By Marsha Kuykendall
Note: At last Wednesday’s Southeast Seattle Candidates Forum, mayoral candidates shared their proposed solutions for creating job opportunities, curbing neighborhood violence, and dealing with transit development challenges. This update will cover their positions on transit issues. An additional update will cover neighborhood crime.
While the new light rail promises to attract new businesses and housing development, most candidates warned that neighborhood involvement was critical to ensure that it did not destroy and displace surrounding communities. Kwame WyKing Garrett, Joe Mallahan and Norman Sigler voiced criticism of the City’s decision to build the tracks above ground, dividing neighborhoods and causing safety concerns.
“If above ground is not safe and desirable for North Seattle, Queen Anne, Bellevue and other communities, then why should it be forced on a community like this?” Garrett asked.
All candidates agreed that state and city government did a poor job of soliciting and including community input on the light rail project, but Joe Mallahan stressed it was time to look forward not backward. “There’s no question the rail should have been underground here. It’s not, and we’ve got to move forward,” he urged.
Most candidates agreed adding sidewalks and pedestrian crossings would help alleviate safety problems. Mallahan suggested such projects be funded by reallocating money from the 2006 Bridging the Gap levy currently being directed toward to a small special interest group project.
“$70 million of the Bridging the Gap levy that you all voted for – because you thought it would bring sidewalks to your neighborhoods – is dedicated to the Mercer Street project, a special interest development project that’s going to make tens of millions of dollars of land appreciation value for a special interest group. I oppose the Mercer Street project,” said Mallahan, who proposed the money be spent, instead, “for building sidewalks in neighborhoods that don’t have them.”
Additionally, the lack of parking and east-to-west bus routes feeding into the light rail stations, along with significant reductions to neighborhood bus service have resulted in major station access challenges. (City officials say they intentionally did not increase available parking in order to reduce reliance on automobiles and encourage density development that would rely primarily on residents walking to and from the stations.)
All candidates agreed more buses, shuttles and bicycle routes were needed to provide adequate access to the transit stations for current residents. “We need east-to-west routes,” especially between stressed Martin Luther King Blvd and Rainier Avenue, stressed Sigler, “stopping where the actual transit stations don’t.” Jan Drago suggested a “shadow bus service” that coordinates with the light rail schedule. Mallahan and Donaldson said more parking spaces where needed as well.
“We still have a tendency to drive our cars.” said James Donaldson, warning that without providing adequate parking, neighborhood streets would be overrun with non-residential parked cars, forcing some residents to find parking blocks away from their homes. “We’ve got to plan smartly and collaboratively with our neighborhoods, our neighborhood planners, our city and our various city departments who can help us with our parking issues.”
Mike McGinn proposed that tax money currently allocated to build a new viaduct tunnel would be better spent on projects and services that strengthen communities throughout the city, including building sidewalks, pedestrian walks, and adding bus routes and shuttles.
“I’m the only major candidate in this race saying ‘no’ to the viaduct tunnel. $930 million of local taxes our mayor has committed to,” said McGinn. “If we commit to this tunnel, we won’t have the funds to invest in the schools, communities or the transit system that we need.”
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{ 10 comments }
“If above ground is not safe and desirable for North Seattle, Queen Anne, Bellevue and other communities, then why should it be forced on a community like this?” Garrett asked.
I enjoy having a south-end chip on my shoulder as much as the next guy, but what underground transit is there in Queen Anne? And ST2 only pays for an above ground plan in Bellevue – if they want to bury it they’ll have to fund it through some sort of downtown taxing district. Does anyone think the Valley would have been able to come up with those funds?
That said, the U-District/Roosevelt/Northgate subway is completely unfair. I told you I enjoy my chip.
The south end got a street level rail line because the south end was a dump. It looks better now but lets be honest – the northend and queen anne are congested and are not ghettos. The light rail in its current form is the best thing to hit the south end. Now if we could get some real commerce – less pho and nails.
Pho is the hit, one of the best comfort foods there is (Where you at Trellis) I can eat it pretty much everyday. Is there an over abundance of Pho places in the South End?
I know there are nail shops everywhere, seems to be a lot of broken down looking auto shops in the SE also. Real commerce as you put it will come when crime in the area is a little more under control or someone takes a chance and gets a foot in the door before all the development otherwise it will be a while.
@laurel – look for simple solutions and you may manage to keep yourself out of trouble.
Maybe the Southend has street level rail because it is flat and not as densely populated. Maybe parts North have tunnels because they are densely built and populated and are full of hills. idk.
What’s crawled up your gilt ass and laid its eggs that you have to dump on Pho restaurants? MarkB knows what’s up: Pho is one of the best comfort foods there is. Full stop. And there aren’t enough of them, not by a long shot.
Nails salons, autoshops, restaurants and delis reflect the commercial possibilities of business people who have limited resources and limited skills. Some of these folks are just doing what they did back home. You’re to be applauded because you spit on them?
What does “real, non-ghetto commerce” look like to you? I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but would it be marked by a paucity of Asian people of limited means? You’re my hero.
@Trellis
What is your favorite Pho spot and best dishes?
Sorry it it is semi off topic people but it’s that good.
Cures hangovers too!
Pho Bac!!
Pho Bac on Rainier. I order a medium Tai Nam Gan Sach with these special requests: hold the “fatty water,” parboil the bean sprouts, a dish of vinegared onions on the side.
Taste the soup before you dress it up. I dress it like this: squirt of Sriracha into the soup, squirt of hoisin sauce, jalapeño slices, lots of basil leaves, bean sprouts, vinegared onions, a good squeeze of lime. Before you start eating, mix this all up thoroughly using your chopsticks and spoon. It’s all to taste of course.
They have Vietnamese-style yogurt in the cooler. It’s a nice way to end the meal sometimes if you’re not already stuffed.
I like Tai Nam Gan Sach (sach is tripe), but any combination is fine, whatever you like. Some are lean, some are fattier, some are raw and these you have stir in the broth before it cools. I’m not a huge fan of meat balls.
I’ve never even tried any of their non-Pho dishes. What’d be the point?
I actually haven’t had Pho in a few weeks and this crazy Pho talk is making me hungry.
Trellis – did not mean to offend but the south end lacks a diversity in dining experiences – The most exciting thing to hit our hood is the great pizza joint on Rainier by Deadhorse Canyon. Its hard being a pioneer in a zipcode with a high concentration of poor – it reflects in the commerse or the lack there of. Now if I need cheap auto parts, auto body repair, a manicure or some pho – I am in the right place.
Laurel, there are dining experiences to be had if you know where to look.
You are a pioneer in this ZIP code? I’m not really clear what you mean by that. What do you mean?
As a fellow pioneer, I’m sure laurel’s comment wasn’t meant to offend. It’s just that when you’ve lived in Seattle (I mean the rest of Seattle), moving down here takes some getting used to.
We’ll get equilibrated, and then go to all the great places down here eventually. What the Pho?
Thanks for the into to Pho Bac, Trellis. I’d have never troubled anyone to parboil my sprouts before you.
Trellis’ Friend
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