POLL: Are Shoreline and Its Residents Too Litigious?

While discussion about important issues around the city and the schools on the surface appear to be civil, beneath the surface is the dirt digging on each other and in-fighting.

Generally, it's not handled on the street or even in the public square, it's handled by lawyers, public records requests, City Council and School Board public comment periods, human resources, and so on.

Neighbors sue neighbors—especially in Innis Arden— the city is sued by its residents, and developers  are sued by everyone, (they even sometimes refer to themselves as evil.) Sometimes as in the case of the Shoreline Historical Museum a legal battle between the museum and the school district was ended by negotiating by both parties-—eventually, after some stand-offs—and deal making attorneys who came in and mopped up and mysteriously a solution is reached, which no one really understands, can explain or is willing to explain—but everyone, it seems, agrees and moves on. 

The secret, closed-door executive sessions of the School Board and the City Councils are often used to discuss litigation and the discussions, for competitive reasons, are not public. The public often finds much later how often local governments end up in civil court and for what—much of it, besides the splashy stuff, doesn't get a lot of attention.

Sometimes hearing examiners, arbitrators and mediators are called in to answer disputes. A lot of the time, the party with the better lawyer wins, sometimes its a mixed bag, and then there's appeals until someone's money or motivation runs out.  

Here's some recent examples: A groundbreaking was held in June at King's Schools for their new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) building with city officials present. However, there are neighbors still trying to fight the project and get concessions from Crista due to environmental concerns.

The Richmond Beach Congregational Church and Hopelink are teaming up to build transitional housing for families on the church's property in Richmond Beach but there's a group of neighbors that have organized against the project, claiming that it will bring down their property values. This one's still brewing. Expect lawyers to join the fray if they haven't already.

Trouble is also brewing on the Ronald Wastewater Board as two commissioners voted to increase the size of the board to five members, over the objections of new board member Bob Ransom. The city is gearing up to overtake Seattle Public Utilities water system and then Ronald Wastewater per a 2002 agreement. The city wants to save ratepayers money and consolidate, it's possible that this too could turn into a major legal fight.

So we ask you Patch readers, is Shoreline too litiguous, and is this couterproductive and a reflection of flawed, trigger-happy lawsuit society? 

Or is the level of legal action a healthy sign that people are engaged and care about what this city's future holds?

Is there a better way, or are people too committed to their own interests and causes to reach much common ground?

Tell us in the comments and see our poll below.