Citizens Assess SLUT Service

The results are in from the feedback forums on the extension of the South Lake Union "streetcar" to the University District, Central District, Fremont/Ballard, and Capitol Hill/First Hill.

Road width and traffic disruption seem to be the most common concern. Many questions asked for very specific routes—indicating that some attendees wanted to cater their own commute.

But possibly the most important questions are:

1) How does a streetcar compare to other modes of transit (e.g., buses, electric trolleys, rail in exclusive right of way)?
2) How will a streetcar affect the zoning around stations?
3) How can we integrate the system to avoid redundancy?

This comes courtesy of Ann Donovan from capitolhillnews, via James Kelly of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

Who's Laughing Now?

"I submitted the budget today to Congress -- it's on a laptop notebook, an e-budget. It saves paper, saves trees, saves money. I think it's the first budget submitted electronically. And it's a good budget. It's a budget that achieves some important objectives. One, it understands our top priority is to defend our country, so we fund our military, as well as fund the homeland security. Secondly, the budget keeps our economy growing." — President Bush, Cabinet Meeting, February 4

The New York Times published an article today revealing that the Iraqi government expects a surplus as large as $79 billion for its 2008 budget.

www.thewhitehouse.gov projects the 2008 budget deficit to be $389 billion in a mid-session review of fiscal year 2009. The site assures us that the budget "Introduces a new culture of accountability on wasteful earmarks."

Which brings us back to the Times article, and what it tells us about Iraq's surplus:

The figures could be used to argue that because the Iraqi ministries still do not have the capacity to spend their own money, further assistance from the United States is called for, Ms. Alexander said. Or the huge oil revenues could be seen as proof that Iraq has the resources to solve its own problems if it would only use the money.

And in an even more ridiculous twist, the United States has payed Iraq at least $435.6 million in interest on the money because it is held in the Federal Reserve Bank.

Let's Try This Again...

The City of Seattle has put its five automated public toilets up for auction again after the first round received no bids. The minimum bid has changed too — from $89,000 to a mere 99 cents with a $2.50 minimum increase.

The bidding could turn out to be a popularity contest, which toilet do people desire the most? Bidadoo Auctions has even uploaded dozens of high-resolution photos to entice the reluctant toilet fancier.

The standings are:

Hering-Bau WCmatic Automatic Public Toilet #1 - Seattle **CITY OF SEATTLE - APT #1 - PIKE PLACE MARKET**

13 Bids

$205.38

Not specified

9d 1h 49m

Hering-Bau WCmatic Automatic Public Toilet #3 - Seattle **CITY OF SEATTLE - APT #3 - PIONEER SQUARE**

7 Bids

$112.72

Not specified

9d 1h 46m

Hering-Bau WCmatic Automatic Public Toilet #2 - Seattle **CITY OF SEATTLE - APT #2 - ELLIOT BAY WATERFRONT**

9 Bids

$105.83

Not specified

9d 1h 44m

Hering-Bau WCmatic Automatic Public Toilet #4 - Seattle **CITY OF SEATTLE - APT #4 - INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT**

5 Bids

$102.50

Not specified

9d 1h 47m

Hering-Bau WCmatic Automatic Public Toilet #5 - Seattle **CITY OF SEATTLE - APT #5 - CAPITOL HILL**

12 Bids

$100.00

Not specified

9d 1h 42m

Message From our Sponsors

Hi loyal reader(s),

Sorry for the gap in coverage, your tireless writer is a bit, well, tired. However, in the meantime, please take the time to visit Interweb Travels a quirky blog from a man who knows his interweb. You might even find a picture of me from Saturday night when I was completely... anyway.

Also, please be sure to pay my dear sister a visit, she's been gathering articles and comment pages on the senseless violence that broke out at a Critical Mass ride two Fridays ago.

Justin Roeser is probably the hardest working singer/songwriter I've met. He is trying to break into the Seattle music scene, and even drove to South By Southwest to distribute his debut album for free. Give the guy a break and take a listen at his MySpace. He will perform next at an outdoor concert at The Station in Ballard on August 16 (time TBA).

And lastly but not least-ly, Central District News has some great photos from the Central District's lively Umoja Parade.

Thank you, and we will return after a short break. Expect photos.