SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Taxpayers suffer for Chinese president’s visit
Sep 23, 2015, 2:11 PM | Updated: Sep 24, 2015, 12:37 pm
U.S. CEO's at left listen as Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, speaks at a U.S.-China business roundtable, comprised of U.S. and Chinese CEOs, Wednesday in Seattle. The Paulson Institute, in partnership with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, co-hosted the event. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Everyone knew a Chinese dignitary was heading to Seattle, but few could imagine the crippling effect the visit would have on the region’s roads.
But what might be worse than the actual traffic problems Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit has created, is the fact that, as far as we know, there wasn’t anyone fighting for the taxpayers, KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson points out.
As President Xi’s motorcade moved, traffic on the region’s main roadways was forced to a complete halt for security reasons.
Related: Follow Chinese president’s motorcade as it closes off Seattle traffic
How was this allowed to happen? Dori wonders. He says he was furious when he found out that nobody with the Washington State Department of Transportation was consulted for suggestions on how to make sure commuters would not be severely impacted by the dignitary’s visit.
Dori spoke with Lynn Peterson, secretary of the state’s department of transportation, to find out why that was and who should be held responsible.
Dori Monson: Everybody in government works for us, the people, right?
Lynn Peterson: Yes. We made the impacts clear.
DM: And somebody didn’t care about the impacts. Were you there advocating for taxpayers who pay your salaries? People are furious. And it’s only going to get worse.
LP: [Secret Service] had to weigh a lot of other variables, including security.
DM: But everybody in government works for us. And it seems like we were left out of the equation.
In a case like this, WSDOT plays more of a support role than anything else, Peterson went on to explain.
But were alternatives to using the region’s main roadways suggested? What about a helicopter?
LP: Those questions were raised, but that is confidential to the Secret Service.
Such high-profile visits will always come down to safety and security being the top priority, Peterson said.
Related: Chinese president’s visit highlights Seattle hypocrisy
So no matter how much it costs taxpayers and no matter what impacts it has, it’s always going to come down to this? Dori asked. Will it ever cost too much?
Peterson couldn’t give Dori the exact cost of President Xi’s visit, or who taxpayers should hold accountable for what is happening this week.
