The following statement was released by Seattle City Council members Nick Licata and Tom Rasmussen regarding the State Legislature's stimulus plan. Yesterday, both, along with council member Sally Clark, voted against releasing lifting the remaining spending restrictions on the Mercer Corridor and allowing construction to begin.

“Today we learned from the joint Transportation Committee press conference in Olympia that the mayor knew in advance that $50 million needed to fully fund the Mercer Project would not be included in the proposed federal stimulus package.

The council voted 6-3 yesterday to release the remainder of Mercer Project funds after the executive provided a full funding plan, thus
meeting the council’s requirement from last year’s budget process. It appears this vote was taken without council members knowing that the
state Transportation Chairs had already decided not to propose funding for this project from the Federal stimulus funds.

It raises the question whether the Council would have voted to proceed with this project if it had known that the city does not have the money to complete it.

The council should re-examine its options with regard to the Mercer Project, and consider spending limitations."