Someone About That Tunnel
The SunBreak
posted 05/24/10 12:09 PM | updated 05/24/10 12:09 PM
Featured Post! | Views: 0 | Comments : 3 | Politics

Mayor McGinn Has Questions For Someone About That Tunnel

By Michael van Baker
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I just got this news release from the Mayor's office, which has got me imagining the Mayor--frustrated in his attempt to debate City Council president Richard Conlin (vacationing in Greece, loving it)--roving Seattle, buttonholing passersby, and demanding answers.

Don't get me wrong, they're good questions. But it makes for a strange news release, in that there's no actual news involved, except for perhaps, "Mayor Has Questions!"

And here they are:

  • Why did the state cap its contribution to the tunnel at $2.4 billion and make Seattle taxpayers responsible to pay for cost overruns?  
  • How can the City Council protect Seattle taxpayers from paying for cost overruns on the project?
  • How can the city manage a state project to prevent cost overruns? 
  • Given the cap in state law, how would the state legally pay more than $2.4 billion for the project?
  • Why has the state shifted risk on the performance bonds away from itself and the contractor and onto Seattle?  
  • What is the cause of cost overruns on other megaprojects?  Is it as proponents claim due to delay?  Are there other causes? 
  • What is the state doing differently here than on other megaprojects to prevent overruns? 
  • What will happen if the tunneling machine gets stuck underground?  Who will pay?  How will it be resolved?
  • If Seattle has to pay for cost overruns, how would the city pay for them?  What taxes would the City Council raise, or what programs would it cut?
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One more question
What the hell has this guy actually done since he's was sworn in?

Outside of periodic bitching about the tunnel (surprise!), I haven't heard very much about initiatives and/or achievements. Meanwhile, the city is still increasingly crime- and graffiti-ridden, out vaunted 'sharrons' (or whatever the hell they're called) are painted on washboard road surfaces, and, oh yes, it turns out the Seattle cops are racists worth of LA.

Heckuva job, Ginny.
Comment by bilco
1 day ago
( +1 votes)
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Way to go Mike
McGinn has raised excellent questions. The tunnel was never a good idea because of the costs and risks involved.
bilco is just another one of the anti McGinn ranters. Seattle is still way better than Los Angeles as far as crime and graffiti are concerned.
Comment by as
1 day ago
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RE: Way to go Mike
Guess I missed the part where I said LA was somehow better than us.

However...

It used to be a no-contest proposition. Not so much anymore. I've seen this town degrade so many ways in the 30 years I've lived here. And I'm not putting this all at the foot of our new mayor. I think a large part of the damage was done in the previous administration.

What I am saying...

Outside of continuing the anti-tunnel cant, what has this mayor done? (and of course, going on about the tunnel isn't exactly 'doing' anything). I still await an answer to that question.
Comment by bilco
21 hours ago
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