Apr 26
cressona commented on What Does Ed Murray Have Against Rail in Seattle?.
Any debate over transit with Ed Murray and his minions has a certain kabuki quality to it. Both sides are trying to outdo each other over who's more pro-transit, and yet everyone in the know knows that for Murray and friends this is just a ruse.
Ed Murray is to mass transit as "Jews for Jesus" is to Judaism.
Ed Murray is to mass transit as "Jews for Jesus" is to Judaism.
Apr 26
cressona commented on What Does Ed Murray Have Against Rail in Seattle?.
Get shit done @32: Murray will get ST3 on the ballot in 2016 and get more light rail for Seattle and the region.
Again, great to see these new commenters showing up on this blog just to defend Ed Murray for a few hours. But "Get shit done," you must think the rest of us have a short memory. This was the same Ed Murray who tried to decouple ST2 from a roads package and at the same time keep ST2 from building across I-90. So he was trying to rip the guts out from Sound Transit expansion under the guise of supporting it. And this is the same Ed Murray who slipped into some MVET legislation a "can't be used on monorail" clause. You think we've forgotten these things?
The only way Ed Murray will champion getting ST3 on the ballot in 2016 is if that can be a vehicle for killing off light rail expansion.
Get shit done, if that's what you want, fine. But come out and say it then. It's OK. Being anti-light rail is nothing to be ashamed of. Don't try to fool us the way your boss has been trying all these years.
And I'm a private citizen who has nothing to do with the McGinn campaign.
More...
Again, great to see these new commenters showing up on this blog just to defend Ed Murray for a few hours. But "Get shit done," you must think the rest of us have a short memory. This was the same Ed Murray who tried to decouple ST2 from a roads package and at the same time keep ST2 from building across I-90. So he was trying to rip the guts out from Sound Transit expansion under the guise of supporting it. And this is the same Ed Murray who slipped into some MVET legislation a "can't be used on monorail" clause. You think we've forgotten these things?
The only way Ed Murray will champion getting ST3 on the ballot in 2016 is if that can be a vehicle for killing off light rail expansion.
Get shit done, if that's what you want, fine. But come out and say it then. It's OK. Being anti-light rail is nothing to be ashamed of. Don't try to fool us the way your boss has been trying all these years.
And I'm a private citizen who has nothing to do with the McGinn campaign.
Apr 26
cressona commented on What Does Ed Murray Have Against Rail in Seattle?.
junipero @12 nailed it: Ed Murray has been waging war on Sound Transit for years.
The only difference between Ed Murray and the anti-rail King County politicians like Jim Horn who preceded him is that Murray has to veil his war under a layer of subterfuge. The simple fact that this proposal came from Ed Murray is all I need to know about it. It's like an energy proposal coming from Dick Cheney.
George H. Ruth @8: I guess we're supposed to trust the expert on "local political bar fights." McGinn sounds scared shitless.
George H. Ruth, it was so nice of you to sign up to comment on Slog yesterday just to start defending Ed Murray. You seem to be one of these people who make these comments with such a know-it-all swagger, and yet your comments are utterly devoid of any substance. If the best you've got is that McGinn is "scared shitless," why not just start going "nah-nah, nah-nah-nah?" Or better yet, why not consider not saying anything at all?
The only difference between Ed Murray and the anti-rail King County politicians like Jim Horn who preceded him is that Murray has to veil his war under a layer of subterfuge. The simple fact that this proposal came from Ed Murray is all I need to know about it. It's like an energy proposal coming from Dick Cheney.
George H. Ruth @8: I guess we're supposed to trust the expert on "local political bar fights." McGinn sounds scared shitless.
George H. Ruth, it was so nice of you to sign up to comment on Slog yesterday just to start defending Ed Murray. You seem to be one of these people who make these comments with such a know-it-all swagger, and yet your comments are utterly devoid of any substance. If the best you've got is that McGinn is "scared shitless," why not just start going "nah-nah, nah-nah-nah?" Or better yet, why not consider not saying anything at all?
Apr 25
cressona commented on Subarea Equity: A Stupid Policy Is a Stupid Policy Is a Stupid Policy.
Goldy @22: Again folks, Murray isn't suggesting that we ditch subarea equity and replace it with nothing. He's suggesting we should ditch in favor of a formula that drives resources toward density. Such a formula would inherently protect Seattle's interest.
Goldy, please accept that Ed Murray is smarter about these things than you are. This is a Trojan horse gift to Seattle light rail supporters. He's smart enough to know there's no direct political way to kill light rail expansion. Instead, you've got to figure out how to offer some kind of poison candy so that light rail expansion can be killed from within with its supporters' blessing.
Goldy, please accept that Ed Murray is smarter about these things than you are. This is a Trojan horse gift to Seattle light rail supporters. He's smart enough to know there's no direct political way to kill light rail expansion. Instead, you've got to figure out how to offer some kind of poison candy so that light rail expansion can be killed from within with its supporters' blessing.
Apr 25
cressona commented on Why I Oppose Sub-Area Equity for Sound Transit.
NotYourStrawMan @26: Wow. With all the attacks on Ed here, you wonder why anyone would ever go into public office. Yeah really, God forbid we plebians should stand up to our overlords. I wonder if you've ever used this sad, little ad hominem defense to stand up for Mike McGinn, considering all the attacks he's been taking. Or are we only allowed to disagree with the politicians that you disagree with?
