said staff people get step increases and Krause said there are five steps in each employees pay schedule and they can qualify for that merit raise once a year on their anniversary date. When they reach the top step, it is just the cost of living raise. Robison and Berkowitz were the only two members to vote to increase the city staff increase by 2 percent. Then the Council voted 5 to 2 on increasing the cost of living staff raise from 1 percent to 1.1 percent. Krakowiak and Councilmember Bob Edgar voted against the change. No police increase Berkowitz made a number of motions to suspend the increases in the city police contract budget, which is like a bill from the King County Sheriff’s Office since that agency is under contract to Burien to provide policing, over half of the city’s annual budget. First she moved to remove any projected increase in jail expenditures, then to remove all money for security cameras at Town Square and for all lighting at Dottie Harper Park and Town Square. Both motions failed because there were no seconding motions. Then Berkowitz moved to delete all increases for police officers, and this time Robison seconded the motion “so it can be discussed.” That was discussed at length and eventually, Berkowitz was outvoted 6 to 1. Putting people in jail is becoming a nationwide problem, she said, so the city needed to put fewer people in jail in order to save money, “responding by prevention instead of police activity and the best way to do that is to make sure we keep our police funded at the same level rather than to continually giving them more money.” Robison said that reducing enforcement is not the right way to lower people sentenced to jail, a better way would for the Washington Legislature to change mandatory sentencing requirements. Viable police support Deputy Mayor Nancy Tosta said the city must maintain a viable police presence as requested by the citizens. Krakowiak agreed, saying she supported increased money for police, as did Edgar and Wagner who added the money would go “to protect the public we serve.” Armstrong said, “Our primary responsibility is the safety and security of the people of Burien.” Berkowitz then said she agreed with the Councilmembers about keeping the public safe. “But police are not making the public safer. We’ve seen study after study about how increasing police does not make the city safer, does not make residents safer and, in fact, can make residents of certain racial minorities a lot less safe and that is my main concern in representing all of the people of Burien and not just a small group of Burien.” She said there were many people north of 128th who do not feel safe and that needs to be investigated “before we keep throwing more money to the police force.” “I argue that the police make the people less safe,” Berkowitz concluded. Finance Director Krause said the police request is not just for a cost of living hike, but “a big piece of the increase is in overhead … which is fixed at the beginning of the year.” She said the increase is because of increased training due to new officers being hired to replace those departments, legal fees and such. Charges for the officers are based on the hours they work for the city, she said, and there is actually a rebate of $40,000 for police hours unused in 2014 but increases in adding off-duty officers to patrol the City Hall/Library complex during evening hours. The $60,000 annual cost is shared equally with the city and the King County Library system. [caption id="attachment_93342" align="alignleft" width="225"]JonSchererBurienCC111615 Jon Scherer[/caption] Potential police tragedy Jon Scherer, who lost to Mayor Lucy Krakowiak in the recent election, told the Burien City Council Monday night that he was told by a fellow campaigner that “The Burien Police Dept. has a significant public relations problem north of 128th Street in Burien.” He said people in the area were “treated in a condescending way, dismissively and, at times, abusively. There were many people that gave me feedback that they were concerned when they need to call the police because they are concerned about the safety of their family pets. There have been several incidents when police come out, some of which I have direct knowledge of.” He said North Burien people have lost faith in the police. “Many of them have taken to arming themselves and have gone on their own to try to find the perpetrators that have committed crimes, either of mail theft, break-ins and the like. “I am very concerned that if something isn’t done to prepare the relationship between the police department and the citizens of north Burien, we will be ripe for a tragedy. Police Chief Scott Kimerer and Scherer discussed the issue later, outside the Council session, in an effort to get additional information, a city official said.]]>

Senior Reporter Jack Mayne passed away in December, 2021. In his honor we have created the Jack Mayne Journalism Scholarship.

