The words remained in my head long after I head them, "It isn't a panic, it is a crisis of confidence." That conversation was not about rail or parks, but about the financial mess that is threatening to engulf us locally, even though Seattle is likely to recover far sooner than the rest of the nation.

Proposition 2, the continuation of the Seattle parks support levy, meets and surpasses that crisis of confidence, but $18 billion for Sound Transit simply fails all the tests.

We can afford $145 million over eight years to provide green and recreational spaces for West Seattle and other residents of the city. But the logic for billions for rail at this time cannot be supported and we suggest the rail aficionados wait a bit until the smoke clears from the financial crisis, do a bit more deep thinking about the effects of the system they are building and come back in a year or two.

Seattle Proposition 2

The measure continues our city's love affair with parks by adding six more years to the well-received Pro Parks Levy. The new levy was rejected by Mayor Greg Nickels who preferred to focus on repairs for Pike Place Market and the gigantic Sound Transit measure. This newspaper actively lobbied for a new parks measure and the one before us was written by local citizens and placed on the ballot by the Seattle City Council.

It will decrease the cost of the current parks levy by an average of $25 a year, to $81.

Our city is growing rapidly, a growth that may be slowed a bit by the financial problems, but because we have stable economic underpinnings and are a great place to live, the slowing should be short lived. Because we have failed to include park and open space amenities in the requirement for developers, some areas are likely to be more paved surfaces than green space.

People are suggesting that the times are such that a park is about the only place people can afford to go and hang out, relax and enjoy our city.

In West Seattle, the levy will finance projects proposed at Camp Long, the West Seattle Junction, in Delridge and even on Beach Drive.

We strongly and unhesitatingly endorse the continued parks levy, Proposition 2.

Sound Transit Proposition No. 1

Simply, it is too expensive, provides too little now when help is needed elsewhere.

Its supporters say, amongst other things, that it will cost residents $69 per adult per year and will provide 100,000 hours of added bus service. It also will give us 36 more miles of rail service - "expanded north to Lynnwood, south to Federal Way and east to Redmond."

It is also said by supporters that continuing building the rail system will lead to eventually providing rail service to the western parts of the city, but the east parts must be built first, a logic we reject, especially when West Seattle is likely never to get any kind of rail service.

Another canard is it will cause redevelopment of areas around its station and that it will provide jobs to help out in our squeaky economy (ending the Boeing strike would help a lot more).

Suggesting rail stations benefit less developed areas in southeast Seattle is a bit like suggesting police clearance of homeless shelters helps the homeless. All both actions do it so move the problem away, hopefully out of sight of the powers that be, but never really are a solution to anything. The poor being forced away from areas of the Rainier Valley results in more places where only the wealthier can afford to live, while the poor get remarginalized.

The suggestion that we will get 100,000 more hours of bus service if we continue Sound Transit is far too little for far too much money.

We need bus service now, not years from now. We could build a massive fleet of modern, fuel-efficient buses for a mere pittance compared with Sound Transit's desire for $18 billion (plus costs of debt service).

Sound Transit can and should be extended but not now. We have a financial crisis and it is not time to put the government hand into our pockets.

That it will cost more later is probably true, but maybe we will have more money later, because taxes and incomes are shrinking now. King County Executive Ron Sims in cutting people, major services such as cops and courts and even as a member of the Sound Transit Board, he opposes this measure.

We urge - and expect - a massive rejection of Proposition 1.

- Jack Mayne