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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Extra Fizz: King County Could Pass New Tax for S. Park Bridge

Politics   January 5, 2010 at 1:04 pm Erica C. Barnett

South_Park_Bridge_in_Seattle

Editor’s note: This post was originally published at 1 pm. It has been updated and reposted.

While the press was focusing on  Jan Drago’s appointment to the King County Council yesterday, we all (with the exception of Seattle Transit Blog) missed another significant piece of council business: A new transportation benefits, or taxing, district to fund a replacement for the crumbling South Park Bridge and other projects in unincorporated King County. The TBD could charge a license fee of up to $20 (or up to $100 with voter approval). Council staff estimate the $20 fee would raise as much as $5.5 million a year. The fee would only affect residents of unincorporated King County.

As I mentioned yesterday, King County is seeking $99 million federal stimulus money to replace the South Park Bridge, which is 78 years old and in poor repair. (The total cost of replacing the bridge, which links South Park and Georgetown, is estimated at $150 million.)  However, several members of the Seattle City Council have advocated for federal stimulus dollars to go to city projects instead, including the $300 million Mercer project. Newly appointed county council member Jan Drago did not sign a letter supporting South Park Bridge stimulus funding when she was on the city council.

Yesterday’s vote doesn’t authorize the tax; it just creates a new taxing district where the council could enact a tax in the future.

The fate of that tax could hang on the vote of newly appointed county council member Jan Drago, who has opposed South Park Bridge funding in the past. Republican council members, including Reagan Dunn, expressed concern about passing a new tax and about whether the money would be distributed fairly through unincorporated King County; Dunn also noted that, as the only member of the council who lives in unincorporated King County, “I would be the only one up here who actually has to pay this tax.”

Drago says she now supports federal funding for the South Park Bridge. “I’m representing District 8 of the county council, and their interests are different than the city’s interests,” Drago says. However, she said council members’ concerns about adding new taxes were “absolutely legitimate on both sides—the Democrats and the Republicans.”




  • ivan

    Speak for yourself, Erica. “We all” didn’t miss it. Those of us who were right there in the chambers with you were paying attention to the business at hand, even if you weren’t.

    Reagan Dumb certainly does not speak for me. I live in unincorporated King County, and I favor this tax. The bridge needs to be replaced.

  • ivan

    Speak for yourself, Erica. “We all” didn’t miss it. Those of us who were right there in the chambers with you were paying attention to the business at hand, even if you weren’t.

    Reagan Dumb certainly does not speak for me. I live in unincorporated King County, and I favor this tax. The bridge needs to be replaced.

  • ivan

    Speak for yourself, Erica. “We all” didn’t miss it. Those of us who were right there in the chambers with you were paying attention to the business at hand, even if you weren’t.

    Reagan Dumb certainly does not speak for me. I live in unincorporated King County, and I favor this tax. The bridge needs to be replaced.

  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Baker/150568099583 Mr.Baker

    The state legislature coulda, shoulda, but didn’t.
    I was a a bit stunned that the state failed to support this shovel ready project.

    The “city” of King County is going to be on the hook for this. They have the means, do they have the will?

  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Baker/150568099583 Mr.Baker

    The state legislature coulda, shoulda, but didn’t.
    I was a a bit stunned that the state failed to support this shovel ready project.

    The “city” of King County is going to be on the hook for this. They have the means, do they have the will?

  • Ericacbarnett

    @1: sorry, Ivan–I didn’t realize you were a member of the press now. Self-published, I take it?

  • snotty erica

    ivan obviously isn’t a real reporter like you darling. he’s never shoplifted an $8 bottle of wine from QFC!

  • snotty erica

    ivan obviously isn’t a real reporter like you darling. he’s never shoplifted an $8 bottle of wine from QFC!

  • tpn

    This bridge is in even worse shape then the AWV, is in more danger of eminent collapse then the AWV, and has been a local (“provincial”??) concern for at least that long. But because it would not benefit downtown property owners, or the urban design cult that is currently enfranchied with the election of McGinn, it has been ignored by the aforementioned. Better late then never.

  • tpn

    This bridge is in even worse shape then the AWV, is in more danger of eminent collapse then the AWV, and has been a local (“provincial”??) concern for at least that long. But because it would not benefit downtown property owners, or the urban design cult that is currently enfranchied with the election of McGinn, it has been ignored by the aforementioned. Better late then never.

  • Enough Already

    Sheesh, the sore losers in the mayor’s race simply will. not. shut. up. Anywhere they can whine, they will.

    We had a race between clone A and Clone B. Clone A won. What’s the big deal? It’s like the difference between beige and off-white.

  • Enough Already

    Sheesh, the sore losers in the mayor’s race simply will. not. shut. up. Anywhere they can whine, they will.

    We had a race between clone A and Clone B. Clone A won. What’s the big deal? It’s like the difference between beige and off-white.

  • ivan

    Well, Erica, maybe if you were a better writer, you might have said something like “most reporters missed” instead of “we all missed.”

