In a post on his blog today, city council president Richard Conlin explains why he still thinks the city should annex the North Highline and White Center areas of unincorporated King County, despite the fact that the council voted last week to put off discussing a potential annexation measure until 2012.

Citing advantages like diversity, the potential for development and redevelopment, the fact that many existing Seattle neighborhoods don't pay for themselves ("Georgetown, Lake City, Broadview, Beacon Hill, they are all money pits"), and the fact that lax policing in unincorporated areas adjacent to Seattle impacts public safety in Seattle, Conlin writes,

While I respect the concerns of my colleagues, in the long run costs are manageable.  Our Central Staff review noted that “. . . the City could manage to the annual operating expenses indicated on the lower-end of the range. . .” of approximately 1.8 million per year. Given the level of variability in our budget and the likelihood of overall economic improvement by 2013-2014, this is a manageable number.

I hope that we do have more certainty in 2012, and that Seattle does move forward with this unique opportunity.  We will never know what the people of North Highline want unless we give them the chance to vote on their destiny.