Alaskan Way Stakeholder Committee
Was Biased In Favor of Tunnel
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 4:09 PM
From: Gene Hoglund
Question-Comment:
This is a comment rebutting statements made by Mike McGinn on KUOW and how/why the Nickels team stacked and appointed the AWV Stakeholders to insure his bored Tunnel.
The following are some of the issues that should be noted about the transparency and openness of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholders Committee:
1. At the very first meeting of the Stakeholder group in December 2007, a chart
was given to all Stakeholders that showed approx. 80% AWV Stakeholders strongly Opposed replacing or retrofitting the existing Viaduct. This is an insight to a well planned and pre-determined outcome for the Bored Tunnel.
2. At the Dec 11, 2008 meeting The Seattle Chamber of Commerce Representative was allowed to take over the meeting and push for his Sub-Surface option.
3. The Meeting of Dec 18, 2008 was called in the middle of a Seattle snow
storm, the majority of the members were unable to attend.
No Vote was ever taken at either of these meeting to stop the elevated or
surface option or support the bored tunnel.
4. The Nickels team appointed the Majority of AWV Stakeholders/organizations
because they have either:
(a) given large sums of money to NOT ANOTHER ELEVATE campaign in 2007.
(b) work within city hall (city Planners and developers were AWV
stakeholders)
(c) Tunnel supporters who will financially benefit from the viaduct
removal to the tune of 1 billion dollars increase property values.
(d) high percentage of the Stakeholder/organization receive large sums of
tax payer monies yearly from the city coffers.
(e) would support the Mayor's bored tunnel.
(f) AWV Stakeholders/organizations who have Managers of the Boston Big
Dig engineering Company on their Board of Directors.
The fact is, the bored tunnel issues (unusable tunnel access for northwest
Seattle Industry and communities, steep grades, tunnel crossing over the
Seattle Fault and Tsunami Inundation Zone) WERE NEVER vetted at the AWV Stakeholders meetings.
Future discussions with KUOW on this subject of the stakeholders on the AWV
committee along with who is going to pay for tunnel and the cost overrun's
is an ongoing issue that needs to be vetted in the open.
Gene Hoglund was an Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholder for 12 months and was
present at these meetings.
It is critical that Seattle has clear understanding of the facts and present those facts honestly. This is my comment on statements made by Mike McGinn on Friday and I wanted to make sure your listeners knew the facts.
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