Friends of Seattle has issued the following press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2008

Friends of Seattle Endorses YES Vote on Parks Levy, Sound Transit 2, and Pike Place Market Levy

SEATTLE – After calling in May for a new parks levy, and after hosting an informational event on Sound Transit 2 earlier this month, Friends of Seattle (FoS), a membership-based advocacy organization, is pleased to announce its endorsements of the Seattle Parks for All campaign, the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure, and the Pike Place Market Levy.

“Friends of Seattle understands that as Seattle grows, we need to invest in the parks, transportation infrastructure, and cultural treasures that will keep the city a great place to live,” said FoS President Gary Manca. “More green space and transit service will also help us meet our shared environmental responsibilities.”

Friends of Seattle, with a historical endorsements winning percentage of 85.7%, looks forward to seeing these measures pass.

Vote YES on the Parks Levy

With a rapidly growing city, Seattle needs a fresh round of investments in green infrastructure—parks, sports facilities, walking trails, creek corridors, and natural drainage systems. Proposition 2 includes $24 million for new parks in our urban villages, and $6 million for purchase of green spaces. It will fund the rehabilitation of 23 playgrounds, 4 new sportsfields, and stream and forest restoration, improve parts of the Burke-Gilman trail, as well as many other major parks projects across the city. The levy also provides for a robust Opportunity Fund, which will allow neighborhoods to access money for additional community projects over the course of the levy. With the 2000 Pro Parks Levy expiring, now is the time to make sure Seattle's parks and green spaces keep pace with the City's continued growth. Green infrastructure isn't a luxury; it's essential to meet our human needs and environmental responsibilities.

Vote YES on Sound Transit 2

Friends of Seattle believes that we don't have to spend so much time stuck in traffic, breathing polluted air and warming the planet. That’s why we endorse Sound Transit 2—36 new light-rail miles, 100,000 hours of new bus service every year, a First Hill streetcar, and more Sounder commuter-rail trips. Every year that we postpone our shared transportation future, we continue the failures of those who came before us. In 1912, Seattle voters rejected a master plan for the city that would have built a 90-mile-long rapid-transit system with 33 subway miles. In 1968 and 1970, King County voters said no to the "Forward Thrust" rapid-transit plan, declining to accept hundreds of millions dollars in federal funding. That's the past. It's time to turn to the future. For the cost of about 18 gallons of gas—just $69 per person per year—we can build a system with the capacity to carry one million riders per year.

These transportation alternatives will help Seattle build more of the walkable, people-first neighborhoods we all want. Sound Transit expansion will help eliminate tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and will give us high-capacity rail infrastructure that makes us less vulnerable to the price of gas.

Vote YES on the Pike Place Market Levy

When we think of what makes Seattle special, the Pike Place Market immediately comes to mind. This fall, voters are asked to to approve a $73 million Market Levy, and we endorse this ballot measure. The Pike Place Market is the nation's oldest public farmers' market, turning 101 years old in 2008. It provides a public venue for locals and tourists alike, offers a central meeting place along the backbone of the city, and connects farms and craftspeople directly to buyers. This levy includes largely physical upgrades to the Market: badly needed piping, seismic, and infrastructure improvements, more and better public restrooms, and elevator upgrades and additions. With the last levy in the 1970's, it's time to make a new investment in a critical piece of Seattle's past and future.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF SEATTLE – FoS is a membership-based advocacy group whose mission is to network together a community of voters who inspire elected officials to support a more urban, livable, and sustainable city. We organize community events, propose policy reforms, lobby elected officials, and endorse candidates for office.

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