Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Grist.org (@grist) replied to one of your Tweets!

I'm good either way.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Twitter
Date: June 29, 2011 9:53:45 AM PDT
To: Communicate.with.Mike
Subject: Grist.org (@grist) replied to one of your Tweets!
Reply-To:

Twitter

Grist @grist replied to you:

@tweetmrbaker We loved your response so much, we had to put it in our latest post! Check it out: http://t.co/Ieawqrx
In reply to…
@grist @michelebachmann #tellgrist It's run for the presidency, or I sell clothing for pets on QVC. I'm good either way.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Seattle Times: High School Sports, Ingraham High School will get extreme makeover treatment — from ESPN

First, the school wins a battle to replace portable classrooms with an actual building, scraggly trees and a crappy neighbor stood in the way.
Second, the school principal was fired! Then unfired!
And now this. . .

Ingraham High School learned Thursday that ESPN will renovate its athletic facilities this summer, and feature that project in a series called "RISE UP" this fall. Think "Extreme Makeover" — school gym edition.
. . .
ESPN, along with its sponsors and local partners, will supply the labor and materials. At Ingraham, plans call for refinishing the gym floor, redoing the old lighting, repairing the bleachers and work in the weight-room and locker-room areas.
High School Sports | Ingraham High School will get extreme makeover treatment — from ESPN | Seattle Times Newspaper

Good.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

McGinn, 1 hour and 23 minutes, never said "tunnel"

Tonight I was at Seattle's Bitter Lake Community Center. It was, more or less, retail politics. The Q & A with the Mayor Mike McGinn was literally and figuratively pedestrian. Northeast Seattle is where the sidewalks end, and open rainwater ditched are more common than sidewalks, and we've noticed.

After 1 hour and 23 minutes of Q & A the mayor was not asked about the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Tunnel Option, the impending vote on the city council's mechanics of expressing approval, and McGinn did not offer any. It might have helped that media people were not asking the questions, and we are in the "other" Seattle, far, far away from downtown.

At one point I could see how somebody could actually vote for him, but it was a fleeting moment, temporary, like the temporary break from Tunnel talk for much more simple topics, actual needs.

On July 1st the city will start putting a mechanical boot on vehicles that have 4 or more outstanding parking tickets. That is a great idea, unless you live in your car, with your kids, and that is your home. When staffers that leave to work on campaigns against the tunnel i am convinced that their time and your energy could have your efforts better spent on things your are actually responsible for, that you have some direct control over.

No public official can come to northeast Seattle without getting asked about sidewalks.
Well?

Mike McGinn keeps getting asked about licenses on bicycles. He says that implementing a licensing scheme would actually cost more than the revenue it would actually collect. I have tried to explain this to my cat, she must have a license, and bicyclists must not. But finally, the mayor quipped that he might consider a bicycle license of some kind just so people would stop asking about it.
Well, meow?

A fleeting moment, I am sure.

Friday, June 10, 2011

What will Dean Carlson do?

There is no good reason that should know the name, Dean Carlson (no offense). But it appears that I have seen Mr. Carlson read bill reports to legislators for the past few years, most of them saying almost the same thing about Lodging taxes and arts funding.

Then, I would see either the Senate spreadsheet of columns in blank and white, or the house spreadsheet with the red and blue arrows showing the endings and beginnings of funds.

At some point there would be a question about rental car tax credits. Folks from Yakima would testify and request inclusion in the bill, since they participate in using the "stadium" tax in Yakima. Yakima got screwed.

On Wednesday, June 15th, the governor is scheduled to sign the Arts funding bill, SB 5834.


What will Dean Carlson do now that he doesn't have the recurring arts bill and stadium funding spreadsheets?
I'm thinking I'm going to see Mr. Carlson, or somebody else from committee Staff, read the new Professional Athlete's Fee bill next session (and hopefully just next session).

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Seattle Times: City tunnel feedback has state bristling

The important part of this story is that it is the state's decision on the state's highway. Who do they choose to partner with, to include in developing the environmental review, or not include, that is up to them.
The comments so alarmed state transportation officials that in April they asked the Federal Highway Administration to dismiss the city as a colead on the project. They also weighed not giving the city a copy of the proposed final environmental-impact statement for fear of getting more comments in the same vein.

