White Center’s own Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy, owner of the Triangle Pub and now a candidate for the 34th District Legislative seat being vacated by Sharon Nelson, released a statement about the closure of the South Park Bridge on Monday (Mar. 15th).
The bridge, which, as we reported Feb. 17th, will be closed at the end of June because the latest round of federal stimulus money grants did NOT include any for it, and according to the King County website:
Several studies have shown that the condition of the bridge warrants major rehabilitation or replacement.
Here’s Mac’s statement:
“The planned South Park Bridge closing is a glaring example of how voters in our legislative district are being under represented. My issue is not with the legislators who represent our local districts. Nor is it with their representatives, who “informed” the residents of South Park that their bridge is being closed on June 30, 2010. My issue is primarily with the fact that there is currently NO PLAN to mitigate the effects of the bridge closure on South Park, White Center, Burien, West Seattle, Tukwila or Seattle.
“We elect officials whom we expect will represent our interests. We vote for taxes that will pay for the programs that we believe are important. Our system of government is based upon the idea of representation and in this particular instance the voices of the people were not heard. In spite of a groundswell of community concern, there is no bridge, no plan, and currently no help being offered.
“In this moment it is important that we insure that our elected officials come up with a plan for how traffic is going to be routed, how emergency services are going to be provided, and how Seattle and Tukwila are going to work together to develop a traffic plan for everyone’s benefit. Whether I am elected or not, I pledge to work with our communities to come up with a plan to mitigate the closure of the South Park Bridge. It is time for solutions and results. We can deal with politics later.”
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Get em Mac! I like to see people like you, local people who live work and understand this super diverse area! Thanks so much for stepping up to the plate, local voices and people directly affected by this fiasco our exactaly what we need!