Emerald City Talk

I have frequently written posts about the Washington Policy Center’s work. I get a copy of their newsletter and in the latest one their article on Citizen’s Guide to Initiative 985 (pdf file) particularly interests me–traffic congestion has been a big issue for me in my campaign for State House Rep. in the 36th District.

This Initiative is Tim Eyman’s work “Reduce Traffic Congestion Act of 2008.” “It is an effort to implement some of the recommendations made in a recent performance audit conducted by the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO).” I have not always been in favor of Tim Eyman’s initiatives, but in this case I am.

First of all, even though I didn’t win a place in the top-two for the State House Rep. in the 36th District, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and I have many “lessons learned” for future endeavors.

I want to thank those people that helped with my campaign.  Amanda Daylong, my Treasurer/Campaign Mgr, she spent many hours helping and I truly appreciate her.  Glenn Avery was always available to give me advice when I had questions.  Bob Barren helped with the distribution of yard signs and walk pieces; helped with speech development and always had an encouraging word.  Sharon Gilpin, consultant, came up with a fabulous walk piece and helped with the design of my yard signs and my voter’s pamphlet message.  Nicole Franklin and Diana Davis–thank you so much for helping me get the message out.  Karlis Zommers–you have been a peach–your girl friend is a very lucky woman!  To the 36th District Republicans with special thanks to Andy MacDonald, David Nelson and Kirk Robbins–we are not through yet with bringing balance, fairness and fiscal responsibility to Washington State.

To all of those people that gave me endorsements and contrbutions thank you so much–I hope I have given you every effort you expected.

I did enjoy every minute of campaigning and now intend to focus on trying to keep an elevated viaduct, coming up with a better solution to the Mercer Street fix and getting Katie’s Law (katieslaw.org) into Washington State.

Leslie Bloss

I have been against Washington State getting a State Income Tax (both of my opponents and the Governor want it.  The Washington Policy Center has a new booklet out–and there is a very interesting chapter on tax policy. It says:

Recommendation 1) Avoid enacting a state income tax. A state income tax would have a negative effect on the Washington economy. Comparisons among states show that income taxes reduce state competitiveness, add cost and complexity to the tax code, and reduce the incentive for people to work, save and invest. The absence of an income tax is one of the few clear advantages Washington’s business climate has over those of other states.

They talk all about taxes.  Before you vote please take the time to read their information.  The Primary is on Tuesday, August 19th.

The Seattle Times today has an article entitled “Run it by the truth squad:  Gregoire and state income tax” by Ralph Thomas.   She is saying that “now is not the time” but how long will it take before she pushes for it–right after the election?  She does believe “eventually we will have one.”

Both of my opponents are very clear that Washington should have a state income tax.  I believe we do not have a tax problem–we have an out-of-control spending problem.  I feel we need to stand firm on the stance that we do not want to be raising taxes just because lawmakers cannot make a decent budget!

Recently, the Governor is starting to show signs of “belt tightening.”  There are examples of this in the article “State to raise camping fees in Washington Parks;” and a video by KING 5’s Lori Matsukawa “Gov. Chris Gregoire has ordered state agencies to cut hiring, travel and fuel costs as the weak economy continues to dry up tax collections, and she’s asking colleges and other statewide elected officials to follow suit.”

I still maintain that it is very important that the lawmakers in Washington State start being FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.  And, you voters in the 36th district can start to make that happen by voting for me for State House Representative, rather than my big spending opponents that want a state income tax! 

The Primary in August 19th–please remember to vote!

Did you read The Seattle Times article “More Demands on Your Dollar“? Seattle Public Utilities proposed rate increases of “29% for garbage collection and 18 percent for water next year.” And, King County Metro Transit is considering a bigger increase than the planned 25-cent bus-fare increase or else have service cuts.

We need to get the costs of utilities down not up. Maybe we need a desalination plant like Tampa Bay, Florida has. Maybe we need to harness more wind power so that we can get cheaper electricity and afford to use electric cars or retrofit our own. There will be a $2.7 billion dollar shortfall when the Legislature meets in January. Both of my opponents want a state income tax.

