Michael McGinn is the Only Candidate for Mayor Who Will Stop the Tunnel — the Largest Tax Increase in Seattle History.
Three things you should know about the proposed tunnel megaproject.
- It will cost $4.2 billion, requiring the largest tax increase in Seattle history.
- There will be no downtown on-ramps or exits, making it useless for 59.8% of current viaduct traffic.
- Seattle taxpayers are liable for all cost overruns — which could be in the billions.
There are smarter and cheaper solutions to replacing the viaduct. Seattle has many urgent needs and continue reading »
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 »
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.
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 »
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:
continue reading »
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