1. It is hard to tell if you approve or disapprove of the auditors in your leading line.

In defense of auditors, my husband works for a "large" military organization as an auditor. He is right now in Kuwait supporting our effort in that part of world. He works 12 hour days seven days a week in terrible heat, but he is very proud that he is making the soldiers life a bit better.

Auditor's wife

Posted by: Sandy H on September 1, 2005 06:07 AM

2. Sandy, the post was not mentioned as a slight on auditors. If anything, it is a slight on the PI and others in the area coming late to the party, realizing what a boondoggle this whole exercise is/has been.

Posted by: Danny on September 1, 2005 07:40 AM

3. and another thing,

Blessings to you and your family. It is apparent you are proud of your husband's work and his willingness to "relocate" to Kuwait. We are all in his and your debt. Take care.

Posted by: Danny on September 1, 2005 07:42 AM

4. "Hey, everyone, dogpile on the Monorail!!"

Where were all these people before? Why is it like David (Stefan) taking on Goliath (massive government) all the time? Why did the monorail go from a simple line to Northgate and Ballard to trying to take over Sound Transit's mandates?

I supported the Monorail's meager beginnings, but now, it is stealing money (I know, you can say it is not stealing money from me because I don't live in Seattle), but it reduced transportation dollars all over.

For the last few years we have been faced with a $10 billion state increase, a tricounty $10 billion project and the ever puffy Sound Transit with unknown total costs. And now the Monorail in the billions and don't forget Alaskan Way viaduct sitting out there as an adjunct.

And then there is the featured $10 billion project, which I support. That is the Freeman proposal which is a parallel freeway east of 405.

When you add all these up, you spell disaster.

Posted by: swatter on September 1, 2005 08:10 AM

5. I read the article and the criticisms of SMP seem very fair. A relatively few people make a lot of money off of SMP, and it is a monumental mis-allocation of this city's resources. If the middle class could use the money they pay monorail and sound transit to pay off debt, contribute to charity, invest in their futures' or even spend in local private businesses the whole city/region would be a far better place in fifteen-twenty years. As it is, these massive train boondoggles are sucking economic vitality from the region and not reducing congestion on the roads.

These agencies are not justified in light of what they cost the middle class and families.

Posted by: whizbang on September 1, 2005 08:48 AM

6. There is a point when things become indefensible. When one operates on "feelings" like the lib MSM exemplified in the Least Intelligence, it is hard to recognize the indefensible.

When something feels good do it, Nonorail feels soooo good. The pain has finally over come the good feelings.

On the other hand a rational and logical look at Nonorail early on had one asking questions like, where is the parking, what is the financing, what exactly are we buying?

The PI has a hangover, just to late and too much money spent. The sad part is they fail to learn from the experience.

Posted by: JCM on September 1, 2005 10:18 AM

7. Where have the members of the Audit Board been for the last 8 years? Their conclusion that no other alternatives were considered is completely false. There were many other transportation alternatives considered by the people of Seattle - including not building the monorail at all. The people of Seattle voted numerous times to build the monorail. They may have yet another chance to vote on the monorail. We don't need a transportation audit board coming in at the last minute with completely fanciful claims that no other alternatives were considered. That's just contrary to the facts. Let's fix the financing and build the system.

Posted by: Sam on September 1, 2005 10:41 AM

8. Ummmm... a little perspective here, people.

For starters, there may be plenty of legitimate criticisms of the monorail agency and how it has been run, but "stealing" money from people is not one of them.

Let's remember that the only ones who pay taxes to support the monorail are licensed car owners residing within the Seattle city limits. And this is a tax that was approved by a majority of Seattle voters. Yes, a small majority, but that's the way it works.

As for this audit report, it sounds like a bunch of junk if the best criticism they can lodge is that the agency did not investigate other transit alternatives.

For the record, the ETC which created the plan DID investigate other transit alternatives for comparison. On the other hand, Seattle voters have supported a MONORAIL with four votes, so I think they would be a little annoyed if they received a bus or trolley instead.

More importantly, and unbiased, the City of Seattle did a comprehensive study of intermediate transit alternatives for a number of corridors in the City, which can be found here: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_ict_home.htm

Posted by: FoM Prez on September 1, 2005 04:58 PM

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