I received the following in an email from a reader:
About the condo—comment article… the real issue is not the really cheap/ugly/tasteless and likely unlivable condos (apartments). Nor is it the equally horrible “townhouses.” It is about greed and lack of public (government) oversight and control.
The developers wanted the money, the government wanted the taxes and fees. The people were too busy raking in the first real money the bulk of Seattle has ever seen in history… to say HEY, what the heck are you doing.
Sad, the city I have loved for years is nearly off my list. No wonder the lovely, polite, civil people have turned rude and nasty (in a Northwest passive-aggressive kind of way).
This kind of behavior and housing greed has ruined many cities in this country…
How about opening a dialog on how to take back our city and stop being passive-aggressive whiners and start being organized and vocal about KEEPING our fabulous city just that.
This is not about money or affordability, it is about planning and demanding our rights as residents of a wonderful, (almost) world class city and LIVABILITY.
So what do you think? Has greed and lack of government oversight ruined the culture of Seattle? If so, can anything be done about it, or is it too late?
I’m interested to hear what people think about this topic.