[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of South King Media, nor its staff.]
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the integrity of Linda Akey, a candidate for Burien City Council. Her testimony raises questions about her credibility and ethical conduct.
In this video (embedded below; UPDATE: View the entire video here, which includes the full discussion Akey had with Charles Schaefer at the Mar. 31, 2023 encampment removal), Ms. Akey falsely claimed during a council meeting that a citizen had authorized an encampment. However, the video clearly shows the citizen stating, “I don’t have the authority to authorize.” This discrepancy between her testimony and the facts is deeply troubling.
A candidate’s honesty and transparency are crucial qualities for public office. I believe Ms. Akey should retract her false statement and acknowledge the truth. Vilifying local volunteers based on misinformation is counterproductive to our community’s well-being.
We need representatives who prioritize truth and the welfare of all residents, rather than advancing personal interests. I hope this issue will be examined by our community, ensuring our leaders genuinely represent all of Burien’s residents.
Thank you for your impartial coverage of local affairs.
Sincerely,
JJ Greive
Akey Responds
We reached out to Akey for comment, and here is her response:
“Charles abused his power and was rightfully removed from the Planning Commission by the City Council. I support the camping ban passed on Monday night. We must stop enabling homeless encampments and start working on sustainable solutions that get the unhoused off the streets and into safe and humane housing. Until we make that our goal as a community, we will not be able to have the conversations necessary to make it happen. In the meantime, people are suffering. It is important to discuss these issues, even if we disagree respectfully.”
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this is a desperate attempt by councilwoman Moore’s supporters to try to discredit her opponent. we all see past it!!
Linda Akey’s assertion that Charles abused his power is preposterous. Charles was simply informing citizens of their rights, which is well within his constitutional prerogative as a citizen. When we stifle citizens from exercising their constitutional rights, we risk transforming our community into something unrecognizable. Such a perspective raises serious doubts about Ms. Akey’s qualifications to run for city council.
Linda Akey said, “…We must stop enabling homeless encampments and start working on sustainable solutions that get the unhoused off the streets and into safe and humane housing. Until we make that our goal as a community, we will not be able to have the conversations necessary to make it happen.”
That sounds good. But, it is vague. I would sincerely like to know what Ms Akey’s specific goal and solution is, for safe and humane housing for all in Burien.
My experience with Linda Akey was minimal but she isn’t a team player and has difficulty when things don’t go her way. I suspect Burien is a stepping stone for her.
My experience with Linda Akey is that she is not cooperative with other team members and is overly emotional.