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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (104467)	8/3/2007 2:42:45 PM
From: DizzyG	Respond to of 173976

From your article: With nearly 3,000 bridges across Washington state, many of them aging, the collapse of the Minneapolis bridge hits close to home. So close, it gives new urgency now to a controversial tax package that would improve bridges and roads. In other words, political CYA. BTW, here are some more comments from your fellow citizens: Liberal Dragon, The $HUGE$ RTID package will do nothing for bridge safety except for throwing a few dollars at the viaduct and 520. What little these projects get from the package shows that safety is not the #1 priority. The governor used to scream that the viaduct is falling and it needs to be fixed now. That was a few years ago. I haven’t heard that scream since. The solution isn't to raise more taxes; it's to re-prioritize spending of the current $33 BILLION state budget. We simply cannot afford everything everyone wants from the government. We have to make choices instead of bankrupting the taxpayers. This one is rather thoughtful: Oh YES, I needed this: Gregoire has advocated decisive action. Lead by example! Rebuild the Viaduct, like you said you would! NOW! Of the state’s bridges, [Jugesh] Kapur said two - the viaduct and the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, which crosses Lake Washington as part of state Route 520 - cause him the most concern. “Those two keep me up at night,” he said. If he can't be as negligent or insolent to public safety as our mayor, city clownsil, or governor, maybe Mr Kapur needs to try a stronger sleeping pill. Seriously, I'm glad someone in charge of details is concerned about public safety. Maybe he's a candidate for DOT Secretary? Six years ago, engineers determined that a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the wrong spot could collapse the Evergreen Point Bridge and the viaduct, the elevated highway on the city’s waterfront. In 2001, the Nisqually Quake, which was a magnitude 6.8 and centered near Olympia, caused more than $1.7 million in damage to the viaduct. That mantra should be required reading for a few of our electeds every night, with or without sleeping pills. The state already has an inspection program that includes high-tech scrutiny of the bridges ... Maybe a future P-I article can give some details as to what comprises 'high-tech scrutiny?' X-rays, ultrasound, more? And, saving the best for last: Gregoire and the Legislature are particularly worried about the potential collapse of two high-traffic spans in the Seattle area: the Alaskan Way Viaduct along the Elliott Bay waterfront and the Highway 520 bridge across Lake Washington. The Legislature has appropriated early spending for the projects, but design and full financing still are question marks. Good to see you left our city's leaders out of the 'particularly worried' group - good bingo, though I do wonder how 'worried' the governor is. But full financing is in place for the Alaskan Way Viaduct rebuild now, assuming it starts promptly. Otherwise, the cost goes up $10 million per month. In spite of her 'worries,' it appears the governor has opted for 'derisive action' instead of 'decisive,' but that's just my perception. Sweet dreams, politicos ... seattlepi.nwsource.com