Maybe we need to start thinking about our getting the state’s finances under control! Maybe we need to elect some Legislators that are actually concerned about voter’s pocket books rather than raising taxes to take care of the shortfalls!  The Primary election is August 19th.

www.blossforthe36th.com

This morning a friend of mine, Lena Hunt, sent an email talking about how she and her husband “had the pleasure of hearing Col. Debra Lewis talk about all of the projects that are going on in Iraq.  You do not typically find this in the media–it is a good tool to pass on to people that think we are occupying this country blowing up buildings and people and taking their oil.”  The website is from the Gulf Region Division of the Army Corps of Engineers.  The link is:  http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/index.asp

One of the major issues is the Alaskan Way Viaduct–I want to see it repaired!  It can be repaired and it can be made safe.   So much commerce begins with the Port of Seattle and many businesses would be irreparably harmed if there was down-time on 99 (Aurora).  We cannot afford to do without it—and we do not need to if we start listening to the engineers that have the voter’s interest at heart rather than the politicians.   If you have some time on your hands and want to spend some time reading about the subject, check out http://www.nobigdig.org/

I love The Washington State Budget & Policy Center I think it is a very good resource and feel everyone should receive and read their updates.  The following is their Mission Statement: 

 “Our mission is to use research and analysis to advance the well-being of Washington communities, improve the economic security and social opportunity of all Washingtonians, and support the essential role of government in promoting a just and prosperous society.”

Here is a list of some of the things they have written recently that you can read about on their website:

• “A Working Families Credit for Washington State”“On Point:  Better Choices for Economic Security” 
• “House Budget Maintains Commitments but Misses Opportunity to Invest in Economic Security” by Jeff Chapman & Remy Trupin
•  ”House Budget Maintains Commitments but Misses Opportunity to Invest in Economic Security” by Jeff Chapman & Remy Trupin

•  ”Governor’s Budget:  Important Investments, Long-Term Challenges” by Jeff Chapman & Remy Trupin

The following article was written by Seattle Council Member Nick Licata on July 2, 2008.  It is very good–it talks about how expensive the Streetcar Network would be and how we need increased bus service now.  Take a look at it, as Licata says “only until the public has accurate and verifiable information can they choose whether to pursue more bus lines, electric trolley buses, etc.   I like a Council Member that is fiscally responsible–we need more like him!

STREETCARS AND MEETING SEATTLE’S TRANSIT NEEDS

By Council Member Nick Licata

Nick.licata@seattle.gov 684-8803

SEATTLE RESIDENTS USE BUSES

Twice as many Seattle residents use the bus as in the rest of King County, and our buses are over crowded; there is more standing time on Seattle buses than the other transit lines. The draft funding plan for the new streetcar network could replace existing bus service with streetcars. See the reverse side for details.

WE NEED TRANSIT INCREASED NOW

Transit ridership increased by 6% per year for the last 3 years, and new ridership continues to increase during 2008. It will continue to grow as the price of gas increases. Should we wait years to investigate and build streetcars or should we proceed to add bus service now?

SOUND TRANSIT NEEDS FEEDER BUS LINES

Additional bus service is needed to make Sound Transit’s light rail an effective spine for our transit system. The City will take 16,000 hours of bus service away from our bus lines and use them to operate the South Lake Union Streetcar; additional streetcars will result in more hours being diverted from bus routes that could feed Sound Transit’s light rail line.

WHERE DO STREETCARS FIT IN?

They can be useful in small dense neighborhoods where slow travel times can work, as has been witnessed in Portland. Seattle has helped fund the 1.3 mile South Lake Union line at a cost of $50 million for construction and a projected $2 million for yearly operations. The cost per rider on the South Lake Union line is close to 50% higher than the Route 70 bus line that serves Downtown, South Lake Union and the University District.

WHO PAYS FOR CONSTRUCTING NEW STREETCAR LINES?

If Seattle follows the same funding model for future street car lines as we did for the South Lake Union Streetcar, the public funds will pay $300 million for 15 miles of track, while businesses and property owners along the new lines would pay an additional $300 million.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO OPERATE STREETCARS?

The cost of operating the South Lake Union Streetcar is about 50% higher than the average Metro bus. This is the only firm data available; some projections are higher, others lower. Seattle Department of Transportation is now estimating that streetcars cost less to operate than electric trolleys based on questionable assumptions. See the reverse side for details.

WHAT SHOULD THE CITY DO?

The City must support cost-effective reliable and speedy transit serving commuters, shoppers and occasional travelers throughout the city. Only until the public has accurate and verifiable information can they choose whether to pursue more bus lines, electric trolley buses, or build new streetcar lines to meet this objective.