65 replies on “Council rejects move to cut police budget, gives Burien employees living cost raise”

  1. With everything that’s happened since Friday’s attack on Paris, why would anyone think giving the police a raise is bad? John Urquhart is recommending all off duty officers carry a sidearm with multiple clips. I say all legal concealed carry permit citizens carry their firearms at all times. This is high priority. The govmnt can’t screen the Syrian immigrants.Be on high alert!

    1. Just a quick history lesson for you, Timothy McVeigh was an American citizen born and raised here, not from Syria. Bad apples fall from many, many trees.

      1. Question Authority: a history lesson for you: last I checked, the only terrorist attacks in the US and indeed in the rest of the world since 1995 have come from radical Islamic terrorists, not right wing nuts.
        Hate Ignorance: the terrorists traveled to and from the Mideast to train and then return to France to commit the acts of terrorism. Whether they were technically not legally speaking Syrian refugees is not the point: they were able to get back across the border because there basically are not borders over in Europe. It is a no brainer that terrorists have been and will try to enter the country posing as refugees.

        1. My point still stands, individuals who commit acts of terrorism regardless of the era or location in the world are called terrorists for a reason. The current flavor is “Syrian or Middle Eastern or Islamic or ISIS or??? Your point is what? You imply that all horrific acts since 1995 are solely Radical Islamic” affiliates, what about the Right Wing Nationalist in Norway who slaughtered the youth camp members on the island a few years ago? Turn off FOX new for a bit and realize your incorrect and terrorism happens all around you and not all is Islamic based.

          1. So, Question Authority: to illustrate the absurdity of what you’re saying, let me ask you a question: if you were a counter terrorist policeman in Paris right now would you be looking out for Muslims or would you be looking out for right-wing Norwegian nationalists?

          2. Actually I would be looking for the next street corner cafe so I could enjoy a piece or two of fine pastry and an espresso, much like I enjoyed last time I was in Paris. Your fervor about the latest grandiose act of terrorism is disregarding the daily acts perpetrated throughout the world by individuals of many races, national origins and religious beliefs. What about today’s attack in Mali, Africa? Yes, religious based but a much darker skin tone than Middle Eastern. So, if I was a French policeman or a member of Law Enforcement anywhere in the world, I would focus on everything and everyone as that is my job and threats are as diverse as any society.

          3. We should collectively get this blog post back to the topic it addresses.
            The fact that Lauren Bezerkoitz hates Cops and thinks increased Police budgets, cameras and lighting in known crime areas are nonsense. If she was the one rolled and robbed outside the Brewery I would tend to believe she would change her asinine position.

          4. Agreed QA. I’m thinking all of the council members should take a couple of days to ride with one of our officers to get a feel for what they are doing out there. I have to believe that taking care of bratty youth is a small part of their daily job. Lauren B seems to think that is all that they do. No wonder she thinks they are ‘given’ too much money. In reality, Burien has grown in size and population. No wonder it will cost more to have an officer arrive quickly, when you call. With the operational relationships to King County and neighboring communities, we have already done many things to cut the costs of having a police force. If anyone still has concerns about how they spend their money, why not have a citizens board to over see such expenses?

          5. Question Authority – so in Paris you would focus on people who fit the profile of right wing Norwegian bomber just as much as mideastern Muslim. common sense profiling is necessary to combat terrorism in the age we live in. Yet you would seem to waste your time looking in Paris for right-wing Norwegians. Absurd. and dangerous.

          6. I said, as I am not a member of Law Enforcement that I would be focused on fine pastry and fine coffee as my presence does nothing to stop terrorism.
            See something, say something but –it happens and it always has and always will regardless of either you or I.
            The world sucks, enjoy it while you can.

        2. Peter, you are choosing to ignore all of the hate crimes and killings at schools, shopping malls, military bases and this is to say nothing of drive-by shootings and other such sad crimes. Those numbers of dead are adding-up over the years. Perhaps they do not represent terrorists crimes to you. But, for many parents and children, they certainly do. All this said, I feel like ‘Hate Ignorance’ in that, I too do not feel any safer in the thought that many people now arm themselves as part of their everyday life. I sometimes wonder how many guns are on the buses that I ride.

