Comments on: Goldy: Chopp Behind R8A Shenanigans

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:02:27 +0000

He’s not untouchable, especially with top-two, especially since he’s pissing off a number of key interest groups in his district.

Mike McGinn, Carey Moon, Jim Street or any of Jamie Petersens primary opponents from 2006 would all be possibilities.

By: I-90 Move Just the Latest - Seattle Transit Blog

I-90 Move Just the Latest - Seattle Transit Blog — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:38:11 +0000

[...] State House Speaker Frank Chopp wants to take a billion or two from Sound Transit. What’s new? The legislature has been going [...]

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:15:56 +0000

Speaker Chopp seems to be supporting tunnels (plural) in the form of the viaduct deep bore replacement and the Montlake dipsy doodle. But I wouldn’t care to try and out maneuver (or out guess) Mr. Speaker. He’s left a long list of brides waiting at the alter. An untouchable position in the 43rd leaves him free to pull everybody’s strings.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:37:48 +0000

What would be really nice is to get some proof of the speaker’s games. Make sure every elected official of every city and county in the ST district is well aware of it as well as every member of the legislature. Then make sure every group who endorsed the speaker in his last re-election is aware of it, especially environmental groups.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:21:47 +0000

Yea, more like the House Speaker and his allies directing WSDOT to conduct a shakedown.

Given the likely fallout if the Speaker succeeds in raiding ST funds or in killing the agency I just don’t see how this ends well for him.

By: Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:16:21 +0000

O I get it. What’s actually interesting here is not that Frank Chopp is behind the shenanigans (which we probably could have guessed if we thought aobut it long enough) but that Frank Chopp is behind the shenanigans because he’s hell-bent on a tunnel.

I’m in Japan so I’m slow on the uptake.

By: Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:02:53 +0000

I would like to point out that Ben said the same thing here two weeks ago.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:00:22 +0000

I really don’t think it’s fair to call any attempt to dip into ST’s “pot of gold” a shakedown by WSDOT. ST has a close working relationship with WSDOT and relies on the agency to provide engineering and construction management. WSDOT is under the financial thumb of the State Legislature and must abide by their wishes. However, WSDOT under it’s current director has taken what would be seen from a political point of view an unpopular position in retiring ferries which she deemed a public safety hazard.