Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, March 6, 2006: "Nickels supports public vote on viaduct"
Nickels, who is pushing hard for a tunnel, said he welcomes a public vote. "We'll go out in November and ask what the citizens think. They'll say no to the Big Ugly, and vote to do it right."September 21, 2006 "After higher cost estimates, Nickels opposes advisory vote"
Nickels reversed his previous position and said he doesn't want an advisory public referendum on the options. The new numbers create too much confusion, he said.Read: Nickels has finally realized that the voters are smart enough to vote against his atrociously expensive Big Dig Boondoggle.
As Councilman Nick Licata puts it:
"[Nickels] doesn't want a vote because the tunnel is going to go down in flames."Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at September 21, 2006 11:22 AM | Email This
He will not make the decision until after this election also, I noted, as to not p off voters any more than they already are on their 5 billion dolar (and rising) Big dig. It has risen 25% this year alone before even a shovel of dirt has been dug. Do the math, and it will cost easily over 10 billion before (if ever) it is built.
This goose will land easily before the next election, and anyone who signed up for it aught to be sent walking.
Remember in November, the arogance of these folks.
Posted by: GS on September 21, 2006 11:25 AMThis tunnel has a higher initial price than the Big Dig. Is this just incompetence or is there another reason (because it can't be as complex)?
Posted by: DP on September 21, 2006 11:49 AM'Nuff said. Why waste money on a so-called vote? Porky and the Pork Barrelers, also known as the mayor and his special interest cronies, will continue to do what they want.
Posted by: Tyler Durden on September 21, 2006 12:23 PMCan any you say STUPID? I knew you could.
Posted by: Jack Burton on September 21, 2006 12:34 PMI personally think the tunnel would be great. Don't like the open space, park vision on top of it though - sell it all to developers for high-price condos and pay for the whole dang project.
Posted by: eric on September 21, 2006 01:14 PMtoll booths programmed to occasionally pay out huge purses like slot machines. gambling everywhere. downtown business and traffic hum along and tax coffers overflow.
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on September 21, 2006 01:58 PM
now THERE's a toll booth I'd like to see!!
Since we're giving the land back to the "Ingiens", can we start smoking and purchasing Mogan David in Pioneer Square again?!
Posted by: Jeffro on September 21, 2006 03:18 PMShe stays grasping to the line that technically the big dig can be built. Yes technically it probably can be done, But realisticly the cost will be staggering and her downfall.
Pushing for an alternative right now is a dead idea also, as the mayor and Seattle City council have already openly stated they will use their might to drive the permit costs up so high to make any alternative par with the tunnel.
They all talk like they want to see alternatives, but when all these alternatives get stacked with this permit fee and litagation nightmare the Seattle Council and mayor will find, it will only play into their Big Dig's Pocket. An alternative smokescreen of sorts.
You can put lipstick on a fat pig, but it is still a fat pig project.
Seattle folks, hang on to your wallets, for they shall be empty before (and with a big if) this project is begun.
You even may your park, but only after every relic is uncovered, reburied, and all the special interest groups lined up at the trough are paid off.
You made the choice of Mayor and Seattle City Council.
We just get to to watch them endlessly flail your money around!
Posted by: Gs on September 22, 2006 10:20 AMServes them right!
Posted by: GS on September 23, 2006 12:02 AMmy wider concern is that it is a major econ area for the state; like a wreckless teen's family, it pulls us all into its bad judgement, directly or indirectly; that's what incenses me; if we could isolate the pain, fine. but it migrates all over the state like an oil slick; and local morons keep electing these fools who promote valuable initiatives like "hate free zones". i can only imagine how our other state residents quietly thank their stars they do not have similar city councils--or do they?
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on September 23, 2006 10:52 AM