Toward a new generation and attitude between Seattle and Olympia
Sail into a new future
Regardless of who wins as the new mayor, I remain optimistic that there is a growing sense in both cities that it is time for courageous honesty about the relationship between Olympia and Seattle.
The candidates for city council have a much richer, deeper and thoughtful appreciation for the role state government plays. The candidates for mayor recognize the tunnel/Viaduct project will impact our city for the next decade and beyond logistically (construction), financially, economically and politically. Yes the “Seattle amendment” hung on the tunnel bill and, yes, it is a sore spot and a poke in the eye. But even this, too, shall pass when cooler heads prevail. It is after all a STATE highway and the obligation ultimately rests with Olympia.
And then there is education. The Seattle Public Schools needs advocates in Olympia not simply to help with key operational challenges but to step up on funding, policies and programs. Simply, our state’s largest school district in our largest city needs a partner in Olympia. Rep. Scott White, Rep. Jamie Pedersen and many other Seattle legislators have a passionate drive to help the Seattle schools engage Olympia at a much more effective level. The school lobbyist, the indefatigable Clifford Traisman, brings institutional credibility and knowledge.
I hope to embrace the ideal of a new appreciation between Olympia and the University of Washington, for example, not as a Seattle institution but as a light among the states in quality and integrity in higher education.
In the end, on many levels it is inevitable that a state’s largest city–Seattle along with Boston, Providence, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, etc., etc.– will always cause political heartburn in the state capitals. Our history is full of stories of rabble rousing politics between the two subcultures and the tussle will never cease. That’s part of the fun of it all.
But we can embrace the ‘battle’ with humor, humility and honesty. This is, in the end, one of my central objectives as a legislator…to dramatically improve the relationship between Olympia and Seattle to help build our economy and quality of life statewide.
There is change in the air and a newfound sense of hope that together we can do all those things we cannot do alone.
We are seeing a generational change not just of leadership but of attitude.
You wrote: “In the end, on many levels it is inevitable that a state’s largest city–Seattle along with Boston, Providence, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, etc., etc.– will always cause political heartburn in the state capitals.”
Spot on. But Boston, Providence, Salt Lake, and Phoenix are all the state capitals themselves.
Better examples would be largest cities that are NOT the state capital itself. Detroit, Michigan where I grew up would be an example, criticized in Lansing. Or NYC, at war with Albany. I would guess that Milwaukee gets trouble from Madison, Chicago from Springfield, Philadelphia/Pittsburgh from Harrisburg, and Miami from Tallahassee.
The out-state, down-state, up-state, greater-state, rural legislators in these places don’t even have to visit the biggest city when passing laws harmful to big city interests.
That brings us to Seattle vs Olympia!
John, well said. I should have thought a bit more about the capital issue relative to the big city positioning of Seattle Great point. It’s what I meant but you said it much better. Thanks!