Seattle

I’ve defnitely seen the increase in ridership on my own commute—#2 bus from the Central District, heading downtown. At peak commuter hours, the bus is often overflowing. It’s rough for my situation, because I’m trying to connect with ferries to Bainbridge on a commute schedule that takes 1.5 hrs mininum, door-to-door.  Full buses mean more frequent stops and more time spent at each stop as people struggle to reach the doors—resulting in schedule delays. I hope that more buses and/or more frequent buses, are in store for downtown commuter routes.

Not particularly. Still, air quality all over this country has improved a lot over the years. Note the "for the first time in more than a decade" comment. Also, the ozone limites were reduced this last May. Seattle was easily within the previous limits.

Chalk it up to the perfect storm of vacation traffic and hot, still air. It’s not evidence of increasing pollution.

Surprised??

Ick.  There are some nasty people out there, I guess.

sure. . .that’s about three times what i’m paying on my house. . .which takes up half my retirement. . .

affordable?  not to people worse off than me.

Nickels may be a community leading green mayor but he’s also a developer’s mayor and paul allen’s mayor and a do-little mayor on transit.

I was motivated to write to May Nickels in response to this.  Here’s what I wrote to him:

"I do not believe $1115 in rent a month is "Affordable housing." 

The fact that there are many well to do business people in Seattle should not put a shadow over the Childcare professionals, construction workers, educators, and Administrative Assistants who make less than 40K a year.  If they had to pay $1115 a month it would most certainly be well over 30% of their income. 

Are you trying to turn Seattle into an elitist community, or what?"

If you feel the same way, you should email important officials too.