Top of the News
Danny Westneat: In Eastern Washington, the Great Depression is not forgotten
2008 Election »How Sound Transit critics transformed an $18 billion system into $107 billion
Transportation »A survey shows 73 percent support a light rail system — in Spokane
U.S. Congress »About that Oregon arrow-manufacturer's tax break: It's not what it seems
Energy / Utilities »Judging from the flow of venture capital, the next big green thing might be algae
Higher Ed »For students who get private loans, the credit crisis hits hard
Most Popular
Three advocates make the case for Sound Transit expansion
Sarah Palin's socialist 'sandwich'
American graffiti: The problem with third-party candidates
How accurate is Battle in Seattle?
Move the meter: 'Buildergate' gains media legs
Amid a swirl of national affairs, two rock-steady debaters
Who will help Seattle's biggest grumps?
Most Commented
Three advocates make the case for Sound Transit expansion
(37 comments)
Amid a swirl of national affairs, two rock-steady debaters
(14 comments)
The prospect of a POTUS with PTSD
(14 comments)
American graffiti: The problem with third-party candidates
(11 comments)
Dear Sen. Murray: Please don't feed the rats
(8 comments)
Belt-tightening time for the Mercer Mess?
(7 comments)
The bailout rejection sets the stage for a tough week
(6 comments)
Sarah Palin's socialist 'sandwich'
(5 comments)
Move the meter: 'Buildergate' gains media legs
(5 comments)
How accurate is Battle in Seattle?
(5 comments)
Crosscut most recent
Sausage Links, pork barrel edition
What's the most important news of the day? It's not the passage of the Wall Street bailout bill. It's not the pundits' reactions to last night's vice-presidential debate. No. The most important news item of the day is that Saturday, Oct. 4, is the last day to register to vote. So if you haven't already, do it. ...
Two big unresolved transportation issues are back in the public's eye, reminding voters of the governor's biggest failure.
Sausage Links, budget deficit edition
David Goldstein at Horse's Ass wrote over the weekend — post gubernatorial debate — that "there is no state budget deficit," prompting me to wonder what the hell he was talking about. I thought, "Did I miss something?" As Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire said in Saturday's gubernatorial debate, the state is currently generating a surplus. But it has been widely reported — even by Horse's Ass blogger Josh Feit — that the state faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit in the coming years. Gregoire even told The Seattle Times on Friday that she expects a deficit next year. So what gives? The folks at Washington Policy Center Blog put it another way:
Sausage Links, Caddyshack edition
The Oregonian reports that a popular driving range in Oregon is asking golfers to cast their "swing votes" by aiming practice shots at 8-feet-tall metal likenesses of John McCain and Barack Obama. While no one is exactly sure whether people are trying to hit candidates they support or oppose, so far, McCain is in the lead. ...
Sausage Links, Postman stops ringing edition
It's a sad day for state journalism. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman, the author of the ever-popular Postman on Politics, announced today that after some 14 years at the paper, he will leave to join Vulcan Inc., a company founded and run by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Capitol press corps appears to be devastated. I sure am. ...
Did Howard Schultz pull the last plug for the Sonics?
Last week, Howard Schultz threw in the legal towel on his lawsuit trying to recover the Sonics from Oklahoma City. Thanks, Howard. Had he capitulated earlier, when the City was working out its deal with the Oklahoma City purchasers, there would have been leverage, maybe earning a firmer pledge from the NBA about a future expansion. This way, Schultz and Seattle got nothing in return for dropping the suit.
Miller times
Between national party conventions, I took an advance look at Joseph Miller's upcoming memoirs, The Wicked Wine of Democracy, to be published next month by University of Washington Press. The book provides an almost too-candid portrayal of politics and lobbying in the Northwest and nationally over 50 years and is an intriguing chronicle of some of the main figures in Northwest political life.
A Stumptown weekend
Portland is one cool town. As a lifelong Washingtonian, I've always considered Seattle my city, whether growing up in the rural community of Arlington or living on Whidbey Island for the past 33 years. But after spending a weekend in Portland, defection is not out of the question. I'm not surprised that a growing number of our South Whidbey "kids" have decided to make Portland their new home town.
Sausage Links, 'Pledge Allegiance to the Top-Two Primary' edition
Today is the the "top-two" primary, and everyone expects the polls to be packed. But before casting your ballot, take a moment to remember our failed state primary formats of the past. As the editorial board at The Seattle Times writes: "Pause now for a moment of silence in remembrance of the state's defunct blanket primary, which served Washington's voters well for almost 70 years" — that is, until federal courts declared it was unconstitutional. After the blankie went bye-bye, Washington state tried the "Pick-a-party" primary, but voters didn't feel the vibe. Today, we've been blessed with the oft-litigated, much deliberated top-two primary, a format some people say is doomed to fail. But dammit, we might as well try it out. ...
