[nfbwatlk] FW: McGinn's Statement on Council Tunnel Vote

[Jacob Struiksma]

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From: Jacob Struiksma [mailto:jacobstruiksma at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:24 PM
To: 'Jacob Struiksma'
Subject: FW: McGinn's Statement on Council Tunnel Vote


 

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From: David Levinger [mailto:dlevinger at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:11 PM
To: Andrew Cencini; Ben Schiendelman; Bill Bryant; Chris Bushnell; Clark
Williams-Derry; Craig Benjamin; David Hiller; Elliott Day; Gary Manca; Jack
Whisner; Jacob Struiksma; Jefferson Eusell; Kevin Ramsey; Maggie McGehee;
Matt Lerner; Paul Chasan; Paulo Nunes-Ueno; Peg Staeheli; Rebecca Deehr;
Shauna Walgren; Tim Gould
Subject: McGinn's Statement on Council Tunnel Vote


Transportation policy folks,

I want to share with you the text of Mike's statement yesterday.  Mike has
not changed his position, but must acknowledge the legal reality that the a
9-0 vote by the city's Legislative branch cannot be ignored by the mayor.
We will continue to work with integrity to expose serious problems with the
plan and to expose problems that might otherwise be concealed.

Don't hesitate to phone me with any questions,

David (206) 390-8118 


http://mcginnformayor.com/2009/10/mcginn-statement-on-council-tunnel-vote/ 


Today, the City Council authorized Mayor Greg Nickels to sign an
intergovernmental agreement with the State of Washington committing Seattle
to the tunnel plan.

I disagree with the decision. I disagree with the timing.

But the reality is Mayor Nickels and the Council have entered into an
agreement, and the City is now committed to the tunnel plan.

If I'm elected Mayor, although I disagree with this decision, it will be my
job to uphold and execute this agreement. It is not the Mayor's job to
withhold the cooperation of city government in executing this agreement.

I will, however, continue to ask tough questions:

. We don't know how much it's actually going to cost.

. If it ends up costing more than the current budget allows, there is
serious disagreement between Seattle and the State over who will pay the
cost overruns.

. Where will the money come from, and who will bear the burden? Will we have
to cut police, fire, library, or services for the poor?

I will not stop asking the tough questions nor will I ever stop standing up
for Seattle's interests in this process.

I'm worried the people that want the tunnel have a champagne appetite and
the City has a beer budget. The question is who will end up paying the tab.

There is a clear choice in this election.

My opponent has refused to ask any hard questions about the tunnel.

In fact, when asked about the Legislature passing the cost overrun
amendment, he said:

"If I were mayor, rather than taking potshots at Democratic leadership who
put that (amendment) on, I'd express disappointment and say, "OK, we can
live with this."

SeattlePI.com <http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406102_mallahan12.html>  -
Chris Grygiel, 05/11/09

Seattle cannot live with paying the cost overruns on the tunnel.



-- 
David Levinger |  206-390-8118