          1. Sandy, being vigilant on the increased threat of terrorism in the US is not to ignore other crimes which happen every day. I think a country like the US can multi-task, don’t you? I really do not know where you got the idea that I’m ignoring other crimes. Your comment really threw me off – and usually you make a lot of sense.

        3. “the only terrorist attacks in the US and indeed in the rest of the world since 1995 have come from radical Islamic terrorists, not right wing nuts” you are forgetting all the malcontents with no ideology that shoot up school campuses because they lack social skills.

    2. The terrorists in Paris were French and Belgian. Not Syrian. I personally don’t feel safe with ignorant bigots arming themselves and roaming the streets with a self righteous air of purpose. Good god, man – invest in video games and leave real security to the police.

      1. Well then it’s a good thing that’s not what we have in Burien, isn’t it? BPD does a fantastic job with the resources they have.

  2. Wow, wow, wow, Lauren Berkowitz has outdone herself this time with her well known hatred of the Police. No real surprise as she beats that drum constantly and has the gall to say putting people in jail is the problem and it costs to much, are you kidding me! Is she that removed from reality that the principle of a civil society and laws enacted follow the age old mantra of “you do the crime, you do the time” how is this somehow vague and unknown to her? On another note, now Jon Scherer says crime is rampant North of 128th and people are packing guns? Hello! that’s what you get living closer to Rat City, and that is also why Burien has no business ever wanting anything to do with that prime destination and adding to the mess we find ourselves in thanks to Lauren “F- the cops Bezerkoitz!!!

  3. No way no how should we even think of cutting police budget. They are the backbone of our community. Cutting their budget is sending the message that the community does not think they are important. We as citizens reach out to them for help. They are our heroes in times of need.

    1. You are correct.. No one especially a council member should suggest cutting the Police budget. LB obviously has her own agenda that is NOT in the best interests of Burien residents.. However her fan club of criminals and vagrants are very happy I’m sure..
      This woman has no business being on our city council! I will be happy to donate and canvas the city for anyone who opposes her in the next election!

  4. Scherer does not represent the members of my neighborhood north of 128th. He should not make careless factless blanket statements diminishing the value of police services. Police have been called to my neighborhood many times and have been: Quick to respond, respectful, thorough, helpful, reassuring, advising, and comforting. And Berkowitz, remember you were elected to represent me, to ensure funding for communuty safety – so man up and quit your divisive agenda. Support the police – they are here for us. And by the way, when you begin your “investigation” north of 128th to find residents who feel ” less safe” because of police presence, please be sure my neighborhood is included for fair and balanced input.

    1. As a resident living well north of S W 128th, I am very satisfied with the police protection. I have no idea where Scherer gets his info, but it wasn’t from me or my neighbors.
      I feel safe walking the street at any hour and although I have been burglarized three times, the most recent was over twenty years ago. I’d feel a lot less safe if I thought there was a significant number of people walking around carrying guns for “Protection”.

  5. Let me get this straight- she wanted to say no police, no lighting in known trouble spots, and no jail time for people who commit crimes. Is the rebranding Burien is going for “Crime Capital of the Northwest?”

    1. She is just being protective of her fan club and voting constituents, her focus is skewed and disturbing. Every one in jail is innocent and was set up on trump charges by the man, just ask her.

    2. What is wrong with this woman??
      LB is bat crap crazy and is a clear and present danger to the security of Burien residents..
      Is there anyway we can impeach this abomination?

