Cascadia Report

Support grows for tearing down the viaduct

The idea of tearing down the creaky Seattle waterfront viaduct and replacing it with a surface road is gaining momentum, according to this prominent Sunday newspaper story. Local politicians are calling for the surface-road option to be considered along with a tunnel and a replacement overhead structure. It's about time. The state and advocates of a pricey replacement tunnel say the no-rebuild option would lead to traffic chaos. But state data suggest that 50,000 cars a day would need to find a new route if the viaduct disappeared. The billions of dollars saved from a tunnel could go a long way toward meeting that need.

More on Cantwell's Seattle struggle

Here's more on Cantwell's struggle in the People's Republic of Seattle. This column illustrates how liberals like to eat their. And this report shows how her wobbly support by the left appeared during her visit last weekend to a city high school.

McCain brings tightrope to McGavick's campaign

John McCain was in Seattle to support Mike McGavick’s run against Senator Maria Cantwell. The event at the Westin reportedly raised $300,000 for McGavick and was a chance for McCain to meet with supporters of his past and future presidential bids.

But there wasn’t much red meat from McCain, who has a working relationship with Cantwell. A sample quote: "It's not a matter of criticizing Senator Cantwell. It's a matter of supporting Mike McGavick."

To upset Cantwell, McGavick needs to walk the political tightrope that McCain knows so well -- being just independent enough for his maverick image but credible to the conservative base he needs to win.

Marking the anniversary -- of Boeing's departure

Boeing’s decision to move its headquarters to Chicago five years ago was a huge blow to Seattle’s big-time pretensions. After the dot-com recession, an earthquake and a small downtown riot, Boeing said it had to leave because it wanted to be seen as a global business. Ouch. Mayor Paul Schell was quoted as saying, "I'm waiting for the locusts."

Today a package of Seattle Times stories makes a case that the move actually had a minor impact in terms of employment, Boeing’s charitable giving here and the local property market. In an interview, the executive who led the move, John Warner, gushes praise for the city and state. Another story cites a recent transplant from Portland saying that Amazon.com and other new tech employers better represent Seattle now.

The package repeatedly mentions that Boeing moved just 150 headquarters jobs. But what about the impact of that elite group and the people who regularly came to Seattle to meet with them? These weren't just hardworking machinists (and there are still more than 60,000 Boeing workers in the state). But their departure meant a drop in demand for nonstop flights, top-end restaurants and hotels, and other cultural assets. True, the sky didn't fall. But every leading city needs a fully mixed economy and the loss still smarts.

Seattle needs a mid-income housing policy

Luxury condos are popping up around downtown and the city is trying to ensure housing for low-income residents by charging developers and funding new units. So far, so good. The problem is that the added fees, on top of rising construction costs, make building mid-priced rentals uneconomical.

City councilmembers who enjoy challenging the mayor for his development-friendly agenda push for higher fees on developers as an expedient way to fund more infrastructure. But even they admit they didn't see this unintended consequence on mid-income housing.

Why not come up with a new system that looks at development wholistically instead of parcel by parcel? What if the city created a system that levied development fees based on the amenities they plan and the market they plan to serve? Either way, it's clear that Seattle needs flexibility in its housing market if it is going to grow into a diverse community like its Cascadia neighbors Vancouver and Portland.

Rough homecoming for Cantwell

Senator Maria Cantwell visited Seattle’s central Garfield High School with rising-star Senator Barack Obama on Saturday. This column skewers her for supporting the Iraq war and big business -- undermining the people she met at the school. Green Party challenger Aaron Dixon (see this earlier post) grew up in the neighborhood and makes opposition to Cantwell's support for the war and business record his centerpiece.

With liberal friends like these, Cantwell may not need much from Republican challenger Mike McGavick.

Land-use initiative gets okay

A judge gave approval this week to the wording on a "property fairness" initiative that could suspend land-use zoning throughout Washington. The title of the initiative that would appear on the ballot closely follows what the Washington Farm Bureau asked for. Here's the text:

"This measure would require compensation when government regulation damages the use or value of private property, would forbid regulations that prohibit existing legal uses of private property, and would provide exceptions or payments."

It sounds innocuous. But since cash-strapped governments would likely make zoning exceptions rather than pay landowners, the rules could be gutted.

burner gets break-out press

Darcy Burner began getting some press this week in her campaign against Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA, 8th), in the form of stenography by The Stranger.

The piece tells the ex-Microsoft worker's bio and makes the case that the 35-year-old can defeat Reichert by making the election about the Bush Administration. Another article needs to describe her specific plans and qualifications for the job.

