Throughout this campaign, I’ve spent a lot of time talking about what I’m against.

Today is about what I’m for.

I believe the most important thing we can do for our city’s future is expand light rail service to more neighborhoods. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected mayor in November, I commit to the following course of action: Within two years of taking office, I will bring a plan before the voters of Seattle that gives them the choice of expanding light rail service within our city.

McGinn’s Light Rail Plan (.pdf) continue reading »

Today, Publicola reported that the City will release its revenue forecast after the election, and that it will be “awful.”  Declining revenues will make it increasingly difficult to maintain basic services, ensure public safety and provide services to those in need.

“Given Seattle’s spiraling budget crisis, Greg Nickels and Joe Mallahan need to come clean with the public about how they intend to raise $930 million dollars from Seattle residents to pay for the Viaduct Tunnel that they both support,” said Michael McGinn.  ”Specifically, what taxes or fees will they increase, who will they impose them on, and how long will the taxes last?”

“There’s a little over a week left in this election and Seattle voters deserve to know the truth about their plans,” McGinn said.

Michael McGinn opposes the deep bore tunnel mega-project to replace the viaduct because it is too expensive and is the wrong priority for Seattle.  The $930 million commitment from Mayor Greg Nickels would be the largest single tax increase in Seattle history.  It is approximately equal to every special property tax levy that Seattle  residents are currently paying.

“With the tough budget choices this city faces, I don’t think we can afford to give Nickels and Mallahan a blank check for boondoggles.  The public deserves answers to these basic questions before making their choice for Mayor,” said McGinn.

There are two Seattles. One for the business elites and politicians they support, and one where the rest of us live. In their Seattle, it’s okay to eliminate a $25.00 head tax on business that pays for transit, sidewalks and street repairs because it is a “nuisance” and “inconvenient.” They say that the rest of us can just wait for overcrowded buses, dodge potholes, and wonder when we will ever get sidewalks.

Nickels and Mallahan have picked which Seattle they prefer. When the business elites says get rid of a business tax, Nickels and Mallahan listen.

And when the business elites say build a $4.2 billion dollar tunnel, with one billion in new Seattle taxes, fees and utility rate increases, and Seattle taxpayers on the hook for cost overruns, Nickels and Mallahan support that too. Even though seventy percent of Seattle voted against that tunnel.

There are two Seattles. This election is about which one gets a Mayor that represents them.

McGinn has a record of standing up for improvements in our communities — working to get the Parks Levy ballot measure passed when the Mayor and downtown said no; fighting to get light rail without wasting billions of dollars on new highways; and bringing sidewalks to neighborhoods without them. As Mayor, he would focus city resources on helping children succeed in school, upgrading internet infrastructure to provide economic opportunity, and dramatically improving local transit service. McGinn works for the rest of us.

The voters of Seattle are speaking clearly: They want a mayor who understands the $4.2 billion tunnel is a boondoggle. But more than that, they want a mayor who, instead of dedicating $1 billion of city money for a two-mile-long tunnel and leaving Seattle taxpayers on the hook for cost overruns, will allocate more resources to Seattle’s real priorities: reducing overcrowding on buses, improving our public schools, and preparing for a clean-energy economy.

A poll recently commissioned by the McGinn for Mayor campaign shows that voters don’t want the tunnel:

• 64% oppose
• 7% neutral
• only 29% support after learning Seattle citizens would pay for cost overruns

continue reading »

Today, Mike McGinn won the sole endorsement of the Sierra Club for the position of Seattle Mayor (see Sierra Club press release).

The Sierra Club described Michael as an “exceptional candidate” who deserved the endorsement because his “record of tough decisions and grassroots efforts has made a real environmental difference.”

This endorsement follows closely on the endorsement from the 37th District Democrats. Both endorsements were earned by Mike’s record of working with people to create change that matters.

Join the McGinn for Mayor campaign—for the Seattle we believe in.