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News & ArtsWednesday, February 24, 2010
City McGinn Sends Testy Letter to Microsoft
Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 6:20 PM
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn cited the threat of a lawsuit over the 520 bridge in a letter sent today to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Yesterday, the software company—which is based in Redmond and has scads of employees who live in Seattle, commuting across the 520 bridge—took out a full-page ad in the Seattle Times to demand that the 520 bridge construction proceed immediately. But McGinn says the existing plan "will delay replacement given its divisiveness, likelihood for a lawsuit, and failure to address the reality of climate change."
The letter, in which McGinn proposes A TOWN HALL, is after the jump.
Steve Ballmer
CEO Microsoft Corporation
Steve,
The current 520 bridge is unsafe and its congestion is a serious regional problem. I believe the thousands of Microsoft employees who spend far too much time away from their families stalled on that bridge deserve better.
The proposed A+ 520 bridge replacement plan will delay replacement given its divisiveness, likelihood for a lawsuit, and failure to address the reality of climate change.
The Coalition for a Sustainable 520, House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43), Senator Ed Murray (D-43), Representative Jamie Pedersen (D-43), Seattle Councilmembers Nick Licata and Mike O’Brien, the Sierra Club, the Cascade Bicycle Club and I support a 520 bridge replacement that maintains its current auto-
capacity and features light rail from the start. We are encouraged by a recent poll showing that 69 percent of those living in affected Seattle neighborhoods and 71 percent of those living in affected Eastside neighborhoods support light rail across the 520 bridge.
Bill Gates demonstrated tremendous leadership in addressing climate change during his speech at the recent TED Conference:
“Until we get near to zero [carbon emissions] the temperature will continue to rise. That’s a big challenge. It’s very different from saying we’re a 12-foot high truck trying to get under a 10-foot bridge and we can sort of just squeeze under. This is something that has to get to zero… We have to go from rapidly rising, to falling and falling all the way to zero.”
I appreciate your efforts to inform Microsoft employees of this issue and encouraging them to participate in the discussion over how to build the best replacement of the 520 bridge. In that spirit, I would ask that you share my response below with your employees as well. I would also welcome the opportunity to discuss this important project in a town hall with you and fellow Microsoft employees on your campus in Redmond.
Sincerely,
Mayor Mike McGinn
I think McGinn's hope for light rail from the outset is propbably unrealistic, given the economy and other transit investments that were paying for and planning for (Sound Transit 2 and McGinn's proposal for a line to West Seattle and Ballard). But the current bridge design, which lacks dedicated transit lanes, and the A+ option approved by state lawmakers for the Montlake neighborhood is a huge mistake. However, McGinn may have hit the real issue: The Coalition for a Sustainable 520—a group of wealthy neighborhood groups—has amassed "a war chest" for a legal fight. Building a bridge sooner could require appeasing these people.
3
Light rail isn't unrealistic at all. Portland is building more light rail than us, a longer streetcar than us, and is building light rail on their I-5 replacement bridge across state lines to tax-hating conservative Vancouver.
Light rail is surprisingly cheap when we don't build ridiculous tunnels. We could build a surface/bridge line across 520 to Redmond (not including the cost of the bridge of course) for about the cost of just the Beacon Hill light rail station. Most entire urban surface light rail lines cost less than $400 mil nationwide.
Light rail is surprisingly cheap when we don't build ridiculous tunnels. We could build a surface/bridge line across 520 to Redmond (not including the cost of the bridge of course) for about the cost of just the Beacon Hill light rail station. Most entire urban surface light rail lines cost less than $400 mil nationwide.
4
Good going, McGinn! I hope Microsoft will take you up on your offer to talk. I've been wondering whether these Microsoft managers are willing to address the underlying questions. For the next 60 years, how can we move many more people across the lake without strangling Seattle or ruining the environment? Seems to me that mass transit is the only answer.
And why light rail rather than bus? Because that's what people want. You ask 10 people around here what they want, and about 8 of them will say they'd rather pay for light rail even if it costs more, and would use it even if they wouldn't use a bus.
And why light rail rather than bus? Because that's what people want. You ask 10 people around here what they want, and about 8 of them will say they'd rather pay for light rail even if it costs more, and would use it even if they wouldn't use a bus.
5
Wow, a Seattle mayor asking to talk with Microsoft. Is McGinn aware that Microsoft doesn't typically allow the mayor to do such things? I wonder if Microsoft will file sanctions against him.
