The Everett Herald reports on freshly required inspections for more ships in the state's fleet of ferries. Does anyone feel terribly confident more problems won't crop up?
Meanwhile, the Herald's editorial page plays a cute game of let's not pin the tail on the Governor for this mess. Are the multitude of problems at play all Gregoire's fault? No. But this previously-linked-to post makes it pretty clear the state failed miserably in its duty over the last several years (as does this follow-up post).
It seems to me there was only one Administration in Olympia running the show while management failures of the last few years that are now coming to light occurred.
UPDATE: Sunday's Everett Herald adds some refreshingly thorough coverage of the potential legislative machinations over this issue. Here's one highly relevant passage:
Until Hammond took action, there was no plan to replace the Steel Electrics, even though ferry planners had spent $10 million since 2003 on consultants and other advisers.Posted by Eric Earling at December 15, 2007 03:02 PM | Email ThisYears of hull survey reports, studies and repair bills raised questions about the old vessels. But lawmakers and others repeatedly deferred to the ferry system and the Coast Guard for a ruling on whether the boats remained safe to operate. As recently as Oct. 30, legislators were told the hulls were "generally in good condition."
Too much services payroll and not enough finished product.
You have to go back to Booth "Forget me not" Gardner,and Gary "Gridlocke".
Gregoire is only going to be able to have us move into urban villages the poor can't afford to live in and rely on tolls the poor can't afford to pay.
Brother can you spare an urban village, and brother can you spare a road.
Posted by: Publicbulldog on December 15, 2007 04:49 PMInteresting isn't it that the Democrats that have run our state for years haven't been able to build a single ferry with the money allocated for 4 of them back in 2003.
Our liberal friends love to turn every thread here into a "Bush mismanaged the Iraq War" discussion.
Democrats can't even manage to build a few new ferryboats in 4 years.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on December 15, 2007 05:24 PMThis is a ploy for new vessels, folks.
I'd sure like to see the Coast Guard report.
Why do they suddenly demand inspections on the remainder of the fleet?
Was maintenance not being done on these newer vessels, while at the same time WSDOT was hiring legions of management and engineering staff?
The Governor can't blame Republicans, since the D's have had the reins since 1981.
Posted by: Independent Voter on December 15, 2007 05:51 PMThe Evergreen State is now a semi-retired emergency back-up boat. This is sad to see, as I recall visiting the wheelhouse in the late 50's when one of my uncles captained her as she sailed between Seattle and Winslow. It was a proud fleet during that time, although it consisted primarily of old "Black Ball" boats, some with wooden hulls. The boats were clean, painted, professionally maintained and equipped with well-patronized cafes. A far cry from today's rusted superstructures and filthy restrooms. I will miss riding the "Steel Electrics", which were the last of their breed, boats with class and charm, from their brass handrails to the oak trim from a 1980's refit. A sad ending in an era of mismanagement and neglect.
Posted by: Saltherring on December 15, 2007 09:22 PMTime to get some people in DOT that know something about ferries & management. Time to replace the Dems with a few good Republicans who know how to get things done correctly.
Posted by: Clean House on December 15, 2007 09:36 PMI'm Watching Gregoire toss hundreds of millions of dollars per day at everything she can dream up in a day.
Posted by: GS on December 15, 2007 11:54 PMOur candidate tried to make DOT waste a point during his one agreeded debate, and the democrat opponent moved off it into smaller class room sizes in schools. Talking points for the d's that year were schools which they keep throwing money at but have not solved that problem either!
Some reason, even back then, the democrats did not want to talk about the ferry system. Think that was the year of WEA!
Posted by: Ken Howard on December 16, 2007 08:16 AMIndeed the Steel Electrics are the last of their breed, and the only vessels remaining from the former Puget Sound Navigation Company,(Black Ball line), that was bought by the state in the early '50's. The Steel Electrics, like the Kalakala, were originally San Francisco Bay ferries, no longer needed because of the completion of the Bay and Golden Gate bridges.
It will be interesting to see what gyrations will be performed by Gregoire and her minions should the Coast Guard find serious hull problems with some of the rest of the fleet.
Imagine the press outcry that would be occurring now over the mis-management of the funds dedicated in 2003 if the Rebublicans had been in charge. Instead the Democrats' media toadies are silent.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on December 16, 2007 08:50 AMDon't use regular budgeted money for maintenance, year after year, piss the money away on diversity and then scream poor when massive expenses hit all at once.
Defer the maintenance until you can get new things with more taxpayer money.
It's the same thing year after year. Ferries, Roads, Bridges, buildings, sewer, water.........
Posted by: Norm on December 16, 2007 10:18 AMDon't use regular budgeted money for maintenance, year after year, throw the money away on diversity and then scream EMERGENCY when massive expenses hit all at once.
Defer the maintenance until you can get new things with more taxpayer money.
It's the same thing year after year. Ferries, Roads, Bridges, buildings, sewer, water.........
Posted by: Norm on December 16, 2007 10:19 AMBut it will just go along as so much else in WA, nepotism and Democrat controlled power being what they are.
Posted by: Jeff B. on December 16, 2007 01:31 PMLets outsource the job like we do waste management.
You don't see us have to pay for garbage trucks in an emergency .
Posted by: Publicbulldog on December 16, 2007 02:16 PMI do think the government has a responsibility to explain to the voters why they've mismanaged taxpayer dollars allocated for new ferries. Seems to me that makes for an excellent campaign issue for Dino Rossi and Republican legislative candidates in '08.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on December 16, 2007 02:41 PMSick em Dino
Bring back the Black Ball line!
Posted by: Publicbulldog on December 16, 2007 04:18 PMThink of what it would be like if Washington state or any other state was running an airline. It would be a shambles. Most of the planes would be DC-3s or DC-6s with maybe one or two 707s for the prestige flights. The planes would be a mess, the prices sky high and the schedule would fit the convenience of the state. They wouldn't care about doing well by the passengers because they would no incentive to do so. They would get paid, through taxes, if they carried one passenger or a million.
Posted by: Bill K. on December 16, 2007 10:08 PMSo when taking shots at Governor Gregoire, keep in mind that she's only been in charge of transportation for a couple years now.
Posted by: Roger P. on December 16, 2007 11:19 PMYour right but she is part of the whole DEM party who has run this state for a long time, and this is what they have left us in!
(MESS)
Spend money on foolish things and never take care of the most imporant stuff. ( transportation )
Unions would move in
Bickering over rates & schedules (profitability factor) would ensue
Contractor would grow fat with superfulous management
State oversight bureaucracy would bloat and fester with waste
Lawsuits and lawyers would feast at taxpayers expense
During my 33 years (I am now retired) with the Defense Department, I observed (sadly) that promises from contractors are as shallow as a mud puddle, and that dirtbag lawyers can find airholes in any contract. From direct experience I know there to be as much and perhaps more waste in Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics DOD-related contracts than the DOD itself. I seriously doubt the Democrat-appointed idiots in the State DOT could manage contracts any more efficiently than they presently manage the ferries. A very sad indictment indeed.
Posted by: Saltherring on December 17, 2007 07:21 AM
If the GOP wants to embrace new supporters they should attract the adopt a state platform similar to Ron Pauls national platform. The ferry system is a slamdunk for privatization.
Travis
Posted by: travis on December 17, 2007 09:09 PM