Quick PSA that probably goes without saying, make sure to Google your Independent candidates in the upcoming #GeneralElection

I had a chat with a local independent here. Walked away knowing he wasn't getting my vote as he was misinformed. Looked up their website and they were more right than he led me to believe. Used Gript as a source multiple times. Grim.

This was Galway East btw.

#2024GeneralElection #IrelandGeneralElection #GE24 #IEpol

Seattle voters approve at least $487M for safe streets

The Seattle Transportation Levy appears to be sailing to a landslide victory after the initial drop of ballots showed the measure passing with 67% of the vote, a margin that could grow as more ballots are counted.

Over eight years, the levy promises to invest more than $160 million in Vision Zero, $193 million in sidewalks and crosswalks and $133 million in bicycle safety. Those three categories total $487 million for direct investments into safer streets, about double the annual amount in the expiring Move Seattle Levy. It also promises $151 million for transit improvements and $66.5 million for public spaces in addition to $221 million for bridges and $403 million for street maintenance. It does not include any funding for new or expanded roadways.

With these funds in hand, Seattle has the means to make a meaningful push to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030, the city’s stated goal since 2015. The city also has the means to make meaningful progress on reducing its largest source of greenhouse gas emissions: Road transportation.

Washington State voters also appear to have rejected I-2117, an effort to repeal the Climate Commitment Act’s carbon tax that funds a lot of active transportation and trail work in the state’s budget. The initial results from election night show 62% of voters rejecting the initiative. This is another huge win for climate action, biking and walking safety, and many other investments. This result should also give WSDOT the state the green light to begin its delayed e-bike rebate program.

The approval these votes by such wide margins are much-needed rays of hope in our community on a very grim day for the nation. I see our community believing in itself and investing in a better tomorrow. We’re not giving up just because the problem seems difficult, even insurmountable at times.

“Tonight’s results demonstrate that Seattle voters are committed to advancing a safer transportation system that benefits all,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell in a statement declaring victory for the levy.

Unfortunately, there are strong echos of 2016 here, when the region passed Sound Transit 3 funding in the same election that Trump won the first time. I went to the ST3 party, and it was grim. People were in tears everywhere, and it was hard to muster much of a cheer when the transit measure passed. It was a big local win overshadowed by a much larger loss.

I know a lot of you are feeling horrible today. It has taken me hours to write this story because my mind keeps drifting back into the doom spiral thinking about our nation’s future. I am grateful that I had a rec league hockey game scheduled last night in Mountlake Terrace. An hour and a half of biking round trip was very helpful for my mental health. Getting outside and moving my body broke up that painful ball of anxiety in my gut so I could at least start working through it. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t come up with any answers to fix our nation’s problems, but I found strength in this thought: Remember that your community loves you.

As I wrote in 2015, the path to the Move Seattle levy “was paved by the lives of people who did not need to die.” The same is unfortunately true in 2024. But Seattle has defiantly responded to a rise in traffic deaths with a rise in traffic safety funding. We refuse to accept that beloved members of our community must die to preserve the status quo on our streets.

Thank you to everyone who worked to make this transportation levy as good as possible, and then everyone who worked to get out the vote and make sure it passed. Special thank you to Rita Hulsman, who did not allow our city’s leaders to take their eye off what really matters in this levy. We have done a genuinely good thing that will save lives and make our city a healthier and better-connected place.

#SEAbikes #Seattle

Rita Hulsman: ‘Please join me in honoring Steve’s legacy with your YES vote to approve Proposition 1’

Rita Hulsman lost her husband of more than 40 years in December when a person turned his Chevy Tahoe in front of Steve while Steve biked downhill on Marine View Drive SW not far from his home. Steve died shortly after the collision. He was 66.

In the months since that horrible day, Rita has become an outspoken advocate for the need for safer streets. She attended City Council Transportation Committee meetings to testify about the need for increasing safety funding in the transportation levy they were developing, and now she is urging Seattle voters to approve Proposition 1.