Ultimately, the state decided in consultation with the feds that after 10 years of active cooperation, the city should be included in the final review, Hammond said.
City tunnel feedback has state bristling, Seattle Times Newspaper


I am of the opinion that over the 100 year lifespan of the viaduct replacement (any of them) we will need a by-pass of some sort, improvements to our street grid, and more mass transit. The answer, eventually, is "all of the above", Tunnel+I-5 Improvements+Street Grid+Transit.

A million people will move into King County within my lifetime. Most will have to use transit, many will have to use cars, all of then will depend on trucks delivering goods to local markets and to our port. This is a port city, facilitating transportation movement is a requirement for the city, and of overriding interest to the state.

We are getting the state's tunnel, on our terms, or in spite of what we really need?
Flirting with eminent domain with the state is dumb, Mayor Mike McGinn is acting dumb. He should be leveraging this situation to get more transit to mitigate the impending traffic issues, instead he is compounding them, in a lose-lose situation.

At this time the only portion of this we have a commitment from the state to pay for is the Tunnel as a by-pass. Looking at this economy, and transportation revenues, this opportunity to have the state pay this much toward any portion of Seattle's transportation infrastructure is a limited time offer.

The by-pass tunnel is before us now, keep moving it forward.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fwd: Constituent: About the Sonics

You wish you lived in my Legislative District.


Rep. David Frockt replied to my email (below).

Michael

Thanks for your note.  We are looking at all options.

My last memorable Sonics game was the clincher in game 5 of the 2005 Western Conference series against the Kings.  My wife and I were there and it was fantastic.  (We don't need to talk about the years after that.)  Sports are a big part of the civic life of a region and I think we need to have NBA basketball back in the Puget Sound.  This was our original team.  Imagine Boston without the Red Sox or Chicago without the Cubs.  I think for many of us, that is what it feels like here without a team.

As was reported, Rep. Mike Hope and I are planning to work with community groups and civic and business leaders to lay the groundwork for a team when one becomes available.   We have had good responses from a number of elected officials  and civic leaders already.  The past is the past, and I think there is a feeling that it is time to renew this effort.

As you know, our state and region are facing major budget and economic pressures.  So we have to be realistic about what is politically possible.  That said, where there is a will there is a way.   Even in this economic climate, other regions are finding ways to build or renovate arenas in ways that are sensitive to taxpayers by leveraging private sector resources . We have to be creative and we are going to need big time support from the private sector - a deep private pocket to make this thing a reality.   

I was really encouraged by the supportive emails on this.   We'll be in touch as things develop.

David Frockt
State Representative, 46th Legislative District Assistant Floor Leader Serving on Judiciary, Education Appropriations, Technology, Energy, and Communications, and Rules Committees
Telephone: 360.786.7886
Toll Free: 800.562.6000
TTY: 800.635.9993
Office: Modular D, Office 104
E-Mail: David.Frockt@leg.wa.gov
Subscribe to my E-Newsletter: Click here

-----Original Message-----
From: communicate.with.mike gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 7:19 PM
To: Frockt, Rep. David
Subject: Constituent: About the Sonics

HOUSE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE

TO:  Representative David Frockt

FROM: Mr. Michael Baker(Constituent)

STREET ADDRESS:

Seattle, WA

E-MAIL:  Communicate.with.mike gmail.com

PHONE:  (206) nnn-nnnn

SUBJECT:  About the Sonics

MESSAGE:

A friend sent me an email indicating that you and Rep. Hope have an interest in finding a way to return the NBA to Seattle.
I would be interested in what your ideas are on this.
In the end I think we end up with another PFD, or expanding the role of the Convention Center PFD.
One of the few revenue streams other states or municipalities have used is a "jock tax". Rodney Tom sank HB 2912 with a dozen amendments, ironically, one of those amendments would have fully funded a new arena.
http://tinyurl.com/ESHB2912-amnd101
I do not see the legislature mustering the votes for a B&O tax, but a "fee" of some kind would be worth considering.
Having Kobe Bryant pay for a new arena is an easier sell than Just about anything I have heard.

Anyway, I've been following this for a few years. Keep me informed.
Thanks.

NOTE:  We are 99% sure that this constituent is in your district

RESPONSE REQUESTED:  Mr. Baker has requested a response to this message.