Month: November 2015

Republished from Let’s Move Seattle

Last Friday Mayor Murray quietly published an op-ed to the Let’s Move Seattle campaign page, eloquently responding to many of the measure’s critics. If you haven’t voted yet, get on it, and if you’re still unsure of your vote on Prop 1, here is the Mayor’s op-ed reprinted in full.

When I was elected mayor in 2013 I made a commitment to make city government more accountable and reflect our progressive values as a community. Reforming city government is an ongoing task, but we have made real progress over the last two years.

That is why the Let’s Move Seattle transportation levy is not a continuation of the expiring transportation levy, but a new, more integrated and accountable approach to funding our transportation needs today and tomorrow. Through a specific list of projects, a nine-year funding plan that details when each project will happen and how it will be paid for, a citizen oversight committee, and strict legal requirements preventing the reallocation of dollars, Move Seattle is the most accountable levy the city has proposed to-date.

To skeptical members of the public who have been hearing the litany of misleading attacks on the levy from opponents and in the media, I say: take a close look at the strong accountability provisions we’ve inserted into the levy, and more broadly at the work we are doing across City government to get our house in order.

Continue reading “Let’s Move Seattle is a Necessary and Accountable Installment Towards Our Transportation Future”

If you are tired of having your mailbox stuffed with slick mailers full of hyperbole, stock photo models designed to look like Seattleites, finger-pointing about how their opponent is going negative, as well as the onslaught of hate being heaped on bike, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure through the largesse of a major Eyman funder, REJOICE! For, today is Election Today, and the mudslinging ends tonight at 8 pm!

There will be Liveblogging here later tonight. [EDIT 1:57PM: and possibly live podcasting if we can figure it out – Frank]

But first, you must affirmatively answer the question, “Have you voted?” If you haven’t, the long list of ways to cast your ballot is listed here, along with the cheat sheet on the STB Editorial Board’s endorsements.

Get your ballot post-marked by the time shown at your local post office, or get it to one of the places accepting ballots before 8 p.m. Don’t have your ballot? Get to Union Station, Bellevue City Hall, or the Election Headquarters in Renton, and get in line to vote before 8 p.m.

Don’t have your ballot and don’t have time to get to one of the booth sites? PRINT OUT YOUR BALLOT AT HOME.

The Slog had a well-reported piece Sunday on whether or not Move Seattle is a “slush fund.” That’s a loaded choice of words by the opposition, meant to imply a lack of democratic or public process. If you think that implication is plausible, then this is your first month following Seattle politics.

To actually construct a measure that would neutralize this talking point, Seattle would have to write a package that literally could not adjust to changing conditions. If a federal grant were available but we had to provide matching funds — multiplying the return per dollar — or if growth skyrocketed along one particular corridor, SDOT could do nothing about it. It would be an idiotic way to run the city.

This is all part of a disturbing trend in local politics. Voters tightly constrict the expenditure of any block of revenue, limit the growth of the general fund, and then complain that worthwhile projects require special levies.

The best reason to think that levy funds won’t be “hijacked” into some grossly contrary purpose is that the Council and Mayor that direct these funds are accountable to the same voters. If you don’t think levy funds will go to worthwhile projects, them vote for a new mayor and council! You have an opportunity for the latter as early as tomorrow. This is how budgeting in a representative democracy is supposed to work.

That’s what’s really happening here: the Move Seattle opposition hates bikes and transit investment, and favors absolute primacy of the car. But they can’t win an election against the consensus ever so slowly turning the ship of state from absolute car dominance. So their hope is to sow enough fear, uncertainty, and doubt among well-meaning voters to deny our leaders the tools to do what we elected them to do.

A bus so quiet you can have an acoustic music performance on it, for a more pleasant environment inside and out.