The one on top is beautifully done–a work of art that gives a quick overview on geographic details like elevation but clearly emphasizes the political boundaries. (So much nicer than the road atlases that emphasize highways…)

You can spend hours in the map room at UW Suzzallo Library. Ever seen a atlas with Tannu Tuva in it?

Regionalism generally encompasses metropolitan area ‘regions’ and as such its advocates and overseers are within the authority of Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC).

I am always irked by activists who hold the opinion that urban areas must intensely densify while suburban and rural areas must depopulate and restore habitat and ecosystems. This is NOT New Urbanism NOR Regionalism.

I could elaborate, but it’s also telling that this discussion devolved into a political assumption about a Constantine bid for Governor in 2012.

The one possible exception is in criminal justice system. I believe that this is the area where most of the cuts will come from. I think the country (and certainly the county) is willing to re-think the whole “war on crime” and certainly the “war on drugs” strategy. Former Texas Governor Mark White was on Tavis Smiley yesterday talking about this very thing. Not only has White come around on the death penalty issue (which was the focus of the interview) but he said very clearly that he wanted to change our incarceration policies. Even though he is a Democrat, for any Texas politician to say that sort of thing is rather interesting. It may be a sign that things are changing in this country (simply locking up every stoner doesn’t make sense). This is where the unions could make a fuss. However, this isn’t California. The prison guard union in this state doesn’t have much power. If they try to get it now, it will be seen (rightly so) as an attempt to further their own interest, and not the interest of the county.

With the county being unable to raise taxes, I just don’t see the unions having much influence this session. If we could raise taxes, then I could see them getting involved (in the battle involving those favoring tax cuts versus those wanting more services).

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/eldorado/

But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o’er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

Indeed the County Government cannot print money. But it can save a lot by reducing expenses, and I am not talking about the fabled Golden City of “government waste.”

And it is likely pure political fantasy to think that Olympia is going to give more taxing authority to King County.

So, again, we’re back to Tony’s point.

With regards to Dow, much of his success will be based not only on how he manages his team and the competing interests, but on how he reaches out to the other Washington and gets us some much needed cash. The county, like almost all regions in the country, is hurting for money (we can’t print our own, like the feds). We got some via the first stimulus, but not enough (for the country or the county). There will probably be another one, and how successful Mr. Constantine is in getting us our share of the money (and having it be for useful projects) may determine his success.

For example, we could do really well just buying a bunch of buses. I noticed that General Motors makes those big, articulated hybrid buses that Metro uses. If we cut down on the number of runs (a sad possibility, given the budget situation) than it would be really nice to have every bus be a new, big articulated bus (as each bus will be crowded). That will likely mean a lot of buses sitting idle, or, better yet, a lot of buses being sold to the few districts that have money. It seems to me that just giving a bunch of new buses to areas across the country would be a big win for the bus makers as well as the bus riders.

I am with you Tony!