ROBIN HOODING

EDITOR: Thank you, thank you, thank you Noel Black for this article ["Shopping Spree," Aug 17]. I already ordered $100 of free stuff that I will sell on eBay and donate to pro-gay and pro-choice organizations. I often wish I could donate to these causes, but my financial situation stops me from doing so. Now I can, and with Focus on the Family's money! I actually feel like I am fighting back in my own small way.

Dianna St. Onge

MORE IDEAS FOR MILKING FUNDIES

DEAR EDITOR: I read Noel Black's story on how to siphon money from Christian organizations like Focus on the Family. Noel had the temerity to call them "anti-gay bigots," but I think that the bigot label is just as applicable to Mr. Black.

Black's article displays a classic anti-Christian bigotry, and he gleefully plays the scoundrel by taking advantage of the good nature of these organizations. This organization and other Christian and Mormon organizations put forward significant effort and money to help people of all walks of life live a more happy and fulfilled life. The resources Noel Black is encouraging people to siphon off this organization is money that may have helped a young family with counseling, or a homeless family with shelter and a meal.

If that is Mr. Black's goal, I have a few other suggestions for him:

1. Take copies of the Gideon Bible or the Book of Mormon when you stay at hotels, and sell them online.

2. Eat free meals meant for the homeless from Christian organizations.

3. Bunk in Christian homeless shelters.

4. Ask your local church for food, clothing, and assistance paying rent.

With very little effort, Mr. Black could easily write articles on how to live for free off the largess of the Christian community. The irony is they are doing this out of love, and Mr. Black calls them "bigots." After reading this article, I think I will make a donation to Focus on the Family to pay for some of the purchases that Mr. Black was unwilling to pay for himself.

To Noel Black, all I have to say is, shame on you.

Richard Qualey

ROAD TO NOWHERE

ERICA C. BARNETT: Thank you for getting more information out to the public about both the governor's and mayor's vision of the Alaskan Way Viaduct ["A Tale of Two Studies," Aug 17]. Both the rebuild and cut-and-cover tunnel will effectively kill the Seattle waterfront for no less than six years and equally harm the rest of the city, too.

A 2005 Parsons Brinckerhoff study on traffic showed peak capacity for 14 hours on I-5 and 11 hours on the surface streets of Seattle with the viaduct closed. Embedded in that 2005 study are two assumptions—the Alaskan Way surface street would be open one lane both directions (not going to happen with a gaping hole called the cut-and-cover tunnel) AND the Crown Hill–to–West Seattle (faux) monorail would be up and running to support commuters through the region. So I can only assume the peak capacity will only get worse with these two assumptions tossed out.

Both current options will close down parts of Broad Street and harvest 3,700 on-street parking spots around the Seattle Center and waterfront so that traffic coming southbound off Aurora Avenue can get around the Seattle Center or to the Mercer Street mess. I can see why the new owners of the Sonics might want to move the team if their fans can't get to the games. Same issue with Seahawks, Mariners, and Husky fans trying to get to a game on time. Not sure if anyone will want to come downtown in the evening for theater, symphony, opera, shopping? What will the "arts" do if patrons can't get through evening traffic or even want to attempt it?

I-5 overflow will most likely be diverted at Tukwila and Lynnwood down I-405 so the pain will not be localized—it will be regional.

Telling all of us to work from home, promote flextime, and enjoy sitting in traffic for six to eight years will be worth the financial pain? The Supplemental EIS failed to measure the economic impact to the region by closing down a major highway for 4–6 years. After all the investment in downtown Seattle I have watched over the last 30 years—to bring back the arts, bring back retail, to try and build our city into a great place to hold conventions and to make this city a visitor's destination—only to throw it away... The 2010 Olympics will be held during this construction period; I wonder if folks will skip Seattle as a starting or ending point if the place is gridlocked?

Did I mention the WSDOT desires to completely revamp the Colman Dock with a beautiful and grand plan and wants to start it in 2011 for a multiyear period of rebuilding a new vision? So add the trucks and equipment for both a tunnel and viaduct rebuild plus utility relocation plus seawall replacement plus grand Colman ferry dock redevelopment—maybe we should all move somewhere and come back in 10 years?

No one would think of tearing down the SR-520 bridge without having a new one built first. There has to be a better answer to replacing the viaduct than tearing it down before the better option is complete.

Kevin Clark