Any time you hear or read the word authority, the public should duck. These state or quasi state agencies are nothing more than fiefdoms coveting power. The operating manual for municipalities across the country for these transit authorities has its genesis in New York City. Its avatar was Robert Moses. His approach to accruing money and power (while never being elected or having a drivers license) had devotes lining up to become acolytes in starving transit and building roads, highways predictably through neighborhoods of color. This model has become indelible and sadly will not change as the antagonists to transit are bought and payed for by the car lobby in our politicians for hire form of democracy.
I dunno, the man specifically was pretty messed up, but I think there’s way too much democracy when it comes to construction and transit, and it’s good to empower those in Seattle I feel like we need an urbanist Robert Moses to take over housing construction and light rail buildout. You want people with vision empowered to act and crush the neighborhood groups with their myopia. Way more cut and cover, outsourcing to the Japanese, surprise property seizures, eminent domain without asking permission or forgiveness so that our cities can get Tokyo transit at the prices they pay, and only ask for or accept community input after completion of the full system, and make sure the system is optimized for riders and not for neighbors or employees. Tired of delays and a lack of creative action.
Any time you hear or read the word authority, the public should duck. These state or quasi state agencies are nothing more than fiefdoms coveting power. The operating manual for municipalities across the country for these transit authorities has its genesis in New York City. Its avatar was Robert Moses. His approach to accruing money and power (while never being elected or having a drivers license) had devotes lining up to become acolytes in starving transit and building roads, highways predictably through neighborhoods of color. This model has become indelible and sadly will not change as the antagonists to transit are bought and payed for by the car lobby in our politicians for hire form of democracy.
I dunno, the man specifically was pretty messed up, but I think there’s way too much democracy when it comes to construction and transit, and it’s good to empower those in Seattle I feel like we need an urbanist Robert Moses to take over housing construction and light rail buildout. You want people with vision empowered to act and crush the neighborhood groups with their myopia. Way more cut and cover, outsourcing to the Japanese, surprise property seizures, eminent domain without asking permission or forgiveness so that our cities can get Tokyo transit at the prices they pay, and only ask for or accept community input after completion of the full system, and make sure the system is optimized for riders and not for neighbors or employees. Tired of delays and a lack of creative action.