Comments on Skatepark Update

funny thing is - if this was a Vulcan development the Stranger and its readers would be all over that Company and Paul Allen and blaming them for the demise of the skateboard park.

What about Bill Gates and his Foundation - are u guys giving them a free pass. Looks like a double standard to me.

Aren’t things in Seattle Center supposed to benefit the community in some way? You know, park space, concert venues, museums, rides, and convention space and such. Why the hell does the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation need to be right there? It could be anywhere and perform the same charitable function. It seems like an ego-stroking move to put your charity headquarters right in the heart of the city’s cultural center.

Aren’t things in Seattle Center supposed to benefit the community in some way? You know, park space, concert venues, museums, rides, and convention space and such. Why the hell does the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation need to be right there? It could be anywhere and perform the same charitable function. It seems like an ego-stroking move to put your charity headquarters right in the heart of the city’s cultural center.

JC - As far as I know the Seattle Center is currently running a large operating deficit, and the sale/lease of that space to Mr. Moneybags brought in some much needed cash-ola for the center. If it is a leased space then the center will continue to get money from the B&MG...

I'm not saying it's right, but that's what I think is going on

i like this new intern, brian turner. he's got moxie, bolding and italicizing and header-ing and footer-ing this blog. yes, brian turner will be the mover and the shaker of slog. i see it now.

hear hear! bow down before the new god of slog, brian turner!

There are ramps, rails and ridges all over Seattle Center. I hope the "skateboard community" (whatever that is) takes advantage of the Center's existing terrain until plans for a new park emerge.

Key Arena will be empty soon. Maybe they can make that the greatest skateboard arena ever.

Underhanded and deceitful actions such as this by Seattle authorities were the motivating factor behind the petition drives, protest marches and packed Parks meetings a couple years ago.

The Marginal Way DIY skatepark is also a direct result of skateboarders general distrust of our local government.

I thought we had moved passed that antagonistic phase but, apparently, I'm wrong.

It's easier to rag on Vulcan, which exists to serve Paul Allen's ego and pocketbook, than it is to rag on the B&M Gates Foundation, which exists to fight AIDS, stamp out malaria, combat poverty, etc.

Don't worry, they can rebuild it in Seattle Center after the Sonics leave.

The truth comes out...

Dan Savage is a Player Hater.

Go sell some more books will ya!

“We walked around the entire campus and had to listen to
why a skatepark was not possible on every inch of the entire campus,” said Johnston, who was also at the meeting.

After all the brawling over the routing of the now dead Monorail, it should have been obvious that every piece of that turf is staked and claimed. Even the 'air rights' are subject to some institutional claim.

Skateboarders, it's time to escalate your efforts if you truly want some spaces of your own. You have no constituency except yourselves.

@5&6: Say what you will, you have to admit this was the most news-y & proffesional looking thing we've seen from the Stranger in, well, ever. Don't mind those mockers, Brian, way to go for trying to bring some respectibility to this rag.

Wait, that didn't sound right ...