If approved, Prop 1 will fund a $1.74 billion expansion and modernization of Harborview Medical Center, the only Level 1 trauma center in the region, which includes Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana.
And the hospital could use some serious modernization. Right now, Harborview doesn’t have enough beds for everyone, and not near enough to avoid cross-contamination when certain deadly respiratory viruses break out. As it is, some patients wind up in hallways to avoid infectious diseases.
This bond measure—which replaces an expiring bond measure and costs the median homeowner $75 a year (or about $6 a month) in property taxes—funds a brand new tower, an expanded emergency room, 150 respite beds for people needing behavioral health treatment, an expanded behavioral health department, and seismic reinforcements, which will keep the place standing long enough to help your sorry ass after The Big One hits. Not only that, but the construction project will add 7,700 good jobs plus 2,300 apprentice or local-hire positions that will be critical for economic recovery in the post-COVID world.
