In a New York Times article titled: “Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects” , the changed economic situation for cities and agencies is outlined:

“Analysts said the dysfunction in the municipal bond markets appeared to signal the end of an era of relatively cheap money for governments and, probably, the start of an era of tough choices for communities.

When the market starts moving again, they said, it will look a lot like the municipal bond market of 10 years ago, before the arrival of financial wizardry in the form of structured-finance products, which lowered borrowing costs but added big new risks. Instead, governments will probably be issuing plain-vanilla bonds with fixed rates of interest, higher than they are accustomed to.

And higher rates suggest some degree of belt-tightening, especially difficult in places where tax revenues are being squeezed because of falling real estate values and the slowing economy.”

How will this difficult market for credit affect the ultimate cost of large projects like Sound Transit 2 (Prop 1)?

How might that affect the price of the Prop 1 tax proposal and subsequent tax burden on families?

Read the article at: “Under Strain….”

In an article titled: “Exec Candidates Weigh In on $18 Billion Sound Transit Plan”, the News Tribune’s David Wickert posted an audio recording (with no video) of questions that were purportedly asked of Pierce County council member Shawn Bunney.

When asked if he would “support the latest Sound Transit construction measure”, he purportedly responded: “NO“.

“I think roads & transit are both a priority. Ummm. But, our #1 priority needs to be getting 80, 000 jobs here in Pierce County.

The highways that bring the jobs here, and we were, and we were blocked by the Seattle-controlled legislature from offering road choices in 2008“.

Will Pierce County follow Bunney’s lead?

Click here for information from Pierce County Auditor Pat McCarthy on why she opposes the Sound Transit ballot measure (Prop 1):

http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?id=1370515&more=0

The News Tribune’s Joe Turner discusses the large margin by which Prop 1 failed in Pierce County in 2007 here:

http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2008/10/01/will_pierce_county_vote_no_on_sound_tran

Listen to the News Tribune’s audio recording in question at:

http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2008/10/01/exec_candidates_weigh_in_on_18_billion_s

Yoshiaki Nohara of the Everett Herald reports on comments made by Judy Clibborn regarding the $17.9 billion ST2 tax proposal going o the November 4, 2008 ballot:

The price tag is gigantic, Clibborn said. People are scrambling to deal with the slow economy.

“I’m skeptical whether this is a good time for this,” she said.

Weigh in folks- preferably before the May 5th King County Council meeting:

Date: Monday, May 5th

Location: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Seattle, 10th floor

Time: 9:30 a.m

Kevin Erwin of the Seattle Times reports on comments by Ron Sims:

“rail and trail should be “coequal in principal.”

But Port Commission President John Creighton and Port CEO Tay Yoshitani told Sims and the County Council in a letter Wednesday that future rail uses have priority over the trail.”

Here’s a link to make comments to the King County Council: council@kingcounty.gov

Here’s a link to King County Council’s page on BNSF: http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/connections.aspx

Republican WA gov candidate unveils transportation plan Seattle Times, United States - Apr 15, 2008 He would, however, combine Sound Transit and other Puget Sound-area transit and road agencies into a new regional board.

Potential Anti–Sound Transit Initiative Spooks Light-Rail TheStranger.com, WA - 9 hours ago Essentially, the new agency could spend transit dollars on roads, and vice versa—diluting Sound Transit's authority over transit. ...

Plan calls for tracking lobbyists Seattle Times, United States - Mar 17, 2008 "Most of the consulting is done by people not hired to be lobbyists, like the school superintendent, executive director of Sound Transit, staff of Office of ...

Don't keep government lobbying under wraps Seattle Post Intelligencer - Mar 16, 2008 The ordinance studiously ignores paid lobbying by employees and consultants of the city and of state and local entities such as Metro, Sound Transit, ...

A levy-less election? Crosscut, WA - Mar 3, 2008 "There's a very good chance Sound Transit will go this fall," says Richard Conlin, city council president and Sound Transit board member. ...

By Michael Ennis, Director Washington Policy Center, Center for Transportation Washington Policy Center encourages five principles of responsible transportation policy to help guide policymakers in returning to a system that provides people’s freedom of movement. 1. Tie spending to congestion relief 2. Respect people’s freedom of mobility 3. Invest resources based on market demand 4. Improve