6
The Town Hall thing is getting embarrasing. I understand(and appreciate) the desire to get public feedback but it's begining to look like the McGinn administration is unwilling to make their own risky decisions or take immediate actions. Town Halls are beginning to look like smoke & mirrors. The McGinn team really needs to rethink this...
7
Why doesn't he just invite Ballmer across the lake, or go across the lake to Ballmer? HE wrote the letter, not us...
8
I like the old town hall format but it has its limits. It seems that McGinn does too as it appears to be the only format he is comfortable in. I thought he was some sort of lawyer? Does he not know how to make his case?
Can we start a pool for the people he pisses off next month? I am thinking the Irish or Patty Murray.
Can we start a pool for the people he pisses off next month? I am thinking the Irish or Patty Murray.
9
Perhaps we can ask Microsoft to pay for the bridge and any cost overruns since hizzoner is on a first name basis with Mr. Ballmer and all. Who knew they were such good friends?
10
Maybe we can just ask Microsoft to pay for the bridge and any cost overruns since hizzoner is on a first name basis with Mr. Ballmer and all. Who knew that they were such good friends?
11
Haha, love how he addresses the CEO of a major, multi-national corporation by his first name.
But really, the Microsoft crowd isn't going to use the light rail: they love their fancy cars too much to join the common folk on mass transit. Perhaps if you tolled the hell out of the traditional traffic lanes, they might actually use it ('Softies can be really cheap like that).
But really, the Microsoft crowd isn't going to use the light rail: they love their fancy cars too much to join the common folk on mass transit. Perhaps if you tolled the hell out of the traditional traffic lanes, they might actually use it ('Softies can be really cheap like that).
12
If Microsoft just started filling office space in downtown Seattle, they wouldn't have to wait around for the public process to work out this expensive bridge conundrum. They could just start moving today, and their employees who don't already live in Seattle could start shopping for Seattle real estate
If they relocated to the city, most of their employees would follow them. The MS people who live on the Eastside now mostly do so because they don't want to be on that damn bridge. The problem is that so many workers want to live in a real city -- and who could blame them? You don't spend that many years in school taking the hard classes just to end up in a ranch house in Kirkland. They want a classy house in Queen Anne or Magnolia or Capitol HIll where you can walk to a host of cafes and bars and interesting retail shops. Not freaking Dunkin Donuts and Target, for god's sake. You can go to community college or learn a trade in the Army and live that lifestyle.
I guess one way to think about this is to ask how many Amazon employees or Real Networks employees or similar tech companies live on the Eastside and commute into Seattle every day. Not many.
If they relocated to the city, most of their employees would follow them. The MS people who live on the Eastside now mostly do so because they don't want to be on that damn bridge. The problem is that so many workers want to live in a real city -- and who could blame them? You don't spend that many years in school taking the hard classes just to end up in a ranch house in Kirkland. They want a classy house in Queen Anne or Magnolia or Capitol HIll where you can walk to a host of cafes and bars and interesting retail shops. Not freaking Dunkin Donuts and Target, for god's sake. You can go to community college or learn a trade in the Army and live that lifestyle.
I guess one way to think about this is to ask how many Amazon employees or Real Networks employees or similar tech companies live on the Eastside and commute into Seattle every day. Not many.
13
Dominic Holden:
Transit and the impact of the A+ option are two distinct issues, even though the Montlake interests, like the euphemistically named Coalition for a Sustainable 520, want to conflate them and confuse the rest of us.
You want dedicated transit lanes? Just take the lanes they're planning to build with the A+ plan and declare them transit-only. And while you're at it, extend that transit priority across the new bridge being built across Montlake so that buses have a clean shot to get to the Husky Stadium light rail station.
As for whether the A+ option is a huge mistake--well, isn't that strictly a question of its impact on Montlake?
But the current bridge design, which lacks dedicated transit lanes, and the A+ option approved by state lawmakers for the Montlake neighborhood is a huge mistake.
Transit and the impact of the A+ option are two distinct issues, even though the Montlake interests, like the euphemistically named Coalition for a Sustainable 520, want to conflate them and confuse the rest of us.
You want dedicated transit lanes? Just take the lanes they're planning to build with the A+ plan and declare them transit-only. And while you're at it, extend that transit priority across the new bridge being built across Montlake so that buses have a clean shot to get to the Husky Stadium light rail station.
As for whether the A+ option is a huge mistake--well, isn't that strictly a question of its impact on Montlake?
15
Put that on a ballot, Mike, let's have a vote. I trust you still think the voters are smarter than politicos give the credit.