Rita penned an op-ed, which Cascade Bicycle Club published on their blog. She makes a powerful and heartfelt case in favor of the proposition, but perhaps because my mother was an elementary school teacher and my kid is now in first grade, this section really got to me:

As a recently retired elementary school teacher, I encourage you to think about the many students who deserve safe routes to schools. As a widow and mom, I urge you to think of your family members, friends and neighbors who deserve the right to safely walk, bike, and roll through our neighborhoods.

Whether it’s a transportation levy or any other issue, these are the thoughts that should guide everyone’s voting decisions. What would be best for the next generation and for the people you love? We must invest in solutions so that young people today are not doomed to repeat the tragedies of the current generation.

I urge all Seattle voters to support Proposition 1, the Keep Seattle Moving Transportation Levy, which will appear on your Nov. 5 general election ballot. It comes too late for Steve, a pillar of the Seattle bicycling community, but approving this sensible transportation package could save the lives of other people who walk, bike, or roll on Seattle’s frequently inhospitable and dangerous streets.

Thank you, Rita.

Read her full op-ed on the Cascade Blog.

#SEAbikes #Seattle

2024 Voter Guide: Who the transpo orgs endorsed – UPDATED

Alright, folks, let’s do this. This is the big one for a lot of reasons, but for biking in Seattle specifically this is the most important ballot of the entire decade. We need to vote NO on Initiative 2117 and vote YES on Seattle Proposition 1. If we want to make our streets safer, connect our bike network to every neighborhood, expand and maintain our regional trail network, and accellerate our dismal rate of sidewalk construction, it’s all on the line. Tell all your friends and family members how much these measures mean to you and to our communities. And if you aren’t already spending your time volunteering to get out the vote in swing states, consider joining the Keep Seattle Moving campaign.

It seems that a lot of people have heard the message that voters should say NO to all the state initiatives, and the endorsements below agree. But we need to make sure folks know to vote YES on the proposition. I may lose sleep worrying that people will group the proposition in with the initiatives and just vote no on them all.

Your ballot for the November 5 general election should have arrived in the mail, or should arrive very soon. Eligible voters have until October 28 to register or update your address online in King County. After that date, voters can still register in person up to and including election day at a voting center. If you are not in King County, check your county’s voter information pages for details.

I have gathered endorsements from several organizations working for safer streets and better transit in our area: The Urbanist (URB), Transportation for Washington (T4W), Washington Bikes (WAB), and the Transit Riders Union (TRU). Check the endorsements pages for each organization for more information on why they chose who they chose (the Urbanist did a particularly good job of explaining their reasoning this year). If an organization did not mention a race, then I left them off the list. But if they specifically noted “no endorsement,” I did include that. Note that Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Transportation Choices Coalition are 501(c)(3) non-profits that can accept tax-deductible donations, and U.S. law allows them to endorse ballot measures but not political candidates or parties. Cascade and TCC’s respective sister organizations Washington Bikes and Transportation for Washington are separate 501(c)(4) non-profits that can endorse candidates.

UPDATE 10-22: Added a few endorsements from Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Transportation Choices Coalition and Seattle Transit Blog to the list.

Seattle City Government

Seattle Proposition No. 1: Yes (URB, T4W, WAB, TRU, Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Seattle Transit Blog)

Seattle City Council 8: Alexis Mercedes Rinck (URB, T4W, WAB, TRU, Seattle Transit Blog)

Washington State Initiatives

Initiative 2066: No (URB, TRU, Seattle Transit Blog)

Initiative 2109: No (URB, TRU, Seattle Transit Blog)

Initiative 2117: No (URB, T4W, WAB, TRU, Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, Seattle Transit Blog)

Initiative 2124: No (URB, TRU)

Washington State Leadership

Governor: Bob Ferguson (WAB), No Endorsement (URB)

Attorney General: Nick Brown (URB)

Lands Commissioner: Dave Upthegrove (URB, T4W)

United States Legislature:

U.S. Senate: Maria Cantwell (T4W, WAB)