  6. Hmm interesting I live north of 128th and in our neighborhood the police as far as I can tell are doing a good job and we have a good neighborhood watch with combination of that we have had a lot less crime in our neighborhood over past year or so. Now this is just in my neighborhood but on the first ave side and around the old bernie and boys grocery store there also a few people around there that obviously on some type drug or alcohol combination I see them sitting on cement blocks a lot some are selling drugs if you sit at the taco truck you can watch in plane site I have notice a police car there a couple of times so seems as if the police are trying to fix the issues but some people in this day and age see it as police are racist because the people doing the crimes are a different race than the officer. I also hear a lot nonsense like cars speeding on first and some back roads loud stereos with bass rattling windows (nothing new there ) people walking late at night talking way to loud some using words like the n-word multiple times then few minutes later a car alarm goes off or you hear you someone arguing in the middle of night. But then sometimes the police get called but they might not get the whole story or a truthful story.

  7. “I argue that the police make the people less safe.” You have GOT to be kidding me. Who actually thinks that? How did this person get elected? Does she really want to see what our society looks like without police oversight? I don’t. The absence of common sense is simply astounding. The issue with crime is a lack of conscience. A conscience is what keeps most of us from committing crimes–we know right from wrong and we have an aversion to doing wrong. Others need to be held accountable to prevent them from committing crimes. We can better hold criminals accountable when we know what they’re up to–e.g. better lighting and security cameras. There is also a need for consequences. Since these people lack a proper conscience, we must employ other methods to shape their behavior. Contrary to what some might think, criminals don’t all have mental disorders–many simply exercise their free will to hurt others. We NEED police who can respond quickly and who have been given the means to offer appropriate consequences to keep criminals off the streets and in line. Trying to turn it into a racial issue is also a cheap and misdirected line of thinking at best. Criminals come in every color. Lauren Berkowitz absolutely does not have the best interests of the community in mind. Thank goodness the other council members are actually in touch with reality.

    1. I so agree with you BB! These two quotes left me shaking my head,
      “First she moved to remove any projected increase in jail expenditures, then to remove all money for security cameras at Town Square and for all lighting at Dottie Harper Park and Town Square.”
      “…responding by prevention instead of police activity and the best way to do that is to make sure we keep our police funded at the same level rather than to continually giving them more money.”
      And, just what does L. Berkowitz propose Burien do in the way of prevention?? (Especially with no funds??)
      I know there is a long standing antagonism between lawyers and the police, but to carry such a vendetta into the council chambers, when most people are asking the council for better security is completely unacceptable.
      Lauren B. needs to acknowledge that she has no interest in serving the people of Burien and resign

  8. It’s easy to throw money at police hoping that solves our crime problem. The best thing, however, is investing in ways to keep people from making bad decisions.
    I believe the best bang for the buck is to invest in our youth so less of them go down the wrong paths in life. Instead of trying to shoo away (or arrest) the disruptive ones at the library, as one example, we need to find ways to reach them and get them engaged with our community.
    Thank you CM Berkowitz for trying to have that type of conversation and shame on the rest of the council for not even trying to hear what the alternatives to police are.

    1. Joey, first let me say, that I am not trying to be argumentative in what I am about to say, but I don’t hear any meaningful suggestions on what those ‘alternatives’ might be. Though I know there are young and older people who need help when they are ‘down and out’ and I more than approve of finding ways to help people when they find themselves in such terribly difficult times, I also know from first-hand experience that there are many young people who choose to go down the path of ‘not being part of society’, who’s only real problem is figuring out how best to do that. They may go on this course for a couple years or well into later life depending on how successful they are in making it ‘work’ for them. The truly sad thing about such individuals, is how rotten they make it for the truly down and out. As I say, I am for help those in need. I am for providing places to bathe and do laundry and help with children and finding work when one has lost everything. But, the stinkers who play the system, and condemn it at the same time, I am pretty sure would never be persuaded to become involved in a ‘preventative plan’ unless they once again, can see how to game the system.

