Posted Thu, Dec 29, 9:58 p.m.

Nice try, crossrip... but I did not suggest that it was cheap to build transit or that I preferred our taxing system here. I suggested that it was cheaper and more sustainable than building new highways and expanding existing ones. As for my "ignorance," the construction of the tunnel will ...

Posted Thu, Dec 29, 9:25 a.m.

This is as funny to read a second time as it was the first! Much of what is "wrong" with Seattle is due precisely to voters and thinkers like VanDyk. Look at his closing paragraph where he takes a swipe at transit. Monorail, light rail and streetcar are cutesy wastes ...

Posted Mon, Oct 3, 2:15 p.m.

I'm not buying this, either, Roger... The Neighborhood Movement is alive and well and doing just fine in many corners of our city. One of the bigger problems is that the City no longer supports these efforts in the same way it used to. Funds for staffing support and resources ...

Posted Mon, Aug 1, 1:22 p.m.

Tunnel proponents always say the Embarcadero is not a good comparison... Well, it carried roughly the same exact traffic as our Alaskan Way Viaduct does. So you can argue all you want about whether or not it was actually connecting traffic to important places or not; but the real question ...

Posted Mon, Jul 25, 9:03 a.m.

There were actually THREE hearings held -- one in each service area. The first hearing was held in Kirkland on July 6th.

Posted Thu, May 5, 10:02 a.m.

Interstates 5 and 405 are NOT over capacity... Don't confuse congestion at particular times with capacity problems.

Posted Fri, Dec 3, 10:14 a.m.

I'm surprised that a businessowner seems to care so little about what happens to his shoppers before or after they enter his shop. I guess all that matters to him is if they give him money or not. Folks need to understand that it is indeed true that our local ...

Posted Thu, Dec 2, 11:10 a.m.

I'm not sure I would blame local leaders in Seattle for utilizing the only tax options that Olympia will give them or that the public supports. Sales tax is simply the main tool available for transit agencies to use here. You don't think Metro or Sound Transit would love to ...

Posted Mon, Nov 22, 1:38 p.m.

Good ideas... but can we make sure this time that we don't just kick off another inevitable cycle of pricey buildings gentrifying the area and bringing in new residents who complain about "all the homeless" and "street people" that make them feel afraid (and who were here long before the ...

Posted Fri, Nov 5, 2:12 p.m.

How can you say TriMet doesn't impose a property tax? They just had a bond measure, backed by property taxes, defeated at the polls. And while a payroll and self-employment tax may sound just fine (with a rate increasing to 0.6918% on January 1, 2011), it seems a little silly ...

Posted Fri, Oct 29, 3:57 p.m.

I'm not all that impressed with this piece... I see plenty of whining, without much evidence to back up the complaints. More importantly, I don't see enough of a call for political involvement on the part of citizens. If you don't like the Mayor's policies, that's fine; but he was ...

Posted Tue, Oct 5, 6:05 p.m.

After slamming you in comments elsewhere, it is nice to see a more thoughtful and lengthy response from you. I still think maintaining service is more important for a public transit agency than increasing wages, but I especially question your concern about wages when Metro drivers are amongst the highest ...

Posted Fri, Oct 1, 12:13 p.m.

The tunnel "solution" STILL requires a 4-lane highway on the waterfront... and anyone can easily look southward to San Francisco, or to other cities around the country and world, for beautiful waterfront boulevards that are destinations places to be.

Posted Fri, Sep 24, 12:35 p.m.

Here's my problem with I-1098 proponents... I AGREE with the following statements that "Washington has a regressive tax system," "We depend too much on the sales tax," and "Washington violates its constitution by under-funding education." HOWEVER, those three statements can exist entirely independent from each other; and the solution to ...

Posted Wed, Jul 28, 2:11 p.m.

Seriously? This is the best Godden and the other pro-tunnel folks can do?? This isn't hard to figure out. It's simply common sense to assume that cost estimates on a major project like this could be wrong -- just like bringing a contractor or plumber into your home. I'd have ...

Posted Thu, Jul 15, 1:05 p.m.

I get that many (MANY!) people are tired and frustrated... and just want to get something done already. However, let's be clear here on a couple of facts. This bored tunnel proposal has not been considered for 10 years. It was never voted on by voters - yea or nay. ...