1st Congressional District: Susan DelBene (URB, WAB)

2nd Congressional District: Rick Larsen (T4W, WAB), No Endorsement (URB)

6th Congressional District: Emily Randall (WAB)

7th Congrassional District: Pramila Jayapal (WAB)

8th Congressional District: Kim Schrier (WAB), No Endorsement (URB)

9th Congressional District: Adam Smith (WAB), Melissa Chaudhry (TRU), No Endorsement (URB)

10th Congrassional District: Marilyn Strickland (WAB)

Washington State Legislature:

Legislative District 01 – Position 1: Davina Duerr (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD01-2: Shelley Kloba (WAB)

LD03 Senate: Marcus Riccelli (T4W, WAB)

LD03-1: Natasha Hill (T4W, WAB)

LD05 Senate: Bill Ramos (T4W, WAB)

LD05-1: Victoria Hunt (T4W, URB)

LD06-1: Steven McCray II (T4W)

LD06-2: Michaela Kelso (T4W)

LD09-1: Patrick Miller (T4W)

LD10 Senate: Janet St. Clair (T4W)

LD11-1: David Hackney (T4W)

LD12-1: Heather Koellen (T4W)

LD14 Senate: Maria Beltran (T4W, WAB)

LD14-2: Ana Ruiz Kennedy (T4W)

LD17-2: Terri Niles (T4W)

LD18-1: Deken Letinich (T4W)

LD18-2: John Zingale (T4W)

LD19-1: Mike Coverdale (T4W)

LD21-2: Lillian Ortiz-Self (T4W)

LD22 Senate: Jessica Bateman (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD22-1: Beth Doglio (T4W, WAB)

LD22-2: Lisa Parshley (T4W)

LD23-1: Tarra Simmons (T4W)

LD23-2: Greg Nance (T4W, WAB)

LD24 Senate: Mike Chapman (T4W)

LD24-1: Adam Bernbaum (WAB)

LD25 Senate: Kenneth King (T4W)

LD25-1: Cameron Severns (T4W)

LD25-2: Shellie Willis (T4W)

LD26-2: Tiffiny Mitchell (T4W)

LD27 Senate: Yasmin Trudeau (URB, T4W)

LD27-1: Laurie Jinkins (T4W)

LD27-2: Jake Fey (T4W, WAB), Devin Rydel Kelly (URB)

LD28 Senate: T’wina Nobles (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD28-1: Mari Leavitt (WAB)

LD28-2: Dan Bronoske (T4W)

LD29-1: No Endorsement (URB)

LD29-2: Sharlett Mena (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD30-1: Jamila Taylor (T4W)

LD30-2: Kristine Reeves (T4W)

LD32-1: Cindy Ryu (T4W, WAB)

LD33-2: Mia Su-Ling Gregerson (URB)

LD34-1: Emily Alvarado (URB, WAB)

LD34-2: Joe Fitzgibbon (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD35-2: James DeHart (T4W)

LD36-1: Julia Reed (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD36-2: Liz Berry (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD37-1: Sharon Tomiko Santos (T4W)

LD37-2: Chipalo Street (URB, T4W)

LD38-1: Julio Cortez (URB, WAB)

LD38-2: Mary Fosse (WAB)

LD39 Senate: John Snow (T4W)

LD39-1: Sam Low (WAB)

LD40 Senate: Liz Lovelett (T4W, WAB)

LD40-1: Debra Lekanoff (T4W)

LD40-2: Alex Ramel (T4W, WAB)

LD41 Senate: Lisa Wellman (T4W)

LD41-2: My-Linh Thai (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD43-1: Nicole Macri (URB, T4W)

LD43-2: Shaun Scott (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD44-1: Brandy Donaghy (T4W, WAB)

LD45-2: Melissa Demyan (URB)

LD46-1: Gerry Pollet (T4W)

LD46-2: Darya Farivar (URB, T4W, WAB)

LD47-1: Debra Jean Entenman (WAB)

