By: Diane Benjamin
Last night Nick Becker, Jenna Kearns, and Kent Lee didn’t attend the meeting. That is 1/3 of your elected representatives not representing their wards. Since every vote is pre-planned it doesn’t really matter anyway. Democracy!
PSCRB Board member Surena Fish wants to make sure the public knows about this meeting tomorrow: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/cityblm/2f098c7371fcadaa33ede54dd302dbd50.pdf
This special session is at the library and will probably not be on video. There is only one item on the agenda.
The Council members that were present must not have looked at Connect Transit’s June 2024 financials for the CT meeting tonight. July still isn’t available because of year end.
Donna Boelen voted against spending $452,178 to start the plans for a downtown transfer center and replacement parking garage. The other 5 voted yes.
Meanwhile, Connect had it’s BIGGEST loss ever in June: $1,673,254.52. TEN more buses were in use but ridership was down almost 8% compared to June of 2023.
See PDF pages 7 and 8: https://connect-transit.com/file/2862/08%2027%202024_Board%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf
How big does the loss have to get before someone has Common Sense? Since construction is planned to start next Spring on the transfer station, almost $1.7 million isn’t high enough when money keeps getting shoveled to Connect from national and state taxpayers. The leftist members of the council are THRILLED with this project. Of course they are.
One more note: Alderman Montney asked the finance director how much was still owed on the arena. See 1:10:50. He didn’t have the exact number, he said substantial. The bonds won’t be paid off until around 2035.
Just hit play to hear this presentation:
Transfer Center/Parking Garage/Rivian Fire
Or – should EV’s be allowed to park in an enclosed building/garage?
30 or 40 EV’s catch on fire sitting outside. What would it look like if one EV catches on fire in a crowded garage with gasoline powered cars?
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. The green agenda trumps all.
Probably have chargers!
I’m sure many chargers are mandated. There is a reason you can’t pump gas indoors. It’s called the Life Safety Code.
Why would you be able to quick charge your EV inside when they are known to spontaneously combust? With the EV mandate, all new parking garages need to be open air and at least 50 yards from any habitable structure.
That would be common sense but common sense isn’t very common these days.