We get half an hour to interview Mayor Nickels tomorrow morning. We’ve got questions galore, of course. But it wouldn’t be a truly two-way news service if we didn’t ask you what YOU would ask him. (And if you don’t want to post it in a comment, editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks!)
What’s missing in politics right now, and from you in particular, is a sense of authenticity. How do you plan to make us believe in you and what you’re doing?
I would ask the Mayor if he believes in preserving small business districts (NC-1 zones) in the city.
What is his administration’s vision for cars in the city of Seattle?
Where does he see motorcycles/scooters fitting in there? (Lack of Downtown Motorcycle Parking)
Does he believe Rapid Ride will be effective for West Seattle (Including Westwood/Highland Park)?
Is there anything we can do to make the urban zone surrounding Westwood Village (I’m speaking of the Highland Park side mostly) more welcoming.
Do or will city budget cuts include a reduction in the subsidies for billionaire Paul Allen’s projects in the South Lake Union area?
1.) Can you provide statistics and evidence that proves the recent implementation of the mandatory food recycling progream is actually helping to “save the environment”?
2.) Do you believe in the auditing of the Seattle School Board to reduce wasteful government spending on programs that aren’t producing the intended results? If so, why haven’t you demanded this accountability—particularly in light of recent school closures.
3.) Will you add a greater police presence on Alki during the summer given the recent spats of violence?
4.) As a family man, Mr. Mayor, would your down to Alki on a warm Friday evening to take in the sunset and do so with a sense of security and safety?
5.) If you believe in freedom of choice, Mr. Mayor—and I should hope you do—then why are you for a tax that would punish people for making that most benign choice of “paper or plastic?”
Business Week magazine gives Seattle an overall ranking of #20 on its list of America’s unhappiest cities — depression rank: #6; suicide rank: #27; property & violent crime: #25; divorce rate rank: #24. Does the mayor give Seattle a B in these areas, or is he troubled by the city’s relatively high rates of depression, suicide, crime and divorce — and if he’s troubled, what concrete steps are being planned by his administration to improve them?
“How can you look yourself in the mirror each morning after selling out your entire city by letting the Sonics get away?”
Pete – He sold out the city by not giving in to the demands of the Sonics and insisting that they fulfill the terms of their contract?
Mr Mayor,
Why do you feel you have the power to circumvent the US Bill of Rights AND the Washington State Constitution by banning guns in public places?
Do you think that your function as mayor is more as a symbol rather than a manager. Do you have the power to make changes or just apply influence? Do you think you could win if you ran for govner
Is Seattle a better city now than it was when he started his term? Why/Why not?
Why are you wasting the city’s limited resources on “tree lined boulevards” (Today’s Times says he wants to spend millions on Bell St., he’s already made Westlake a two-lane traffic clogger and wants to do the same for Mercer) when there are many streets in this town that are in as bad or worse shape than anything I’ve driven on in Baja Mexico? There isn’t a pothole in the entire city of Bellevue, and one of the right-wing schills who calls in to the awful Dori Monson show on KIRO says they do it for less than we spend…is this true?
Why, as a resident of West Seattle, do you advocate lenghtening the commute of your neighbors by tearing down the Alaska Way viaduct and replacing it with a reduced-capacity tunnel with no downtown exits, all to make room for the sort of hideous Southern California inspired architecture that runs from the Aquarium to Myrtle Edwards, and benefits no one save landowners, developers, and those wealthy enough to buy the condos or eat at the fancy restaurants that will move in?
In fact, why is it that almost every single civic project you advocate seem to benefit a few wealthy landowners over the needs and interests of working Seattlites?
Pete M.: The ONLY person responsible for the Sonics leaving is Howard Schultz. He tried to hold the taxpayers hostage for a new arena, just 10 years after the taxpayers bought the previous owner a new arena. He failed, he sold to weasels from Oaky. Howard Schultz. No one else. Get it straight, Mayor Pickles has many flaws, but this ain’t one of them.
I would ask
1. if building commission could review the building design. Maybe only use the same design a two times over and NOT again and again ect.
2. if whole 3 condo buildings on the same block haven’t filled in five years, why approve another one of the same on the same block to be built again?
3. If we are talking Whole Foods,
Is there some way to make sure we can finish a job before we start and displace businesses and dig a big big hole that will sit empty for years?
I second Mr. Cynical’s comments. Can’t remember the specifics, but there was a property in S. Lake Union that Paul Allen wanted, but the owners refused to sell. The city claimed eminent domain, seized the property and promptly sold it to Allen.
To those who think that tearing down the viaduct will give access to the waterfront, I’d like to point out that there is now plenty of access. But up at the north end of the waterfront, there’s a 3 or 4 block long SOLID bank of condos, through which there’s NO access to the waterfront. This is a harbinger of what’s to come. The viaduct may be ugly but at least it’s functional.
I admit our Mayor Dearest is my favorite scapegoat. It does seem as though he lives in the pockets of the wealthy and the powerful in this city. If we re-elect this man, we will truly deserve our fate.
Mr. Mayor – have you ever attempted to ride a bicycle on the ripped up, worn out, pothole strewn mess of concrete and asphalt that you have the audacity to call roadways in this beautiful city? How could you have let street maintenance throughout the city get to be so freakin bad?
Is the city serious about their bicycle routes in West Seattle? They seem to be more focused on the number of miles they can ‘count’ as cycle-friendly than the fact that they aren’t cycle- friendly at all.
The ‘sharrows’ they’re so proud of around West Seattle actually make me feel less safe cycling than without them. There are so many cities that I feel better cycling around in (Portland, to name just one) – that seem genuinely focused on making the city bike-frendly and less worried about what they can take ‘credit’ for.
I guess my question would be: Mayor Nickels, have you ever ridden a bike in West Seattle?
I would like to see the Mayor ride the bus to work. Other cities have Mayors who ride public transportation. If they Mayor favors more people getting out of their cars when will he get out of his car and ride the bus or take the water taxi to work? How about when its ride your bike to work day he does that?
Boy, “Mr. Cynical,” thank heavens you’re not our mayor.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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