    As for my being a member of the press, do I have to remind you, yet again, that I was a professional journalist in this town before you were born, and for longer than you have been alive?

  • ivan

    Well, Erica, maybe if you were a better writer, you might have said something like “most reporters missed” instead of “we all missed.”

    As for my being a member of the press, do I have to remind you, yet again, that I was a professional journalist in this town before you were born, and for longer than you have been alive?

  • Christi S.

    I come here seeking thoughtful discourse and instead I am repeatedly subjected to Ivan’s testosterone-laden braying, boasting and bullying.

    We did a poll on this topic, right Josh?

    ECB: Ivan worked “in news” a very long time ago – as a copy editor, not a journalist.

    The bio:

    “33 years as a professional journalist at the Seattle Times, where I monitored incoming national and international news, edited copy, and served as a Newspaper Guild shop steward and activist for 20 of those years.”

  • Christi S.

    I come here seeking thoughtful discourse and instead I am repeatedly subjected to Ivan’s testosterone-laden braying, boasting and bullying.

    We did a poll on this topic, right Josh?

    ECB: Ivan worked “in news” a very long time ago – as a copy editor, not a journalist.

    The bio:

    “33 years as a professional journalist at the Seattle Times, where I monitored incoming national and international news, edited copy, and served as a Newspaper Guild shop steward and activist for 20 of those years.”

  • ivan

    A copy editor is as much a journalist as a reporter is, you ignorant cow. I did plenty of reporting in 33 years in between copy editing stints.

    No reporter is worth a shit without an involved editor on the team. That’s the problem with these Publicola brats, they have no editors.

    And unlike you, I don’t lie to people about my work history. Don’t come on here and mess with me, lady, because your own shit stinks plenty high.

  • ivan

    A copy editor is as much a journalist as a reporter is, you ignorant cow. I did plenty of reporting in 33 years in between copy editing stints.

    No reporter is worth a shit without an involved editor on the team. That’s the problem with these Publicola brats, they have no editors.

    And unlike you, I don’t lie to people about my work history. Don’t come on here and mess with me, lady, because your own shit stinks plenty high.

  • Christi S.

    Ivan…..just cut it out already! And making up crap to deflect from your own behavior isn’t going to help….

  • Christi S.

    Ivan…..just cut it out already! And making up crap to deflect from your own behavior isn’t going to help….

  • Guest

    Now that elections are over, the South Park Bridge (SPB) is a safe topic. It’s such a critical link between S. Park, White Center, Highland Park, to Seattle. And it links Georgetown to these neighborhoods and other parts of W. Seattle. Otherwise, we are all forced to use 1st Ave South Brigde (nightmare!). I can’t believe that folks in industry haven’t been more vocal about the closure of SPB. Some industry peeps must be concerned that funding won’t come through for the bridge. An example: First Student Bus moved to this side of the water and now shares operations on the same street as CleanScapes in Gtown. It’s a mighty cluster**** on 8th Ave S. and Corson and Ellis every morning.

  • http://thisisgeorgetown.com Gtown Hood Rat

    Now that elections are over, the South Park Bridge (SPB) is a safe topic. It’s such a critical link between S. Park, White Center, Highland Park, to Seattle. And it links Georgetown to these neighborhoods and other parts of W. Seattle. Otherwise, we are all forced to use 1st Ave South Brigde (nightmare!). I can’t believe that folks in industry haven’t been more vocal about the closure of SPB. Some industry peeps must be concerned that funding won’t come through for the bridge. An example: First Student Bus moved to this side of the water and now shares operations on the same street as CleanScapes in Gtown. It’s a mighty cluster**** on 8th Ave S. and Corson and Ellis every morning.

  • M. C. Halvorsen

    $20.00 is a small price for a great gain. I think the $20.00 should be added to the property tax of owners of property (I am one) in unincorporated King County temporarioy until the bridge is paid for.

  • M. C. Halvorsen

    $20.00 is a small price for a great gain. I think the $20.00 should be added to the property tax of owners of property (I am one) in unincorporated King County temporarioy until the bridge is paid for.

  • GeorgetownFlora

    I hold my breath everyday I cross over the bridge, unbuckle my seatbelt, roll down the window – because I expect it to collapase. I’m down for a tax increase to all County resisdent to support this project. Creating a new taxing district on the un-incorporated could be abused and will force annexation issues. On a side note, I’m going to have to take a break from the site as regardless of CV, Ivan, you are a beligerent, unproductive f***wad. You burn my eyes.

  • GeorgetownFlora

    I hold my breath everyday I cross over the bridge, unbuckle my seatbelt, roll down the window – because I expect it to collapase. I’m down for a tax increase to all County resisdent to support this project. Creating a new taxing district on the un-incorporated could be abused and will force annexation issues. On a side note, I’m going to have to take a break from the site as regardless of CV, Ivan, you are a beligerent, unproductive f***wad. You burn my eyes.

  • Ericacbarnett

    @1: sorry, Ivan–I didn't realize you were a member of the press now. Self-published, I take it?