Transaction Politics that didn't work for Rod Dembowski

Rod Dembowski explained his plan that was vetoed by the King Council Executive Dow Constantine, to temporarily mitigate some cuts to Metro bus service in a lengthy letter to his constituents. Some of King County Council District 1 overlaps Seattle City Council's 5th Legislative District.

Dembowski proposed to spend money we do not have as a temporary funding solution. His bill was supported by four Republican councilmembers, one of which gained some Metro services in the political exchange. 

Transaction politics is not unusual, and sometimes can lead to mutually beneficial compromises, but in this case the overall policy was built on money we didn't actually have, not yet, maybe never, either way, unreliable.

On Jun 17, 2014, at 4:15 PM, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski <District1enews@kingcounty.gov> wrote:

Dear Friend:

 

The County Council has been in the news in recent days, including last Friday's Seattle Times editorial, as we work to address the financial challenges facing Metro Transit.  I wanted to update you on our efforts to protect our riders, and grow the system in the future.  While this update is a little longer than normal, I want you to have the details on this important decision.

 

Over these past several months, the Council has deliberated over the best path forward to address the financial challenges facing Metro Transit. Through these deliberations, I have consistently held the position that we must exhaust all options to prevent draconian bus cuts that would devastate Metro workers and Metro transit riders who rely on our buses to get to work, school, the grocery store, and medical appointments. I listened carefully to the voters in April.  I believe voters want to invest to grow and strengthen Metro Transit, but want to see more of the good work we've done in recent years to improve its finances.

 

The County Executive proposed legislation that would cut 550,000 hours of bus service (16% of the system).  I strongly believe that we have a duty to the 200,000 people who rely on Metro each day, to look at every option before we disrupt their lives and their livelihoods.   We also owe this to the hundreds of transit workers whose family-wage jobs are on the line.   And, I feel that we need to respond to some of the questions voters have about Metro Transit's finances, so that we improve our odds of success for a future funding measure.

 

We live in one of the fastest growing regions in the country and we are fortunate that our economy has produced better than expected sales tax revenue ($31 million over Metro's adopted budget for 2014, and $32 million over 2015 projections).  Additionally, King County's Lean management efforts offer ongoing opportunities to identify additional cost savings and efficiencies at Metro.  For example, there is an effort underway right now to move towards just-in-time delivery practices for our $16 million parts inventory.  That will save money.  Efforts like that, as well as reviewing our capital expenditures and fund balance policies can keep more service online.  I also support adjusting our fare policies (e.g. reviewing discounts, paper transfers, and other options) to obtain new revenue to keep buses rolling. 

 

I introduced an Action Plan to move these ideas forward.  My colleagues agreed with me, and voted unanimously to support my legislation calling for a series of reform and revenue-raising steps between now and the fall budget season. This work includes:

 

• An independent audit of Metro's operations, finances and fund balance policies;

• Changing fare policies to increase revenue; and

• Reducing Metro's cost structure and establishing transparent peer comparison benchmarks.

 

This is not work without a purpose.  It will help us avoid many of the cuts now proposed.

 

A majority of my peers also voted in favor of part two of my plan: an ordinance implementing only the service reductions slated for September of this year, and delaying the 2015 cuts until we complete the work outlined above and adopt our budget this November.  

In my ordinance, the Fall 2014 routes were cut exactly as proposed by the County Executive.  We did ask for a report related to certain DART (Dial-a-Ride Transit) routes, which we authorized to be cut, as requested by the Executive.  DART service is contracted to HopeLink, and is the lowest per-hour cost service we provide.   Our amendment required that before those routes were cut, that Metro determine if those runs could be made more productive, or redeployed on other routes. 

Under my legislation, cuts proposed for 2015, if necessary, would be finalized after we complete our budget process for the next two years.  This is how we have always run Metro Transit in the past.  We adopt a budget, and set service levels accordingly.   Cutting service for 2015, today, before our budget work is done in November is, in my view, operating in the dark and ignores the many choices we have to keep buses rolling.

Unfortunately, this ordinance was vetoed by the County Executive.  

The Seattle Times, the League of Women Voters, Northwest Kidney Centers, Virginia Mason, elected officials across King County and hundreds of residents have voiced their support for my approach to preserve and grow our world class bus system. Metro is fundamental to our county's economic and environmental future. Severe cuts equate to severe disruption in the lives of many, which I cannot support without exhausting all other options.

After his veto, I called the County Executive and met with him to explore options on how we can move forward.  I believe that we share common goals: keep as many hours of service on the road, and be responsible fiscal stewards.   I am convinced that reasonable leaders can find a way to move forward together to achieve these objectives, and am working hard every day to do just that.

I would appreciate hearing your thoughts and ideas on the best path to move forward. Email or call me at rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov or 206.477.1001. If you would like to contact other Councilmembers, there information can be found here.  If you would like to share your thoughts with the County Executive, his information can be found here

Thank you for your continued interest in this important topic. I will keep you updated as we continue our work.

Very Truly Yours,  

 <image001.jpg>

Rod Dembowski

King County Councilmember, District 1
Chair, Transportation, Economy & Environment Committee

516 3rd Avenue, Room 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
ph: (206) 477-1001 | fx: (206) 296-0198 
Visit our website for more information or to view the latest District 1 eNews

 

Dembowski's bill vetoed

King County Council District 1's Rod Dembowski got a bill passed to partially mitigate projected cuts to Metro by including in the budget projected increases in county revenue.

