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Friday, February 2, 2007

Sims Is No Tunnel Supporter. He’s Into the Surface/Transit Option. Please Make a Note of It.

posted by on February 2 at 12:35 PM

There’s a good article in yesterday’s PI that summarizes the “uncouth” factor I was getting at earlier this week when I made fun of Gov. Gregoire for her latest attempt to appear politically coherent about the viaduct.

But I do have a footnote complaint about the article. It has little to do with Gregoire. It has to do with the incorrigible mainstream press around here—that refuses to acknowledge the bigwig support for the surface/transit option.

The article says: “Of the group of tunnel supporters, including King County Executive Ron Sims…”

WTF??

King County Exec Sims is one of the loudest advocates for checking out the third option, the surface/transit option. Certainly, I understand if the reporter goofed, but editors who have been editing article after article about the viaduct drama should know full well where Sims stands.

Yes, it was a toss-off line in the story. But in such a charged debate, it’s important to get the King County Exec’s position right. Please do.

RSS icon Comments

1

Josh telling the journalism world about fairness and accuracy.

Now that's satire.

Posted by As I say, Not as I do | February 2, 2007 12:38 PM
2

I've been writing all manner of bitchy letters to local editors asking them to please remove their heads from their asses regarding the surface option. No such luck.

Posted by Violet_DaGrinder | February 2, 2007 12:44 PM
3

@ 1,

I meet your stinging commentary with this stinging rejoinder:

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can't hear me
When I say softly, slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Posted by Josh Feit | February 2, 2007 12:53 PM
4

thanks. this is a major piece of the story which the PI got wrong. the daily papers' blackout on the surface-transit option is bad journalism and the PI needs to issue a correction.

Posted by lorax | February 2, 2007 12:57 PM
5

Josh, come on - it's entirely possible to be a "tunnel supporter" AND support "checking out the surface/transit option." One problem with the Stranger's reporting on this issue is that your paper often attacks those with this position as being Nickels toadies. So try some complete & accurate reporting yourself.

Posted by JTR | February 2, 2007 1:10 PM
6

Damn, Josh, now you got that song stuck in my head.

Posted by BB | February 2, 2007 1:20 PM
7

#5,
Yes, it's possible, but I called Sims's office and guess what: He's not a tunnel supporter.

Posted by Josh Feit | February 2, 2007 2:04 PM
8

Feit, why should we suspect you didn't bother asking Sims if he would support a cable stayed bridge?

Posted by Princess Caroline | February 2, 2007 2:20 PM
9

Sound off, people.

Posted by hyperlinker | February 2, 2007 2:52 PM
10

#8, because that suspension bridge across the bay shit is kooky-nutso!!! That is one option that has NEVER been on the table, except maybe the kitchen table of some wacky engineer! Umm....

Posted by Grant Cogswell | February 2, 2007 3:37 PM
11


Nothing like a well reasoned and explained position, Grant. Didn't you once want to be a Seattle city council member?

Just for your edification, it is not a suspension bridge, Grant, It is a cable stayed bridge. There is about a $5 billion difference.

Posted by Princess Caroline | February 2, 2007 3:54 PM
12

It's all about the greenbacks. Even the Sierra Club is afraid to be Real and Green and diss the tunnel, even though they really want the Surface Plus Transit option. More concerned with upsetting the Seattle council than the freight train wreck coming down the pike.

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 2, 2007 4:22 PM
13

oh, and @11 - depends on the footings and the clearances and the soils for the footings and the impact on deep see cargo unloading. but it would make a nice suicide platform ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 2, 2007 4:24 PM
14

That's neat. Hey Ron, how's that bus system working? Planning on rolling out a bunch of new routes along the viaduct corridor to offset its forthcoming loss?

Oh, not really? Okay then. Keep talking trash, then. You fit in great here.

Posted by Gomez | February 2, 2007 4:41 PM
15

Grant,
Maybe the voters are smarter than we think.

Posted by City Comforts | February 2, 2007 4:42 PM
16


@13---

The footings and clearances also depend on the design and materials....which as you cite are dependent on soil's....interestingly new types of deck framing are being made from composite materials which would significantly reduce the size of footings. Check out what is going on
around the world:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable-stayed_bridge

Cargo unloading shouldn't be an issue. In the worse case, it is one of the reasons we utilize tug boats.

Posted by Princess Caroline | February 2, 2007 4:50 PM
17

I am surprised Mudede hasn't reviewed cable stayed bridge designs. I suspect
he would find them fascinating.

---Jensen

Posted by Jensen Interceptor | February 2, 2007 5:18 PM

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