Approve Pike Place Market upgrade; reject Seattle Parks levy

After the Seattle City Council punted on making tough decisions on taxes in a sour economy, voters should say yes to the $73 million upgrade for the Pike Place Market and no to the ill-considered $145 million Seattle Parks levy.

The Pike Place Market:

All property-tax increases are a difficult sell in this alarming economic climate. Yet the proposal to do basic seismic and core infrastructure upgrades to the beloved market is the most well-thought-out and necessary.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council propose a one-time — key phrase, one-time — six-year levy that will pay for important safety and access improvements at this civic treasure.

We are not talking about a list of aesthetic upgrades that will change the look and feel of the historic, funky market. The money request, $41 per year based on a $450,000 home, would pay for basic plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems badly in need of improvements. Repairs also would be made to earthquake-damaged walls and floors and key seismic upgrades would be completed to guard against future damage.

Most repairs are for things visitors can't see, except for some improvements to elevators and bathrooms, which will make the market more accessible and the market experience easier to enjoy. The levy would pay for three elevators and add 26 new toilets

The market has millions of visitors every year and is home to hundreds of businesses, day-stall merchants and farmers. We should make this investment because it is much like buying a roof for your home every 30 years. The market also keeps away urban blight by being busy and local. It's not fun or fancy improvements, but you have to do it.

The park levy:

Seattleites adore parks, but the proposed $145 million levy arrives at the wrong time and feels hastily thatched together. Voters should have the gumption say no.

The most compelling argument against the plan is the council is attempting to make permanent an allegedly one-time tax. Proponents say they need levy funds to acquire new parkland and develop new open space. Yes, they do, but that is what they said eight years ago. Putting this back on the ballot without even a one-year hiatus proves supporters believe taxpayers should always be buying parkland. If voters say yes, this becomes, for all practical purposes, a permanent levy because park supporters will return in six years with a similar request and argument.

There are some very appealing elements in this package, including $950,000 for the Children's Play Garden, the first in the nation for children with disabilities. This Central Area park is exactly the kind of investment that deserves public support.

But one or two promising proposals are not enough to get voters over the hump of ballot fatigue and overtaxation in trying economic times.

Seattle voters cannot afford to fix up every part of the city every year while middle-class and lower-income families are so pinched they may not be able to afford to remain in their homes.

Mayor Nickels opposes the park levy because he says this is the wrong time to ask voters for so many tax dollars. He favors the market levy and a major sales-tax hit in the Sound Transit package.

At least the mayor is picking and choosing. Voters should, too: no to parks, yes to the Pike Place Market.