December 2008 Storm --consolidation thread (Seattle, Kirkland: lease, sales tax, live)

[Botev1912]

it's not even close to Spokane temperatures

[Botev1912]

0 days

[tada]

Oh noes! What would happen if we lost Seattle?

I would be forced to move somewhere better.

[Adrian71]

Originally Posted by mishigas73

OMG, I truly don't know whether to laugh or cry.

No, actually, I do...I'll truly laugh at how moronic this is. Let's call the entire area to a halt for 3+ work days because of the possible detriment to the environment.

Yeah, I like the "Evergreen State", but, you know what? I also see the proverbial forest for the trees, and understand that business needs to go on in order for these purdy trees and fishies to survive.

Thing is, there ARE more environmentally friendly alternatives to salt, like calcium magnesium acetate and potassium acetate. They work a little slower, and they cost more than salt, but I can't understand why any area that has even the *potential* for snow wouldn't keep something on hand.

I can understand not having a big fleet of snowplows, but they can always get shipped in from elsewhere. I grew up in Michigan, and I can remember on a couple of occasions when places like Kentucky and the Carolinas got hit with freak snowstorms ... we'd send some of our plows down there to help clean up.

My wife and I are planning to move to the Seattle area next year. We were marveling at the Seahawks game yesterday ... at first, we wondered what we were getting ourselves into. And then we settled in and realized it was nice to have a little winter storm once in a while. Living out here in metro DC the past few years, we miss those Michigan winters with the snow crunching under your feet. It's not something you want to deal with every day, but the snow DOES make things beautiful while it sticks around. Besides, there's nothing like a good snowball fight.

Of course, Michigan is full of rust-bucket cars, too, from all the salt they have to put on the road all winter long! You win some, you lose some.

[Adrian71]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

I remember a bunch of people writing last summer that it never gets as cold here as it does in the DC area.

It was 18 degrees when I woke up this morning, out here in metro DC. I think it's just cold EVERYWHERE right now!

At least you'll have a white Christmas. That's always nice.

[ElektroDragon]

Sure it's nice to have a little snow storm. And to me this is really little. The inexecusable part is that no one has done anything about it! No plowing, nothing! If you don't like sand or salt, at least plow, or use safe substances. If they can make anti-ice crystals THAT ARE SAFE FOR MY CAT TO EAT, the environment excuse is rubbish! We're the closest state to ALASKA for crying out loud. Two inches of snow and its the end of the world. A foot in NY and everything is open and functions normally. That's a vast difference. Instead of raising our sales taxes for that poorly conceived transit project that won't serve most places yet everyone voted on, they should have raised the taxes to deal with situations like THIS instead, which impact EVERYONE. I have to risk my life and property today just to go grocery shopping in Kirkland.

It's too bad no politicians will ever read this forum....

[ElektroDragon]

It wouldn't be a big deal if someone actually did something to clean it up and make the roads safe. See my other thread....

[cobolt]

Yea, it is pretty pathetic how this is being handled. I love how on the news they say "stay home if you can." Right....Like we all have the endless pool of vacation days to burn. 50% of the city bus routes cut. Are you kidding me? It's hard not to see the absurdity in this, especially since this snow is nothing by Midwest/East coast standards. I took public transportation in Chicago all the time in much worse than this. I think since the possibility for snow is always here, the area should be better prepared, especially since there are so many HILLS to negotiate. Let's cut all the bus routes because they must travel up or down hills. I mean, come on .

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

it's not even close to Spokane temperatures

I lived in Spokane for a few years and winters were typically like this. Seattle's temps have been in the 20s this past week and that was typical for Spokane. Anyway, my point was more about snow that sits around for a long time rather than whether temps are 20 or 25. Either way it is cold enough here that there is lots of snow on the ground!

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by ElektroDragon

Sure it's nice to have a little snow storm. And to me this is really little. The inexecusable part is that no one has done anything about it! No plowing, nothing! If you don't like sand or salt, at least plow, or use safe substances. If they can make anti-ice crystals THAT ARE SAFE FOR MY CAT TO EAT, the environment excuse is rubbish! We're the closest state to ALASKA for crying out loud. Two inches of snow and its the end of the world. A foot in NY and everything is open and functions normally. That's a vast difference. Instead of raising our sales taxes for that poorly conceived transit project that won't serve most places yet everyone voted on, they should have raised the taxes to deal with situations like THIS instead, which impact EVERYONE. I have to risk my life and property today just to go grocery shopping in Kirkland.

It's too bad no politicians will ever read this forum....

Welcome to the Seattle area! A place where what's practical is pushed aside for the ideal. Don't expect it to change anytime soon. You have a few options. You can rail against it, become resigned to it, or decide it aint worth it anymore and leave. It it makes you feel any better, we really don't typically get this kind of snow on a regular basis. In the past (I've spent 18 winters here) the longest the city has been shut down by snow has been about two straight days. Although I understand '96 was bad but I wasn't here for that one.