Vancouver BC vs. Seattle: Urban Debate

[Eden]

*didn't know how awful the Alaska Way issue has been dragging out so long.

*that it has taken Seattle 14 yrs. to get its light rapid transit line constructed and running soon.

I moved here from out east - and I blame debacles like the Alaskan way viaduct on the initiative system..... everything goes up for a public vote around here and the citizens dither about it for years before they actually pass something...... That's also why the light rail has taken so terribly long and has probably cost millions more than it should have. I sometimes wish someone would just take charge and say alright the city really needs to do this, this is the plan and we're doing it - end of discussion.

[shootingstar]

Yea, there is a critical point of effective decision-making aligned with strategic consultation combined with vigorous citizen group discussion vs. democratic process carried out to the nth degree.

We rarely have a municipal-wide vote on specific initiatives here. Last time was on how capital budget should be spent. I didn't like the way how the choices were framed on paper for voters..it felt rigged.

For Toronto when I lived there 20+ years, I only dimly remember less total of 3 different times where there was a city wide referendum/vote on specific issues+money allocation.

Now, having said what I observed, one wonders what the local vote would have been for Vancouver as host city for 2010 Olympics..if there had been a vote. But then that's viewed not just a local matter, but with federal involvement and internationally...

...even though now the city will be footing the bill for $$$ millions of building cost overruns.

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In the great debate, it was brought out by the Seattle speaker (who was a former councillor for several yrs.), that Seattle doesn't have as much free public waterfront shoreline access compared to Vancouver. He said there is a great deal that is private property.

[shootingstar]

Actually the debate will start today (Thurs.)..at 6:00 pm pacific time in Seattle.

It's being webcasted now (and is starting late). See via architecture web link that I gave earlier in thread. The archived videoclips will be placed on that website later this wk. or so.

[salsabike]

I moved here from out east - and I blame debacles like the Alaskan way viaduct on the initiative system..... everything goes up for a public vote around here and the citizens dither about it for years before they actually pass something...... That's also why the light rail has taken so terribly long and has probably cost millions more than it should have. I sometimes wish someone would just take charge and say alright the city really needs to do this, this is the plan and we're doing it - end of discussion.

Amen.

No. Let me edit that. AMEN.