Late yesterday, Mayor Greg Nickels launched an attack on Mike McGinn claiming “to set the record straight” against “distortions.”

Let’s truly set the record straight. Here’s the record from the Associated Press (3/15/2007):

“Noting previous Seattle votes against expressways, Nickels said, ‘The voters have again told us loud and clear that a new freeway through the heart and soul of the city is not the answer. I couldn’t agree more.’

He appeared to rule out the viaduct rebuild and said he will not pursue a tunnel. 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.

Greg Nickels today announced he would eliminate the “head tax” on Seattle businesses, which currently collects $4.7 million a year for street repair and walking and biking improvements.

If Nickels really cared about taxes, transportation, and local businesses, he would stop championing the $4.2 billion tunnel project, which includes a $930 million commitment from Seattle residents in new taxes, utility rate increases, and local fees. Even worse, the state legislature has passed a law requiring Seattle to pay for all cost overruns, which on a project like this could run into billions of dollars. continue reading »

Michael McGinn, the only major candidate for mayor of Seattle who opposes Greg Nickels’ $4.2 billion plan for a bored tunnel, today challenged Nickels to acknowledge the lessons that he should be learning from the Brightwater and Beacon Hill tunnels.

“At $4.2 billion, the tunnel already costs too much and harms Seattle’s real priorities,” McGinn said. “And anyone who has seen what has happened with the Brightwater and Beacon Hill tunnels knows that the costs could rocket even higher.”

McGinn continued, “Greg Nickels needs to be honest with the voters of Seattle: continue reading »

We were happy to see Mayor Nickels send a press release touting a new park for the Belltown neighborhood—a 17,000-square-foot “park boulevard” on Bell Street. As Seattle grows and as more people live in Seattle’s neighborhoods, Seattle needs great parks and green spaces to play, to relax, and to escape. This will be a treasure for the Belltown community.

But it’s odd that Mayor Nickels is suddenly so enthusiastic about it. Just last year, he strongly opposed the Parks and Green Space Levy, which is funding Belltown’s new green space: “It is surprising that the mayor won’t support things that are so important to our neighborhoods,” Councilmember Tom Rasmussen said at the time. continue reading »