I don’t think “jobs” is a particularly strong argument for any particular infrastructure program and would rather discuss the projects on the merits. And as I’ve said before, approving or disapproving a 10-year or 20-year program based on current economic conditions is pretty shortsighted. Nevertheless, if you’re the kind of person who likes megaprojects in part because of the working-class, well-paid, union-represented jobs they produce, you should love Prop 1.
After all, a tunneling project like the deep-bore tunnel or University Link has a very large chunk of its costs going into capital equipment and world-renowned experts, and relatively small portion to guys (and gals) in hard hats. The vast majority of Proposition 1 expenditures will be micro projects like sidewalks, bike lanes, signal prioritization, and street repaving. I don’t have figures, but these have got to be much more labor intensive, dollar for dollar, than the region’s sexier programs.
And if you’re concerned about whether or not Proposition 1 will be good for the poor, and neither its impact on the transit-dependent nor endorsements from various social service groups aren’t enough to convince you, consider that these jobs are relevant to some of the more troubled employment sectors in the region. That’s why twelve different labor organizations (as of Saturday) have endorsed the measure.
Tell me, do bureaucrats at City Hall wear hard hats? Tens of millions from Prop. 1 would go the planners and people who write “educational” material. Of course, this is all theoretical, because Prop. 1 is going to be crushed anyway. Seattle’s voters are finally starting to see through the fog.
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Why is Stay Away complaining about attacks on him being deleted?
Well, I think you are incorrect about, “Seattle’s voters are finally starting to see through the fog.”
I suspect Prop 1 will go down to defeat, but not because Seattle taxpayers are beginning to “see through the fog,” and not even because Seattle taxpayers are finally tapped out.
Na, I think this will go down to defeat because it is visionless – it’s just a bunch of peanut butter, and it is hard to get excited about peanut butter. Plus McGinn is for it, which means support automatically drops.
But if it gets voted down it won’t be the end of the world. R&T got voted down and what came out of that defeat was ST2, which is infinitely preferable to R&T.
I agree that McGinn’s support might be the kiss of death, but it’s wrth asking why that is. Could it be that McGinn has become identified with mass transit and bicycling as the expense of the majority? Remember: He’s your guy. Poster child for everything you want.
McGinn will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened for people in Seattle who have been upset about the drift toward an outright war on cars and drivers launched not just by his administration, but previous ones too.
If Prop. 1 loses and I-1125 wins (the first being a slam-dunk, the second being likely but not assured), it will be a devastating one-two punch to the agenda that McGinn and his allies have been trying to foist on the public. This isn’t going to go away. It’ll get worse for you, not better.
Well, since two random people on the Internet predict defeat, I’ll go on the record predicting that Prop 1 will be a resounding success.
joshnadf, if there was a way to enforce the bet, I’d spot you 2:1 odds on a $500 bet.
You know, I could have sworn bureaucrats wear hard hats to groundbreakings but looks like I remembered wrong, no hats at all:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raylahood/5039669024/
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Don’t feed the troll.
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Typical liberal hypocrite. Hey, when Prop. 1 gets killed and I-1125, I’ll check in to see just how that telephone pole feels after it’s been shoved up your ass, “troll.”
By gauging people’s reactions when I hand them a flier about Proposition 1 on the ferry, the campaign should be a resounding success! Better streets, more sidewalks, efficient transit and more jobs, all great reasons to pass Proposition 1.
I’m sure all the folks who register their cars in Kitsap County are thrilled with the idea of Seattle paying the bill for road repair, sidewalks, bike lanes and transit :=
I bet that’s the case! However, I have not spoken to the Kitsap County folks, since I reverse commute. I have only spoken to people that live in Seattle and commute to Kitsap County for work.
Want to make a bet on the outcome? If the results can be enforced, I’m happy to spot you 2:1 odds on Prop. 1 losing.