I'm glad to see the paper is covering this issue (Mercer project opposed by many, Oct. 15). But I'm afraid the retelling of Councilman Licata's meeting doesn't quite line up with the facts.

I know your reporter said that just about everybody at the meeting opposed fixing the Mercer Mess. But Licata asked people at the meeting to vote on what they wanted to happen. And the clear winner was the proposal to move ahead with the plan for a two-way Mercer.

There were also a lot of people there who supported Licata's idea to take the Mercer money and spend it to build sidewalks and bike paths in other neighborhoods. But in no way is it true that just about everybody there opposed the plan.

And you're absolutely right about the need to fix the viaduct. That's just one more reason why Mercer has to be fixed. That link must be done before work can begin on the viaduct.

David Postman

(Editor's Note: Former Seattle Times political reporter David Postman now works for Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc.)