16
Trioculus @11:
Uh, I don't have any real percentages but a lot of Microsoft employees in Seattle commute via bus, like the 545 express, or via Microsoft's Connector private buses. And believe me, these people don't have the most wonderful commuting experience, as nice as the 545 and the Connector may be. Once the 520 bridge had some dedicated transit lanes (or at least HOV lanes), you'd see that number go way up. And if we ever figure out how to build light rail through that corridor, that number would go up even further.
That said, that Redmond campus still is far from an ideal transit destination. So in response to elenchos's suggestion that Microsoft start shifting work to downtown Seattle, let me add, I'd be happy to see them just continue shifting work to downtown Bellevue. And I could swear they have some kind of presence in South Lake Union, even if it ain't much.
But really, the Microsoft crowd isn't going to use the light rail: they love their fancy cars too much to join the common folk on mass transit. Perhaps if you tolled the hell out of the traditional traffic lanes, they might actually use it ('Softies can be really cheap like that).
Uh, I don't have any real percentages but a lot of Microsoft employees in Seattle commute via bus, like the 545 express, or via Microsoft's Connector private buses. And believe me, these people don't have the most wonderful commuting experience, as nice as the 545 and the Connector may be. Once the 520 bridge had some dedicated transit lanes (or at least HOV lanes), you'd see that number go way up. And if we ever figure out how to build light rail through that corridor, that number would go up even further.
That said, that Redmond campus still is far from an ideal transit destination. So in response to elenchos's suggestion that Microsoft start shifting work to downtown Seattle, let me add, I'd be happy to see them just continue shifting work to downtown Bellevue. And I could swear they have some kind of presence in South Lake Union, even if it ain't much.
19
How about everybody start filing the lawsuits now, so we can get that inevitable process started, and maybe we'll have a bridge by 2040.
20
Microsoft does have an office in South Lake Union and also one in Pioneer Square. I work in one of the Seattle offices and I do have a couple of coworkers who commute from the east side, usually by bus. I also know four people off the top of my head who live within a mile of the office and walk to work. One of the side effects of being near downtown Seattle is that the difficulty of parking encourages transit use.
I was unhappy to see the email that Microsoft sent around to employees asking them to campaign for immediate bridge construction. Microsoft is usually pretty supportive of transit. Full time employees get free bus passes and they also have a private swanky bus system that travels between a few points in Seattle and the Eastside.
I was unhappy to see the email that Microsoft sent around to employees asking them to campaign for immediate bridge construction. Microsoft is usually pretty supportive of transit. Full time employees get free bus passes and they also have a private swanky bus system that travels between a few points in Seattle and the Eastside.
21
"Microsoft is usually pretty supportive of transit."
Microsoft also makes 6 billion dollars in profit per quarter.
How about ponying up?
Microsoft also makes 6 billion dollars in profit per quarter.
How about ponying up?
22
"McGinn would hold a town hall to decide whether or not to take a dump."
Not only that at the conclusion of the meeting he'd form a committee to discuss the issue further and finally end up shitting himself.
Not only that at the conclusion of the meeting he'd form a committee to discuss the issue further and finally end up shitting himself.
23
"Microsoft is usually pretty supportive of transit."
Microsoft also makes 6 billion dollars in profit per quarter.
How about ponying up?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
They do.
I'm sure you've seen their connector busses. They take quite a few cars off the road.
Microsoft also makes 6 billion dollars in profit per quarter.
How about ponying up?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
They do.
I'm sure you've seen their connector busses. They take quite a few cars off the road.
24
Oh, God, the "climate change" card. McGinn and a lot of Seattle leftists seem to think it's a trump card that can melt away opposition. But in fact it just makes your opposition more skeptical of climate change alarmism. And by "opposition" here, I don't mean crazy Republican climate change deniers. I mean perfectly normal puget sound residents, the vast majority of whom (a) vote for Democrats and (b) drive to work.
25
When you read the letter it looks like McGinn used that paperclip icon thingy to write it.
"It appears you are making a non-sequinter ranting letter. Would like some help?"
Of course, it is well know that McGinn crew are Mac people which I am sure wins all sorts of love in Redmond.
"It appears you are making a non-sequinter ranting letter. Would like some help?"
Of course, it is well know that McGinn crew are Mac people which I am sure wins all sorts of love in Redmond.