The bill was vetoed by King County Executive Dow Constantine because it relied on spending money we don't have.

The bill was opposed by four Democrats on the council, and supported by four Republicans.

Dembowski was originally appointed to the council by the Democrats.

Awkward.

You can reach Mr Dembowski here:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/Dembowski.aspx

Publicola at Seattle Met had a brief on the situation in this morning's "Morning Fizz"

Tuesday Fizz: Based on Hopes and Prayers and Guesses

1. After getting smacked down by his Democratic colleagues on the King County Council yesterday afternoon for proposing legislation that would (temporarily) limit Metro cuts by raising fares, dipping into the agency's financial reserves, and directing the agency to "find efficiencies," through an audit, to forestall major bus cuts, North Seattle King County Council member Rob Dembowski, who passed the legislation at the contentious hearing by rounding up all the council Republicans to support it, got supremely smacked down by Democratic King County Executive Dow Constantine, who vetoed the legislation within the hour.

"We need a reliable way to pay for bus service—but until then, we shouldn't spend money we don't have, we shouldn't use one-time money to pay for ongoing expenses, and decisions to save or cut service should be based on objective criteria and data, not on politics," Constantine said in a statement. "This ordinance falls short on all counts."

Dembowski's proposal would have implemented only the cuts scheduled for September 2014; an alternative proposal by the council's other four Democrats would have implemented all the scheduled cuts, with the caveat that if Metro comes up with additional funding between now and 2015, only the first two rounds of cuts, in September of 2014 and February of 2015, would go forward."No one up here wants these cuts, but I believe it is fiscally irresponsible to budget based on what-ifs."

You can read the rest here: http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/fizz-for-june-10-june-2014

Transportation issues will be something that representatives for Seattle City Council District 5 will have to address.

The 2015 candidates should be aware of the varied needs of the different neighborhoods.

The level of service and the methods for funding for all modes of mobility need to be managed in a comprehensive way.

King County interactive voter map

Seattle is full of the worst Venn diagrams around, with overlapping levels and layers of legislative authority.

Above is a screen shot of Seattle City Council District 5 (the purple line marking the southern boarder).
You can zoom in to the precinct level for your location. A popup bubble notes which is which for you.
Here is a link to the web page.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/referenceresources/electionmaps/findmydistrict.aspx

Seattle Campaigns 2015, nobody for Council District 5, not yet

As of June 8th, 2014, a candidate has not filed to run for Council District 5.

Here are the candidates that have filed.

It looks like we get to vote on a viaduct park next year, too.

City Council Position 1 - Southwest 4 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

David Ishii

206‑328‑1010

piedpiperparty.com 9200 - 2ND AVE SW, APT. #519A SEATTLE, WA 98106

Charles R. Redmond III

206‑932‑6003

westseattle4chas@gmail.com 3903 SW MONROE STREET SEATTLE, WA 98136

City Council Position 2 - Southeast 4 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Bruce Harrell

206‑817‑5155

bharrell@electbruceharrell.com PO BOX 21208 SEATTLE, WA 98111

City Council Position 3 - East Central 4 Year Term

There are no registered committees

City Council Position 4 - Lake Union to Sand Point 4 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Jean Godden

206‑382‑5552

phil@seattlecfo.com 603 STEWART STREET #819 SEATTLE, WA 98101

City Council Position 5 - North 4 Year Term

There are no registered committees

City Council Position 6 - Green Lake to Golden Gardens 4 Year Term

There are no registered committees

City Council Position 7 - Downtown to Discovery Park 4 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Sally Bagshaw

206‑342‑9057

sally.bagshaw@gmail.com PO BOX 21171 SEATTLE, WA 98111

City Council Position 8 - At Large - 2 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Tim Burgess

206‑382‑5552

councilmantim@gmail.com 603 STEWART STREET SUITE 819 SEATTLE, WA 98101

City Council Position 9 - At Large - 2 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Sally Clark

206‑235‑0363

phil@seattlecfo.com PO BOX 2041 SEATTLE, WA 98111

City Council Position Undesignated - 2 or 4 Year Term

Campaigning in Primary Election

Tom Rasmussen

206‑382‑5552

phil@seattlecfo.com 603 STEWART STREET #819 SEATTLE, WA 98101

Kshama Sawant

206‑486‑0099

votesawant@gmail.com P.O. BOX 85862 SEATTLE, WA 98145

Viaduct Park   Potential Ballot Issue

For Ballot Measure

Park My Viaduct Campaign

206‑783‑6538

parkmyviaduct.org 4027 21ST AVE W SEATTLE, WA 98199

For more information on Seattle City Council Districts, check out:

http://www2.seattle.gov/ethics/eldata/filings/campaigns.asp?elcycle=el15a&streetaddresses=yes

Framing Thoughts

The name represents the purpose: 

The 2015 Seattle City Council District Election in Council District 5

An anonymous personal journal by one situated roughly in the middle of the district's land mass.

An aggregate of topics the either primarily or secondarily affect me living in Council District 5

This one person's voter guide for the 2015 Seattle Council District 5, and the two at-large council races

It's my vote, so it is technically personal.

I do not own a business.

My employment is outside of the city, and my employer doesn't do business with the City of Seattle.

I am middle class by standards outside of the city, and am probably lower-middle class by standards for living inside of the city. 

Seattle, North