Posted Fri, Apr 27, 7:23 a.m.

Rogue Agency. I shut off the gas and will not let them in the building.

Posted Wed, Apr 25, 11:13 a.m.

Eloquent statement about the fading quality of life in Seattle. Yes, all to often land use decisions impacting the city for generations are left to the "highest bidder" and a developers sense of the market place. One only need look at the demise of Pioneer Square to see what happens ...

Posted Tue, Apr 24, 7:33 a.m.

It was Beck, who as prohibition ended, who gave us 3.2% beer. He advocated the lower % beer-prior beers had been in the 6% range-so that the consumer would have to drink more bottles for the same buzz; more bottles=more cases; more cases = more Teamster trucks on the road ...

Posted Mon, Apr 23, 8:37 a.m.

Really an excellent article. Well written Eric. You covered it all but passenger conduct. Having to listen to people rant into their cell phones is the tipping point for me. I just can't stomach it. In Mexico City i notice that they have placed wide screen tv's with music videos ...

Posted Wed, Apr 18, 10:26 a.m.

"River City"? Seattle is decidedly not a River City...Roger you must be thinking of Portland or Pittsburgh.

Posted Mon, Mar 26, 8:58 a.m.

One of the basics to city life in the USA and Europe is walk to the right. Sandwich boards and sidewalk cafe's in Seattle have pushed the "walk to the right" principle into a state of confusion. Frequently one ends up in the middle of the pedestrian flow once clearing ...

Posted Fri, Mar 23, 9:28 a.m.

Mexico is a high quality/low cost alternative. Here in the Chapala area there are lots of medical facilities, round the clock care options, affordability and great weather. One thing I notice is that people using locals for medical care generally feel they have added ten years to their life because ...

Posted Wed, Mar 14, 8:36 a.m.

Part of the problem is that the agencies are political power bases and want to keep their influences intact. Jobs would be lost in any consolidation and each agency director acts like a union shop steward, sworn to keep the budget/jobs the same. The loyalty is not to the tax ...

Posted Mon, Feb 27, 11:32 a.m.

This is an issue I've worked on for over 40 years. My current conclusions on how to improve the creative space problem is as follows; 1. Focus on work space, not live/work. Adding in all the costs of making a space habitable balloons a project in costs and management. Stay ...

Posted Mon, Feb 27, 11:32 a.m.

This is an issue I've worked on for over 40 years. My current conclusions on how to improve the creative space problem is as follows; 1. Focus on work space, not live/work. Adding in all the costs of making a space habitable balloons a project in costs and management. Stay ...

Posted Mon, Jan 30, 8:10 a.m.

I believe your headline should read REFUSE REUSE RECYCLE starting with reduce is to comforting for the consumer..there may be a place for Reduce after recycling but the first word, the key word must be and has always been REFUSE.

Posted Fri, Jan 6, 8:44 a.m.

This new committee; any members actually live downtown? on another note third avenue was cleaned up a couple years ago when the SPD demanded and received 350,000$ in overtime compensation.

Posted Thu, Jan 5, 8:51 a.m.

There is an incredibly strong arts scene all over Mexico, much of it fueled by gringo dollars. Places like Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel del Allende are well known for their galleries, artists and designers.Tijuana frequently makes the Architecture magazines as young architects design without the rules that are so ...

Posted Thu, Dec 1, 9:55 a.m.

Todays Kids grew up being rewarded just for showing up; trophy's, uniforms with their names on them, everybody put on first-string team(if not the league was expanded to make sure everyone was playing), happy meals for winners and losers. Those kids have grown up and now are involved with Occupy ...

Posted Tue, Nov 29, 9:46 a.m.

Possibly by the time the tunnel is finished Seattle will choose to leave the Viaduct that remains and convert it into a 2 level park. The result is at little cost an elevated open air park on top with a rain protected 2nd level with tremendous opportunities for dining, merchandising ...

Posted Wed, Nov 23, 5:47 p.m.

For all the reasons outlined in the article; the rain, the slope, the competing property owners and interests; leaving the Viaduct in place and using the top for an open air park and the second level as a mish mash of shops and conveniences is really the least expensive, most ...

Posted Tue, Nov 22, 8:32 a.m.

If this committee was serious would Patty Murray have been appointed co-chair? I think not and knew it was a doomed effort from the beginning.

Posted Mon, Nov 21, 9:23 a.m.

Nice concise article. Opinion piece. Gentrification has removed the low income hotels and taverns that were the basis for a population of over 40,000 mostly poor people (with dignity) who lived in downtown Seattle in the 60's. Today its rich vs. poor for the same turf. The working poor cannot ...

Posted Mon, Nov 21, 9:05 a.m.

I read on opinion piece out of a London paper that analyzed NAFTA. The conclusion was that the purpose was to flood Mexico with heavily subsidized grains and crops thereby forcing the small Mexican farmer off there land. With no place to go most would either choose to work in ...

