Year 2040 will be here sooner than you think…

PSRC recently released a draft environmental impact statement for Transportation 2040. Learn more about environmental, economic and other impacts of six different scenarios for year 2040. If you haven’t already, take a look at the document and provide comments. What do you think about transportation user fees to maintain, operate and enhance the future sytem for central puget sound region? Let your voice be heard! Here’s the link:
http://www.psrc.org/projects/trans2040/deis/index.htm
OK Eric, pay up!!!

Oy Vey

This:

“We are certainly anticipating that spending and the effects of the recovery act will get much bigger over the summer and the fall,” Ms. Romer told CNBC. But she also cautioned on CNBC today that unemployment numbers may not turn around until early next year, and wouldn’t rule out the notion of a second stimulus package when asked about the possibility. (emphasis added)

Bing – Not just your favorite type of cherry

Is anyone using Bing? I am still a giant fan of Google in general, but have been annoyed with my search results as of late, so I’m going to give Bing a try. So far it was super handy (and better than farecast or kayak) in looking at hotel room pricing in Hawaii. The search engine actually confirms whether or not you are getting  a deal based on past hotel room rates. What’s not to love there?

I’m curious as to whether or not other people are using it and what they’ve found it useful for, send your comments in! www.bing.com

The Beginning of the End?

So this is going to spur a lot of
“Boeing is Leaving!” stories. They’ll go a little something like this:

1) Boeing has increased its investment and management of 787 manufacturing facilities in the South.
2) The South is generally “Right to Work” and that means there is less risk of strike.
3) Boeing has been talking about creating a second line of the 787 and now it looks like this is where that will be.
4) This is the beginning of the end of aerospace in Washington state.
5) A reference to the “last person to leave, turn out the lights” billboard.

Regional Elected Official Casting Contest

Publicola has a great story about the casting of a new movie in which the role of Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver might be played by Samuel L. Jackson. (Insert about 100 “I hate motherf*#ing snakes” jokes here.)

Open comment thread. Suggest your favorite casting of regional elected officials in the movie version of the Prosperity Partnership. I’ll start things off: the role of Bob Drewel will be played by a younger version of Robert Loggia. Everybody loves Robert Loggia.

Winner of the contest gets a free ticket to the Prosperity Partnership Fall Luncheon.

Tilting at High Speed Rail

I finally got around to finishing the New York Times Sunday Magazine on “Infrastructure,” which was a little disappointing…partly because the newly shrunk format just doesn’t have as much content, partly because they didn’t pick the most compelling angles on infrastructure.  Speaking as an infrastructure nerd, it didn’t meet my high standards.  But it did have an article on everyone’s favorite topic, high speed rail. And by everyone’s favorite topic, I mean “next stop, controversy city!”

God, That Is So Seattle!

I have to admit that I’m a subscriber to Seattle Metropolitan magazine.  As a low-paid public employee, it gives me vicarious joy to see how the other half lives.  Apparenly, there’s lots of great shopping and dining here!

I don’t read the SMet for its economic development insights (that’s what this blog is for!), but I couldn’t help noticing the article on the global health industry in the region and the “evils” of thinking of it as an regional economic driver:

Acronyms in Your Rearview Mirror May Be More Awkward Than They Seem

It’s a little known fact that the US Congress loves acronyms. Or maybe it’s a well known fact, what with ARRA, TARP, etc. When I was working on the hill, we were dealing with the CHIMP Act (Chimpanzee Health Improvement Maintenance and Protection), which set up a retirement system for lab primates.

Green Jobs Money Trickling Out

Not sure if the Prosperity Blog is where you come for up-to-date grant announcements (I wouldn’t recommend it), but I thought it was interesting that the Department of Labor released its first “green jobs” recovery funds this week. It’s also interesting to me that it was “only” $500 million.

Is the Recovery Act a Failure?

Crosscut buries the lede a little bit on this story about health care and energy policy. It’s really a roundabout story on the “failure” of the recovery act:

Worse, what was passed on a party-line basis had little to do with immediate economic stimulus, since much of the package consisted of Members’ wish lists backlogged during the Bush years. In hindsight, Obama might wish the stimulus package had not existed. It has not created the jobs or growth he promised. Its impact will not be felt in the economy until after recession has ended next year.

So, is the Recovery Act a “failure”?

Prioritizing Charitable Giving

So, a buddy and I were at the bar on Saturday night arguing about how to improve the federal tax code to better direct charitable giving (nerd alert!). We came up with a scheme that I’d love your feedback on.

Please, Mariners, Don’t Go For It This Year

This may not be the appropriate place for this comment, but I think it’s important that GM Jackie Z hear it from as many places as possible:

More Cars Sold in China Than U.S.

Here’s a stat that snuck up on me. 

“For the first quarter of the year, 2.7 million cars were sold in China – besting U.S. sales of 2.2 million for the first time to become the world’s largest car market.”

There are many ways to look at this, two of which are:   a) good God, there goes our efforts on climate change; b) maybe China can pull us out of the recession. 

The CNN article tells us there are 100 Chinese automakers hoping to take advantage of the growing market, not to mention the multinational companies and government-owned entities like GM and Chrysler. A growing Chinese market would help with over capacity of cars out in the world. But, it would be even better if those cars were environmentally friendly. The Chinese are pushing for electric cars and Warren Buffet’s favorite car company is going electric.

But, most of the electricity in China is generated by coal. In other words, it’s a mixed up, muddled up, crazy world we live in. On the other hand, our region’s clean tech sector may stand to benefit.  Like I say, there’s a lot of ways to look at this.

The Arts Don’t Matter During a Recession

Or do they?

That’s been a relatively visible debate at the local, state and federal level over the past year, as government struggles to reduce costs and keep taxes down despite falling revenues. It can be hard for elected officials to support even a measly few million dollars here or there for arts when education, health care and everything else is getting slashed and gutted. And we know this is happening with individuals as well, as they shift their giving to different priorities.

The Great Recession vs. Tourism

So, I’ve been having an ongoing debate with myself (yes, it’s a very sad life) about how the Puget Sound tourism market is going to hold up during, as Lew calls it, The New Millenium Mortgage Meltdown. On one hand, obviously people have less money and are trying to scrimp and save. On the other foot, when it’s so depressing all the time, it’s nice to just get away for a few days and have some fun. And since you can’t afford Europe or Asia, maybe a nice trip to the greater Seattle area is right up your alley.

Well, this gives me at least an answer on the national front. But I’m going to hold out to see local numbers.