We have reports on Mrs. Gregoire's Viaduct pow-wow from Josh Feit at The Stranger and on the P-I's Strange Bedfellows blog.
The punchline is that Nickels' Tunnel is dead. But what does the Mrs. mean by this?
"This leaves us with a very difficult decision, there are two remaining options. Move forward with an elevated viaduct replacement or reprogram funding to the 520 replacement project.It sounds like another passive-aggressive non-decision where the Mrs. punts control back to Nickels and the Seattle City Clowncil.
Mrs. must know that Nickels and the Clowncil will remain mired in process for decades and will never agree to rebuild the Viaduct. What now? Will the Viaduct (whose replacement was a matter of urgent public safety 16 months ago) remain in use until it collapses during rush hour? Or is Mrs. tacitly capitulating to the tear-down and surface option?
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at January 17, 2007 05:26 PM | Email ThisCould we not sell it under a three-pronged strategy? -bridge's superiority notwithstanding, it:
1) Solves the current political conundrum (makes up for lack of political spinal column (not to mention vision))
2) Opens up the waterfront for massive, lucrative redevelopment (big $$ in pols.'s eyes)
3) We must tear down the viaduct before it FALLS down during rush-hour traffic (It's all for the children!)
-JP
Posted by: Jefferson Paine on January 17, 2007 05:40 PMAnother great thread would be to show:
GasTax Proponents------------PROMISES
WSDOT------------------------REVISED PROMISE
Excuses
FINAL Product
The LEFTIST PINHEADED KLOWNS of Seattle just lap up the PROMISES and buy into the utopian nonsense sooooooo easily. I'm not surprised though....they actually believe you can successfully negotiate with people who over & over again tell you they hate you & want to kill you.....then go out & kill you....and our Peaceniks still believe negiotiation will work.
They are a bunch of f*cking idiots.
Have a nice day.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on January 17, 2007 06:01 PMAnd for Nickelbag to suggest 4 lanes instead of 6 to "save money" is just comical. The viaduct is getting slow enough during peak travel times with 6 lanes, so I fail to see how Mr. Genius came to the conclusion that traffic will move just as well with fewer lanes. What a dunce!! I suspect his push for a tunnel stems form some unnamed big bucks investors (like Paul Allen) wanting an unobstructed view for their grand construction projects. The city got hosed on the South Lake Union deal because of their incompetance, so I can imagine Paul is thinking it wouldn't be too hard to take advantage of the council's collective stupidity again.
I really liked the little model of a bridge alternative to the viaduct and I would like to know if that is being given any consideration at the state level.
Posted by: Burdabee on January 17, 2007 06:08 PMSeattle's analysis paralysis and inability to make a decision survives
I would not call today's decision a victory by Mrs Gregoire
The real leadership has been shown by Mr Chopp, who realizes the State of Washington cannot afford everything, and who seems more interested in maximizing tax payer dollars than Mr Nickels
Posted by: Green Lake Mark on January 17, 2007 06:34 PMNumber 1. Screw with the initiative process again
Number 2. Raise their own wages
Number 3. Tax the hell out of all of us
Posted by: GS on January 17, 2007 07:03 PMAfter listening to months of lip service given to these projects at all levels of government I think it's finally time to "Send a message" that cannot possibly be misunderstood, DEFEAT the RTID. Start a little government hypocrisy watch, any public official that supports the RTID and isn't taking public transportation on a daily basis should be outed. Everytime they open their pie hole about public transit just show them the photo of their Lincoln Towncar in the reserved governemnt parking spot, not paying the new parking tax.
Posted by: Huh? on January 17, 2007 08:03 PMAfter listening to months of lip service given to these projects at all levels of government I think it's finally time to "Send a message" that cannot possibly be misunderstood, DEFEAT the RTID. Start a little government hypocrisy watch, any public official that supports the RTID and isn't taking public transportation on a daily basis should be outed. Everytime they open their pie hole about public transit just show them the photo of their Lincoln Towncar in the reserved governemnt parking spot, not paying the new parking tax. Right Mayor?
Posted by: Huh? on January 17, 2007 08:05 PMQuote by your esteemed Governor some time ago, pledging to rebuild it with our Gas Tax money.
Posted by: chris on January 17, 2007 08:21 PMIf they cannot get off of this stupid endless cost over run tunnel idea, and won't allow an elevated structure, then blow the damn thing up and refund all of the gas tax money that was so necessary to keep us safe from it's falling.
The democrats and the people who put them in office should really be ashamed of this one.
That's one of the myths of the Mayor's charade. We don't need to tear down the Viaduct to get more development.