Posted Mon, Nov 21, 8:53 a.m.

Another transit expenditure for the UW? This is a good article and points out many of the flaws in transit planning. It's just not reality based and will require another study on top of this one. Then another. It seems the real goal is employment of planners and their office ...

Posted Wed, Nov 16, 4:29 p.m.

Excellent in-depth article. The Read All About It news stand is such an icon I used it for the center piece for a 2007 Market 100 year Anniversary print. The news stand kiosk was added as part of the voter mandated Market Renewal. Master Market Architect George Bartholick showed me ...

Posted Tue, Oct 25, 4:39 p.m.

This article is off base. The arts previously succeeded in Seattle because of affordability of living space, work space and show space, plain and simple. Todays Seattle is too expensive for the studio arts and that my friend is that. No amount of money for performing spaces will change that ...

Posted Tue, Oct 11, 9:41 a.m.

For a more in depth look at the reality of the new economy read SALON article Art in Crisis The Creative Class is a Lie by Scott Timberg. It's the last article offered in today's Crosscut.

Posted Tue, Oct 11, 9:18 a.m.

The War on Drugs and the the follow-up Prison System are full employment programs for Federal, County, and City workers. High wages and great pensions and full family health insurance. Plus everybody gets to carry guns!

Posted Mon, Oct 3, 9:15 a.m.

It's like an article by a developers tool.

Posted Mon, Oct 3, 9:09 a.m.

Unmentioned in the article is the dynamic of two income households vs. one income households. If equality is the goal then until every family has one job that is sustaining(in the US that's @ $20 hour+) by choice households should limit themselves to one job per family. The top rich ...

Posted Wed, Sep 28, 8:18 a.m.

Gentrification and support for the arts are not the same thing. One frequently leads to the other and these days it is clear that one supports the arts in order to produce not art per se but rather gentrification. so in the end its the same thing; artists move on ...

Posted Fri, Sep 23, 9:06 a.m.

The killer to Pioneer Square's position as the retail place to be was the ruthless parking enforcement by the City. Tickets were handed out en-mass by the city with a get-the-money attitude and the result was that the fine dining establishments fled the area and resettled to the then refreshed ...

Posted Mon, Sep 19, 9:50 a.m.

Having lived downtown for 40+ years I've noticed that the storefronts and districts that have problems have a common denominator besides beggars and drugs; leafy trees and double pane windows. The trees because they grow just high enough to block the signage that tells you the name of the shop ...

Posted Fri, Sep 2, 10:24 a.m.

Out of town planners and architects invariably forget that Seattle is rain prone 9 months a year. Open air parks fail because they require rain clothing to enjoy and really its a small group who like to get wet for fun. Enclosed structures like Westlake Mall are to hot and ...

Posted Wed, Aug 31, 10 a.m.

To bad, their recent store remodel was my favorite in recent p square memory. Pioneer square has an abandoned feel to it. SAd.

Posted Thu, Aug 11, 9:12 a.m.

The many crack dealers downtown could show these amateurs a thing or two about doing business downtown.

Posted Wed, Aug 10, 8:13 a.m.

Women have minority status even though they make up more than half the population. how does the decline of people of color compare to women employed in media?

Posted Wed, Aug 10, 8:09 a.m.

Good article. my concerns are protecting the elevated view(s) and the impact of the tunnel dig on downtown seattle. With the tunnle we give a world class view and a stunning drive for.....nothing. and in doing so there's a very good chance that downtown seattle will move from an open ...

Posted Thu, Aug 4, 9:28 a.m.

The area has become claustrophobic. One futurist solution would be projected imagery on all the blank walls. The new SLU park is no help either. Sad.

Posted Tue, Aug 2, 9:11 a.m.

Like the popular but ill-fated Monorail, the Deep Bore Tunnel suffers from withheld information; about costs, about impact on transit; about tolls; to name a few. This is and has been from the start an attempt to get one past the voters and it is a big one. Plus it ...

Posted Thu, Jul 28, 7:44 a.m.

Food critics are mainly female but then so are most of the diners. i walk past lots of restaurants in downtown seattle, the most common table i see is a table of 4 women followed by a table of two women, especially during the work week. weekends one sees the ...

Posted Fri, Jul 22, 9:33 a.m.

It was in Cuzco 1n 1989 on the way to Machu Picchu that I realized how corrupted the "gringo trail" had become since my first trip to South America in 1974. What had once been difficult and authentic had become easy and bastardized. "Inca Pizza" anyone? Robbers followed backpackers, warning's ...

Posted Fri, Jul 15, 9:35 a.m.

It's time for Crosscut to establish and editorial page. These "articles" and "comments" aren't exactly fox news quality BUT it's not exactly reporting either.

Posted Fri, Jul 15, 9:31 a.m.