Sausage Links, top-two primary Cuban cigar edition
Today is "Top-Two" Primary's Eve, and as usual, the pundits have circled and speculated about tomorrow's big turnout. But we'll get to that in a second. First, Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson has a lesson for us titled What not to do when going on a "humanitarian trip" to Cuba. In 2004, Erickson said he visited a Cuban "medical center, met with doctors, and attended a presentation on the plight of the disabled." But according to a recent story in The Oregonian, the medical center Erickson said he visited does not exist. The story goes on to say that Erickson and some friends spent nearly $1,698 each for the weeklong Cuban vacation, which conveniently coincided with the Habanos Festival, an annual celebration of Cuban cigars. ...
Seattle has a streetcar named Desired
Minneapolis is the latest city to develop Portland-envy and, thanks to the Portland-imitating Seattle Streetcar, a little Seattle-envy as well. Minneapolis is now considering a starter-streetcar line, with maybe six more to follow. Minnpost.com writer Steve Berg recently visited the Northwest cities, rode and praised the streetcars, and was "reminded again how far behind downtown Minneapolis has fallen."
Seattle outpaces Portland in income growth
The current issue of Marple's Pacific Northwest Letter ($) tallies up personal income figures for Northwest metro areas. One shocker is how low the figure is for Portland, a booming area that is still shy on high-paying jobs. Or, conversely, how affluent Seattle is.
Our Whidbey Island correspondent shares her favorite way to explore the food and atmosphere of Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle.
The Northwest's mainstream newspapers are reporting political news on the Web first. Part 3 of 3
These are the partisan voices you might not know or have been afraid to try. Part 2 of 3
Seattle, you ignorant SLUT
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, 'you'll shoot your Eyman out' edition
Ballot king Tim Eyman had to be happy to see Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly say his traffic congestion measure, Initiative 985, "might be on to something" and deserved a "closer look." Unfortunately for Eyman, the Office of Fiscal Management released a report today stating the initiative would, among other things, cost the state $668.6 million already going to current congestion relief projects, cost the state $324.6 million to implement, cost the Washington State Arts Commission $500,000 over the next five years, and increase the state's budget deficit by an estimated $290 million. The Washington Policy Center Blog has the full breakdown. Meanwhile, David Goldstein at Horse's Ass points out that I-985 would be one more reason Eastern Washington voters would continue to hate Seattle. ...
Sausage Links, no pun intended edition
Seattle Post-Inteliigencer political writer Chris McGann reports how Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's opposition to abortion, gay marriage, gun control, stem cell research and gay rights' expansion has been underplayed by his campaign in an effort to sway liberal voters. Rossi, however, says those aren't the issues he's running on. Meanwhile, Josh Feit at the Stranger has some potentially bad news for Gregoire — the ominous Obama-Rossi yard sign juxtaposition. ...
Walkability is nice, but it's not making us skinny
Current theory says that a city's walkability promotes health and will impact the fight against obesity. The claim is that America's weight problem can be helped by making cities more pedestrian-friendly. It should follow, then, that our most dense and walkable cities are where the skinny people are, right? Well, not really.
To lower housing prices, look at Chicago
Median condominium prices in Chicago, notes Harvard urban economist Edward Glaeser, are $232,000. That's very low, even a shade under those in Trenton, N.J. (The King County median price for condos is $285,000.) What do those smart urbanists in Chicago know about affordability?
RSS FEED
Other media
David Laskin: Seeing L.A. through the eyes of Weimar artists
Unannounced guest star of Intiman's new show: Sarah Palin
Sculptor Richard Serra, combative as ever, grants a rare interview
Reality is sinking in for the tech sector
Bank of America offers relief to Washington mortgage holders
Ron Sims offers to move his office to save money
(Historical) context is everything
Uh-oh for Obama: delay in sentencing Tony Rezko
Despite the credit crisis, Washington state gets more federal funds
(Historical) context is everything
Paddle or sail
'Real estate economy' of the Rockies suddenly looks rocky
Senior administrator ousted at UW athletics department
It's football blight in Seattle
Giants rout Seahawks, 44-6: how it looks from New York
San Francisco voters buried in a blizzard of ballot measures
The geniuses who aren't on Wall Street
When brain surgery isn't brain surgery
Carless and carefree: Victoria to Courtenay by train on Vancouver Island
I prefer road trips that don't include me as the driver. And now with the gas gods scowling down on us, even folks who would never leave their beloved vehicles at home are opting for alternative ways to roam. Plus, lots can happen when you're not behind the wheel. You can read. Listen to tunes. Eavesdrop. Take a snooze. Or see familiar sights with fresh eyes. My favorite way to travel to British Columbia is a combination of trains, buses, boats, and planes. This is the fourth and final in a series of my carless, carefree getaway to BC. Depending on your time and budget, cut and clip as necessary.
Sausage Links, HOV lane endorsement edition
Amtrak to consider reviving two Seattle-Chicago routes
Travel: Oregon's Valley of the Wine
Ivar's turns 70
Earthier wines from Europe vie for Yakima palates
Garlic tells a story
'Real estate economy' of the Rockies suddenly looks rocky
Travel: Oregon's Valley of the Wine
Contact Crosscut
Tools