26
@20
That would be the Westlake/Terry building owned by Vulcan I believe. Microsoft actually has 5 Seattle offices, 3 of them in Pioneer square, totaling about 750 employees. So, small potatoes compared to Redmond, but it's a start. And if Microsoft put it's money where it's mouth is they could certainly lease out/buy several vacant or mostly vacant buildings downtown and bring in several thousand employees negating their push for a new bridge. That would certainly be easier and cheaper. Hell, even if they had to string new fibre optics across the lake to keep some of the realtime convenience they get in the campus it would be cheaper and easier than building a new 520 bridge to their specifications.
That would be the Westlake/Terry building owned by Vulcan I believe. Microsoft actually has 5 Seattle offices, 3 of them in Pioneer square, totaling about 750 employees. So, small potatoes compared to Redmond, but it's a start. And if Microsoft put it's money where it's mouth is they could certainly lease out/buy several vacant or mostly vacant buildings downtown and bring in several thousand employees negating their push for a new bridge. That would certainly be easier and cheaper. Hell, even if they had to string new fibre optics across the lake to keep some of the realtime convenience they get in the campus it would be cheaper and easier than building a new 520 bridge to their specifications.
27
Ha! McGinn is becoming a joke way faster than I would have thought! I love this. He is the Republican of Seattle; an obstructionist that just says NO. (after holding a townhall)
28
@13 - an HOV lane makes the bridge significantly wider than a transit-dedicated lane. Also, transit use decreases with an HOV lane and everyone continues to drive their cars through the Arboretum.
29
I'm sure Ballmer is trembling in his insanely expensive yet buttery soft designer loafers.
That snarked, I think Cressona hit the practical nail on the head in both posts (and, OMFG dude - we agree - red letter day, etc) as did David Wright and Senior Haggis.
@28, please explain that assertion - are you describing particular lane widths or the relative merits of the alternatives, because alts K and L put 1/3 more footprint over Foster Island and that segment of the Arboretum than A does.
That snarked, I think Cressona hit the practical nail on the head in both posts (and, OMFG dude - we agree - red letter day, etc) as did David Wright and Senior Haggis.
@28, please explain that assertion - are you describing particular lane widths or the relative merits of the alternatives, because alts K and L put 1/3 more footprint over Foster Island and that segment of the Arboretum than A does.
30
@23 *snerk* Those teeny connector buses are generally relatively empty.
That being said, I wish I could use the one that goes 3 blocks away from my place of employment, which is not MS. Its the only bus that goes out there. :-(
...
I think the discussion that everybody else is missing is the GODDAMNED backup that happens because of the GODDAMN bottleneck. Seattle cannot figure out how to merge. I would love to see most Seattle drivers in a foreign country. They'd get smashed in 3 days, tops.
Since we can't magically get better drivers, we need more lanes AND more transit. Is there a reason we can't have a SF Bay Bridge worth of traffic lanes, and still have a mass transit system? In SF, people use the BART every day, even with the increased traffic lanes. Of course SF doesn't have Seattle's sprawl, but still...the point is easily made that increasing lanes will not decrease transit use, if transit is fairly quick and easy to access.
In addition, to encourage transit usage, tax breaks to the employees who give out transit passes is always helpful (I believe this is actually in place, but most companies that do this are Seattle companies).
That being said, I wish I could use the one that goes 3 blocks away from my place of employment, which is not MS. Its the only bus that goes out there. :-(
...
I think the discussion that everybody else is missing is the GODDAMNED backup that happens because of the GODDAMN bottleneck. Seattle cannot figure out how to merge. I would love to see most Seattle drivers in a foreign country. They'd get smashed in 3 days, tops.
Since we can't magically get better drivers, we need more lanes AND more transit. Is there a reason we can't have a SF Bay Bridge worth of traffic lanes, and still have a mass transit system? In SF, people use the BART every day, even with the increased traffic lanes. Of course SF doesn't have Seattle's sprawl, but still...the point is easily made that increasing lanes will not decrease transit use, if transit is fairly quick and easy to access.
In addition, to encourage transit usage, tax breaks to the employees who give out transit passes is always helpful (I believe this is actually in place, but most companies that do this are Seattle companies).
31
Why doesn't our Genius Mayor just forget about the expensive, environmentally harmful train across 520 and insist that Microsoft use the money they've swindled from the public over the last 20 years to buy all their employees plug-in Priuses?
Seriously, look it up, buses and trains are MUCH worse for the environment than cars now that hybrids and electrics are in the mix.
Seriously, look it up, buses and trains are MUCH worse for the environment than cars now that hybrids and electrics are in the mix.
32
The funny part about this, other than all the snarky comments by people envious of Seattle's Mayor, is that everyone is pretty much on the same page about 90 percent of this project, on both sides of Lake Washington, and virtually everyone wants the pontoon construction to keep going forward while we discuss the unfunded portions that are built AFTER that.