Washington GOP loses a rep

A Republican legislator from the Seattle area said he's defecting to the Democrats.

Two-term Rep. Rodney Tom plans to challenge Republican senator Luke Esser this fall and apparently saw his party affiliation as a hindrance in his changing Bellevue district. "I realized the far right has complete control of the party and for me to be effective for my constituents I need to be a Democrat," Tom told the Seattle Times. He faulted the GOP's anti-tax policies, saying that as a businessman he knows the state needs to invest in its infrastructure.

Tom's surprise move hurts Debi Golden, a Bellevue College administrator who plans to challenge Esser with the backing of the national group Progressive Majority. Meanwhile, Washington GOP chair Diane Tebelius called on Tom to resign his seat.

The defection is the latest setback to the local GOP. State Sen. Brian Finkbeiner (R-Kirkland) gave up his leadership post in the Republican caucus in order to focus on his district. The latest change boosts Democratic control of the Senate to 27-22. The conservative, pro-business results of the last legislative session should help bolster that share even more this November. The test will come next year with the temptation to increase spending to satisfy constituents.

A new newspaper empire in Washington

The sale of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain may have a big impact in Cascadia. As part of the 32-paper deal, the McClatchy Co. takes ownership of a 49.5 percent stake in the Seattle Times and total ownership of the 23,000-circulation Bellingham Herald and 33,000-circulation Olympian. Add that to the Tacoma News Tribune, which it already owns, and McClatchy is the new giant in western Washington's mainstream media.

Changes aren't obvious yet, but a Seattle Weekly article points out the new clout of the new owners here. McClatchy's new major presence in the area will affect competition and news coverage throughout the Puget Sound region. Time will tell how staffing, budgets and the size of news hole change.

Cascadia needs infrastructure and ideas

California is exploring partnerships between the government and private industry as a way to meet its staggering need for roads, railways and other infrastructure. Why can't parts of Cascadia aspire to the same thing? The new Narrows bridge in Tacoma will be the first highway in the Puget Sound area with tolls. Why not explore deeper use of the market to solve some of the transportation problems?

The Seattle Times printed yesterday's Neal Peirce column on the issue here. He concludes that public-private partnerships are the way to go. But here's a final takeaway point:

It sounds like a good deal, as long as the new partnerships with business are negotiated professionally, with an eye to long-term sustainability — a reminder that we do need quality people in government! Add in transparent terms, clear performance standards and protection of the public against unfair charges, and the tapping of pools of private investment capital could prove one of the best deals of the century.

Green challenge for Cantwell is official

It's official: Sen. Maria Cantwell is getting a challenge from the Green party. Activist Aaron Dixon announced on Thursday, with an anti-war platform. Could he spoil the election for Democrat-leaning voters? Here's the logic from his speech, quoted in the P-I:

"If she was against the war, then I would be a spoiler, stealing her anti-war votes," Dixon told a roomful of supporters and news media. "If both the Republican challenger (businessman Mike McGavick) and Cantwell are in support of this war, then they are competing amongst themselves for the voters who are pro-war. I am the anti-war vote."

Washington passes business legislation

The Washington legislature wrapped up its session Wednesday with several changes that affect Cascadia business. The pro-business results from the Democrat-dominated legislature could blunt GOP criticisms ahead of the November elections. Here are the highlights of what passed, from The Olympian:

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Passed a medical liability package which protects doctors who apologize from having it used against them in lawsuits and addressing other elements of patient safety, insurance rate-setting and legal procedures.

ENERGY AND BIOFUELS: Approved a requirement for 2 percent biofuel mixtures in diesel products sold in Washington; approved financing to assist the construction of seed crushers to help stimulate biofuels-oriented agriculture; approved emergency heating-bill assistance money for the poor. Lawmakers also exempted farm fuels from sales and use taxes.

Among what didn't pass:

EMPLOYEE INSURANCE: The so-called fair-share bill requiring large employers such as Wal-Mart to spend 9 percent of payroll on health insurance died in favor of a study to identify employers of workers who use state Medicaid and Basic Health Plan services.

Port deal offers chance for GOP

Cascadia's Republican Congressmen are threading the needle by vowing to oppose the deal to transfer control of some U.S. port operations to a Dubai-owned firm. They can say that the stance proves they’re for tough security and the unpopular Bush Administration, which supports the deal, still has a week to compromise.

Today House Republicans reportedly have 290 votes against the deal, where Dubai Ports World's planned $6.8 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. would give it control over terminal operations at five U.S. ports. It wouldn't affect Cascadia, though.