      1. Hi Sandy, I’ve been making those suggestions since I ran in ’13. Sorry for not repeating myself (again) on my previous post. And really with aholes like tbC it gets old – like talking to a wall.
        You seem to be a new-ish comer to the blog so here goes.
        1) Increase Parks and Rec funding. Partner with the Highline school district to open up after school activities at the local schools. Keeping the gyms open with snacks for kids allows them to stay in a supervised environment until a later time when the parents get home. Set up an area where tutoring is offered as well.
        2) Increase activities at the Parks and Rec building. There is a teen activity center but at 5pm (or maybe 6pm) they are kicked out for other programs. Where do they go? Hang out at the library and some cause trouble.
        3) Partner with a non-profit to complete the Community Center.
        Incremental steps like this get kids engaged with the community – Tested and working in other communities – instead of locking up kids and giving them a criminal record.

        1. Joey, I truly appreciate this post from you, and encourage you to repeat and broaden this train of thought. I think it could go a long way toward opening up a new path on the whole topic of change for the better for our youth.
          Along this line, I advocate more activities in our national, state and local parks along with public transportation to these parks at low and free cost to kids.
          To the south of us in Thurston Co., kids can get a summer pass that allows them to travel between several counties all summer, for under $15.00. With these passes they can ‘do the Olympic Peninsula Loop’ among many other things during their summer break. I would like to see a similar ‘summer pass’ for the Washington State Ferries.
          So many people, let alone kids, never get out to see Mt. Rainier, The Olympics, or the San Juan Islands. Our public transportation could open-up so many activities for the young and retired people, as well as tourists. (The tourist trade could help to pay for such services.) It is nuts that these beautiful places are so close by and there is no daily service to them!
          Getting back to Burien, why not have low cost bike rental and bike work shops fostered by related businesses along with outdoor cooking classes and lessons in basic rock climbing also backed by related businesses. Open-up low cost swimming and skiing classes through the winter.
          Get the ‘Community Bus’ carrying kids for free in our community to these different activities.
          I may be newish to this blog, but I remember when Burien children had access to many of the above things that I have mentioned! This is all doable. We just need to start making it happen. If ‘we’ can build a dog park, we can certainly do these other things for our children.

          1. Newish Sandy? You have been posting “jimmerish” on this site for the pastt 5+ years! Give it a rest or replace Nancy Tosta…same “jimmerish”! Your twins!

        2. Joey,That’s great for the kids and maybe it will be ok for the future, though I have my doubts. But what about NOW? What about adult crime? I’m tired of being the victim of property crimes and being told the police won’t do anything. Just file an online report and call your insurance. You answer is artwork??? You are full of Berkowitz!! BTW why call me names? I don’t recall calling you names in public before. Why stoop to that? Do my responses to you strike that big of nerve? Your favorite A-hole, TbC

          1. Really Joey, Your Youth suggestions are wonderful. Will they work? I don’t know. I think history shows that they have a low return on investment. And what about now? I am tired of being a victim of property crimes and being told to just file a report online and contact my insurance company. I’m tired of being panhandled. Your answer is artwork?? and cutting police budgets?? I am sorry but you are full of Berkowitz. Regards, your favorite ahole, TbC

    2. Gee Joey, your utopian dreams sound good for the future, but what about now? what about all the adult low life hanging out in the doorways and street corners? What about the ones cruising the streets at night looking for opportunities to vandalize and steal? Do we tell them it’s o.k.? They just made a bad choice? I really wish you would invite a few of them to your house. Interact with the family. Give them a hot meal. Send them down the path you advocate! You always seem to have the answer but I never hear of you doing anything to help those adults most in need of help(odd for such a public guy). You just seem to echo any drivel that CM Berkowitz spews. Be original. Try to help if it really is important to you.

      1. We could spend 100% of our General Fund on Police and not solve the problem of crime in our community. The Police department is a money pit, the more we pump into the PD the more we need to pump into the PD.
        Most of these increases are for OVERHEAD, not even adding additional officers to the streets.
        We need to start going after the root not trying to trim the problem.
        And really, I talk the talk and I walk the walk on what I say and do. Just because I don’t post what I do advertising myself doesn’t mean I’m not working it Beaver shirt wearing guy.

