Joel Connelly asks that question in today's column, concluding:
Can two races revitalize the council? Can we get an effective bloc of advocates for a middle class that is being overly taxed, harassed, lectured to and -- ultimately -- driven out of what was a model middle-class city?Those are fair questions, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a miracle. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 25, 2007 10:45 AM | Email This
Who will run the small businesses? The kids of the very rich? LOL
...oh busboy I need a little water here NOW!
Posted by: dcat on May 25, 2007 10:47 AMMaybe all of Seattle should be administered by the good folks at Woodland Park? A zoo is as a zoo does.
The Piper
Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 10:54 AMThat would give the legislature enough cover next session to replace the competing transportation fiefdoms with a board that is both accountable and able to prioritize among megaprojects.
The ST2/RTID measure is the worst of all worlds: a blank check to spend tax money, political appointees deciding what projects get done (and which would be dropped AFTER the vote), no bonding caps, the most regressive kinds of taxes, and far, far too much spent on trains of marginal economic utility.
The cost/benefit ratio of this ballot measure to Seattle residents in particular is HORRIBLE.
ST2/RTID is being pitched by exactly the same self-interested cadre that ripped off this city with Seattle Monorail Project.
Hopefully voters will remember their NO/NO votes on the flawed viaduct options presented to them in March. THAT's the kind of civic-mindedness we'll need in November.
Giving broad taxing authority to ST/Monorail/RTID has proven to be a lousy way to plan and implement transportation infrastructure upgrades. Time for a change, and enough "no" votes in November is the right way to start. They've had their chance, they came up short, and voters need to pull the plug on the status quo.
Charlie Chong tried to be that kind of candidate and I remember being shocked at Seattle leftists criticizing him for being "a right-wing extremist" even though he was a liberal. It was mind-blowing. That's how far off-kilter many of those people are, and they don't even see it.
Posted by: Michele on May 25, 2007 11:09 AMWatch those "off-kilter" remarks...the hit this Piper a little close to home!
The Piper
Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 11:24 AMFrom council people, county execs and mayors we get our federal and state politicos. No wonder our legislative branches are so hurting for talent.
Posted by: swatter on May 25, 2007 12:03 PMConnelly's insights aside, 80% liberal Seattle will continue to elect only liberals. Expect more "dialogue" and "process" than results.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on May 25, 2007 12:20 PM
Meanwhile, good bargains abound in Idaho.
Look at this and CRY:
Price: $89,900
http://boiseid.yahoo.idx.prujensen.com/details.aspx?firstrecord=1&VIP=Yahoo!+IDX&cc=realestate&fclose=n&newhome=n&za=and&searchgeo=Fruitland%2c+ID&searchtype=2&propertytype=1%2c2&sort=5&sortacdc=desc&searchminprice=0&searchmaxprice=100000
Add to this that folks do understand that, and understand that it will probably not get better.
For a while, California had an excise tax of 5% of the sale price on real estate sold but not replaced with more California real estate. I would be suprised not to see something similar happen when the voting-with-their-feet becomes suffiently conspicuous.
Posted by: bfr on May 25, 2007 12:53 PM
Connelly is WAAAAAAAAAAY too late with his revelation. The Fringe Lunatic Left has made one great community after another unaffordable....with excessive costly regulations in the name of Utopia. It's too late for Seattle Joel. Nice of you to awaken to the Demographic Dilemma about 10 years too late!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Seattle BoBo's & MetroSexual's are spoiled rich kids....with either Mommy & Daddy's money or quick money from Real Estate inflation or High Tech. They have ZERO Conscience when it comes to the Working Middle Class. They could give a Flying F---!!!
They soothe there guilt by fawning over the homeless and the lifestyle unemployed artists....trying to be relevant. While engaged in this phoney guilt irradication, they are finally understanding how badly they need the working Middle Class (aka Servants).
Seattle is caving in on itself and it's Fuzzy Vision of Leftist Utopia. It's going to get worse because the State & Local Bureaucrats are sooooooooo entrenched, HUUUUUGE future tax increases are inevitable.
Nice of Joel to wake up----too late Joel. You should have supported the Conservatives who believe in the importance of a viable Middle Class as the core of any long-term successful community.
Tell me Joel, how in the world are all the taxes (direct & indirect) & excessive regulations in Seattle helping the Working Middle Class???
Answer: THEY ARE NOT!! THEY HAVE KILLED IT!!!!
Pretty hard for Joel to blame Republicans & Conservatives for the demographic mess in Seattle, isn't it!
Seattle is festering itself into being a big boil on the buttocks of humanity (i.e. Americana), with all due respect.
Posted by: KS on May 25, 2007 07:52 PMIt is a lost cause folks, at this point it has to crash nastily.
So many of our friends are already out of here that it makes no sense to stay any longer, I make less every time some pol needs more money to squander.
We are working at voting with our feet too and God willing we will be out of this place in another couple months.
Just one (more :) final nail in the coffin for us is when our water bill exceeded our electric bill. No, we don't use that much water but the landlord found someone who would put in meters (nasty hole in the closet wall, poorly patched) and bill us only charging ~25% more than the going rate to do so. Of course we are lucky, we were told, scabattle government allows them to charge a lot more.
Just another example of how desperate the people here are getting to be able to pay to keep property here.
Sad, so sad... Yet another example of how socialism doesn't work. Gee, I just knew THIS was the one that would... ;-).
Posted by: fox3 on May 27, 2007 07:22 PM