July 2, 2008

Streetcar Network Information

Estimated Construction Costs:

Construction: Vehicles: Total per line

Ballard-Fremont line $135 million $25 million $160 million

Central line $180 million $20 million $200 million

First Hill/Capitol Hill line $115 million $20 million $135 million

U-Line $170 million $20 million $190 million

Total $600 million $85 million $685 million

Around ½ of the South Lake Union streetcar was paid for through an assessment on nearby property owners, based on the assumption that a streetcar will improve property values. It is levied as a percentage of assessed value. To meet ½ the construction cost for each line, the assessment would need to be from 1.1% to 3%, as follows:

Line % for 50% construction Cost for $300,000 property

Ballard-Fremont line 2.2% $6,600

Central line 1.1% $3,300

First Hill/Capitol Hill line 1.3% $4,900

U-Line 3.0% $9,000

Estimated Annual O&M Costs:

Assumes

Ballard-Fremont $5.4 million Some Route 17, 18, 28 cuts

Central $4.5 million Some Route 1 and 2 cuts, transfers from bus

First Hill/Capitol Hill $4.2 million Sound Transit funding

U-Line $8 million Route 70 elimination

SDOT optimistically assumes 31-53% funding from streetcar fare collections. However, the South Lake Union Streetcar collections fund only 14% of operations. Electric Trolleys receive on average 40% of their funding from fare collections.

Streetcar operations cost versus electric trolley buses:

The South Lake Union Streetcar costs $180 per hour to operate, versus $120 for Metro buses. In its May 2008 Streetcar Network Development Report, SDOT estimates a streetcar would be cheaper to operate than an electric trolley bus, but the estimates were based on questionable assumptions.

For example, streetcar operations costs were estimated at $160 an hour, while data available shows that the South Lake Union streetcar operates at $182 an hour; farebox recovery was assumed at 50% based on streetcar operations in Toronto and Philadelphia, which serve communities with far greater density; and the sponsorships per station and car was estimated at $50,000 while the South Lake Union streetcar sponsorship averages $30,000.

Today, I spoke with Nick Licata of the Seattle City Council. He is the one lone member of the Seattle City Council that is being vocal about what a bad idea the proposed fix for Mercer Street that Mayor Nickels has been pushing. I called him to tell him that I think there should be a State Referendum on the ballot. I need to do some research regarding that.

Anyway, Councilman Licata had some information sent to me regarding the streetcar network and the Mercer Project and some information on forums that will be coming up soon. He’ll be speaking at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon on the 16th.

Below are the dates of the forums, and the link to the news release:

Tuesday, July 8th - Proposed Ballard/Fremont Line at Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67 Street, 4-6pm

Wednesday, July 9th - Proposed U-District Line at University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, 4-6pm

Tuesday, July 15th - Proposed First Hill Line at Yesler Community Center, 917 E. Yesler Way, 4-6pm

http://www.seattle.gov/council/newsdetail.asp?ID=8599&Dept=28

The following is an email that Councilman Licata is sending out to Ballard and Crown Hill folks regarding the streetcar network:

Streetcar Network Forum Tuesday, July 8 4-6 p.m. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 56th

I am e-mailing you as a resident or business owner in Ballard, Crown Hill, and nearby areas regarding the potential for a streetcar network in Seattle, how that might be funded, and how it might affect bus service in your neighborhood on routes 17, 18 and 28.

City Councilmember Jan Drago will be hosting a forum on a potential Fremont-Ballard Streetcar line on Tuesday, July 8 at the Nordic Heritage Museum.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is proposing a potential Fremont-Ballard Streetcar line that would run along from Downtown on Westlake to the Fremont Bridge, then over the bridge to 36th, then head westbound on 36th and Leary Way NW, then turn onto NW 46th, on to either Leary Way or Ballard Avenue, with a turnback adjacent to the Ballard Commons at 22nd NW and NW 57th. 

Cost: the estimated cost of the line is $135 million.  As with the South Lake Union Streetcar, likely around ½ the cost would be funded by nearby property owners. In order to fund 50% of construction, property owners near this line would need to pay approximately 2.2% of the assessed value of their property. For a $300,000 property, this would total $6,600.

The estimated annual O&M cost is $5.4 million. In order to fund operations, the Network Development Report proposes cuts in Metro service that could affect bus lines 17, 18 and 28.

There are no specifics at this point, but the preliminary operating cost summary assumed that 14,000 of the 80,000 hours in bus service on these lines would be cut. Any streetcar replacement would likely provide fewer hours of service, because streetcars cost 50% more to operate than a Metro bus. On the South Lake Union Streetcar, around 11,000 hours of service are provided at a cost of $2 million annually. 16,500 bus hours could be provided at the same cost.

As a Ballard/Crown Hill area resident, I thought you would be interested in knowing about this meeting, and encourage you to attend, find out more, and express your opinion.

Blossforthe36th.com is the link to my campaign website.

P.S.  The picture is of my youngest grandson Collin.