Posted Wed, Nov 11, 9:18 a.m.

Nicandri has done a good job with the History Museum and this sounds like a cool exhibit. But maybe his successor will allow the opening of the gate that irrationally blocks direct access to the "Bridge of Glass" heading from Pacific Ave. over I-705 to the Museum of Glass. The ...

Posted Fri, Sep 18, 8:47 a.m.

Nothing symbolizes the failure of Sims' regional leadership quite like when he quit supporting light rail extensions as soon as the plans for the Central Link in Seattle were essentially complete. Tacoma needs to be connected to the airport too. Interestingly, plans for that extension were in large part a ...

Posted Thu, Sep 17, 7:58 a.m.

Great article -- the only one I've read on the topic that accurately describes the plan's dam removal plan, which includes contingency upon contingency. Douglas, go to www.lightintheriver.org and read the "Bright Future" report -- it shows we do have clean alternative power sources. Besides, if we're going to protect ...

Posted Fri, Sep 4, 8:56 a.m.

Gov. Kitzhaber (and Gov. Kulongonski, Sen. Merkley, and Rep. Blumenauer for that matter) has shown that NW politicians can be rewarded at the polls for taking strong stands on issues like salmon and steelhead recovery in the inland Northwest. Unlike Gov. Gregoire, Sen. Murray, and Sen. Cantwell, Kitzhaber has been ...

Posted Thu, Sep 3, 9:09 a.m.

Good points. Wright Park, near downtown Tacoma, is a good example of the kind of recently revitalized, multi-use park that attracts a diversity of people and activities. Other communities would be smart to try and emulate Wright Park's success.

Posted Fri, Jun 5, 11:45 p.m.

Wow, bear bait, that was quite the tangent. I thought lower Snake River dam removal was about doing the most effective thing to get salmon and steelhead back in abundance to the most extensive extant spawning and rearing habitat remaining in the Columbia Basin. Not to mention restoring a free-flowing ...

Posted Thu, May 14, 10:42 a.m.

Lincoln needs to get out more. Everyone who's lived in an area with a good mass transit system knows that rail transportation is more comfortable and more convenient. The same will be true here, especially with a newly-built system.

Posted Tue, May 12, 1:16 p.m.

Why does the headline say Seattle to Vancouver when it should say Eugene to Vancouver (after all that's what the article is about)? High speed rail is no less needed south of Seattle.

Posted Fri, Mar 13, 10:16 a.m.

A very informative article. Thanks. Gives one hope for journalism in the area after the printed P-I is gone. Count me as a supporter of a state income tax.

Posted Fri, Feb 20, 10:24 a.m.

I wouldn't go as far as Lady Be Good (with the exception of the four lower Snake River dams, which are very bad for fish and can be replaced without building new nukes), but the NW Power Act, as implemented by BPA and the NW Power and Conservation Council anyway, ...

Posted Thu, Jan 29, 10:22 a.m.

We can do this in Washington state as well -- moving up the timeline of Elwha dam removal from 2012 to 2010 would help create jobs on the Olympic Peninsula this year and help kick off Puget Sound/Salish Sea restoration with a bang (literally). The project is shovel ready and ...

Posted Tue, Jan 27, 8:55 a.m.

I'd like to see the Mountain renamed Tahoma. While we're at it, let's rename Pierce County to Tahoma County. Why name yourself after a crummy president when you've got a beautiful mountain in your backyard? It might help the county understand that they've got something worth protecting from more poorly ...

Posted Fri, Jan 23, 3:23 p.m.

You underestimate the basis for and extent of Tacoma's progressive center. It's not just the University of Puget Sound or Ladenburg's name familiarity that makes the North Slope, Hilltop, 6th Avenue and downtown neighborhoods progressive, it's the diverse demographics and urban/labor history. Democratic Tacoma -- at least until you get ...

Posted Mon, Oct 20, 12:01 p.m.

Thanks for covering this issue. I hope Norm Dicks is listening!

Posted Fri, Sep 19, 12:28 p.m.

RE: GOOD OLD DAYS: Tacoma is unquestionably better now than in 1970. Not even a comparison.

Posted Fri, Aug 8, 4:09 p.m.

It's not either/or: I don't think there's as much of a gap between what Chasan and Fletcher believe as Fletcher seems to think. Of course Puget Sound restoration requires that urban areas clean up pollution hotspots, reduce current sources of pollution, and improve development patterns. But spending millions to restore ...

Posted Fri, Aug 8, 4:03 p.m.

RE: Fix it first: I don't think the article was suggesting that farming in the Skagit Valley be eliminated...

Posted Fri, Aug 1, 11:36 a.m.

it'll take more than personal habits or local laws: To reduce global warming and generally protect the environment, we need strong federal and international policies limiting carbon emissions and other unsustainable practices. Voluntary actions/cultural changes and good local and state policies can play a role, but without good policies on ...

Posted Mon, Jul 28, 12:10 p.m.