Republican Dave Reichert (R-WA, 8th) supported a proposal to suspend the deal on Feb. 21. In a statement, he said: “While I am a free trader and believe in the benefit of foreign investment, our national security should never be compromised.” Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR, 2nd), who represents some of landlocked southwest Oregon, asked for an investigation of the deal the same day.

Green candidate to challenge Cantwell

Community activist Aaron Dixon is running for the Green Party’s nomination to challenge Sen. Maria Cantwell. This is the second challenge to Cantwell over her voting record.

The two rivals could siphon Democratic votes and help Republican Mike McGavick. According to the P-I, it’s a flip of the 2000 Senate race:

Dixon could do for McGavick what another third-party candidate, Libertarian Jeff Jared, arguably did for Cantwell when she unseated Republican Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000. Cantwell won by 2,229 votes, and many Republicans think the 64,734 votes for Jared cost Gorton the election.

Momentum builds to tear down the Viaduct

With plans to replace Seattle's damaged waterfront with a tunnel or bigger overhead freeway looking costlier than ever, momentum may be building for a simpler alternative. See a Seattle Times column today about the option of replacing the viaduct with surface-road improvements.

This would be a smart move for the development of the city -- and follow the example of Cascadia neighbors Portland and Vancouver. See a previous post here.

Airport aims to meet Cascadia growth

The town of Delta, British Columbia this week passed funds to start an expansion of low-profile Boundary Bay airport. The airport, which now serves mostly small private planes and flying schools, hopes to capitalize on its location a half-hour from downtown Vancouver and near Highway 99, which connects to I-5.

The first step is relocating nearby roads, which is supposed to begin next month. Plans call for longer runways, a terminal, customs and other changes to accommodate corporate jets and commerical service to the Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Bellingham, Seattle and Calgary.

Alpha Aviation, the operator of the privately run airport, is meeting with neighbors to soothe concerns about noise, according to the South Delta Leader newspaper. One big reason for the expansion push? Yep, the 2010 Olympics.

How Washington businesses can profit from the olympics

The first step toward getting a share of the $2 billion in goods in services needed by the 2010 Winter Olympics is to actually make an effort, according to the Washington Association of Business. Most companies haven't even considered the potential market, the group said. Small firms should set their sights on being vendors to larger companies operating in Canada, and Washington companies need to start looking for ways to draw visitors through the state.

While they're at it, the AWB, which functions as a state chamber of commerce, asks the state government for four things:

-- Expedited cross-border travel.
-- Improvements for travelers. For example, a rest area for people waiting on the U.S. side at Blaine.
-- State help matching small businesses with Canadian counterparts.
-- An actual effort to draw visitors into the state.

The list doesn't mention improved transportation. While there are several road improvements ongoing near the border, traffic is assured if there is any significant spillover from the games. Why doesn't the AWB push for expanded passenger train service, a Seattle-Vancouver-Squamish ferry and smoother airport customs?

To get businesses on board, the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) scheduled meetings around the state beginning March 21 to bring state business owners, trade officials and the Governor's 2010 Olympics Task Force.

Cantwell gets a challenge from the left

Sen. Maria Cantwell, already facing a well-financed Republican opponent, is taking fire from the left too.

Suquamish Marine veteran Mark Wilson is running as a Democratic challenger, based on opposition to Cantwell's votes for the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, President Bush's appointments and other issues. An article in today's Wall Street Journal highlighted a group, called Impeach PAC, that supports candidates who want to impeach the president if Democrats can reclaim Congress. Wilson is one of three such candidates for U.S. Senate.

How formidable is the challenge? Wilson is apparently traveling the state to drum up support. He's been mentioned in the press, including this Seattle Weekly article. He could become a larger gnat for Cantwell if anti-Bush sentiment in the state continues to grow. But the Federal Election Commission's Web site shows only one $500 contribution.

Longview takeover would continue ownership shift

Longview Fibre has rebuffed a $1.3 billion takeover bid by two private Oregon investment companies that would put one of Cascadia’s biggest landowners under private control.

The offer comes from timber manager Campbell Group and Obsidian Finance Group, a private equity firm run by executives who left Willamette Industries when Weyerhaeuser acquired it.

A deal would continue the shift in ownership of the region’s forests from integrated companies that have logging, mills and ties to local communities, to investment companies that manage timber as part of a portfolio of assets.

Longview Fibre plans to convert to a REIT. It’s managed only a slim profit in recent years, despite trimming operations. It manages about 587,000 acres of timberland mostly in western Washington and Oregon, and has paper and box plants.

