Slog - Comments on Blethen's Porsche http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche Employee parking space rates over at the Seattle Times are going up from $50 a month to $62.50 starting next year. That's a 25 percent increase. On a reporter's salary. Ouch. And what makes it hurt even more is this: Publisher Frank Blethen's 2008 Porsche Cayenne AWD 4-door Turbo has started showing up in the parking lot. Listed base price: $81,859. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $93,700. Photo courtesy of news intern Brian Slodysko before he was chased off the lot by security.... Copyright 2008 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:10:11 -0800 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:11:41 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by wow! That's a bargain compared to a few blocks south at City Hall. The market rate at City Hall and SMT is about $200 a month, city councilmembers included.

]]> wow! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870268 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870268 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:12:40 -0800 Comment by andy niable that is one fugly car.

]]> andy niable http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870273 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870273 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:16:00 -0800 Comment by bigyaz Josh: You don't want to ask how much more the publisher of the Stranger makes than you -- or Savage, for that matter.

At least the Times pays its reporters a decent wage with decent benefits, unlike your rag

]]> bigyaz http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870274 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870274 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:19:54 -0800 Comment by isabelita What kind of moron buys a Porsche SUV?
Or a Mercedes SUV? Or the Cadillac Escalade?
Rhetorical.

]]> isabelita http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870291 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870291 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:32:51 -0800 Comment by Amelia I think thats a hot car! Esp. the color. Rarr.

]]> Amelia http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870295 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:38:01 -0800 Comment by Greg How small of a penis does a $90,000 car compensate for?

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870299 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870299 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:40:46 -0800 Comment by observer $62.50 a month - sounds like a bargain.
What are the other local monthly rates?

How much do those reporters make?

Is a 60 cents per workday increase a true life altering charge to them?

Is it just the $90K car that's got your goat?

Are you supposed to be a reporter?

]]> observer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870303 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870303 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:42:53 -0800 Comment by Joe M You were expecting Frank to slide into work aboard Rosebud?

]]> Joe M http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870307 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:46:54 -0800 Comment by DOUG. Hey, Frank's downscaling. He used to drive a Range Rover. Gas prices, you know!

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870310 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870310 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:47:51 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle At least he's not flying his chopper there.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870312 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870312 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:48:35 -0800 Comment by Brad Color me obtuse, but I'm not sure I get your point. So the publisher drives a Porsche SUV. So what. One would presume that the publisher of a large city newspaper would make enough money to drive such a vehicle.

Am I missing something more?

]]> Brad http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870313 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870313 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:49:39 -0800 Comment by Josh Feit @11,
Yes. You are.

]]> Josh Feit http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870314 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870314 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:51:12 -0800 Comment by my creepy underbelly Amelia, you make me Rarr :)

]]> my creepy underbelly http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870316 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870316 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:51:56 -0800 Comment by lorax Meanwhile, the Seattle Times continues to talk out its ass about global warming and how "we really should do something about that, as long as it doesn't affect our extravagant lifestyle in any way at all." Aren't there any buses from Mercer Island to Seattle, Frank?

]]> lorax http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870322 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870322 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:54:15 -0800 Comment by Boo Is this a real news story or just sour grapes from Josh?

Josh, please tell us why anyone other than a bitter Stranger employee or a Times' reporter cares about this.

]]> Boo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870329 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870329 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:57:10 -0800 Comment by Orv The Porsche Cayenne is an abomination. The whole idea of making an SUV was a violation of everything Porsche ever stood for.

]]> Orv http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870336 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870336 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:01:35 -0800 Comment by Lou I'd pay $280 a month to park at my workplace in Chicago if I didn't take the el every day. Perhaps parking in Seattle does need to be a bit more expensive to give a nudge to transit?

]]> Lou http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870337 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870337 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:02:12 -0800 Comment by idaho @15 because the people at the top are always overpaid and the people at the bottom always get screwed? He could, in lieu of giving his reporters raises or buying that car, pay for the increase for 7500 of his employees for a year.

]]> idaho http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870338 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870338 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:02:15 -0800 Comment by Justy How can he afford this? He's been claiming that the Times isn't making any money, thus his reasoning for breaking up with the P-I.

]]> Justy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870346 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870346 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:05:39 -0800 Comment by ECB Hey Feit,

I may be on vacation, but I TOTES pitched this story a few weeks ago, via a disgruntled Times reporter.

Just sayin.

xo from BCN,
ECB

]]> ECB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870365 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870365 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:23:51 -0800 Comment by Orv @19: Executives always get paid big bucks for running their companies into the ground. Then they deploy their golden parachutes just before impact. It's capitalism at work!

]]> Orv http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870376 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870376 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:29:52 -0800 Comment by Will/HA At least Frank and The Stranger can agree on ONE thing: Building light rail outside Seattle is a waste of fucking money.

]]> Will/HA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870380 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870380 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:32:54 -0800 Comment by fnc Regarding the Cayenne, perhaps Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson put it best when he said, "I mean, just look at it!" before refusing to drive it another inch.

