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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

City The Street Car Wasn't Enough?

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 12:17 PM

City Hall is braying over the loss of 180 jobs on Lake Union today after NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced it would move its Marine Operations Center-Pacific to Newport, Oregon. Mayor Greg Nickels and City Council Member Jean Godden fired off testy statements today blaming powers beyond their control for losing a fleet of 10 ships on Lake Union.

“Ultimately, this was a real estate decision between NOAA and a private Lake Union landowner who could not compete with massive public subsidies," Nickels writes. He notes that Newport pledged $24.8 million in bonds to cover new NOAA facility, and the state of Oregon offered an additional $19.5 million in bonding capacity.

Godden blames our national representatives, saying Washington's "congressional delegation ... must work harder." Indeed, what we need are more government-funded perks to attract and retain business near Lake Union (and we're sure Paul Allen would agree that the street car was only the beginning). The Stranger would like to propose free Mai Tais on every streetcorner and paving the streets with puppies.

Comments (19) RSS

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HA HA HA HA HA!!!

I am sorry that we all got FUCKED by the Street Car but what can you say? She's a SLUT!! A no good for nothing skanky SLUT!!

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on August 4, 2009 at 12:18 PM

"Godden takes blames our national representatives"

is this pig Latin?

Posted by ..did anyone at Slog finish High School?...Middle School?.. on August 4, 2009 at 12:25 PM

@ 2) Egads, a typo! The horror. The filth. (And the obsession with my education is kind of creepy.)

Posted by Dominic Holden on August 4, 2009 at 12:28 PM

newport is way closer to the pacific ocean than SLU.

Posted by Max Solomon on August 4, 2009 at 12:36 PM

This troll has me flummoxed. The criticisms are never on substance-- they are always ad hoc (no diploma! biased! a typo! posting on whimsical topics!).

Mr. Holden became a civic leader on his cause at a crazily young age, was an oft-quoted contributer to the civic dialogue, does solid reporting to break real news, and has interesting opinions. Those are ample credentials. Let his work speak for itself.

Posted by Picarooon on August 4, 2009 at 12:39 PM

The NOAA press release mentions "quality of life for civilian employees, officers and crew" as one criterion. I gotta say, were I a seafarer of some kind Newport would seem like one hell of a nice place to be stationed.

Posted by gloomy gus on August 4, 2009 at 12:44 PM

What does the Streetcar have to do with something over half a mile away and largely outside of the zoning area for SLU, Dominic? You know, SLU being a neighborhood that the city wants to convert from maritime/industrial purposes to residential/commercial.

Posted by Baconcat on August 4, 2009 at 12:53 PM

@3
Don't let the trolls get to you, Dominic.
Relax and unwind with a bottle of Red Wine from the QFC.

Posted by It's almost as good as Pot! on August 4, 2009 at 1:01 PM

3 you're welcome

Posted by you little creep on August 4, 2009 at 1:09 PM

LOL.

This has more to do with the Mayor's decision to shut down the working ports in this city.

That's why Mike is going to win.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on August 4, 2009 at 1:22 PM

5 it seems someone calling themself 'picaroon' would have a better grasp of and appreciation for the fine art of trolling...

Posted by just plain bob on August 4, 2009 at 1:25 PM

I don't understand why perks/tax breaks are allowed to be handed out like gumdrops to attract businesses to a city. What if everyone agreed NOT to do that and thereby saved money?

Posted by iridius on August 4, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Oh those lucky employees who get to move to Newport. 53 miles to Corvallis, 100 to Eugene.

Posted by topher on August 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM

@10

Yes, I'm sure the mayor is actively working to shut down our ports. That sure sounds like something that stinky jerk would do, doesn't it!

Will, you seem to spiral further out away from reality with every passing day.

Posted by yay! leftovers on August 4, 2009 at 1:48 PM

I hate to say it, but Nickels actually has a point. Our state constitution/legislature severely limits our ability offer incentives to a company to stay here. That's what happened with Boeing a few years ago. Cities must compete for business these days, and it's only going to get worse. The SLUT has absolutely nothing to do with this issue.

Posted by Gordian on August 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM

That's $246,111 in bonds per job. And they have to live in Newport.

Posted by pox on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM

@15

Of course the SLUT has nothing to do with this. But Dominic rarely misses an opportunity to voice his sneering contempt for all things Nickels, whether justified or not.

I guess it's just Dom being Dom.

Posted by yay! leftovers on August 4, 2009 at 3:28 PM

the NOAA head is an OSU alum/professor, and OSU has a research center as well as ship based in Newport. I dunno if these are linked, but I'm just sayin.

Posted by damnqueerfuck on August 4, 2009 at 6:04 PM

Come on Seattle, share some of the wealth. Rural Oregon, i.e. Newport needs a little of the federal gravy train Western Washington has been feeding on forever.

Posted by Tom on August 6, 2009 at 11:17 AM