LD47-2: Chris Stearns (T4W, WAB)

LD48-1: Vandana Slatter (T4W, WAB)

LD48-2: Amy Walen (T4W)

LD49-1: Sharon Wylie (T4W, WAB)

LD49-2: Monica Jurado Stonier (T4W, WAB)

County Leadership

Chelan County Commissioner D3: Brad Hawkins (T4W)

Clallam County Commissioner D2: Kate Dexter (T4W)

Clark County Council D3: Wil Fuentes (T4W)

Franklin County Council D2: Blance Barajas (T4W)

Island County Commissioner D2: Christina Elliott (T4W)

Kitsap County Commissioner D1: Christine Rolfes (T4W)

Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer: Marty Campbell (T4W)

Pierce County Executive: Ryan Mello (URB, T4W, WAB)

Pierce County Council D2: Davida Haygood (URB, T4W)

Pierce County Council D3: John Linboe (URB)

Pierce County Council D4: Rosie Ayala (T4W)

Pierce County Council D6: Jani Hitchen (URB, T4W)

Spokane County Commissioner D5: Molly Marshall (T4W)

Yakima County Commissioner D2: Susan Soto Palmer (T4W)

NOTE: I typed a lot of this in by hand and my eyes were very tired by the end of it, so please let me know in the comments or at [email protected] if you spot any typos.

#SEAbikes #Seattle

At memorial bike ride for her husband, Rita Hulsman asked attendees to vote yes on the transportation levy she worked to strengthen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bHFp7gSCaU

As captured on video by West Seattle Blog, Rita Hulsman chose to use her address to the crowd gathered Saturday for a memorial bike ride in honor of her late husband Steve to promote action to make sure traffic deaths like his do not continue happening to others (starts at 6:45 in the video):

“Steve would be so honored to see you here today to remember him. He was so skilled and passionate about bicycling, and I’ve heard from so many of you who used to cycle with him about how he was helpful and encouraging to others who found the very, very, very hilly routes that he rode to be maybe a little bit more than some people had bargained for. He was there to help people and encourage people along the way. Thank you for those kind words about him. It meant more than I can tell you in the months that have passed since his untimely death.

Earlier this year, I became involved in advocating for safety improvements for bicyclists, for pedestrians and for other vulnerable users of our city streets. And I did that by speaking up at City Council Transportation Committee meetings. I am pleased that the full council passed a great transportation levy proposal that will come before those of us who live in Seattle this November. If you live in Seattle, I strongly encourage you to vote yes on the 2024 transportation levy.”

Ever since news broke of that horrible day in December when a person driving a Chevy Tahoe turned in front of Steve’s path as he biked the long and fast downhill on Marine View Drive SW in West Seattle, Rita has been focused on changing city policy to promote safer streets. She and I emailed a few times back in March because she wanted advice on identifying organizations working on safe streets. “Steve’s death is just senseless to me,” she wrote, “but advocating for action to make our roads safer for cyclists will, I hope, give me some sense of consolation.” She later donated the funds raised through a memorial GoFundMe campaign to Cascade Bicycle Club and Seattle Neighborhood Greenways.

She didn’t stop there. As City Council Transportation Committee Chair Rob Saka said in his remarks before the ride Saturday (2:30 mark in the video), Rita showed up to every committee meeting in which the 2024 Transportation Levy was being considered to testify in favor of increasing funding for safer streets.

“Rita showed up at every single transportation committee meeting where we discussed and considered the levy,” he told the crowd. “Her voice was well represented, testifying, holding me and my City Council colleagues accountable to make sure we have proper investments baked into the transportation levy to do more to protect the most vulnerable users. And my commitment is to all users. I want to thank Rita for her leadership, her passion, and making sure that the voice of your family is represented in this transportation levy.”

He added that if the levy passes, one of his amendments included building protected bike infrastructure named in Steve’s honor.

“Rita deserves better, the family of Steve deserves better, you all deserve better,” he said.

