Last Friday the Seattle Times ran this story about the 17.9 billion dollar Sound Transit proposal which will be on the ballot in November.

I’m going to need A LOT of convincing to get behind such a big rail proposal, which ignores our city, in such a rough economy. This proposal effectively ensures that Renton will not see any rail service until after this next phase is complete, in about 2025. Meanwhile, we will see 17.9 billion dollars focussed on the rail extensions to Bellevue, and North and South of Seattle, leaving scant resources for any other transit. With the few bus lines Renton has operating at standing-room-only conditions, its disturbing to think of Renton voters kicking in another 300 million dollars for no extra service over the next twenty years.

As a reminder, our residents contributed about 100 million to Sound Transit Phase 1, and we are now going to be lucky to see 20 million of that spent in our city… it has been earmarked for transit improvements on Rainier Ave that are in the design stage. The other 80 million, which was targeted at some HOV direct access ramps, is now being held pending a multi-billion dollar improvement to I-405 which lacks funding…hence, we will not get our share of our own Phase I sound transit money.

Our city staff, elected officials, and other eastside elected officials have negotiated passionately to try to get Bus Rapid Transit on the 405 corridor for nearly ten years, at a cost of less than one tenth of what a rail line would cost, but Sound Transit still does not include this proposal.

Fool me once, shame on you….fool me twice, shame on me. Sound Transit has to include serious additional transit service to Renton, in line with the tax money we are paying, in order for me to get behind this newest ballot initiative.

The ‘Oklahoman’ reports that 56 complaints have been filed against former Renton Lomas Eye Care doctor Christopher Phillips. The Oklahoma media have taken some interest in this story because of the doctor’s former marriage to Oklahoma hero Shannon Miller.

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Thu July 17, 2008

Gymnast’s ex-husband is in bankruptcy

Christopher Phillips, Olympics gymnast Shannon Miller’s ex-husband has filed for bankruptcy after closing his eye surgery business.

Dr. Christopher Phillips, 35, was the subject of critical news accounts in Seattle earlier this year because some patients complained they had no notice of the closure and did not know what to do next.

“We’ve driven a hundred miles for an appointment that we thought we had at 3:30. … You can’t get any answers. That’s the bad thing,” one patient said to Seattle TV station KIRO.

The Washington Health Department is investigating 56 complaints against the doctor, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. All the complaints have come in since the closure.

The investigations may result in discipline that could include loss of Phillips’ medical license in Washington, the Health Department spokeswoman said.

Phillips is from Oklahoma. He could not be reached for comment. His bankruptcy attorney, Gloria Nagler, said Tuesday, “I don’t have any comment. Sorry.”

Phillips married Miller in a fairy tale-like wedding in Oklahoma City in 1999. Their divorce became final in Massachusetts seven years later. Miller called the marriage a painful experience.

Phillips filed for bankruptcy July 2 in federal court in Seattle. He listed an address in Renton, a suburb of Seattle. Phillips reported he is unemployed.

He reported he has assets of $962,109 and liabilities of almost $4.7 million. The liabilities include a mortgage and $3.9 million that may be owed to patients.

Phillips bought the eye surgery business in Renton last fall but closed it five months later, according to his bankruptcy records.

Records show Phillips is considering suing the doctor who sold him the clinic. He is considering alleging fraud in the sale. He also is considering suing the media on libel and slander grounds.

See the original article here

An interesting email council received from a citizen–
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I have 2 concerns regarding the Cedar River.

First:

Just downstream of the Maplewood Park there is a hazard warning sign for a hazard long gone. It makes people wonder about any other warning sign. Is it current or out of date?

Please remove this sign.

Second – A real current hazard, The logjam behind the golf course.

There is a warning about this hazard. However, the other day as I was floating this area of the river, I met a couple on a canoe that put in after the warning. They were not at all aware of the logjam.

Currently, there is a portage to the right. For this one must climb over a couple of trees. The real hazard is on the left side of the stream.

While there is an assumed risk floating on any river, the main part of the logjam I believe presents an unnecessary hazard in a very populated area. While I have not done an environmental study of the logjam, my guess is that the major portion could easily be removed without any environmental degradation and at not much financial cost.

Please remove the major portion of this hazard that could trap someone. Thank you.

Have Fun!