arena3.jpg
Two King County council members are catching heat from longtime supporters for supporting Chris Hansen's arena deal. (AP Photo)

County council members blasted for supporting Seattle arena deal

BY Chris Sullivan  on October 2, 2012 @ 5:00 am (Updated: 12:14 pm - 10/2/12 )

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Two King County council members are catching heat from longtime supporters for supporting Chris Hansen's arena deal.

Council members Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert are now the targets of two Eastside developers and longtime supporters, Skip Rowley of Issaquah and Bob Wallace of Bellevue, who do not like that their votes put the arena deal over the top.

During a council meeting discussing the updates to the MOU, Lambert attempted to draw attention back to the Eastside.

She told the council she hoped they would consider alternative locations outside of Seattle, allowing for some "comparisons."

"At least ask the other cities if they have an interest in [building an arena] because I think there is at least one city, if not two that should be analyzed," said Lambert.

Her comments followed a Seattle Times report that the developers sent letters to hundreds of business contacts saying Hague and Lambert ignored the interest of their constituents.

The letter accuses the pair of giving Seattle a sweetheart deal at the expense of Bellevue and the rest of the Eastside, which the two represent. They also say the current deal would hurt Bellevue's prospects for landing an arena and potentially clog roads around the Port of Seattle.

While traffic issues continue to be a top concern of those in the SoDo arena, Council Member Julia Patterson is worried that other transportation projects will take a back seat when it comes to requests for state and federal funds.

Patterson's concerns may bring yet another amendment to the current MOU. "I want to work with all of you on this. I want to make sure that the transportation problems are mitigated around that arena," she told the council. "But not at the expense of other desperately needed projects: that's the bottom line. There has got to be a way to do that."

The King County Council is expected to vote again on the arena deal this month. It needs to ratify the changes made by the deal agreed-to by the Seattle City Council for the plan to move ahead.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (17)


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  • MainEvent wrote...
    are you serious.....
    October 2, 2012 5:56 am
    throwing a fit because you didn't get your way. Why didn't you go seek out the NBA first? Stay in the confines of Bellevue, no body wants your arrogance and filth spread to other cities.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    wAH wAH wAH..!!
    October 2, 2012 7:09 am
    They IGNORED you? How shocking..I didnt think politicians did that. I always thought they would always take a call from anyone. By the way, where were YOUR elected officials during the debate for location, such as it was...? You just assumed that someone with mega money to spend would be embraced with open arms by a city that applauds the same. Short memorys have you in B'vue. You lost Microsoft to Redmond because of your arrogance that continues to this day..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rysamp wrote...
    I live on the eastide
    October 2, 2012 7:11 am
    and the last thing I want is an arena. If i want bad traffic and thousands of people I can go to Seattle... But I don't. So for I love Seattle getting an arena. If they have NHL I might decided to deal with the traffic and crowds, but I don't want it on the eastside that's for sure
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Wake up
    October 2, 2012 10:30 am
    You already HAVE bad traffic in Bellevue.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • seacougr wrote...
    Too Bad
    October 2, 2012 7:44 am
    Boo Hoo Hoo!!! You didn't get your way. You need to stay on the eastside. You had your chance to support an eastside arena and didn't do it. What a sad commentary for the eastside developers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CyberRacer wrote...
    They'll find plenty of support elsewhere.
    October 2, 2012 8:26 am
    Rather than throwing a fit, you developers should be taking notes. This is how it's supposed to work when two sides work together to get something done. Guess you're just too invested in your cronyism, and good old boys network to see that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Big a55 cry babies
    October 2, 2012 10:22 am
    Where the heck were you the past 5 years idiots. There was a 30 Million dollar carrot of clay Bennett's money on the table if there was an steams in place within 5 years. FOOLS! Where we're you cry babies then? Pulling on your chain I suspect.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Oh no Council Brainlessness.
    October 2, 2012 10:58 am
    Hey Council let the People vote on this arena and this would not happen morons.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dark Jedi wrote...
    I think Mr. Spock said it best
    October 2, 2012 11:04 am
    The good of the many, out weight the good of the few.

    It's not like this deal was any secret. And I agree with messiah101. They could of privately built their own stadium.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Splinge wrote...
    I'm so glad..
    October 2, 2012 11:53 am
    I'm so glad we the masses that live outside King County are only affected every so often in the elections processes (which is bad enough). While the big city atmosphere in Seattle is so out of touch with the rest of the state, the relief one from outside feels when the news of the rumors of corruption in Seattle, is priceless. When I think it's bad out here I just think of the Seattlites, come to think of it, it's usually an edict from King county that makes things bad out here... Them or Olympia, both totally out of touch with the rest of the state.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gar57 wrote...
    You are right, Splinge!
    October 2, 2012 1:28 pm
    The rest of the state IS out of touch with Seattle and King County! I say we cut them loose and make them pay for their own da*n roads, you know? Bunch of moochers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    "the targets of two Eastside developers"
    October 2, 2012 1:47 pm
    No need to read further.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    This isn't the first time Jane Hague has screwed her constituents while pandering to Seattle
    October 2, 2012 6:30 pm
    You may recall that Jane Hague RAN HER CAMPAIGN on promised to fight transit tax increases. It was only until days before her election, when the vast majority of ballots were cast, that she flipped 180 and approved ANOTHER Metro tax hike and tried to sell it as a compromise for ditching the Ride Free zone. Well now the Ride Free zone is ending and already the system is laying the ground to either renege on that promise or put an equally draining policy in place. Not ONCE have I heard mention of the (six?) free rides we are supposed together with our new car tabs and the fact that they can be donated to those in need, NOOOOOOOOOOO! All I hear is that a new circulation line is in the works. Jane Hague is nothing but a RINO shill for the Seattle Zombiecrats.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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