Port Authority or part authority?
January 7th, 2008 by Republican By DefaultUpdate: Justice Department investigating Port of Seattle
In light of recent news about how the Port of Seattle is being run, I’m not optimistic about a move prompted by a legislator from Fall City (obviously an interested party) to merge the Port of Tacoma, the Port of Seattle and the Port of Everett.
The recent news I’m referring to is the release of an audit from the State Auditor’s Office in which he reports on serious spending problems by the Port of Seattle. Bear in mind that this audit only looks at construction management (the largest category in their budget, but not the only category). The bean counters in the auditor’s office came up with over $97 million in wasted spending. Here’s a link to a partial HTML version. It’s enough to get anyone’s blood boiling.
Just a few low-lights highlighted in the news:
- Construction project mismanagement: Audit assails Port of Seattle
- Spending run wild: Port of Seattle spending slammed in state audit
- Concerns of criminal activity: Port of Seattle audit could prompt criminal investigation
Do we really want to hand over a vital part of our economic well-being to these people? I’m thinking, ‘no, not so much’.
On top of the competence and corruption questions stemming from this audit, there’s the political question of whether the ‘Port of Puget Sound’ would have Tacoma’s best interest at heart. And based on the way that the commissioners would be selected and appointed, I’m also going to go with ‘no, not so much’ on this question, too.
More discussion at Tacoma Urbanist (i.feedtacoma.org).
January 7th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Do we really want to hand over a vital part of our economic well-being to these people? I’m thinking, ‘no, not so much’.
No. And its worse than that. Its a move to spurred by Tacoma’s success.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I posted this on the Urbanist, but I’m really worked up right now and want to keep commenting!
The port of Tacoma is not only out-competing the port of Seattle, it is positioning itself — much to the dismay of the News Tribune naysayers — for tremendous success in the future. There are clearly people fighting this outside the world of fair competitive business. Look no farther than Seattle-based SSA (partners with the Puyallup Tribe for a private terminal) and the port of Seattle itself and their well-paid Olympia lobbyists.
The people of Tacoma and Pierce County OWN a highly successful port that creates a very high LOCAL return in terms of economic impact, infrastructure development and environmental work.
Look no farther than our “partnership” for Prop 1 and regional transit. We pay the taxes, yet the lions share of the projects and benefits are in King county.
We should all fight like [edited] hell to keep Seattle from using the state legislature to STEAL our port!