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

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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 »

And that’s fine. The photo above is me saying no to the Viaduct Tunnel in response to a question to candidates at the annual Seattle Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The Tunnel is one of its highest priorities.

I used my speaking time to the Chamber members to focus on the tax implications of the massively expensive and unfunded tunnel, as well as the economic implications of spending billions of dollars a year on imported oil and gas. continue reading »

While our “leaders” were drinking champagne yesterday to celebrate the tunnel boondoggle, Seattle Public Schools announced that it will lay off 170 teachers in the coming school year. Class sizes will rise, harming the quality of our children’s education. Our priorities are badly misplaced. continue reading »

Today Mayor Nickels joined Christine Gregoire at a champagne reception to celebrate the signing of the Viaduct Tunnel bill. Yep, champagne — the photo attached is straight from the reception.  

What are they celebrating? They have picked the most expensive, the most risky and the most polluting option. It wastes money needed for more urgent priorities, such as providing good schools for our children, eliminating overcrowding on buses, making our neighborhoods safe, and preparing Seattle for a better economic future. continue reading »