I have lived in Kirkland for nearly 25 years, have raised my family here and operate a small consulting business. I was shocked and dismayed by the lead article in the Reporter that the Kirkland City Council plans to vote on a resolution for annexation, minus assumption of debt by the PAA.

Enough is enough. After months of debate, the residents of the PAA rejected annexation under the terms proposed and according to election rules. It doesn’t matter how many voters didn’t vote on this issue and it doesn’t matter that it was close. The proposal failed. It is now time to consider the wishes of current Kirkland residents who have been largely ignored to date. It seems that annexation has held dubious benefits to Kirkland residents all along and for the council to subsequently overturn the results of a fair election, give the PAA a free ride and saddle Kirkland residents with all past debt and increased future expenses would be a travesty.

It is time to drop annexation and focus on keeping Kirkland a great place to live. The PAA had its chance and they turned it down. Let the election results stand and let us move on.

David B. Crooker, Kirkland