I hadn’t been doing much metacommentary lately. Mostly because the Senate Republicans seem to not be inserting random easily debunked facts into their press releases any more. But I went looking recently. I haven’t checked on Dori Monson in a while. Man, he’s really horrible isn’t he? If Rand Paul ever gets elected and puts us on the bullshit standard, Dori’s archives will be make us all rich. It’s tough to pick just one in the last few weeks, but I think this Seattle shouldn’t pay for transit because shut up that’s why piece was the low hangingiest fruit. In fairness it’s a write up on the KIRO website, so it’s someone else trying to sift through that bullshit.
Seattle’s mayor wants more taxes to pay for transportation.
Other than taxes, I’m not sure how one would pay for transportation. Private charity? If Dori is going to hold an on-air pledge drive to try to shame our city’s wealthy into paying for transportation, great! I’d still prefer taxes, but I guess getting things done is the most important part. What Seattle billionaire is going he going to get to pay for the Graham Street Station? None? Because he doesn’t mean that we should find another way to pay for transit, he just means that taxes are icky.
Mayor Ed Murray announced a plan to ask Seattle residents to approve a $930 million transportation levy on Wednesday. That’s $30 million more than what was originally proposed and shows the hypocrisy of Murray and city administration, KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson said.
Putting some money on the ballot is hypocrisy?
“It just continues the theme of too much is never enough,” Dori said. “They sold the last levy as essential.”
The last levy was essential! The rest of the county lost a shit-ton of transit, but Seattle didn’t do as bad. But those buses don’t run on our wanting them to run. Also, I’m not sure what that levy has to do with this one. Or does he mean the Bridging The Gap? The reason we keep having temporary levies is that they keep expiring. In theory so we can reassess our priorities and give voters a chance to weigh in.
The new proposal would not increase the cost to taxpayers, according to the city. The additional funding committed to transportation comes from the projected increase in assessed value due to new construction.
OK, so problem solved. This entire thing is pointless. Awesome! I’m going to go get some froyo or something. What, there’s more? Fine, I’ll keep making fun of it.
The revised property tax levy to Move Seattle reflects community priorities expressed in nearly 8,000 comments received during numerous public meetings, coffee hours and an online survey that followed the release of the draft levy proposal in March, according to the city.
OK. So they did an extensive process to find out people’s priorities and then they acted including with new money from growth that won’t cost the taxpayers more. It’s hypocrisy and too much?
“This levy reflects the needs of our communities and improves the day-to-day realities of getting around our city,” Murray said. “Over the past several weeks, the people of Seattle told us that safety is the top priority. We will invest more in transit reliability and access, improved connections to light rail, and making it safer for people of all ages to walk in Seattle.”
But won’t increasing property taxes make Seattle less affordable than it is now? Dori points out that Mayor Murray says he wants to find ways to combat income inequality and unaffordable housing, but he’s increasing property taxes.
Jesus Christ on the Cross! No. It won’t. Because (a) the whole new growth thing so the whole discussion isn’t relevant. But also (b) if you don’t have to drive as much or at all, it saves money. So even if you pay more in property taxes if you can afford not to drive as much, it saves on gas and maintenance, and parking, and if you’re less likely to be in a collision less insurance. Honestly, it’s not that difficult. And even if it’s not, you’re way more productive in transit than while driving. I’m writing this on public transit right now!
“I’d love to find out … Why he does things to make it worse,” Dori said.
Because it’s reasonable things that they community wanted based on nearly 8000 comments?
There’s another concerning fact about the property tax increase: It’s not just property owners that will vote on it.
Yes, the most tragic thing imaginable is that we let people who don’t own property vote these days.
“There are thousands of people who are in apartments who are property tax exempt,” Dori said. “They have no skin in the game. They can vote for higher and higher taxes and not be affected at all.”
So, wait? People in apartments are exempt? Didn’t we have several paragraphs about how it makes things less affordable to live in the city? Do. What? I. Sorry, I think Dori Monson’s logic broke my brain. I think I’m dumber fore having read it. Anyway, it also broke the brain of the person doing the write up, because this is how it ends.
“Strap in,” Dori added. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
OK then. Solid ending.
I cannot comment much on dori, i avoid listening to him any more. He reminds me of bickle, turned up to 12. Dori takes joy in things I find nasty.
Defending Dori is the last thing I want to do, but there some points that should be made here.
(1) The $930 million doesn’t just fall out of the sky, someone pays it, so yes, it’s a tax burden.
(2) If it’s just a continuation of an expiring levy, then it doesn’t raise existing taxes; but if it’s new money, someone will pay higher taxes.
(3) If it’s only revenue from property taxes on new construction, and I don’t see how that source alone can generate nearly a billion dollars of new tax revenue, why does the city need voters to pass a levy to collect it?
(4) A high proportion of car ownership costs are sunk costs, i.e., you incur them regardless of how many miles are driven, and nearly all suburban transit users still need to own cars, so for most people the availability of public transportation doesn’t significantly reduce their car expenses or free up money that can be used to pay more taxes for more public transportation. For most people, such taxes are an added expense, not a substitution of one expense for another expense.
(5) Dori is wrong when he implies renters can vote for higher property taxes with impunity. What’s really going on is renters may be more willing to approve levies because they don’t realize doing so will raise their rent. Property taxes are nearly invisible to renters, but they’re certainly there. While there may be individual exceptions, as a general rule, landlords have to pass tax increases through to tenants or go out of business, the same as with their other costs of doing business.
Dori is not a news person and not really a political commentator. By his own admission, he’s “the best in radio entertainment.” I ignore his mouthing off, same as I do any celebrity entertainer acting similarly.
He is so shitty on the Seahawks gameday broadcasts I can’t listen to them.
Raible and Moon are great though.
It’s best to just ignore the sad little boy. He is a troll, he says anything he thinks will stick. He doesn’t live in Seattle and probably can’t be bothered to vote anyways.
The only question I have is why the Seattle Seahawks and KIRO would put the most polarizing man in Seattle on the NFL pregame and post game show.
At one point I thought it would be productive to blog about Dori Monson’s rantings, but frankly it was exhausting and I hated to have to listen to him. I don’t understand why a Seattle radio station seems to hire so many reactionaries who don’t even live in Seattle to spout off on the radio. Dave Ross was often a refreshing viewpoint, but he has been moved to morning drivetime. Tom Tangy, the token liberal, is just plain incompetent to stand up to idiot Curley.