Told ya.

Look, there just isn't funding for both 520 and the Billionaires Tunnel, and the only way they can get it is to do a vote of the people - and nobody is willing to vote for that tax, cause nobody actually wants the tunnel, other than the greedheads.

Now, flame on, but realize I chewed asbestos as a kid when we built houses.

@3 - I never said Surface plus Transit was my preferred alternative, even if it was my second choice.

Peter Hahn better hope it doesn't fucking snow.

@3 Portland tore down its waterfront freeway IN THE 1970s. Hell nor high water came of this. In fact, the area is a quite beloved park today. Replacing the viaduct with another freeway is a bad idea; replacing it with a tunnel is a worse one.

Hahn will take office on January 19. Crunican, who resigned last week, will stay on for three weeks during the transition. Assuming the city council upholds Hahn's appointment, he will receive the official title of SDOT director with a $155,000 salary—which is $32,000 less than Crunican's current pay.

$155,000/year is still way too much but Cruncian made $187,000/year?

@8 If the job paid, say $80-95K/year, what kind of candidates would apply? Where do you work, and what do the top executives there earn?

People need to get a grip on reality. Public employees are normal people, too. Public agencies have their strengths and weaknesses, just like any organization.

The current political culture in Seattle (as elsewhere) is what's dysfunctional.

GSam: If the job paid, say $80-95K/year, what kind of candidates would apply?

As I said, $155,000/year is still way to much for this job but it's about 82% of what Cruncian made. So can we conclude from that that Hahn is only 82% as skilled and competent as Cruncian was?

Actually, it's not a stretch at all to say that Hahn has 82% of Crunican's experience and qualifications. She was/is a national search-level Director.

But c'mon, you know McGinn has to tighten the belt a little bit by lowering salaries. He's eliminating 200 positions. And he didn't do a national search. The Robert Mak days are over. It's just common sense.