Exchange with Seattle City Councilman, Tim Burgess

As many of you know, I like to keep tabs on our lovely City Council Critters. As far as I'm concerned, these people more-than-often consider themselves to be your "superiors" and know what's best for you without your consent or support. In fact, The Seattle City Council has a history of approving funding for projects that actually have been voted down by tax-paying citizens. Essentially, this is representative government at it's worst. Big City Government projects are pushed through (regardless of public support) because these contracts will equal dollars and support for council members during their next re-election campaigns. And rest assured, these people will sit on that council and rot before they give up their career-politician posts (ahem, Nick Licata...)

Anyways, I wandered on over to Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess' Blog just in time to hear him pat himself and the the Council on the back for unanimously passing full-City Council support of a tunnel replacement for the crumbling Alaskan Way Viaduct. The catch is, Seattle City Voters had already voted this thing down. The Council backs up their snubbing of city voters by claiming the style of tunnel is different, thus justifying the MASSIVE amount of tax revenue and the inevitable tax hikes and cost overruns this behemoth is bound to create.

Here is his Blog post:

Tunnel, Fire Station, Museum

Three important votes at City Council this afternoon. All votes were 9-0.

First, Council voted (yet again) that city policy supports the State's decision to replace the Alaskan Way Viaducy with a deep-bore tunnel under downtown.

Second, we voted to support relocation of the Museum of History and Industry to Lake Union Park.

Third, we ended a four-year ordeal and voted to site Fire Station 20 at 15th Ave and West Armour St.

Posted at 04:12 PM

My exchange with him:

Comments

Dee said...

Hey Tim-
Did the citizens of Seattle
(whom you represent and work for)
want a tunnel?

Tim Burgess said...

Dee, I understand your sentiment. In March 2007 the voters of Seattle rejected a so-called "cut and cover" tunnel under Alaskan Way along the waterfront. And, consistent with the voters' decision that tunnel died and has not been considered since. The deep-bore tunnel that will replace the viaduct runs under downtown away from the waterfront; it's a very different solution that makes perfect sense, in my opinion.

Dee said...

Tim,
Obviously, with a unanimous City Council vote of approval, it's clear that you all think this style of underground tunnel "makes perfect sense" (even though the original concept was voted down by Seattle voters.)

My question to you is, with so many voters voting down the original concept for the tunnel, how can you be so confident that your vote of approval reflects the taxpayer's wishes without putting it to another vote?

I guess I am failing to understand your certainty that this is what the Seattle voters want. It seems quite presumptuous on your and the Council's part.

Of course, like so often in the past, Councilman Burgess has no response!!
Here is the post from his Blog