News
Cola Campaign Ratings: The Veterans' Levy
Sticking with our commitment to be a more objective and balanced source of news (yep, this “liberal” site is the site that broke the story about the trickery of Democratic consulting firm, Moxie Media), we’re doing things differently this year than we have in the past. This year, we’re not going to tell you how to vote... Exactly.
Inspired by the even-keeled Seattle/King County Municipal League, which ranks candidates based on skill, experience, and policy acumen rather than on ideology, we’ve been talking to candidates and interviewing folks on both sides of the ballot measures and coming up with our own ratings .
For the ballot measures---namely, the veterans and human services levy and the tunnel referendum---we're identifying the best and weakest arguments from both sides.
King County Proposition 1, Veterans and Human Services Levy
Best argument for:
This measure, which first passed overwhelmingly back in 2005, would continue a 5-cent-per $1,000 property tax levy to support housing and supportive services for veterans and low-income King County residents. Since 2005, it has funded 1,200 new housing units; provided short-term rental and mortgage assistance to help people stay in their homes; paid for a mobile medical van that provides health care, including mental health care, to people who are isolated in their homes or homeless; provided treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; and paid for employment assistance for both veterans and low-income county residents. That's a lot for an average cost of just $17 a year.
Best argument against:
We can't find one. The veterans' levy is so popular that not one person volunteered to write the "con" statement in the King County voters' guide, and the county council, including its four Republicans, voted "yes." That seems like compelling evidence that these are dollars well spent.
Inspired by the even-keeled Seattle/King County Municipal League, which ranks candidates based on skill, experience, and policy acumen rather than on ideology, we’ve been talking to candidates and interviewing folks on both sides of the ballot measures and coming up with our own ratings .
For the ballot measures---namely, the veterans and human services levy and the tunnel referendum---we're identifying the best and weakest arguments from both sides.
King County Proposition 1, Veterans and Human Services Levy
Best argument for:
This measure, which first passed overwhelmingly back in 2005, would continue a 5-cent-per $1,000 property tax levy to support housing and supportive services for veterans and low-income King County residents. Since 2005, it has funded 1,200 new housing units; provided short-term rental and mortgage assistance to help people stay in their homes; paid for a mobile medical van that provides health care, including mental health care, to people who are isolated in their homes or homeless; provided treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; and paid for employment assistance for both veterans and low-income county residents. That's a lot for an average cost of just $17 a year.
Best argument against:
We can't find one. The veterans' levy is so popular that not one person volunteered to write the "con" statement in the King County voters' guide, and the county council, including its four Republicans, voted "yes." That seems like compelling evidence that these are dollars well spent.