There's plenty of money for all proposals if the stop is not as opulent as the existing stations. Might be time to turn the page and start building realistic stations, the ones built now are way over the top and in questionable locations. And at SeaTac maybe some system could ...

Posted Tue, Jul 12, 1:44 p.m.

"43 cents on the dollar goes to a central bureaucracy"...what other information do we need to know ? The problem has been identified.

Posted Fri, Jul 8, 10:08 a.m.

One of the best artists ever, anywhere.

Posted Thu, Jul 7, 8:50 a.m.

The "my father molested me" defense wins again.

Posted Wed, Jun 15, 9:52 a.m.

It's not the citizens who have failed at the polls; it is the media for not providing accurate information. The citizens have done well with the information provided but time and again the real details are hidden from the public. Only during the 4th vote on the monorail did we ...

Posted Wed, Jun 15, 9:38 a.m.

Raises the question; WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFT-OVER VINYL SIGNAGE? I propose that these would signs would make excellent emergency tents for disasters like earthquakes and floods. Most of the signs breathe as they have tiny perforations throughout. They could also be used to germinate plants and seedlings by ...

Posted Tue, Jun 14, 6:58 a.m.

Another example of the power of the elevated view-even if in this case it's only briefly.

Posted Mon, Jun 6, 8:27 a.m.

Trading one of the word's greatest elevated views for a tunnel, what sense does that make? The people who brought you the new City Hall are the ones signing off on the tunnel. This is a make-work project that is designed to feather the cap of the advocates. We are ...

Posted Fri, May 27, 9:59 a.m.

Well written article, kudos.

Posted Fri, May 13, 7:50 a.m.

I've lived in Seattle's ID/Chinatown several times, most recently in 2010. The last thing wanted are metro buses running through the area. They are noisy, dangerous and oversized for the streets. The transit tunnel is no choice for most ID residents for anything but going to the Eastside. The buses ...

Posted Tue, May 10, 7:17 a.m.

One element rapidly disappearing are the elevated or clear views of the waterfront and the mountains. The loss of the viaduct will remove one of the world's greatest public views. The loss of pedestrian views in the Fremont area are an example of now you see it, now you don't. ...

Posted Fri, May 6, 10:29 a.m.

If "more than 15%" of homeless suffer from mental illness that means it's likely the remaining 85% just want to get a good nights sleep which is very difficult in shelters surrounded and built above, next to and near nightclubs. Seattle policy of locating and encouraging nightclubs, disco's and entertainment ...

Posted Fri, May 6, 10:14 a.m.

In Belltown the drinkers and druggies like to hang out under the canopy of sidewalk trees.

Posted Fri, May 6, 9:46 a.m.

Thanks for that article. There is so much being done to my neighborhood-downtown Seattle-that the quality of life continues to go downhill. I fear we are at a breakpoint where downtown will become a "no-go" zone. People who drive in/drive out and can find a place to park and dine ...

Posted Wed, Apr 27, 8:09 a.m.

Everywhere you look the downtown area of Seattle is being developed. But where is the master plan? Where are the urban planners of note who are in charge of such a massive project? There's one selected, in a sense after the fact, for the waterfront but the rest of the ...

Posted Wed, Apr 20, 7:47 a.m.

Those fiberglas pigs that have come to represent the Pike Place Market:HORRID!

Posted Tue, Apr 19, 7:34 a.m.

The judiciary system continues to not use one of their favorite charges; conspiracy. The idea that these priests, nationwide and internationally acted individually without prior knowledge or organized actions is impossible. So the judiciary gives the church a get out of jail card. Why?

Posted Mon, Apr 18, 8:08 a.m.

People from Seattle travel a lot and bring back lots of good ideas from other places. Seattle in fact seems to have a bit of a complex, seeing the efforts of other places as being more worldly, more 1st class. then the movement begins to replicate the look, feel or ...

Posted Fri, Apr 15, 7:34 a.m.

I love street food, it's one of the reasons I spend so much time in Mexico. With street food you get to see your food cooked right in front of you, who is cooking it, what the conditions are and what the fixin's are too. As well adding plenty of ...

Posted Fri, Apr 8, 7:51 a.m.

The views in Seattle should be as sacred as the Pike Place Market. The viaduct view is arguably the greatest drive view in the world. Whether the viaduct remains as a car structure or is turned into a park there's a treasurte there that must be saved. Once a view ...

Posted Wed, Mar 30, 8:15 a.m.

By the way the "damaged viaduct" is a red herring. The location of the "damage" is where a gas tanker fire occurred back in the late 70's, spilling gas along the viaduct at Main street, eventually burning severely the building that housed Shelly's Leg. The fire was so intense that ...

Posted Wed, Mar 30, 8:07 a.m.

"Years from now" citizens will say what happened to all the views that made Seattle so wonderful. so unique? The Viaduct is a paid for waterfront park.

