crosscut.com : Sea-Tac Airport

Seattle, you ignorant SLUT

Crosscut — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:00:01 PDT

Oregonian columnist Steve Duin has fun feeling superior to Seattle, calling the Big Bad City to the North "a mass transit basket case." But he does find something to praise, even if he drips with condescension, and that's the Seattle Streetcar, fondly known as the SLUT. Duin likes the idea, a steal from Portland, of course, not because it's a serious transit solution but because the name is so funny.

Sausage Links, bag fees and phone ban edition

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:37:01 PDT

Plastic bag fees are so rive gauche. First, Seattle instated a 20-cent fee on disposable plastic bags. Then Portland decided to consider a similar idea. Now, the residents of Pullman say they want a bag fee, too. ...

Seattle wades into the taxi tangle

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:00:01 PDT

Drivers, at considerable risk, have been telling the City Council how the industry really works. The City Council is now looking at making taxis greener, fairer to drivers, and better for customers.

Sausage Links, mayor-about-town edition

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:49:01 PDT

Oh, Greg. You are trying to break our hearts! Just when we vilify you for airballing the Sonics all the way to OKC for a cool $45 million — you show you're a real Mayor-about-town houses and plastic bag taxes.

For better or worse, everybody's talking about Mayor Nickels' proposals today. Erica C. Barnett at The Stranger says she spotted a "Plastic Monster" at last night's public-comment meeting about the proposed plastic bag tax, while Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat warns if we don't choose paper the plastic bag police will get us. Meanwhile, the folks at Sound Politics rail against Nickels for the new town house plan, which they argue will regulate affordable housing "out of existence." ...

Olympia's feared watchdog: Brian Sonntag

Crosscut — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:00:01 PST

He's got even more authority now, thanks to a voter-approved initiative that provides for evaluations of public-agency performance. The state auditor is effecting change inside institutions like the Port of Seattle.

The Horizon shuttle huddle

Crosscut — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:00:01 PST

The last real Northwest men's club may just be Horizon Air's regional shuttle service. When I ventured into the Portland and Seattle airport gate areas for a recent weekday roundtrip, I felt like I was the only one who didn't know the secret handshake.

How to fix the Port of Seattle: Splitsville

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:00:01 PST

The core reason for all the mismanagement is an antiquated structure, argues a former Port Commission candidate. A restructured port needs to serve a multi-county region. And we need to split up the fundamentally different businesses of seaport and airport.

Port in a storm of its own making

Crosscut — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:00:01 PST

The state Auditor's new report on the Port of Seattle finds rats in the rat's nest of local governments.

The Mic Dinsmore flap reveals deep differences at the Port of Seattle

Crosscut — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:01 PDT

The former CEO led the port into a greatly expanded mission of economic development. But that mission and Dinsmore's dealmaking style have provoked a political backlash that has split the five-member commission. The fall election will spotlight these issues and might enable one side to gain a majority.

The new boss at the Port of Seattle is wasting no time

Crosscut — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:00:01 PDT

Tay Yoshitani shows a worrisome desire to not air "our dirty laundry," but he's also showing smarts in early moves as CEO of the Port of Seattle.

Big Port of Seattle changes dead ahead

Crosscut — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:00:01 PDT

Once an interest only to the business community, the port is getting increasing scrutiny from environmentalists and Democratic party activists. Two port races could change policy in a dramatic way.