At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen unveiled a plan to complete the so-called "missing link" of bike and pedestrian pathway along the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard.
My Ballard Forum » Open Forum
The City's New Strategy to Complete Contentious Burke-Gilman "Missing Link"
(16 posts)-
nwcitizen
offlineMemberPosted 4 months ago # -
BTown
offlineMemberSigh... I'm glad that Mike is still trying to make this happen. At the end of the day someone is always going to be unhappy when there is change. It's impossible to make a perfect solution. Ballard will continue to grow and the land value and populations density alone will force or deter local light industry. I would rather be part of the change to make it better and safe place then fight tooth and nail trying to hold back progress for selfish reasons.
Posted 4 months ago # -
saffythepook
offlineMemberLove that portable podium they dragged out from which he spoke...
Posted 4 months ago # -
PaytonKemp-AlleyOop
offlineMemberIt was someone's job to transport that podium and find a spot for it on the gravel. Don't know why I find that so humorous.
Posted 4 months ago # -
onederfullone
offlineMember"Lawsuits aside..."
lol, the illustrative Stranger missed the key part of the story, which is quite shocking. /sarcasm.
Must be nice to circumvent legal processes, go ahead with improvements absent a pathway, like it's doing Ballard a favor.
I find it humorous that the focus seems to be about a podium.
Anyway, the Mayor has no choice but to pander for the vote of 'new Ballard'.
Meanwhile, back to the incessant whining about the loss of 'old Ballard'.
It would be humorous in a Simpson's cartoon.
Posted 4 months ago # -
boatgeek
offlineMemberWhen did a potential lawsuit about one transportation project mean that the city can't do other transportation projects nearby? The story says that the city is expecting the EIS and lawsuit process to take two to three years, so they're doing what they can now. Once the suits are resolved, they can either build the whole trail like they intended all along (if the city wins) or stick with what they put in now (if they lose). Either way, we're looking at two or three years delay and a few hundred thousand dollars spent. Thanks, SBSG (and everyone else involved in the lawsuits)!
It's funny how doing popular things that you like is following the will of the people, but doing popular things you don't like is pandering. Not just you, oneder, this is pretty widespread.
Posted 4 months ago # -
onederfullone
offlineMemberI didn't say I disagreed, fwiw.
I do see it as pandering. Influence from our Mayor would be to ramp up the process, seek a timely resolution, and then invest in the outcome.
Anyway, the Stranger missed it, but still made a story out of it.
My opinion aside, the outcome of the legal system is required before we know any dollar spent isn't wasted. I know, wasting dollars isn't an issue with most voters, they just want a smiley sticker and a portable podium to believe in.
Problem solved. /sarcasm.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Edog
offlineMemberAs far as the pandering of "New Ballard" and the whining of "Old Ballard" The dirty little secret is that Old Ballard is more than happy to sell itself to New Ballard!
Posted 4 months ago # -
boatgeek
offlineMember+1 Edog
@Oneder: As far as the Mayor's influence goes, I'm not sure what options he has. IIRC, the city's under court order to do an EIS before going ahead with the project. After the EIS is complete, they expect another lawsuit. Let's assume for the moment that the Mayor has all the influence in the world (crappy assumption, but hey, start somewhere). How could he use that influence to speed up the process? Pushing the court to speed up rulings is probably counterproductive, not to mention probably illegal, and ignoring court rulings is even worse. I'd especially like to hear how you think he could legally/legitimately influence the process, since you complain so much about corruption at city hall.
Is it a waste of money to buy a space heater when your furnace craps out in winter if you know that it'll be three months before you can install a new furnace? And, for that matter, how do you (or anyone else) know that the improvements they're doing now aren't on the list of things to do as part of the missing link trail project, just accelerated a bit?
Posted 4 months ago # -
onederfullone
offlineMemberFirst of all, I was first to mention how/why Ballard is screwed. If I controlled anything, I'd keep you idiots from moving in, especially because you've got bums on your coat-tails, and seem to think 'it's natural'. Go figure.
Increasing property value is a sign of ignorance, and demand. You all bought into Ballard, and expect it to improve. Note. You all bought into Ballard.
Blaming folks that sold is your doing, period, just ask Edith.
"Let's assume for the moment that the Mayor has all the influence in the world (crappy assumption, but hey, start somewhere)."
Start with reality. "Let's assume for the moment that the Mayor has all the influence in the world..." Is too fucking to stupid to comment on, but I'm not surprised in the least, fwiw.
We elected him, we expect more than sound bites on local news, right?
Actually, he's just following in lockstep with the POTUS, talk big, do nada.
Posted 4 months ago # -
boatgeek
offlineMemberSo what should he do? You're the one who said he should use his influence and move this faster. How?
FWIW, I don't think he has all that much influence. So I'm not upset that he's not influencing the process to move it faster. Sadly, you can't have it both ways.
Posted 4 months ago # -
great idea
offlineMemberyou're spot on boatgeek.
it's sad how little power the mayor actually has.
Posted 4 months ago # -
JM
offlineMemberob·struc·tion·ist
n.
One who systematically blocks or interrupts a process, especially one who attempts to impede passage of legislation by the use of delaying tactics, such as a filibuster.Posted 4 months ago # -
JM
offlineMemberThe chamber needs some Magnesium citrate.
Posted 4 months ago # -
ballardmike
offlineMemberLife's a bitch... then more people move to Ballard. =|
As far as "old Ballard" goes - it was changing way back when as well. It'll always be changing; that is the nature of cities and communities. We can hope to affect some positive change as it happens and we can bitch about negative change as welll... that will be the one constant.
Posted 4 months ago # -
VeganBiker
offlineMember+1 Boatgeek.
I really hope that this is the final push that will break the resistance to completing the trail.
All I can say is that when the trail is completed it will make a part of Ballard, that is most of the time an eye sore and a disgusting place to walk, into a wonderful place that people will want to walk with their families and enjoy the time spent there.Posted 4 months ago #
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