Posted Fri, Mar 25, 9:51 a.m.

The "generous" rate of pay-which does not include benefits, does not mention the amount of off duty work that only police can do. Police often have 2 and 3 jobs. In a time of high unemployment does this seem fair?

Posted Wed, Mar 9, 8:32 a.m.

Remember the campaign "Seattle is a KIDS Place". Turns out Seattle is only 2nd to San Francisco in low number of children populating the city. Seattle is not a kids place. Now Seattle wants to consider itself an arts town? For the performing arts, maybe. But the generative arts including ...

Posted Thu, Mar 3, 8:19 a.m.

I'm curious as to why a $264,000++ annual salary cannot attract competent people. Or is there something flawed in the selection process?

Posted Wed, Mar 2, 10:13 a.m.

Gambling is illegal in King County. I believe that the historic cardrooms of Pioneer square shoujld be "grandfathered" and cardroom gambling and such be re-allowed in PSquare. Gambling is a low impact, high value economy and it is historically accurate.

Posted Wed, Feb 16, 9:58 a.m.

Many of the current visions for the Seattle Waterfront revitalization project envision natural elements that never existed. If you see the Paul Dorpat slide show on the Seattle Waterfront back when you see a rough and tumble, ravine filled rugged coastline. To return the waterfront to its natural state is ...

Posted Tue, Feb 15, 8:39 a.m.

Well said and on target.

Posted Mon, Feb 14, 8:02 a.m.

Just take the cars off the viaduct and use that structure as a world class elevated view structure. Open air on top and covered from the rain on the second level, the viaduct as a park has all the elements necessary to create a unique and vibrant civic treasure. And ...

Posted Fri, Feb 4, 8:10 a.m.

Arties4453 comments were spot on! love the idea of moving art into the library and a new library onto 3rd and James! If not then this library which is basically a giant internet cafe without the coffee should begin selling coffee and charging a nominal amopunt for internet access.

Posted Sun, Jan 30, 8:31 a.m.

The only thing worth saving about that building is the artists in it...so if I understand the article correctly all the well intentioned preservationists and arts supporters have managed to get the artists removed from the building anyway but now most likely WITHOUT ANY RELOCATION MONEY! One wonders if the ...

Posted Wed, Jan 5, 1:05 p.m.

American feminists have used disinformation to their advantage for decades. Feminism in the USA is about female supremacy, not equality. Equality is the banner under which the agenda of female supremacy has arisen and succeeded. The media plays a huge part as do colleges with their repeated campaigns of oppressed ...

Posted Fri, Dec 10, 8:39 a.m.

Key Arena; what about the neon sign the city approved for that location?

Posted Wed, Dec 8, 7:55 a.m.

There are ramps that lead to South lake Union, the market, the museum district and Pioneer Square so no stairs need to be built. Small electric vehicles like at the airport could transport those in need. A two tier solution allows for an all weather boardwalk as does the pike ...

Posted Wed, Dec 8, 7:54 a.m.

There are ramps that lead to South lake Union, the market, the museum district and Pioneer Square so no stairs need to be built. Small electric vehicles like at the airport could transport those in need. A two tier solution allows for an all weather boardwalk as does the pike ...

Posted Fri, Oct 29, 9:31 a.m.

Allowing card rooms to operate in the square is one revitilization idea I support. Historically Pioneer Square had many gaming rooms so grandfathering in pre-existing locations should work. New ideas and companies are great but also keep in mind those elements that speak to the actual history of the square.

Posted Mon, Sep 27, 10:17 p.m.

What other cities have $4 hour parking?

Posted Mon, Sep 27, 10:14 p.m.

IF 300 JOBS REPRESENTS 3% OF THE WORK FORCE DOES THAT MEAN IN A CITY OF 500,000 THAT WE HAVE 10,000 CITY WORKERS? IS THAT HIGH OR LOW OR AVERAGE for a city of this size?

Posted Thu, Sep 23, 4:04 p.m.

A pedestrian only viaduct would create a world class boardwalk while saving historic views. Imagine bike paths and open air uses on top with a covered deck on the 2nd level. Existing on and off ramps could be used to unite Seattle Center ith the market, the Waterfront and the ...

Posted Thu, Sep 16, 11:10 a.m.

Rossi looks underwhelming in his TV ads, what a bad haircut, wrong color shirt....etc. It was lke he was asking you to have no confidence...game set match to Murray.

Posted Tue, Sep 14, 11:54 a.m.

DB, i can donate a print for the office..or you can choose to re-donate it to a cause you support. In this economy might be time take chickens and dental exams instead of cash!

Posted Fri, Aug 27, 12:12 p.m.

Boeing. When they left for Chicago a quote appeared stating that placing two sports stadiums at the entrance to their facilities was part of the reason for leaving.