I can't dispute one statement you made about Ed Murray: The man knows transportation. Kinda like Willie Sutton knew banks. That sadly is the problem.
I can't dispute one statement you made about Ed Murray: The man knows transportation. Kinda like Willie Sutton knew banks. That sadly is the problem.
Apr 25
cressona commented on Why I Oppose Sub-Area Equity for Sound Transit.
As usual, Sen. Murray says, "Trust me. I know what I'm doing." But time and again, whenever any of his cockamamie transit proposals come under any kind of scrutiny, they get revealed for the Trojan horses they are. Ed Murray is not doing his constituents' bidding. He's doing the bidding of wealthy transit foes like John Stanton.
For the latest takedown, see Ed Murray Throws Seattle Under the Train.
The only trust Ed Murray has earned is the lack of it.
Signed,
Someone who's been commenting on this blog for years trying to call attention to Ed Murray's BS (go to to Search box and look up my handle and "Murray" some time for more)
P.S. Believe me, I'm no Mike McGinn apologist either. But at least with McGinn, I don't have to constantly question whether he's fighting on the same side.
For the latest takedown, see Ed Murray Throws Seattle Under the Train.
The only trust Ed Murray has earned is the lack of it.
Signed,
Someone who's been commenting on this blog for years trying to call attention to Ed Murray's BS (go to to Search box and look up my handle and "Murray" some time for more)
P.S. Believe me, I'm no Mike McGinn apologist either. But at least with McGinn, I don't have to constantly question whether he's fighting on the same side.
Apr 25
cressona commented on Why I Oppose Sub-Area Equity for Sound Transit.
Sorry, to me this smells like classic Ed Murray, for anyone who's been following the guy for the last decade:
A. Present oneself as mass transit's biggest friend.
B. Offer up some new proposal that pretends to save mass transit but actually kneecaps mass transit.
Here's the thing. If you take Ed Murray at his word, he's trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. With sub-area equity, Sound Transit already could build an initial north-south light rail trunk between downtown Seattle and Ballard as part of a Sound Transit 3 package. In fact, my understanding is that, to make the different areas' projects balance out, Seattle all but needs to take on such an ambitious project. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
A. Present oneself as mass transit's biggest friend.
B. Offer up some new proposal that pretends to save mass transit but actually kneecaps mass transit.
Here's the thing. If you take Ed Murray at his word, he's trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. With sub-area equity, Sound Transit already could build an initial north-south light rail trunk between downtown Seattle and Ballard as part of a Sound Transit 3 package. In fact, my understanding is that, to make the different areas' projects balance out, Seattle all but needs to take on such an ambitious project. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Apr 23
cressona commented on STB: "Ed Murray Throws Seattle Under the Train".
If Murray were smart about transportation, he'd be at the forefront of trying to build that transit system in his lifetime.
The frightening thing is that Ed Murray is smart about transportation. It's just that he has a long track record of being a wolf in sheep's clothing when it comes to supporting mass transit. Note that this latest attempt to tinker with Sound Transit's foundation would set back transit. Some years back he tried to tinker with Sound Transit's governance, again to the detriment of transit. And then there's his long-time supporter, anti-transit rich guy John Stanton. Look up those two names together some time.
I'm sure Murray has done some good things for mass transit (i.e. rail transit) in his years as House Transportation chair, but somehow they don't come to mind. And even so, hey, he has to keep up something of an artifice that he's ostensibly on our side.
As scattershot and half-baked as Mike McGinn's vision of transit has been, he's the only mayoral choice out there whose support for rail transit is unquestioned.
More...
The frightening thing is that Ed Murray is smart about transportation. It's just that he has a long track record of being a wolf in sheep's clothing when it comes to supporting mass transit. Note that this latest attempt to tinker with Sound Transit's foundation would set back transit. Some years back he tried to tinker with Sound Transit's governance, again to the detriment of transit. And then there's his long-time supporter, anti-transit rich guy John Stanton. Look up those two names together some time.
I'm sure Murray has done some good things for mass transit (i.e. rail transit) in his years as House Transportation chair, but somehow they don't come to mind. And even so, hey, he has to keep up something of an artifice that he's ostensibly on our side.
As scattershot and half-baked as Mike McGinn's vision of transit has been, he's the only mayoral choice out there whose support for rail transit is unquestioned.
Apr 23
cressona commented on How Safeco Field Can Improve Attendance.
I must, however belatedly, applaud Derek Erdman for writing a genuinely brilliant piece of humor. I appreciate the rare moments I find myself convulsing with laughter. My favorite line: "Why would a person bring a chain to a baseball game? Those were different times, my friend."
Disclaimer 1: I realize the events weren't so funny at the time.
Disclaimer 2: My response may be colored by my finding baseball to be the most boring team sport ever invented. Oh, excuse me. I forgot about cricket.
And in response to bitethemailman @18. Yes, Bat Day would be unspeakably awesome.
Disclaimer 1: I realize the events weren't so funny at the time.
Disclaimer 2: My response may be colored by my finding baseball to be the most boring team sport ever invented. Oh, excuse me. I forgot about cricket.
And in response to bitethemailman @18. Yes, Bat Day would be unspeakably awesome.
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Are you for or against bringing Sound Transit 3 to the ballot in 2016?
Are you for or against including in ST3 a second north-south light rail trunk between downtown and Ballard?
How do you expect that to happen politically without sub-area equity?