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News & ArtsSaturday, November 7, 2009
Politics / City Deep Thought
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Nov 7, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I wonder if Mike McGinn's promise to build the tunnel was just as sincere as Greg Nickels' promise to build the monorail.
1
Given enough law suits, and citizen initiatives on which to vote I'm sure McGinn's promise will be just as meaningful. Of course nature could intervene with an earthquake and start the initiative process early.
2
He didn't promise to build it. After the Council's vote, he simply asserted that he recognized that a mayor couldn't prevent it's being built, but that he would continue to question it.
3
Jeez, that's what this race was all about. The Stanger's fit about the Monorail, isn't it? Well, guys, now that you've tied youselves to McGinn's ass have fun taking responsibility for him over the next four years. Don't think that you were mere commentators on this race. This was your candidate, and without you, he wouldn't have even made it past the primary. You have the power. I hope you wield it wisely.
4
Nickels waited until just the right moment to make his move against the monorail. It's all about the timing.
5
roddy @3 FTW. Good thing you got promoted Dom, since you'll have a lot of spinning to do from here on out.
Unlike the monorail, the tunnel isn't funded with an intentionally punative I-hate-automobiles tax, and McGinn will have no choice since a majority of Seattle voters are for it - all of the Mallahan voters and the McGinn voters who bought his last minute bullshit.
Unlike the monorail, the tunnel isn't funded with an intentionally punative I-hate-automobiles tax, and McGinn will have no choice since a majority of Seattle voters are for it - all of the Mallahan voters and the McGinn voters who bought his last minute bullshit.
6
roddy @3 FTW. Good thing you promoted Dom, since he'll have a lot of spinning to do from here on out.
Unlike the monorail, the tunnel isn't funded with an intentionally punative I-hate-automobiles tax, and McGinn will have no choice since a majority of Seattle voters are for it - all of the Mallahan voters and the McGinn voters who bought his last minute bullshit.
Unlike the monorail, the tunnel isn't funded with an intentionally punative I-hate-automobiles tax, and McGinn will have no choice since a majority of Seattle voters are for it - all of the Mallahan voters and the McGinn voters who bought his last minute bullshit.
8
Before we rewrite history, here, it should be remembered that the voters put the monorail out of its misery. All Nickels did was suggest that they do.
9
Don't worry Dan, the "Western" part of McGinn's Seattle funded light rail might as well run on a monorail.
McGinn did not promise anything except to question it. He insulated himself from cost overruns on the state's tunnel project.
He can both sandbag the project and say I told you so.
Hmm, that is very Nickels, come to think of it.
Either way the city is on the hook for all costs that are not part of the state's road, no matter which option gets build.
McGinn did not promise anything except to question it. He insulated himself from cost overruns on the state's tunnel project.
He can both sandbag the project and say I told you so.
Hmm, that is very Nickels, come to think of it.
Either way the city is on the hook for all costs that are not part of the state's road, no matter which option gets build.
10
I'd blame the Speaker for the tunnel funding problem. Frank Chopp set the stage for this race. The Stranger wrote the script, and McGinn played the leading man. Seattle applauded, faintly.
12
I think this tunnel discussion underestimates how many people voted for McGinn because he just seemed less elitist and narrow in his perceived constituency than Mallahan. I'm sympathetic. Mallahan did often sound like he was in a popularity contest, like student body president of a high school. All that establishment support and money just couldn't shake that image.
Their campaigns reflected this. The newspaper this morning said McGinn had made a special effort in his campaign to go to those areas of the city who had voted heavily for Nichols to court their votes and reached out to diverse groups. And those McGinn operatives who called were just so darn nice and sincere... Being sought out at a micro-level really makes a voter feeel like you give a shit.
Their campaigns reflected this. The newspaper this morning said McGinn had made a special effort in his campaign to go to those areas of the city who had voted heavily for Nichols to court their votes and reached out to diverse groups. And those McGinn operatives who called were just so darn nice and sincere... Being sought out at a micro-level really makes a voter feeel like you give a shit.
13
Or to put it another way. It is a mistake to think McGinn is a one issue candidate and to believe that is the primary reason people voted for him.
14
Dan, thank god the city came to its senses and ignored your advice on the Monorail, the biggest fiscal disaster in city history. Your stupidity is exceeded by your smug arrogance, dip stick.
15
If you want to really know if he can stop it just see who ends up on the Transportation and Finance sub-committees.
