Erica C. Barnett is considerably less impressed with Larry Lange’s P-I piece than I was.
When I read articles at 6:30 am, I promise to read them once more, after coffee, before commenting. She makes some solid criticisms, in particular that the No campaign’s criticism that ST’s median income uses the wrong denominator is completely innumerate.
I still think Lange did a pretty even-handed job. It’s clear that he asked ST to respond to the No campaign’s claims, and they covered most of the main points. But extended analysis just pokes more and more holes in these tired arguments and scare tactics.
I was also caught up by that denominator and sent an e-mail to Sound Transit last night while writing the earlier blog entry: http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/09/25/what-does-prop-1-cost/
I know my entry was long, but there is a very solid takeaway there: The opposition is claiming — by their own numbers — that Prop. 1 costs $52b even if it doesn’t pass. That makes no sense.