Eric, Author at Wallyhood

Congestion Pricing vs Property Taxes: Vote!

Eric June 16, 2015 38 Comments

The Move Seattle Levy will request $277 per year from a typical homeowner, and that’s only 1/4th of SDOT’s funding and doesn’t even include Sound Transit. In other words, about $2000 of your annual rent or your annual property tax bill is going to pay for congestion relief, primarily trains and buses (non-motorized transportation has less than 1/10th the level of expenditure, and WSDOT is funded through the gas tax). Do we really want to fund our transportation systems by making housing affordability worse?

There is another way to pay for fixing our transportation system that’s much cheaper and more …

On Monday Gasworks Reopens For All Your Kiting Needs

Eric June 13, 2015 11 Comments

The announcement from the city: The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Parks and Recreation are celebrating the reopening of Kite Hill at Gas Works Park. On Monday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a short ceremony honoring the architecture of Gas Works Park and the artwork Sundial.

Designed by renowned landscape architect Rich Haag, Gas Works Park is a unique reclamation of industrial land as a public park. Haag will share his experiences designing the park and will be joined by artists Chuck Greening and Kim Lazare, as they share the story of the …

District 6 Wonkathon: Priorities for Tangletown

Eric June 11, 2015 5 Comments

The Question: Finally, an open ended question. In the end, priorities often matter more than policies. What is are your top one or two priorities specifically for Tangletown and Green Lake? How will life be different in our neighborhood if you are elected? What can you say about our neighborhood specifically that will not sound like “politician blah blah” to our readers?

Catherine Weatbrook‘s Answer: Each neighborhood in our city has unique characteristics, and we should celebrate that. With authentic and meaningful community engagement, we can enhance the character of our neighborhoods, improve transportation, welcome new residents, and not loose …

District 6 Wonkathon: Improving Housing Affordability

Eric June 10, 2015 6 Comments

The Question: The rising tide of income inequality and homelessness is well documented and easy to see, particularly as camper vans move into our neighborhoods, yet Seattle has been hapless to address the problem. Programs like low income housing and Conservation Corps with Seattle Parks help with individual cases, but the 10 year plan to end homelessness in Seattle resulted in more homeless people than ever.

Options like rent control and income taxes are not legal in our state. Raising building heights to allow for more affordable housing may help with the problem, but is not sufficient and is perceived …

District 6 Wonkathon: Cycle Tracks on Green Lake Way N

Eric June 9, 2015 10 Comments

The Question: The Move Seattle Levy includes adding cycle tracks on N 50th and Green Lake Way N. Those cycle tracks are in the Move Levy according to SDOT director Scott Kubly because we are paving those roads, and the bike master plan has cycle tracks on those roads. Unfortunately, those cycle tracks are already obsolete, having been designed to connect to a planned cycle track on Stone Way N that was removed from the Bike Master Plan at the last minute due to neighborhood push back. As is, the cycle tracks on Green Lake Way N and N 50th …

District 6 Wonkathon: Connecting Tangletown to City Hall

Eric June 8, 2015 15 Comments

As we did for City Council District 4, we are now quizzing the candidates for City Council District 6. District 6 includes Wallingford north of 50th (Tangletown), Green Lake, Fremont, Phinney and areas to the West. Mike O’Brien, who lives in Fremont and is currently on city council, is looking to hold onto his seat from challengers Catherine Weatbrook and Jon Lisbin.

I have asked the candidates to follow the comments for each post, so hopefully they will will engage with you if you have follow up questions!

The Question: Tangletown and Green Lake have been ignored by city government …

Tigerly Ox, Vietnamese Take Out, to Open Next to Julias

Eric June 7, 2015 17 Comments

Tigerly Ox will be opening in the old bakery space next to Julia’s on Wallingford Ave. They’ll be offering a Vietnamese version of what Mr Gyros is now offering in East Wallingford- international take out that’s fixed quickly but tastes great, with an option to eat in. They plan to be open from 11 to 8 every day of the week.

Their food sourcing is local where possible, although their chicken is not free range. All their food is offered with “tamarind-black pepper glazed tofu”, which sounds really nice. Here’s a draft version of the menu:

The restaurant is the …

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