This is now week two of Kirkland being the 12th largest city in Washington.

Unfortunately, I can’t get very excited about it. As a resident I fail to see the positive side of growth.

Perhaps if I were a city council member or the mayor I would feel some enhancement to my ego, an increase in “bragging rights.”

I have yet to hear a compelling argument for this expansion. It certainly wasn’t an example of democracy in action.

As near as I can tell from news reports the only group satisfied with the outcome were those individuals who forced it to happen. Perhaps there was more support for this annexation than is evident.

We will never know because the original residents never had the option of stating an opinion via the vote. Individuals in the annexation area did have an opinion, but were overruled by city hall. It’s reassuring to know that seven people can divine the will of what is now 80,000-plus city residents.

Chuck Bonin, Kirkland