Dear Seattle: You're on notice.

It's not that I don't love you, Seattle, I do...You're actually way more liberal than New York in many ways...it's just I can't live another four days like this. I had such a bad day today, trying to get around you. Six inches over four long, unproductive days. If the first three inches had been dealt with properly we wouldn't be in the mess we are in today. By the way, it doesn't help that your roads are laid out like spaghetti on a plate.

You are located much further north than New York or even Boston, and yet the only snow removal plan the city seems to have is "Let it melt." Did anyone ever think about the possibility that the snow would not melt? I can understand Houston, New Orleans or Miami being surprised by snowfall, but Seattle, you knew this would eventually happen. Virginia goes years between snow storms and they are out there with their plows as soon as the first flake falls. Even though they don't use it that often, they have the equipment and the plan. It's usually some form of alternate side of the street parking. Can't find a place to park? Too fucking bad. No one can. It's a risk associated with owning a car and expecting to store it on city property. Seattle, you really do coddle your motorists. But that's another story.

I know it's not all your fault. You're trying to work with a state that doesn't have an income tax. Sales tax is nice, but very fickle.

Have you thought of the implications? I would guess sales tax receipts would suffer as a result the mass closures and advisories against leaving home. People know the snow on the road has nearly melted and refrozen several times already. Your icy roads are keeping people at home, when they need to be out spending money. Now you'll have even less money to deal with the next snow storm and I'll be using my trekking poles to get down Capitol Hill again.

Help me help you. I won't be able to stick around much longer if you continue to act this way. Make no mistake about it, this is a an abject failure of your government and it makes me question how you will behave in the next earthquake.

And it lowers the quality of life dramatically.

Yours Affectionately,
Dan Ruisi