RE: 1950s Democrats with a 1950s Tax Structure Trying to Fleece the 2008 Obama Voter: I thought that it was how the Puget Sound area finally got a light rail system. I'm looking forward to voting "yes."

Posted Tue, Jun 24, 12:10 p.m.

South Sound transit: Pierce Transit Route 1 is indeed a useful and well-used bus route -- but it's very slow. It needs its own right-of-way, either as BRT or as a street car. As a frequent Sounder Train user who rides a bike from near downtown Tacoma, I'm not inducing ...

Posted Fri, Apr 18, 1:21 p.m.

RE: Gregoire and Precedent: What the heck are you talking about, Doug? -Another Tacoman

Posted Fri, Apr 18, 1:19 p.m.

RE: Great Transportation Plan: Freedom to drive? There is no "right" to drive any more than there's a "right" to mass transit (both roads and mass transit are in fact "public transit," at least for now). Society gets the transportation systems it chooses to invest in, and people use the ...

Posted Wed, Apr 16, 1:14 p.m.

RE: ecovery Is a "Bottomless Pit": Snoose -- I largely agree that BPA funding is a bottomless pit aimed more at sidestepping tough biological and economic questions than at salmon recovery. It has, however, at least bought some time for some listed salmon stocks, and helped protect some healthier runs. ...

Posted Thu, Mar 6, 12:44 p.m.

RE: Tacoma smelly?: Tacoma is much better than it was 20 years ago in virtually every respect. But the aroma, diminished as it is, still wafts over downtown when the wind's blowing from the wrong direction, and it still limits the city's growth potential and its quality of life.

Posted Fri, Feb 15, 3:25 p.m.

The Columbia Basin connection: Many scientists have noted that restoring Columbia-Snake river runs is a key to restoring Puget Sounds (mostly) resident orcas. All the more reason for the feds to finally write a stronger salmon recovery plan (one that includes removal of the four lower Snake River dams) for ...

Posted Sat, Dec 15, 11:42 a.m.

So what would you do for Tacoma?: You say investments should be focused on King County ... how are you going to get us pro-transit Pierce County voters to support the package? I say bring back ST2 sans roads.

Posted Wed, Nov 28, 11:16 a.m.

RE: Dam removal: Besides, the Skagit dams don't have major negative impacts on salmon -- in fact, they're certified as low impact dams by the Low Impact Hydropower Association. They were built in a very beautiful place and destroyed a lot of forest and riverine habitat for non-anadromous fish, but ...

Posted Tue, Nov 27, 5:29 p.m.

RE: "No obvious intellectual surprises" -- only seeing Chasen's poor research: I think the article provides an interesting perspective on the legal tug of war and the options from here on. How would you improve it?

Posted Tue, Nov 20, 4:32 p.m.

RE: What's wrong with tolling?: Tolling can be reasonably socially just if a good share of the proceeds go toward improved public transit. It's not good enough to have them simply pay for the road's upkeep.

Posted Fri, Nov 16, 12:47 p.m.

Give UWT a break: UWT is a new campus -- of course it's not a major, ranked school. Yet. If UWT grows over the next 10 years as it's grown over the last then, pretty soon we will start seeing something that resembles the UC system. I hope Everett sees ...

Posted Fri, Nov 16, 12:41 p.m.

UW Tacoma: My impression from watching the Tacoma campus develop is that the UW is serious about making its Tacoma branch successful -- it's not just a stunt to impress the state legislature. The UW has invested a lot in a great little campus and the UWT has become an ...

Posted Fri, Nov 16, 12:34 p.m.

Rialto bound?: It would be great to see these guys play a Tacoma homecoming show. The Broadway Center, which books shows at the Rialto and Pantages theater, should seize this opportunity.

Posted Fri, Nov 2, 9:59 a.m.

A restored lower Snake River would benefit Pomeroy: Pomeroy would benefit if the lower Snake River dams were removed and the grain transportation benefits of the dams were replaced by an upgraded rail system (and in some cases new rail in old right of ways, potentially including the one through ...

Posted Tue, Oct 16, 11:15 a.m.

RE: Seriously..: MaryW, I suspect you may be part of the Seattle mafia portrayed in the short film South 5.

Posted Mon, Oct 15, 8:26 p.m.

Don't forget the Helm!: A new downtown Tacoma gallery called the Helm is an important new addition to the Tacoma art scene that the article didn't mention. It's one of a growing number of places (galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, bars, etc.) in town that don't seem to feel like they ...

Posted Wed, Sep 26, 1:57 p.m.

Removing the lower Snake dams makes economic, environmental sense: The most practical way to restore Snake River salmon runs so that they can take full advantage of abundant habitat in the Salmon River wilderness upstream is to remove these four dams. Sure, you could take out John Day Dam on ...

Posted Tue, Sep 25, 12:14 p.m.

Ballard to Tacoma: I made the opposite move (from Ballard to Tacoma) about a year ago, and am just as satisfied with my move as Ms. Albers is with hers. My neighborhood, Tacoma's North Slope, is as safe and walkable as anywhere in Seattle, and while not as lively (or ...