    3. Joey – the best way to ensure our youth take the right path and avoid drugs and crime is to make sure they have intact families with a mom and a dad. All the government programs in the world are no replacement for that. All the midnight basketball, community centers, etc. are no substitute for an intact, functional family. There is no magical govt. program to fix the problem – and more police, while necessary for the protection of the city at large, are just a band aid as well. If you want to fix the problem, take a look at what broke up families, then do the opposite. Hint: the answer is probably the opposite of what Berkowitz and her ilk are proposing.

      1. Peter, Whole family certainly can go a long way towards helping kids get a good start. But, I think keeping kids in school through graduation would also go a long ways to getting them ready to make use of their lives. Without basic education they are so unlikely to hold a job, go on to college or even get into the service. It is down right scary that we have had so many years with as many as a third of our kids not completing high school. This should be corrected as soon as possible. Kids need to be shown just how difficult their lives will become by not completing high school. It is still the very best deal for anyone! Free education! Oh My!! Only a fool would throw it away.

        1. You are correct, Sandy S. Completing school is a huge factor in ensuring success. Did you know that the high school drop out rate among children of divorced parents is twice that of children from intact families. There is no magical cure-all or government program to get kids to make the most of their free education. A mom and a dad is a good start though. What would you suggest to correct the high numbers of kids who do not graduate from high school?

          1. Peter, when looking at that drop-out rate, one has to take into consideration the number of divorces in modern day society. It has become so common, that it totally skews all statistics that include it. And one also has to remember that divorce is not the only way in which one may find themselves a single parent. There are a lot of terrific kids from single parent families, and a lot of rotten kids from whole families. We humans love to mess with the statistics!
            As far as I can see, we just need to make it mandatory that kids of a certain age are in school daily. It used to be this way! No kidding, if you were ‘out and about’ on a school day, you had better have an excuse from both your parent and your teacher. There were truant officers and they were looking for you! This is to say nothing of standing on the corner smoking! Geesh!!? If you were so ‘wayward’ and lacking in the self discipline to stay in school, you went to a place were that handled that. I say we go back to such mandatory enforcement. I am okay with the option to change schools if you or your parents cannot abide your local school, but if you are of a certain age you need to be in school.
            The thing is, it is not a bad thing to go to school. Really! This is like saying you have to have access to the world while you are young. It’s a good thing!

          2. Correction: If you were so ‘wayward’ and lacking in the self discipline to stay in school, you went to a place where they handled that.

          3. Sandy S, I am merely saying that we need to identify and address the deep seated factors affecting the problems our youth have which are manifested by high drop out rates, drug use, crime, homelessness and other problems. Of course there needs to be immediate responses – such as bringing back truant officers – I totally agree with you on that. Perhaps once again, we are not really disagreeing much at all, just emphasizing different things.
            Thanks for your comments.

          4. Peter, we certainly need to hear more from concerned fathers about what they think might be done to improve our community and our kids’ lives! I appreciate that you are taking the time to share your thoughts. Perhaps more of us (men and women) doing this, is the best thing we can do for our community, right now. Not all kids have families that discuss things. For those who happen to read the blog, this sassy yet serious banter might be rather surprising and somewhat revealing about how adults disagree and agree on this and that. It’s old, but still what we American’s have going for us, we get to have different points of view, as long as we don’t hurt anybody. And we will stand-up for each other even when we disagree. Disagreement happens. It’s what you do about it that is where the real learning takes place. Ask people who have been married for more than 50 years!
            I’ll be offline for a little while now, but keep posting!

    4. Believe it or not, Joey, it doesn’t have to be a one or the other situation! You too can support adequate funding for law enforcement as well as social service programs for youth!