Thank you, Rita, and may Steve rest in peace.

#SEAbikes #Seattle

Cascade: ‘Vote NO on I-2117 if you love bikes and trails’

One of the most important choices on November’s packed ballot will be rejecting I-2117, an irresponsible initiative backed by a wealthy conservative hedge fund manager that would obliterate funding for a laundry list of great things Washington State invests in like clean air, asthma prevention, wildfire prevention, Safe Routes to School, trails, ferries, public transit and more. Even if you don’t like transit and biking (boo!), this initiative would also cut funding for state road and highway improvements.

Specifically, I-2117 would overturn the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, a so-called cap-and-trade law on carbon emissions that is already baked into the state’s budget including 2022’s Move Ahead Washington transportation funding package. The initiative would also limit the state’s ability to pursue other carbon-reduction strategies in the future. It’s so bad, even the Seattle Times Editorial Board says to vote NO on I-2117.

The initiative would benefit large carbon-emitting businesses at the expense of everybody else. Regular people across Washington will get nothing good from it. If you think that the oil conglomerates are going to lower your gas prices out of the kindness of their hearts as a thank you for passing I-2117, then I’ve got an oil refinery in Anacortes to sell you. The companies will put all their tax savings in their pockets, and you will be left with deteriorating roads, longer ferry lines, and fewer alternatives to driving.

It’s no surprise that Cascade Bicycle Club is strongly against I-2117, and the organization is even hosting an online event 1 p.m. September 17 about the impact on bikes and to help folks get involved in the effort to reject the initiative. They also wrote a blog post outlining their case for voting NO:

Washington has been named the nation’s most bicycle-friendly state many times over–and that’s not just because it’s so beautiful. It’s because we invest in it. 

That’s why we’re urging you to vote NO on Initiative 2117 on your fall ballot. I-2117 is a misleading initiative that would slash investments we’re making in bike, pedestrian, and active transportation projects across Washington. 

Remember two years ago when we passed that epic transportation package with funding for bike trails like Eastrail, Safe Routes to School, and more? I-2117 would devastate Move Ahead WA, a historic funding package that would invest $16 billion over 16 years into our transportation infrastructure. Critically, that includes nearly $1.3 billion in investment in 56 bike and pedestrian projects–all potentially on the chopping block if I-2117 passes. And when you look at “active transportation” more broadly on the Risk of Repeal map, that number balloons to 155 projects at risk–from Spokane to Seattle, Yakima to Bellingham, and everywhere in between. 

Here’s What’s At Risk 

• $290 million for Safe Routes to School, which supports projects that improve safety and mobility within two miles of primary, middle and high schools–like crosswalks, and signage near schools and playground;
• $216 million for the School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program, which teaches kids of all ages to be more confident cyclists and to understand street safety;
• $591 million to bicycle and pedestrian projects and grants, including sections of the 42-mile Eastrail multi-use trail, extensions of the Interurban Trail, work on the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail;
• $313 million in Complete Streets grants to make streets safer for people on bikes, in cars, waking, and riding transit
• And more!There are no two ways about it: ​​I-2117 would slash funding for walking, biking, and trail projects across our state. It would make Washington a worse place to ride bikes–especially for our kids. 

[Read more]

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#SEAbikes #Seattle

When are we going to hear from Beto O'Rourke this cycle?

#2024GeneralElection
#HarrisForPresident
#HarrisForAmerica

I agree with @seabikeblog that the 2024 #Seattle transportation levy is worth supporting. Is it perfect? No. Are there ways it could fail to meet our expectations? Yes. Is it better than not having it? Absolutely.

I'm tired as hell of the perfect being the enemy of the good.

https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2024/07/16/endorsement-the-seattle-transportation-levy-will-be-a-massive-investment-in-safe-efficient-streets/

#2024GeneralElection, #2024TransportationFundingMeasure, #Sdot

Waking up to some good news for once.

Lovely.

Though some disturbing results in the details.

#2024GeneralElection #UKpolitics #ToriesOut