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Voting - page 2

Seattle Proposition 1 – Seattle’s Seawall Measure

Construction Work Photo

While reading the Times this morning trying to decide what are the lies and what might be the truth, I ran across an article that caught my eye. Remember Andy and Little Opie and the piers they would sit on and look into the sunset? Gave a person a warm fuzzy feeling. The article this morning does NOT give me that feeling. It is a shame that politicians would stoop so low. 5 councilmen and King County Deputy Executive, Fred Jarrett stood on the waterfront to warn us that a Sandy could happen here. Can you see them standing looking into the sunset like little Opie. Opie was fishing for a sucker from in the water on his little fish hook but these 6 were fishing for suckers a.k.a.  voters for all they could. I don’t even know what Fred Jarrett does but there must have been something they could be doing rather than going to the seashore during work hours. They should have invited Obama. He would have got in his little Air Force One and toodled right out here and they could have had a photo shoot for him for sure.

Now for the seawall measure. The council members are not earthquake or hurricane specialists. No one knows/when or if anything of that will happen. They should have taken care of the seawall as it deteriorated. The people who own the property should have to pay for it not the whole city. Proposition 1 is asking for $290 million. Most of what they have written about it is lies. They are saying if it failed, it would severely disrupt daily traffic. Approx 12,300 vehicles use it. 3% of Seattle’s traffic. They should have been worrying about the seawall before they shoved the expensive tunnel mess through it. They have no plan. They talk about two piers, but they are unclear how long the seawall will be. When it might start to be built when they might finish, or if it would be on a budget or just another bottomless pit to scoop taxpayer’s dollars into. They will pay planners, and consultants and have to line a few pockets along the way and the money could be all screwed away before a nail is hammered. Remember the monorail? They blew enough money planning to build the darn thing. I am not sure they even know at this point what they are trying to do, but to pose at the waterfront and try to put the fear of Sandy into the voters is low, low, low. There should be some concrete plans before we give them $290 million.

Update: This passed! On the night of the election, a substantial 77% of Seattle voters endorsed Proposition 1, a 30-year, $290 million bond measure. Consequently, funding for the initial phase of the Elliott Bay Seawall Project has been successfully secured.

In 2017, the City of Seattle finalized the construction of the new Elliott Bay Seawall, projected to endure for over 75 years and revitalize the previously deteriorated nearshore environment. Before the initiation of the Seawall Project, the existing seawall, despite having shielded Seattle for upwards of 70 years, saw its structure debilitated by time and the harsh marine conditions.

The freshly constructed seawall aligns with contemporary seismic standards, safeguarding public safety and serving as the bedrock for Seattle’s new waterfront. Moreover, the seawall encompasses habitat enhancements to rejuvenate the salmon migration corridor and boost ecosystem productivity. Every feature of the seawall was crafted to integrate seamlessly with other pivotal Waterfront Seattle enhancements, including the forthcoming park promenade and the reconstructed Pier 62 and Pier 58.

Can Felon’s Vote?

If you’re incarcerated, on parole, or community supervision, you are NOT eligible to exercise your right vote.  If you’re out of jail/prison, you’re eligible to vote but you’ll need to re-register again.  You may only vote in one state and will need to be a resident of Washington.

If you were convicted in another state, you are eligible to vote as long as you’re out of jail/prison.

If you have a misdemeanor conviction or a conviction in juvenile court then you’re still eligible to vote in Washington State.

If you’re a felon and still unsure, you can call Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) directly at:  1-800-430-9674.  They will answer any specific questions you may have.

Read more about voter eligibility in Washington State.

 

Advisory Vote No. 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)

This is on the table and I do support it.  It’s a tax break, however, I do think it’s justified.  We all know our tax system is messed up and more complicated than a 10,000 piece puzzle.  That is why I have to pay people to manage it for me quarterly and yearly.  I shouldn’t have to do that!  I think measures used to less complicated things should be installed and that means less measures complicating the system.  I understand we are not lose some money here for taxes, however, the tax was unfair as it was.  I don’t believe some people or business owners should pay more for what they do or who they are.  That includes the taxing the rich which I don’t support.

Even Though this should have gone to a public vote and not just eliminated without anyone knowing, I do support the expiration of the tax.

 

Advisory Vote No. 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)

“The legislature extended, without a vote of the people, expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products and reduced the tax rate, costing $24,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.”

Can I Vote?

Here are the rules for voting in Washington State.  Everyone is encouraged to vote and it is your right.  You do need to register to vote, however, and you do need to be a resident of Washington State.

To register to vote, you must be:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A legal resident of Washington State;
  • At least 18 years old by Election Day;
  • Not under the authority of the Department of Corrections; and
  • Not disqualified from voting due to a court order.

Don't forget to vote Seattle!  You have a voice so let the World hear it.
Don’t forget to vote Seattle! You have a voice so let the World hear it.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 (Not Supported)

I will be voting against the Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 which allows “universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock.”  I think any of our money giving to the universities should be highly regulated.  We certainly shouldn’t let them make investments into the stock market with it or other gambling ideas which they think would be better.  First off, we shouldn’t giving the universities any money at all.  They should be rewarded by graduates only and should support themselves.  The universities charge way to much for tuition and books and their management, CEO, football coaches are making big dollars.  Universities make a lot of money and their business model is simple to make things work (students to teacher ratio).  The schools, however, should be regulated by the state as they are now just for doing business in the state but we shouldn’t be giving them more money to gamble on other investments which doesn’t help the school or students working hard there.

In fact, if they are just considering putting into the stock market then that tells me they have way to much money to be thinking about already.

With that being said, that is a no thanks on Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223.

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