DEAR FOLKS: It was fascinating to see your uncritical acceptance of the so-called transit poll done by Maggi Fimia and Rob McKenna ["I Am the Mayor," Josh Feit, Jan 10], when anyone who looked at the questions could tell that the poll fed people biased information that would, of course, elicit the negative response to light rail that the sponsors intended. I recently conducted a poll of equal validity and significance. This poll was conducted in a grocery store parking lot, and the responses were as follows:
1. Do you support building a light rail system? 45% Yes, 30% No, 15% Undecided, 10% "I just want to do my [expletive deleted] grocery shopping."
2. If you knew that Portland's wonderful light-rail system ran on surface streets through downtown Portland, would you be more likely to support light rail? 50% Yes, 30% No, 20% "I've never been to Portland, Maine."
3. What if you knew that the light-rail system will carry almost as many people as the 520 bridge, and that it will cost $3.5 billion to add one lane to that bridge? 60% Yes, 20% No, 20% "Only if it will go directly to Microsoft."
4. What if you knew that light rail will not use fossil fuels, and will therefore reduce air pollution and dependence on Middle East oil? 70% Yes, 20% No, 10% "But what about the Snake River Dams?"
5. And if you knew that light rail was less filling, cured baldness, and would bring about world peace? 90% Yes, 10% "What would be the impact on Jay Buhner?"
Further advantages of this poll are that it cost only $2.38 to conduct, and that no actual animals were harmed in the production of these results.
Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council
TO THE EDITORS: For many years, those of us who live in Seattle and work at Microsoft's main campus have enjoyed fast, easy, and direct bus service from downtown Seattle to Microsoft. For a number of years, we had Metro Route 263. Microsoft actually paid Metro in the early years to help get this route off the ground.
About a year and a half ago, Sound Transit took over the Metro 263. Ridership dropped as the new Sound Transit route, ST546, eliminated stops, and it remains lower than with the Metro run.
Thanks to Sound Transit's Express Bus, starting February 4, my one-hour commute from Wallingford to Redmond will now be an hour and 20 minutes.
Sound Transit is killing ST546 and replacing it with a freeway-only route that will stop at the new Overlake Transit Center on SR-520 and NE 40th Street in Redmond. They are doing this despite the fact that ST546 is one of Sound Transit's most popular routes on the Eastside, and despite the fact that over half of the passengers to the Overlake area get on or off the bus at stops more than a quarter mile from the new Transit Center (which, incidentally, is not even completed yet!).
There was never a public comment period before this drastic change was made. Sound Transit has reportedly rebuffed repeated requests from major businesses in the area to change its mind. Sound Transit had promised to not make the change before the Transit Center was completed. And it is obvious that Sound Transit never performed an adequate usage study.
So, everyone who commutes by car across 520: thanks to Sound Transit making it more difficult to commute by bus, starting February 4 there will be even more cars clogging up 520.
No wonder no one trusts Sound Transit.
Paul Chapman, via e-mail
DEAR AMY: Just read your story about Club Seattle ["Man to Man," Amy Jenniges, Jan 10]. Has The Stranger ever published a story about Club Seattle (sans sexual assault)? I think there are a lot of us who'd be interested in knowing just how these clubs are surviving in the age of AIDS, etc.
I was particularly struck by the Club Seattle worker who was assaulted. I'm sure working at one sex institution (sex club) must be similar to working at another sex institution (strip club). But the "interactive" nature of the former must add a certain something to the work environment.... Just a thought. Your story was great.
Dave, via e-mail
EDITORS: Thank you for this new "column," which I hope the male readership will pay attention to [New Column! "Dating Tips," Jan 3, 10, 17]. I know it's supposed to be funny, and it is, but the asinine things guys persist in doing to women are not. Guys, it is in your best interest to read and understand that what you think is funny or clever in trying to "get some" is a big, big turnoff to females. To my own sorrow I married a guy who did some stupid things and worse. I thought he might grow up in time, but he didn't. I explained over and over, to stop acting like that, and start acting more loving and mature, but all I got was sullen grumbling. I have nothing but contempt and distaste for marital duty now. Maybe this is why the magic dies after the wedding ceremony.
Anonymous, via e-mail
DEAR EDITOR: Emily Hall states in her Visual Arts Calendar listing [Jan 17], "Apparently, all sex workers who make art are geniuses." I would like to inform her that they are indeed genius[es] for standing up in society for the sake of art, in any form. The time, energy, financial input, and creativity is for the community. Emily Hall apparently has some sort of hang-up with sex workers. I suggest that she practice the art of reporting without fascism.
Angie Houck, via e-mail
ATTENTION STRANGER POWERS THAT BE: This is in reference to the recent blurb about the Cannibal Ox/Aesop Rock show at I-Spy [Up & Coming, Jan 17]. While normally I find your picks and reviews to be acceptably accurate and somewhat informative, I took exception to Mr. Goedde's blatant misrepresentation of Cannibal Ox as one man, when in reality, Vast Aire and Shamar are a stellar DUO of emcees. If Mr. Goedde had gone to as much effort as, say, picking up the CD and skimming the liner notes, or (heaven forbid) LISTENING to the CD, this fact would have become immediately apparent. Simply because at the last Can Ox show only one of the pair was performing, this does not excuse the oversight. Hiphop fans are not ignorant, and such a gross mistake on your part severely damages whatever credibility you have, sir. In the future: Please do your homework.
