I'm asking a serious question here...
We know Boardmembers have offered amendments to the Enterprise Initiative to change ST3, but we the Sound Transit 12s & taxpaying public can't see them.
Shouldn't that be a little... outrageous?
Somehow the Redmond City Council with a bada$$ hero working mom Jew on Council can't have Jewish American Heritage Month but Bellevue can and Redmond can have Asian American Heritage Month? Wow.
Joe, Mr. Go Sound Transit, here. NOT speaking at this meeting so everybody who didn't get to speak gets to.
Frankly, If and only if you spoke yesterday, unless you represent an organization (e.g. Move Redmond, Transportation Choices Coalition, Seattle Subway) - please do NOT speak again at this second meeting so public comment is truly inclusive. I don't want the same people giving the same damn public comment, screwing new people out of the opportunity.
Also I'm the same Joe who helped get the 2020-2022 Open Public Meetings Act reforms passed in Olympia. Clear enough?
With that, if you need a reminder this is about the Enterprise Initiative. Supporting docs below:
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R2026-11
Published date: 05/07/26
Updates the Sound Transit 3 System Plan to be affordable within available and projected financial ca...
Published date: 05/07/26
Published date: 05/07/26
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HOT TAKE... so for all you fragile people, you have been warned.
But should we be prioritizing communities like Seattle and Kirkland with an antisemitism problem over Everett, Tacoma and 12ssaquah?
My answer is no.
1) Seattle just had the Noa Cochva Fiasco where Jewish voices were attacked & in the case of the UW, silenced. Where is the condemnation from Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson for the antisemitic violence, attacks on First Amendment rights, and attacks on public employees? Because where's the confidence that Mayor Wilson will stand with Sound Transit values and defending Sound Transit employees? Why should other subareas bail Seattle out in that situation? Why?
Do better. Stand up to antisemitism. Oppose hate in all of its forms. Start there.
Because that's what the Feds will expect too.
2) Kirkland City Council and City Attorney are actively resisting efforts to stand up to Alex Tsimerman. In the current debate, the Council is fighting even a ban on non-jurisdictional comments. A ban I'm pushing for to protect Bellevue and Redmond from Tsimerman's antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks.
As Jewish Redmond Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer and former President of Redmond said to kick off the hopefully closing round of the Tsimerman Wars a few years ago: NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN!
3) Meanwhile, Tacoma and Everett resist hate. So too 12ssaquah (aka Issaquah). Also the spine is where the equity truly is, and without something to show both regions, there is NO HOPE of getting a ST4 to pass.
4) We need a ST4 to grade-separate the Rainier Valley and automate the trains. Quite possibly also to get to Ballard in a proper way.
This comes down to values. Sound Transit values matter. Values like #3 "Inclusion & Respect: We foster a culture where everyone is treated fairly, where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and every voice is heard."
All thoughts mine and mine alone but... GO SOUND TRANSIT!