For the region, that's a giant step forward.
For the region, that's a giant step forward.
33
I admire the Yes, Prime Ministerial convolution of the sentence: "The proposed A+ 520 bridge replacement plan will delay replacement given its divisiveness, likelihood for a lawsuit, and failure to address the reality of climate change."
Leaving aside the Sir Humphrey-hood of "replacement plan will delay replacement"...
"given its divisiveness" = don't look at us, we're for unity; we're not being divisive, it's the plan.
"likelihood for a lawsuit" = and in our spirit of unity we will sue balls.
"failure to address the reality of climate change" = we will sue unless the state realizes how dumb is their idea to not pay extra for light rail until there's something on the eastside to link to. We intend to reduce greenhouse gases by paying extra today to design and build a deadend light rail spur for cars on 520 to drive over the top of, until at some point far in the future an eastside system gets built -- to the engineering, design and materials standards of that future -- to join up to our long-empty 520 spur built to our long-outdated specs, barring any additional money and time we spend bringing our old spur up to snuff, after which we can finally run that first train across.
Leaving aside the Sir Humphrey-hood of "replacement plan will delay replacement"...
"given its divisiveness" = don't look at us, we're for unity; we're not being divisive, it's the plan.
"likelihood for a lawsuit" = and in our spirit of unity we will sue balls.
"failure to address the reality of climate change" = we will sue unless the state realizes how dumb is their idea to not pay extra for light rail until there's something on the eastside to link to. We intend to reduce greenhouse gases by paying extra today to design and build a deadend light rail spur for cars on 520 to drive over the top of, until at some point far in the future an eastside system gets built -- to the engineering, design and materials standards of that future -- to join up to our long-empty 520 spur built to our long-outdated specs, barring any additional money and time we spend bringing our old spur up to snuff, after which we can finally run that first train across.
34
What a moron! As someone who has been taking that bridge to work for M-F for decades, they need to start work NOW! You want a light rail to Kirkland? Well Sound Transit doesnt even have plan to do that (only I-90), theyre currently blowing their entire wad on a tunnel to go DEEP under the Mountlake Cut to the UW stadium (from DT tunnels). To fork off and head to Kirkland over 520, they dont actually have a plan to do that. So for the 520 to be re-designed and then include any plans from ST, would take YEARS of delay.
35
Everyday McGinn is demonstrating his inability to do his job. Listen Mike, if you really want to pick a fight with Steve Ballmer go ahead - you will lose!.... Remember they don't need to be here. And this just shows how over your head you are.
When is the Stranger finally start covering this guy as opposed to being his own press release print shop. Even the Stranger must be having some doubts here.
When is the Stranger finally start covering this guy as opposed to being his own press release print shop. Even the Stranger must be having some doubts here.
36
McGinn should have no influence here. It's SR520 - STATE ROAD, not a city street. If anything Ballmer should have a town hall with the Governor.
38
@11 Fuck you.
I work for Microsoft and take the bus every day. As do tons of other people. If the transit options across 520 were more reliable even more of us would ride it.
Just because a couple stupid execs decide they need to start a campaign doesn't mean that everyone that works here blindly follows. I wrote my congressman and said that I am a MS employee and oppose the A+ plan.
I work for Microsoft and take the bus every day. As do tons of other people. If the transit options across 520 were more reliable even more of us would ride it.
Just because a couple stupid execs decide they need to start a campaign doesn't mean that everyone that works here blindly follows. I wrote my congressman and said that I am a MS employee and oppose the A+ plan.
39
@36 - If it's a state road, why is it 80 percent UNFUNDED on the Western side?
Fund it and then you can talk about what the state wants.
Fund it and then you can talk about what the state wants.
40
McGinn should focus his efforts on getting better transit service from 520 to anywhere other than downtown before taking on Microsoft. Employees who work in Redmond don't live downtown. There are no express buses from Redmond to anywhere but downtown.
The 545 is packed during commute hours, but how about express service to the U District, Northgate, Beacon Hill, Ballard? Once you leave the 545 bus, there are no fast transfers to get home.
The 545 is packed during commute hours, but how about express service to the U District, Northgate, Beacon Hill, Ballard? Once you leave the 545 bus, there are no fast transfers to get home.
41
@40 Schmucky, you are wrong, there is the 167, 242, 243, 271, 272, 277, 540, 555, and 556 all of which cross 520 and none of which stop in Downtown Seattle. Soon there will be the 542 as well.
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