Real Change News | Director’s Corner - Viaduct

July 21, 2010
Vol: 17 No: 29

Director's Corner

Director’s Corner - Viaduct - 07-21-2010

by: Timothy Harris , Executive Director

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“Send lawyers, guns, and money. The shit has hit the fan.” This morning that old Warren Zevon line has moved into my brain like an out of work relative with terminated unemployment benefits.

The July 19 City Council meeting, which promised to address citizen concerns regarding deep bore tunnel cost over-runs, did nothing of the sort. Their best effort was to issue a lame-o provision that expresses disagreement with the terms of the contract they are about to sign. If their lawyers actually think this is meaningful, they need better ones, fast.

The mayor, who is a lawyer, summed up the problem nicely: “At most, the proposed agreement states that Seattle does not want to pay cost overruns. But proceeding with the agreement while state law says the opposite leaves Seattle at risk … .”

In fairness to the council, only the state Legislature can remove the tunnel contract language that put Seattle financially on the hook for the risky dig. On the other hand, if this is what pushback looks like, I’ve seen harder shoves from my seven-year-old daughters.

This brings us to the guns and money part. The Seattle Chapter of the Sierra Club has floated the possibility of a referendum, which we support. Over-runs on the tunnel will bring big infrastructure bills and harm the city’s ability to provide essential services. That’s right, kids. The tunnel issue isn’t just for transportation geeks anymore. It’s a big tent, and we’re in it.

According to KING5’s polling, most people agree. Sixty-three percent of Seattle residents polled says construction should not begin until the overrun issue is resolved.

A referendum that puts this to a vote is the gun to the council’s and the state Legislature’s collective head that says, “Fix this, or your pet project dies.” Sometimes, that’s what it takes.

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Comments

I hope we can get some agreement before hundreds are crushed in the Alaskan Way via duct. I remember our second story apartment swaying around the light over the dinning room table in Sacramento hundreds of miles away from the epicenter.

Something needs to be done soon, no very soon.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/3Dgeologic/ Enough Said!

Neal Lampi | submitted on 07/23/2010, 6:49pm

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