From the May 24 – May 30, 2001 issue

News

Five to Four

Supermajority Rules

by Josh Feit

Mayor Paul Schell and city council members like Jan Drago are psyched about the $20.8 million deal announced May 18 (the city is selling 4.7 acres of land at South Lake Union to Paul Allen). But three city council members have the power to hold things up. Here's why: Deciding how to use the proceeds from the sale requires a seven-vote supermajority on the city council--not the normal five yea votes. As a result, the council's lefty trio (Nick Licata, Judy Nicastro, and Peter Steinbrueck) can hold Allen's money hostage until a few groovy changes are made.

"We recognized immediately that we have some influence here because of the need for a supermajority," says Steinbrueck.

In the past few months, the city has been debating behind closed doors exactly what to do with Allen's $20.8 million. Schell wants to earmark 80 percent of the cash for transportation fixes on the Fairview/Valley corridor at South Lake Union, and devote the remaining 20 percent to affordable housing.

"I'm looking for more of an equitable balance," says Steinbrueck, who thinks transportation is already getting a disproportionate share of the city's dollars. At the beginning of the year, the council identified transportation and housing as its top priorities. However, transportation netted $38 million from the general fund, while housing got just $2.5 million. "We have other needs in this city," says Steinbrueck.

"We are committed to maximizing affordable housing as a result of this deal," says Licata. "To spend 80 percent of the proceeds on transportation is in violation of the city council's own 2001 objectives to prioritize affordable housing. "

Licata, Nicastro, and Steinbrueck battled for spending more money on affordable housing during the city's discussions about the South Lake Union proceeds. Thwarted by their colleagues, the three met on Monday morning, May 21, and agreed that they would band together and come up with a counterproposal that would prioritize affordable housing. They want to divvy up the $20.8 million this way: 60 percent for transportation, and 40 percent for affordable housing. More important, the affordable housing component would actually be, well, affordable. The city's standard definition of affordable housing is 80 percent of median income, or $910 per month for one person. Crazy lefties like Licata, Nicastro, and Steinbrueck would set the rate at 60 percent of the median (which translates into $682.50). Luckily, their crazy opinions and votes--make a difference this time.

josh@thestranger.com