Eastern King County secession has become a hot topic again (recent SP posts here and here). Now, a leading liberal Seattle publication is getting behind the idea.
The Seattle Weekly's Editor In Chief, Knute Berger, has penned "Taking Secession Seriously" in his regular column, "Mossback." If Rs are looking for something to get steamed at in this piece, they'll doubtless manage to find it. But as a Seattle resident, I can tell you this represents a sharp break with the prevailing kneejerk disdain of Seattle liberal institutions for suburban concerns. Berger - an Eastsider who calls himself a political independent - is making a valuable contribution to the public dialog on this issue.
Last week, state Rep. Toby Nixon, R-Kirkland, submitted a bill designed to make it easier to create new counties in Washington. Launching a new county has long been a dream of rural secessionists, including those in King County who talk of creating their own entity called Cedar County. Nixon's proposal comes on the heels of new property-rights legislation submitted by Rep. Dan Roach, R–Bonney Lake, that would allow folks to seek compensation for any loss in property value due to government land-use laws (read: environmental protections). Nixon says if the Legislature rejects his plan, it could wind up as a statewide initiative; a property-rights initiative is also in the wind.Both efforts are born of the seething in suburbs and exurbs, a reaction in part to the perceived insensitivity of Seattle liberals who have been too heavy-handed in imposing restrictions with King County's Sensitive Areas Ordinance. It is also fueled by a lack of confidence in the county and its executive, "King Sims." The movement has gained momentum from grassroots Republican ire over the gubernatorial election debacle.
....the revived secession movement raises a legitimate question. There is nothing magical about "39," the number of counties in Washington. Indeed, counties have come and gone over the years. Is there any reason why we shouldn't shake up the map?
King...county has long been run from Seattle, seat of government and the population center, and our view of the region has dominated....Seattle now resembles less L.A. than the San Francisco Bay area, and our determination to do our civic duty by increasing urban densities and absorbing the region's growth hasn't worked, any more than San Francisco—twice as dense as Seattle—has been able to prevent growth in the East Bay and Silicon Valley.
All this growth has brought us to a place where it's easier to imagine breaking the region into smaller, more manageable pieces, each with its own center of influence......In addition, King County government—the County Council was downsized last November by the voters, from 13 seats to nine—has a smaller domain to rule as more areas incorporate. This has left the county to provide services to a far-flung, ungrateful population, with those services funded by a diminishing tax base.
.....there is nothing inherently wrong with seeking to redraw the political map of Washington by forming a new county or streamlining government by getting rid of some old ones.....there is often much to be gained by moving government closer to the people, and if that's what people want, they'll eventually get it. If King County no longer works, the people will create something that does.
A secession initiative, a property rights initiative and an election reform initiative may all be coming before too long. It's a good bet Washington state politics are going to remain very lively, quite apart from the gubernatorial election challenge.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 03, 2005 02:18 PM | Email ThisGary
Posted by: Gary on February 3, 2005 02:44 PM
Wouldn't that make sense?
Posted by: jim on February 3, 2005 03:10 PMWouldn't that make sense?
Posted by jim at February 3, 2005 03:10 PM
Yes it would. I can only wish. Not sure how the demographics are of the Olympic Peninsula but they might want in too.
I agree. Let the eastside form its own county. Then all the "Cedar County" types can bitch about being oppressed by people in Bellevue, Kirkland and Bothell instead of us ignorant liberals in Seattle.
Bellevue, Kirkland, and Bothell are more oppressive than Seattle?
I hope my area's included in Ceder County.
Posted by: Jaime on February 3, 2005 06:39 PMThey don't need all your tax dollars, they pay enough for Cities problems anyways. If the Seattlites would quit dictating how the country people are "suppose" to live and control how our goverment is elected.
I dont live in Eastern Washington, but I do know that they have a very beneficial factor in our State Economy.
I am sure there is an island somewhere for sale that you could purchase, and not feel so used by the "other" persons in this state.
Posted by: Chris on February 3, 2005 07:12 PMThe Yes Yes Crats in this state are saying Yes to new taxes (after CG swore on her web page she never raised taxes in this state), Yes on all kind of new spending (even though CG claims they are 1.8 billion in the hole), Yes to property stealing in King County, Yes to further burdening strugling businesses in this state by requiring them to pay 5 weeks of paid medical leave for every employee, Yes to banning Cell phones in cars so they can raise a ton of new fine $$$. The Toughest emmisions regulations in the country being shoved down our throats. It just never ends on the Yes Yes Yes Taxing, Fining, Spending and Over regulating they will do!
I think I would rather have a few more federal NO NO NO NO NO Crats in this state.
This is not factually correct. There were several states added to the U.S.A. after "The War Between the States." Washington State?
This has left the county to provide services to a far-flung, ungrateful population, with those services funded by a diminishing tax base.
Whether the SW means by "tax base" the amount of money KC can collect or the extent of the property that can be taxed, if Washington state is like other states, that amount includes ALL the territory inside the boundary of the county, whether incorported cities or unincorporated areas. So, the tax base is not diminishing as a result of having "more areas incorporate."
It never ceases to amaze me how little reporters and editors know about our system of taxation, budgeting, government entity jurisdictions, and other matters that should be covered in a basic Civics class. Oh, that's right. We don't have Civics classes any more.
Posted by: Mac on February 3, 2005 08:57 PMBut if someone can convince me of how much better off "eastersiders" would be to remain attached to Seattle, let me know...
Posted by: SnoCo Voter on February 3, 2005 09:10 PMI say let Eastern WA go. Lets see how well they do without all the tax dollars from Seattle.
Posted by Giffy at February 3, 2005 06:43 PM
Grow up, they don't need your tax dollars keep them in your stuffed shirt counties, oh and don't forget to stroke your ego while your at it.
Handford produces great income on that side of the
state as well as farmers and Orchard owners, just because they are laborers doesn't mean they are poor hicks. They feel like everyone on this side of the state takes their money (tax dollars) and disregards their needs. what do you think?...
Please join in!
Ahem.
La la la la...
"Oh please release me let me go
I don't love you anymore
To live a lie would be a sin
Release me and let me love again"...
"Please release me let me go
You'd be the fool to cling to me
Oh to live a lie would bring us pain
Release me and let me love again."
;-)
Posted by: Cheryl on February 3, 2005 11:15 PM