]]> fnc http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870388 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870388 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:36:44 -0800 Comment by meanie serious on the, who gives a sh*t front, if parking is expensive for "reporters salary's" don't drive.

The boss drives a 90k$ stupid car? big deal I would expect him to drive a 300k Mercedes.

The boss makes more money than the employees, news at 11.

]]> meanie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870402 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870402 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:46:19 -0800 Comment by Lordsman Not my taste in a Porsche. Have owned one, years ago, god, almost scared me to drive it cause it went so fast so soon.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - so a rich family likes expensive new cars, news in America?

]]> Lordsman http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870413 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870413 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:54:30 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus Doesn't it just kill ya when someone pays that much for a fucking car?

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870430 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870430 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:14:14 -0800 Comment by Fnarf What's the value per space of the land that lot sits on, compared to what it would sell for on the market? Surface parking in that area is getting more and more wasteful as real estate goes up. And if they built a garage, it would be even more -- even adding a floor or two to new office construction to allow parking floors below adds at least $100 or so per space per month, amortized. It's eminently fair.

I assume they subsidize bus passes.

The boss drives an expensive car -- how UNUSUAL. Not.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870450 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870450 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:25:57 -0800 Comment by Eric That is fucking cheap parking; no wonder he drives the Porsche. I pay $240 for downtown Seattle parking. ps. The Cayenne is a Toureg is a Q7, with modifications. All pretty ugly, but whatevers.

]]> Eric http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870454 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:27:36 -0800 Comment by Big whoop Yes, the Times subsidizes bus passes and the majority of my coworkers take the bus, myself included. It's a screamin' deal: I buy one tank of gas per month (if that) and my insurance rates are next to nothing.

]]> Big whoop http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870471 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870471 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:38:05 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Well, the Chevy Volt, a plug-in electric car, is a bit more than $90,000 as I recall ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870508 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870508 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:00:25 -0800 Comment by carfree You can lock your bike in that same lot, in a fenced bike cage, for free. I hope more people opt to bike to work, rather than drive, at the Times.

]]> carfree http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870523 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870523 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:07:04 -0800 Comment by punk nose ring Guess I won't buy the Seattle Times anymore. Bleth (I call him Bleth) doesn't need my dough.

]]> punk nose ring http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870524 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870524 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:07:05 -0800 Comment by max solomon TWO BUCKS A DAY?

fuck, i work in the wrong part of town.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870542 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870542 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:16:57 -0800 Comment by tomcat98109 Interestingly, the Times did boost the cost of parking but provides annual bus passes for about $150. The idea is to get people using public transportation rather than driving into town.

Hmmm. Isn't that something you and your cohorts would support, Josh?

]]> tomcat98109 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870582 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870582 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:49:55 -0800 Comment by Josh Feit @34 et al,

I don't have as much invested in this minor Slog item as you seem to hope/imagine. (Encouraging bike riding sounds great, though.)

]]> Josh Feit http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870634 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870634 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:39:27 -0800 Comment by How many houses does Dan own? Then why waste the keystrokes, Josh? I've worked for other newspapers who had ostentatious publishers too. But that's because I've always worked for major metropolitan dailies (starting sophomore year of college) and not a free bar-ad tab with a major chip on its shoulder.

]]> How many houses does Dan own? http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870644 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870644 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:55:07 -0800 Comment by superyeadon it's awfully lame to have to pay for parking, if you HAVE to use your car for work. so, i think the reporters and probably a number of the sales staff at the times have a valid complaint about paying for parking. otherwise, i'm not sure what the big fuss is about.

ps - blethen is a douchebag publisher, and that porsche, well, it's a douchebag car. so, i'm not sure what the big surprise is about there, either.

]]> superyeadon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870707 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870707 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:46:29 -0800 Comment by tree @37 - Most reporters don't have to drive.

Josh, how about a posting that compares a photo of Dan Savage's $1,000,000+ home to whatever hovel you can afford on your Stranger salary (or are you another trust fund kid?).

]]> tree http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870737 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870737 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:32:29 -0800 Comment by superyeadon savage is a national treasure, sort of like bob novak or valerie bertinelli. didn't you see the colbert show dammit? of course savage has an expensive house.

]]> superyeadon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870780 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870780 City Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:36:16 -0800 Comment by COMTE Gee, maybe if some of you whiners got off your fat, lazy heinies, and wrote two or three moderately successful national best-sellers, you too could afford to buy a nice house.

Ah, but that would involve actual work and productivity - sorry, mea culpa. Continue with the snarkage.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870957 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c870957 City Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:37:31 -0800 Comment by J.R. @36: Dan earned the money for his many dream homes; Frank inherited the family business.

]]> J.R. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c871118 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c871118 City Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:55:44 -0800 Comment by TLjr Congrats to the Times for doing something right for transportation.

]]> TLjr http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c871760 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/blethens_porsche#c871760 City Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:11:41 -0800