Passing legislation for him to sign, or not, is not all up to the mayor. With Jan Drago stepping down the Transportation Chair chair is open.
Not having Bloom on the council could make the difference in many issues.
Passing legislation for him to sign, or not, is not all up to the mayor. With Jan Drago stepping down the Transportation Chair chair is open.
Not having Bloom on the council could make the difference in many issues.
16
@5 "Don't think that you were mere commentators on this race. This was your candidate, and without you, he wouldn't have even made it past the primary. You have the power."
I know! Isn't it exciting? If I were still at the Stranger I'd be posting Stranger 6, Seattle Times 2 every hour on the hour till people got the point. (That would be the endorsements for Mayor, County Exec, and Council Positions 2, 4, 6, and 8.)
I know! Isn't it exciting? If I were still at the Stranger I'd be posting Stranger 6, Seattle Times 2 every hour on the hour till people got the point. (That would be the endorsements for Mayor, County Exec, and Council Positions 2, 4, 6, and 8.)
17
Does the Stranger really have this much influence? My experience as parent/homeowner is that most of the people in the city are pretty prudish personally, despite their live and let live attitudes.
Probably less the Stranger's influence than the education level of the voters here and the political outlook people that choose to live permanently in Seattle tend to have to begin with.
Probably less the Stranger's influence than the education level of the voters here and the political outlook people that choose to live permanently in Seattle tend to have to begin with.
19
@8 We voted for the monorail 5 times. So after saying yes 4 times, the opponents of the monorail further gutted it until it was unrecognizable. We should have only had to vote yes once. So much for Democracy. Every study showed that the monorail would have been an efficient, fast, and environmentally friendly transportation system for Seattle. Opponents were against it because it would have worked.
Why don't you stop spinning history. Remember, if you have to make shit up to make your case, you don't have that great a case.
Why don't you stop spinning history. Remember, if you have to make shit up to make your case, you don't have that great a case.
20
@19 "Opponents" gutted it? How about the Monorail management whose cause and leadership was championed by The Stranger.
As for those votes, yeah, those were itty bitty "shall we study" votes till the last vote and that was real. But "no matter how stupid it turns out" was not on the ballot. Reality bites, doesn't it?
As for those votes, yeah, those were itty bitty "shall we study" votes till the last vote and that was real. But "no matter how stupid it turns out" was not on the ballot. Reality bites, doesn't it?
22
@20 "'Opponents' gutted it? How about the Monorail management whose cause and leadership was championed by The Stranger."
Yes, the monorail agency should have known better. They failed, and there was absolutely no room for failure in a city where every elected official was (at one time at least) rooting for its failure. It's a shame because monorail still makes the most sense as an intracity transit system. Small footprint, less land acquisition required (than light rail), and simple, proven technology.
" As for those votes, yeah, those were itty bitty 'shall we study' votes till the last vote and that was real."
That was Election #2 of 5. The last two were recall elections, the last of which was triggered by incoming revenue being 30% short of the budget. At least give the monorail agency credit for including that provision to kill the project. Sound Transit has never been so accountable, that's for sure.
Yes, the monorail agency should have known better. They failed, and there was absolutely no room for failure in a city where every elected official was (at one time at least) rooting for its failure. It's a shame because monorail still makes the most sense as an intracity transit system. Small footprint, less land acquisition required (than light rail), and simple, proven technology.
" As for those votes, yeah, those were itty bitty 'shall we study' votes till the last vote and that was real."
That was Election #2 of 5. The last two were recall elections, the last of which was triggered by incoming revenue being 30% short of the budget. At least give the monorail agency credit for including that provision to kill the project. Sound Transit has never been so accountable, that's for sure.
23
Ummmm, Seattlerik @20; your -- " At least give the monorail agency credit for including that provision to kill the project. Sound Transit has never been so accountable, that's for sure."
I'm surprised that you would knock Sound Transit at this late date. They built a system and have it operating, and voters gave them a mandate last November to greatly expand the system. If the voters had any problem with Sound Transit's accountability, they surely wouldn't not expanded their light rail mission by a margin of 57 percent.
I'm surprised that you would knock Sound Transit at this late date. They built a system and have it operating, and voters gave them a mandate last November to greatly expand the system. If the voters had any problem with Sound Transit's accountability, they surely wouldn't not expanded their light rail mission by a margin of 57 percent.
24
The deep-bore tunnel is just as feasible as the monorail, which is to say don't hold your breath.
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