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 »

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.