Possible, and sometimes presumed, gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi wants your ideas to address the state's problems. He's soliciting them at this website.
Here's one idea on a problem begging a solution before the 2008 election: "Viaduct solution elusive as work looms." The slow, grinding wheels of the infamous "Seattle process" limp along as usual:
Michael Mann, deputy director of Seattle's Office of Policy and Management, said he expects the consultant to be hired and to recommend by the end of this year a schedule for involving everyone in the search for an agreeable viaduct replacement."We are not going to presuppose that solution at this point," Mann said of the central viaduct segment. "We're not going to be generating a new idea and throwing it in front of stakeholders. We want the stakeholders to have the latitude to create an acceptable outcome."
Maddening.
Posted by Eric Earling at May 23, 2007 06:49 AM | Email ThisThe City Council will squander more money on studies but that's just to placate the PWC people.
Posted by: David Sucher on May 23, 2007 07:04 AMAnd the Viaduct is not being repaired. 40% of is going to be torn down starting in the fall and replaced with a surface freeway. The only part being repair is the last bit before the battery street tunnel. Unlike the waterfront part it runs on solid ground and was build differently. You can actually see the break between the two structures if you look closely. neither of these are controversial and are included in every plan.
Posted by: Giffy on May 23, 2007 08:19 AMI wouldn't be surprised at what Mr. Sucher says is correct. Maybe the state is doing this under the radar of the city? Something has to be done and studying it to death sure isn't it.
Posted by: G Jiggy on May 23, 2007 10:35 AMStop spending millions/billions on public transportation projects that almost no one uses/will use. instead do what makes sense--spend the $$ on things that the 95% or so people actually will use--like added lanes on freeways, etc.
Posted by: Michele on May 23, 2007 11:22 AMGregoire's 133-vote victory margin will be more like 133,000 this time, and your angry little cult is powerless to stop it.
Posted by: ivan on May 23, 2007 12:47 PMGreater oversight needed for Capital Budget
Posted by: Smoley on May 23, 2007 01:54 PMUntil then it's the Homocrats in control.
Posted by: Grunt, grab, and growl. on May 23, 2007 08:07 PMCome on. They'll do as many studies as it takes to fund that fancy villa on the Riviera.
That's the Seattle process.
Posted by: ERNurse on May 23, 2007 09:57 PMI really hate to spoil your delusion but you need to look at Ms. Gregoire's poll numbers. She is, and has been since elected, the least popular governor in the country. And not by a few points but by Hillary style unfavorables (high 40s). Large numbers of voters also still believe that she didn't win the election. Numbers that are higher than her original vote percentage. That's not good.
She's indecisive, abrasive, a blame shifter and not a very good manager. But let's leave the corruption out of the equation for now.
I could probably run against her and win.
Just how many recounts would a gregoire 133,000 vote win take this time.
Just asking!
Posted by: GS on May 23, 2007 10:50 PMA PC BS word that really means ignore the public, conduct some soiree involving mostly fellow bureaucrats and selected advocacy groups. A flashback to the 60s-a great big campfire/bong/Woodstock session.
Michael Mann, if he had any testicular fortitude/common sense whatsoever, would utterly ignore the advocacy groups, better yet publicly kiss off the advocacy groups, and just plain interview motorists, make a decision, and get the show going.........finally......
Posted by: Hank on May 24, 2007 06:58 AMShe's going to win, and win big, because she'll be running against the Sound Politics cult of negativity. Your brand of politics is finished in this state.
Posted by: ivan on May 24, 2007 07:15 AMJust like Michigan and Louisianna, Washington is inexorably becoming an economic backwater: brutally high workman's compensation and unemployment taxes/benefits, brutally high B&O taxes on services, this idoitic new leave legislation, deteriorating ability to conduct business due to transportation policy idoicy, state spending growing at unsustainable rates, the growth management nightmare, destruction of public education at the hands of the WEA, the illusion of attempting socialized medicine, why one could go on until one's fingers fall off....
Someday the adults will be back in charge to clean up the wreckage of decades of Dems in Oly...
Posted by: Hank on May 24, 2007 10:09 AMAny damn fool could go online and find out in about five minutes that all the short- and long-term economic trends for WA state are far brighter than in the rest of the country, but not you. You'd rather parrot right-wing talking points based in what you BELIEEEEEEEEEEVE than on the facts.
Thre's no evidence that state spending is growing at unsustainable rates -- that remains to be seen, doesn't it?
Your pitiable rant is nothing more than a call to make Washington a cheap labor state. Why don't you move to Mississippi, where dumb rednecks like you run the place, and take a look at the prosperity that they enjoy there?
It's because you know where you have it good -- and it's damn sure not the right wing that made it so.
Posted by: ivan on May 24, 2007 10:34 AMDuring recession, Washington economy = Bush's fault
During recovery and boom, Washington economy = State congress, senate and governor's doing
Whatever.
Posted by: Palouse on May 24, 2007 12:41 PMGo have another doughnut, you fuggin' goon.
Posted by: Jim Guthrie on May 24, 2007 02:59 PMsuch a nice lil rant u have going..... Why dont you tell us exactly what YOUR Gov is going to do about the VIADUCT that was FALLING DOWN YEARS AGO????
She said it was falling down, now it is not such an EMERGENCY??? I don't understand. Please explain???
Posted by: chris on May 24, 2007 08:25 PMIf we build the bridge to replace the viaduct, and American ingenuity increases auto efficiency dramatically, we solve one transportation issues in Seattle and reduce the crying need for more refining capacity.
Recent statistics show the USA is importing 13% of its refined petroleum products.
Importing gasoline?? YES. A stunning number, only corrected with building 2 refineries per year, an impossibility in today's zoning/ NIMBY/environmental impact regulatory climate.
Where will the energy come from to grow the economy, while population expands through immigration reform, to pay for baby boomer entitlements?
Bruce Crower could end up being an environmental hero.......a car guy??? wow.....
Some gutsy decisionmaker here in WA could end up being a transportation hero if the bridge is built.....Not counting on the Gov or the Mayor....
PS We love you Ivan, poster boy for bigotry and ignorance and socialism.....which all seem to go together.
Posted by: Hank on May 25, 2007 06:44 AM