Tight BC economy means pre-Olympic boom

A building boom for the 2010 Winter Olympics may squeeze British Columbia, which already has one of Canada's tightest labor markets. The energy boom has pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.1 percent, making it difficult to find good workers. Apparently they're paying cashiers C$19 an hour in Northern B.C.

Long-term growth requires broadening the economy beyond natural resources and developing a more educated workforce. Meanwhile the tight market in B.C. may mean business opportunities throughout Cascadia in the run-up to 2010.

Alaska Airlines calm about recent troubles

A series of safety problems and one of the industry's worst on-time records has fliers reconsidering their support of Cascadia's top airline. But Chairman Bill Ayer doesn't seem worried because traffic is still growing:

"So I wouldn't say from a reputation standpoint we have lost a lot, at least from the people I talk to anecdotally. And also the numbers, statistics show growing traffic, growing load factors.

"But it doesn't mean that we don't need to get back to an on-time operation, a reliable operation with good baggage delivery. We need to get back to those standards, absolutely."

Cost of Vancouver's New Transit Line Grows

The cost of Vancouver's newest rapid transit line passed C$2 billion ($1.76 billion) for the first time. Critics seized on the announcement as proof that taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth. Vancouver's third rapid-transit rail line is slated to connect downtown to the airport and Richmond by 2009.

Tear down the Seattle Viaduct

Seattle should heed the waterfront examples of its Cascadia neighbors: replace its viaduct with a surface road.

The need to replace the earthquake-damaged viaduct is clear. And the state already has $2.4 billion for the project, thanks to a gas-tax hike okayed by voters last year partly for this purpose. Priorities should be getting rid of the viaduct before it falls down, spending public money wisely and fixing the 1950s mistake that blocked off Seattle from its waterfront.

The city wants to replace the 2.2-mile structure with a tunnel, which would lack exits to downtown or to Western Avenue. But the $4 billion plan doesn’t include important steps like lowering the Battery Street tunnel and Aurora Avenue, and reconnecting the city street grid near the Seattle Center.

Since the money to do the job properly isn't in hand, pressure is building to at least DO SOMETHING. The state and editorialists increasingly favor simply replacing the Viaduct, which would cost at least $2.5 billion and be wider and taller than the existing structure. The state transportation department is considering only the tunnel and rebuild options, which would take seven to 12 years.

Seattle should instead follow the other Cascadia examples. Portland ripped out a freeway along the Willamette and now has Tom McCall Park. In Vancouver, a fully connected street grid carries traffic through downtown.

Seattle could replace the viaduct with a six-lane surface road where Alaskan Way runs now. The city could rebuild the wall that holds up the shoreline (the first billion dollars of any project) and reconnect the city street grid from the stadiums to the Seattle Center. The project would cost less than rebuilding, even after throwing in $1 billion for a streetcar or rapid-bus system connecting downtown to Ballard via Interbay and to West Seattle.

The surface-road alternative would be fast and provide plenty of capacity for traffic by reconnecting the street grid. The state’s study assumed today’s driving habits when it forecast that downtown would gridlock without a tunnel or replacement. But that would happen anyway when drivers try to avoid tunnel tolls.

Getting this done will take leadership and imagination of what can be. If the city skimps on a tunnel project or simply rebuilds the region will remember the failure for generations.

Conservation Voters Rate Politicians on Business Votes

Rep. Dave Reichert (R - WA, 8th) got a 28% rating by the League of Conservation Voters in its 2005 Conservation Scorecard. The rating counts votes on business issues such as renewable energy, fuel economy, gas and oil refineries, funding for logging roads and the Central American Free Trade Agreeement. Adam Smith (D - 9th) and Jay Inslee (D - 1st) got perfect scores. Eastern Washington's Doc Hastings (R - 4th) and Cathy McMorris (R - 5th) got 0% ratings.

Four of Oregon's representatives got 100% ratings, but Rep. Greg Walden (R - OR, 2nd) got 11%.

Alaska Senator gives McGavick gift

Mike McGavick got a gift from Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who dropped a proposal to expand oil tanker traffic in Puget Sound. The plan had been an easy target for Maria Cantwell. In a press release, McGavick takes credit for changing Stevens' mind and says this is an example of how sending a GOP representative to the Senate would help Washington. Stevens' announcement came within hours of McGavick's latest campaign kick-off event.

Would Seattle vote for a Republican?

Based on the 2000 results in the race for U.S. Senate, Maria Cantwell and Mike McGavick each have to build support in their weakest areas in order to win. Here's a pair of Sunday Seattle Times pieces outlining the strategies.