    5. Joey
      Its exactly this kind of wrong thinking and making excuses for your buddy LB that guarantees you will NEVER be elected to the Burien city council…

  9. Joey – your love affair with CM Berkowitz is incomprehensible… The BPD are understaffed as it is and she wants to cut the budget to them?? Also not supporting security measures in high crime areas – SMH

      1. Joey…
        So now you are an expert on security in addition to your degrees in everything else under the sun.. 🙁 LOL
        Thank God they did not listen to you !

      2. Yah Joey, they didn’t respond to your recommendations as they were rolling on the floor laughing on your suggestion of artwork to stop crime. I am sure the drug dealers will get scared off from a painting of a police officer watching over our great city.

        1. I think the artwork provides a bit of psychological deterrent to would-be criminals. Given that Burien has a lively arts scene I don’t see any reason why this can’t be part of a comprehensive strategy to address crime. Even if you don’t accept Joey’s argument there is always the fact that art attracts people (with real eyes) to the areas and as such provides a concrete deterrent of witness to a potential crime. Of course, by a comprehensive strategy I mean in ADDITION to additional police and the Trespass Ordinance.
          Another great thing about Joey’s suggestion: Business owners can do this themselves by putting such art in their windows or on the sides of their buildings without involving the city.

  10. Honist question. Why would councelmember berkawitz move to remove all money for security cameras at Town Square and for all lighting at Dottie Harper Park and Town Square? How would removing these things improve safety? I just want to know the logic behind it.

    1. Travis.. I think you are looking for logic where it does not exist..
      Especially in the la la land alternate reality where LP spends most of her time!

  11. I know the police matter is important, but I would like to bring attention to the first part of the article, because it matters to me. The COLA adjustment, and how “very, very small … less than $10,000.” it is…..
    The US government says that consumer prices are down for the past year, this is why some 65 million people on Social Security are not getting a COLA raise. Disabled Vets either. In fact, which CPI was looked at that showed such a large increase in CPI?
    ” Krause said the 1 percent figure is 90 percent of the Consumer Price Index figure and 1.1 percent is the CPI projection.”
    Not only getting a COLA, but they are getting an increase in that raise as well? If the increase is .1% and about $10k then does that not mean that 1.1% would equal about $100,000?
    Would $110,000 help the police budget? I ask because I don’t know, does anyone else happen to?

  12. So we have 3 people here that live N of 128th and they have no issue with the police…So I guess that either makes Jon a liar, or there are more than 3 people that live N of 128th.

    1. OK Joey I explained how it is in my neighborhood and how the surrounding area is and yes in my neighborhood the crime rate is some what low but do to a few good neighbors that make sure to report stuff to are neighborhood watch and the police. Yes in the years past we had a few issues with mail theft car prowling and other crimes but with a few people working together . We been able to some what keep the crime away for the most part. Now I also I explained that yes there is some crime going on outside my neighborhood. See the issue is that most people don’t want to be seen as a snitch in the area so they avoid reporting things to the police then there also that every neighborhood is a little different. Like say there some car prowler that lives on next block over well in a three block radius of there home there will most likey be a raise in car thefts but that fourth block over might not have any crime or a low crime rate. Just because of walking distance and maybe perp found a unlocked car already or has shaved key.
      Also I looked at where Jon lives and the photo online shows the front of his home is covered by a hedge that unfortunately can work great for criminals because it makes difficult for the home owner to see what’s going on in the street. This is something mail thefts and other criminals look for when casing a neighborhood. I think it would be a good idea for Jon to go around his neighborhood and see how many other homes are design in a similar way and see how those homes have been affected by the crime in the area. Before blaming the police department for things that a day or two of yard work can make a difference in the crime in your neighborhood.

    2. One can take Jon at his word on what he’s heard from those he has spoken to, but it would seem that they are not a representative sample of the area. Still, I’m sure our police would be happy to work on improving their relationship with the small segments of the population that have issues.

    3. I’ve been harassed for giving free bread to a homeless girl and her dog by Burien police. Jon’s statements are accurate.

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