After four pro-monorail votes, the voters are turning against the monorail in the fifth vote. With the early absentees and six percent of the precincts counted, Proposition 1 (which would continue the monorail) is losing badly: 33% yes, 67% no. Both anti-monorail candidates for the board are leading against the pro-monorail incumbents by double-digit margins. Proposition 2, which would convert the board to majority-elected, is also passing handily. All the numbers can be seen at King County's Seattle elections results page (page 2).
If these early results hold up, the question becomes how to shut down the monorail project. I am in favor of selling the property the agency has acquired so that its debt can be paid off as soon as possible. I would also like to see a timetable for ending the motor vehicle excise tax. Given that the tax base for vehicles is fairly steady, an end date should be easy to give.
I have been in conversations with transportation activists who would like to see the tax continue, but to be spent on other projects. While Seattle needs money for road repairs, to replace the viaduct and to expand bus service, it would be a mistake to continue the current tax, which was approved by the voters for the express purpose of building a monorail. Keeping the tax for another purpose would be a betrayal.
Posted by Andy MacDonald at November 08, 2005 10:02 PM | Email ThisThank God.
Stupid Seattle voters - you asked for it and you got it. Be thankful you were able to stop this train wreck before it really cost you - and the region.
Personally I would like to see the city of Seattle use that tax and pony up 700M for the Alaskan way Viaduct and 300M for 520 and a maybe couple of hundred million to the light rail project to take some of the cost away from those who won't use it. (Link is VERY popular in the city proper.) Do that and I suspect the rest of the three county metro region would be much more receptive to supporting those projects. Remember if 912 fails the city gets it's viaduct replacement, the money is there. Now they have to convince everyone of the need for a tunnel. If we Seattelites really want that tunnel throwing some money into the pot would greatly help convince others who get less benefit from a tunnel and simply need a solution that works and could care less about how pretty it is. (I hope we all at least agree that a quiet water front would be a nice thing!) And after that it would still leave several hundred million for the city use on fixing other problems such as NE 45 and the Backup @ Ballard that happens nearly every afternoon.
I think the city of Seattle needs to step up to the plate here rather than expecting the state to solve all of thier big problems (many of them self induced).
Posted by: Chokai on November 8, 2005 10:27 PMThanks Dan Sytman, a-hole.
And I think it is now time to get rid of WSRP and KCGOP leadership.
Posted by: Unicorn on November 8, 2005 10:31 PMAnd, don't think that our elected bozos will worry about betraying voters by keeping the tax going. Sims betrayed everyone by keeping fraud alive in the elections office and Gregoire lied about her plan to raise taxes. Nevertheless, Sims is getting reelected and I-912 looks like it will loose.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on November 8, 2005 10:39 PMPersonally, I love the fact you guys chose him as your cult leader. He alienated Big Business (your #1 sugar daddy) and he makes you guys feel good about yourselves by telling you what you want to hear.
I say keep him.
Posted by: AmazedByRightWingHate on November 9, 2005 02:49 AMIf some dumbass tries to grab it there will be lawsuits both from the anti-tax folks and from remaining monorail supporters.
If Seattle wants a tax to pay for street improvements and the tunnel they best put something on the ballot.
Posted by: Chris Stefan on November 9, 2005 02:56 AMRTID deserves the strongest opposition.
Posted by: oogie on November 9, 2005 09:12 AM2) SMTP needs to hire competent real estate experts to sell the property SMTP purchased. Given this well be a distress sale, it's important that SMTP recovers the purchase price.
3) Seattle has a serious wanker mentality. I would not be surprised if SMTP employees liquated SMTP assets at 20 cents on the dollar to spite Seattle voters for voting no on the monorail.
4) My understanding is the SMTP excise tax is strictly for the Monorail; however, I would not be surprised if Greg Nickels, Ron Sims, and Christine Gregaire try to hijack the MVET tax once the monorail is liquidated.
5) What did Warren Zevon sing?
Bring lawyers, guns, and money
Would it be too much to ask that they sell the property (no longer needed for the Monrail) to pay off the bonds? Or (and this must be too radical) let the property owners have their property back? Especially on the "sunked battleship" where title hasn'tpassed yet.
Naw, that would make sense. Never happen.
Posted by: Dick on November 9, 2005 02:39 PMWould it be too much to ask that they sell the property (no longer needed for the Monrail) to pay off the bonds? Or (and this must be too radical) let the property owners have their property back? Especially on the "sunked battleship" where title hasn'tpassed yet.
Naw, that would make sense. Never happen.
Posted by: Dick on November 9, 2005 02:39 PMWould it be too much to ask that they sell the property (no longer needed for the Monrail) to pay off the bonds? Or (and this must be too radical) let the property owners have their property back? Especially on the "sunken battleship" where title hasn't passed yet.
Naw, that would make sense. Never happen.
Posted by: Dick on November 9, 2005 02:40 PM