Posted by: David Sucher on January 17, 2007 11:04 PMLet's build a set of mobile trailer offices beneath the viaduct. They will be the new offices of the Mayor, King County Executive, Council Members, etc. Maybe that will speed up the process. If not, we can use some of Gregoire's 9.5 cent gas tax to relocate the Governor's office there as well.
Perhaps if we tore down more of our government buildings and sold the land off to private developers, it would have the positive benefits of spurring development, and removing the false sense of importance that most of our leaders seem to have with their positions. If they are really up to the task of government, and doing it for the children, then why spare even their lavish surroundings in raising money for the cause?
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 17, 2007 11:19 PMThere just doesn't seem to be enough money, even with RTID, to do both simultaneously therefore it makes sense to take care of the one that cannot be replaced by anything but an expensive structure, 520.
Posted by: Giffy on January 18, 2007 06:10 AMThe City will fight tooth and nail to deny permits for a new and expensive viaduct (yes, folks, while the retrofit analysis was done with nitpickers, the current costs of a new viaduct and tunnel were done with broad brush front of the office types). But, the State won't chip in for a tunnel.
Voila, the retrofit which shouldn't require the same permits and scrutiny.
Posted by: swatter on January 18, 2007 06:59 AMTurn over all additional gasoline tax revenues to us folks in eastern Washington. This will accomplish two things:
1. Spokane will finally get a 1960s-era north-south freeway. We'd especially like some of those groovy little fluorescent speed bumps here and there.
2. Efforts to address the Viaduct situation will continue at their current level of effectiveness. Scouts honor.
Please send checks to:
Rey Smith
123 Riflerack Road
Spokalousa, Washabama
Thankyavuramuch.
Posted by: Rey Smith on January 18, 2007 08:21 AMNow that I think about it, I think I get it: Stefan denies that Gregoire is the legitimate governor of the state, so he uses what he thinks is her correct title. I suppose that makes sense. The danger with that (and this should be obvious) is that some people might think Stefan is calling Chris "Mrs." to mock the fact that she's a woman. That's probably not Stefan's intent--but in politics, appearances matter.
Posted by: DJ on January 18, 2007 09:40 AMPS Gregoire is NOT Stefans wife.
Posted by: Right said Fred on January 18, 2007 09:53 AMI want to know why there isn't more talk about the Western Ave option. Shorter tunnel, not below water level, viaduct can remain in place until Western tunnel is complete, lower cost, less disruption. The planners like it better, even Mrs. G liked it, but Mayor Porkchop has such tunnel vision (as does the mainstrean media) we are not hearing about the other options, except from one C section columnist who can't get anyone's attention.
If only I was dictator for a day...
Look, I don't really care what Stefan writes. But I think he should know that this particular dig he's taking at Gregoire comes across as a little odd. And, for come people--including, say, moderate Republican women living on the Eastside--it might come across as worse.
As for the question of the tunnel, I agree with Stefan's analysis. Too bad the anti-Gregoire jive distracted from the point he was trying to make.
Posted by: DJ on January 18, 2007 09:58 AMhttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/298087_payn03.html
Hell, I think ART Schell would do a better job managing this project.
Posted by: DJ on January 18, 2007 10:11 AMThe response of all parties involved in this from mayor Pudge to the fraudulent governor and all in between just takes the cake. We've gone from imminent, catastrophic danger to this. What a crime of liars and crooks.
This area has such a dearth of quality, clear thinking leadership, I'm surprised this place isn't a ghost town by now.
The response of all parties involved in this from mayor Pudge to the fraudulent governor and all in between just takes the cake. We've gone from imminent, catastrophic danger to this. What a crime of liars and crooks.
This area has such a dearth of quality, clear thinking leadership, I'm surprised this place isn't a ghost town by now.
The Mayor and council president Jan Drago issuing a statement that a tunnel proposal will be put on an "advisory" ballot regardless of futility and cost, and Councilman Nick Licata's tacit threat to obstruct construction of any elevated structure via lawsuit or denial of permits are, unfortunately, the behaviors we've come to expect from city leadership.
Very, very sad.
Unfortunately, I've sadly learned that getting people to show up & protest is near impossible. They pretty much love to sit at home and B*tch. That's sooooooo much easier. But accomplishes nothing.
I was at the anti-Gregoire Rally in Orange. Remember that? I foolishly thought that would keep accountability rolling. What I forgot was that the State Republican Party was involved and how inept they were....especially Vance.
Folks seem to have given up.
Where are the letters to the Editor????
How many of you have done that?
Not just the Seattle Times and Seattle P-I but any and all local papers as well.
We have some excellent writers & communicators here at SP. How many of you regularly send in letters to various papers??? None of you???
Therein lies the problem.
