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News & ArtsFriday, October 16, 2009
Politics / City Mayor's Race Debate on Seattle Channel
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 7:28 PM
It starts at 7 pm on channel 21.
7:00 Is anyone else watching? Are Dominic Holden and I are the only ones? It begins with a mishmash montage about McGinn and Mallahan, featuring Joni Balter and Joel Connelly.
7:03 pm: McGinn on why he wants this job: "I know it sounds trite, but I love this city. I've been here for 20 years, ever since I moved out here to go to law school..." He mentions sidewalks, Great City, the parks levy, the public "wanting more boldness from their elected officials."
7:05 pm: Mallahan, same question: "You know I want to lead Seattle forward. I was born and raised here in the Northwest, in Everett Washington... The reason I got in this race is because I thought city government had become so inefficient... And that's why I got in the race: to bring us together and move us forward."
7:07 pm: McGinn on the tunnel: "We dont know how much it costs, we don't have the funds to pay for it, and we don't have a plan to deal with risks."
7:08 pm: "Mike simply doesn't get it. He's not only opposed to the tunnel; he's opposed to viaduct replacement... His proposal is to flood city streets with 70,000 vehicles and bring our transportation and economy to a screeching halt." Because if we redirect people to other streets, the economy stops working?
7:10 pm: McGinn talks about an Oxford study about the biggest cause of cost overruns in urban projects like the tunnel: inaccurate cost estimates—or, as the study called it, "strategic misrepresentation" of costs. McGinn calls the tunnel a "boondoggle."
7:13 pm: C. R. Douglas asks Mallahan: "Why not a public vote on this... to see if people really want a tunnel?" Mallahan dodges, saying, "We need to move forward." Douglas turns to McGinn and he starts talking about his plan to extend light rail to Ballard, Lower Queen Anne, and West Seattle—"and that's how we can build a transportation solution for the future."
7:16 pm: McGinn: "We're going to spend 4.2 billion on a tunnel, and I don't know if the public knows this yet, but that doesn't include tolls." Mallahan: "How can he make an argument that he's worried about congestion when his plan is for forced congestion? He wants to force people out of their vehicles."
7:22 pm: These guys totally hate each other. Mallahan is incredulous about McGinn's plan for broadband internet, saying that McGinn has called it "municipal wifi" and that guys like him sitting on coffee shops don't need more access to the internet. McGinn says that his broadband internet plan won't be paid by taxes but by subscribers, and then he asks if he can say something else. He turns to Mallahan and says, "You let me know the place where I called it 'municipal wifi.'"
7:24 pm: Mallahan is asked about why he's missed so many elections as a voter and he refuses to answer, saying it doesn't make sense to give excuses.
And... we're done. What a weird interview.
They've been extrapolating the same week and not releasing any numbers for normal ridership. I want an hour by hour breakdown on the web.
Let's go.
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Unlike you we both voted against 1 or 2 of the county charter amendments.
They have them on KCTS 9 right now too.
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@8, http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/vid…
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Besides, why is he pushing right wing concepts such as no new taxes and let the voters decide? The latter message basically aligns him with Tim Eyeman and the Ref 71 crowd. I do not believe everything government does should be put a vote.
Like, you know how there are white people who are totally into black stuff like rap, jazz and blues?
Ok, so how about this -- a straight guy who is totally into gay stuff...like a gay aficionado? Makes sense, right?
Anyway, I just voted for R-71 -- one order of Domestic Partnerships (but, please, hold the Marriage).
I was supposed to vote for it right?
Anyway, chapel bells are ringing, you same sex future 50th anniversary celebrators...at least on my ballot!
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Maybe not, but folks like us living down on Beacon Hill where we have worse internet access than almost every other neighborhood in the city sure think that a little better internet access would be good. See the "Digital Discrimination" article in Publicola: http://publicola.net/?p=15237
With all the other problems and no money - this is a priority?
I think Mc Ginn is just playing the - I'm a techie card. This idea is only on his paperwork.
His robo calls have totally backfired. Nice was supposed to be a high card for him.
Every body in my circles have landed for Mallahan and most have already voted. The push to vote for Ref 71 early will make most of the rest of these campaigns a waste.
For half of this city - voters who are perfect voters - it is over by Wed.
Interesting isn't it - mail in ballots are a new game.
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Wow!
McGinn completely danced around the fact of 70,000 extra vehicles getting put thru Seattle daily with the surface street option.
What a clueless buffoon!
LOL Mike is making this election too easy!
Any fence sitters who have yet to vote will clearly choose Mallahan over McGinn after watching this interview.
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Ziiinnngggg!!
The hypocrisy was clearly dripping, and you failed to point out to the readership that he was NAILED hard for that obvious detail.
The moderator even pressed McGinn further, saying that if his idea did pass (and on top of that it is NOWHERE near the top of Sound Transit's priority list at the moment), it would in effect become the largest tax on Seattle voters EVER!
The moderator asks him to square that double standard, and McGinn fails miserably!
It is completely clear that McGinn is an whack job enviro shill talking mouth for Sierra Club interests, and as long as it is green, eco friendly and not dealing with road infrastructure then costs are no options... make it happen. However if it involves anything automobile, wellllll we better stall, delay, study, vote, consider, analyze, and waste more time dragging out the process.
Nice to see the Stranger in their exhaustive efforts at fair and balanced reporting miss such an obvious glaring problem for the hack that is McGinn...
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The double standard is that McGinn supports spending when they support his special interests, but squeals like a stuck pig when anything viaduct is discussed. He has ZERO solutions for what to do instead. He basically has told everyone to KISS HIS ASS and suck it up, and that basically we all are going to have to simply deal with congestion downtown after he tears down the viaduct and doesn't replace it with anything comparable that will properly handle that traffic.
Ohhh and Furcifer.. please do tell... give us the numbers between the costs of the 2 projects.... you know... since Seattle voters are on the hook for overruns only...
What is the cost difference between the cost overruns, and a light rail line between Ballard and West Seattle?
You see... much of the funding for the tunnel has already been appropriated by the state, provided of course that we immediately use it now.
It would seem many liberal whack jobs here and elsewhere would rather cut off their nose to spite their face rather than accepting any state/federal funding.
But please Furcifer... feel free to try diluting my earlier point(s) some more! I enjoy the humor!
But, here's what the Progressive Voters Guide (http://progressivevotersguide.com/2009/w…) offers on the candidates. Check it out for recommendations on all the races:
Vote for Mallahan if: you think business management experience is important, you prefer a more pragmatic approach to politics, you want to replace the Viaduct with a tunnel, and/or you are less concerned about his lack of experience with Seattle issues.
Vote for McGinn if: you believe a track record of civic leadership is important, you prefer a more pointed and grassroots-oriented progressivism, you oppose replacing the viaduct with a tunnel, the environment is your top priority, and/or you are less concerned about his lack of management experience.
But if there is a guy that fits the " For The Greater Good of The WHOLE " Theory then I would have to say Big Business t-mobile mogul ceo dude Mallahan iz not our man. It seems to me while observing some of the debates between McGinn and Mallahan. That Mallahan is quite the DECEIVER while speaking to the public.... He almost always gets a slight sly grin on his face when asked a pertinent questions about the future of seattle. This sly grin I see while Mallahan speaks makes me kinda feel sick.... I dont trust that guy further than I can throw him!
But...
I like light rail too so maybe I am biased. :)
anyway Have a blessed day!
Sending Love Brandi Michelle Mary Halstead
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