In Seattle, the residents have been used as a political ping pong ball in the wars between Gov. Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels over whether to rebuild the noisy, nasty viaduct that runs along the waterfront, or pony up big bucks for a tunnel in fill dirt, or to tear it down and create a surface option. Follow me below and I will give you the skinny on the kerfuffle.
See, in the 2001 earthquake, it was revealed that the viaduct which runs north to south and next to Elliott Bay, was rapidly reaching the end of its useful and safe life. However, our fearless leaders, being the non-leaders that they are, could not reach a decision, much less a consensus on how best to deal with this problem. You see, the viaduct transports more than 100,000 vehicles a day.
Gov Gregoire declared that the only way to go was to rebuild the viaduct, turning the 4 lane monstrosity into a 6 lane behemouth, with walls so tall that the motorists would no longer have a sea view, and any conversation at Pike Place Market or on the waterfront would be next to impossible due to the traffic noise.
Mayor Nickels declared that the only way to go was a tunnel a la the Boston 'big dig' even tho this would be through fill material and with Seattle in a quake zone....
Lots of shenanigans between the parties such that Seattle voters felt like pawns in a big ping pong game between the warring politicos.
They decided to put it to a popular (but of course non binding) vote. Ballots by mail must be postmarked by today. Full results in on Friday. But it seems that the voters have spoken, and they have their own ideas.
From the Seattle Times, just moments ago:
Voters rejecting both viaduct options
Seattle Times staff
Seattle voters rejected a six-lane elevated replacement for the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct, and resoundingly defeated a four-lane tunneled option backed by Mayor Greg Nickels, in ballot counts released minutes ago by King County Elections.
About 45 percent of voters said they endorse a new aerial highway, while 30 percent of voters said they endorse the tunnel.
Results from the all-mail, advisory election may give momentum to backers of a non-highway, "surface-transit" option, in which thousands of commuters would shift to buses, water taxis, bicycles and rail.
I hope those in power are listening to us because we do not want the status quo. And if Gregoire presumes to build the viaduct anyway, she is losing a significant portion of her voter base, which was tenuous at best in 2004 when she beat the Republican candidate Dino Rossi by barely a hundred or more votes. She ignores us at her peril.
Go Seattle!!!