No, not tension at the Stranger. Whatever to that. I can't stand when someone starts an entry with a premise that I completely agree with, but then the reasoning is something completely stupid, irrelevant and inane. LOL.

I do think Kiley completely fucked this article up. The article's problem is that, in discussing the revitalization proposals, Kiley skips over the alternative proposals with an attitude of 'oh, take my word for it, they suck' and never bothers to explain them. But then he goes on lengthy tangents about the proposal he likes. Same old shitty one sided Stranger 'advocacy journalism' i.e. blatantly choosing a side, and ignoring facts that don't support their side of the story.

If Kiley presents the alternate proposals just ONCE, and then briefly explains what about them misses the boat, the articles gains serious credibility. But he doesn't, and it just comes across as more of the same bullshit. You're telling me Savage couldn't give Kiley an extra 100-200 words of space to make such a crucial point? Or would making the points have derailed the entire article?

This is especially frustrating given ECB's article on the Stone Way bike lanes was completely pointless (I rode the 16 yesterday and I saw newly drawn bike lanes on Stone Way: WTF, ECB?), and, even if it wasn't, redundant and could've been cut in half, which would've left Kiley with more than enough space (given requisite ad re-placement) to do what it took to solidify his article.

As it stands, he looks like a fucking liar who is willfully withholding crucial info.

leave it to the we need to change everything people to attack the one thing that works well for tens of thousands of visitors, and is not a mall.

paint it, spruce it up, new lights, floor covering and let it be for 40 more years

kiddie rides can replace fun forrest

Excerpts below from Dan Savage\'s \"Say yes to war\" piece Oct. 2002

\"While the American left is content to see an Iraqi dictator terrorizing the Iraqi people, the Bushies in D.C. are not. \"We do not intend to put American lives at risk to replace one dictator with another,\" Dick Cheney recently told reporters. For those of you who were too busy making papier-mâché puppets of George W. Bush last week to read the papers, you may have missed this page-one statement in last Friday\'s New York Times: \"The White House is developing a detailed plan, modeled on the postwar occupation of Japan, to install an American-led military government in Iraq if the United States topples Saddam Hussein.\"\"

\"In the meantime, invading and rebuilding Iraq will not only free the Iraqi people, it will also make the Saudis aware of the consequences they face if they continue to oppress their own people while exporting terrorism and terrorists. The War on Iraq will make it clear to our friends and enemies in the Middle East (and elsewhere) that we mean business: Free your people, reform your societies, liberalize, and democratize... or we\'re going to come over there, remove you from power, free your people, and reform your societies for ourselves\"

The Children's Museum hasn't pulled it weight in years. Take what works and move it outside next to the fountain. Kids need more outdoor time anyway.

And just fuck that noise about cheap cafes. What are you really saying, Kiley? Good food priced low? I don't think that's what you're saying. Gut the rest and have open air bays for street food and taco trucks. The new Seattle Center = Soul.

Best wishes.