Letters to the Editor

I find it ironic that there is so much renunciation from within the Christian community over the veracity of the information contained in an admitted "novel," and yet the same group openly accepts as unmitigated truth the tangle of contradictions, misinformation and blatant manipulations contained in the most collaboratively rewritten and non-auditable document of all time: the Bible.

Frequently, faith and truth seem to be mutually exclusive. Or, perhaps I should reconsider voicing my opinions regarding faith-based hypocrisy.

Are peaceful, loving Christians still burning heretics at the stake?

Jeff Curtis
Seattle

HOMELESS

Emergency center provides housing all are entitled to

I have never been homeless and, God willing, never will be. I recently bought my first home in Hillman City and have felt welcome from the moment I arrived. I want to extend the welcome mat.

In response to Craig Thompson ("Downtown location best for housing mentally ill," Thursday), the Downtown Emergency Service Center's apartment complex at 5270 Rainier Ave. S. is meant to provide permanent housing for the formerly homeless. It will have many of the services available on-site that those folks rely on downtown. It will be a permanent home for people who want a place to call their own -- away from the underpasses and doorways of downtown.

While there has been a vocal crowd opposing this project, many in my neighborhood support DESC and are working toward helping make this project an asset to our community.

Aubree Holliman
Seattle

VIADUCT

Loss of time, business should be included in cost

In the debate as to the best solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct problem, estimated costs are a key factor. However, these costs usually cover just construction costs. Sometimes it is mentioned that costs should also cover the loss of business in the area due to congestion during construction.

To me, the most important cost is the value of the time lost and frustration incurred because of construction. Replacement of the viaduct with a tunnel or a new viaduct could easily drag on for years beyond today's estimated schedule. Ten to 15 years to complete? Maybe. Time will tell. During those years, Seattle-area commuters will face continuous traffic nightmares and spend countless hours stuck in traffic.

It would not be too difficult to estimate the cost of this loss of time. An estimate of the number of commuters affected multiplied by expected lost time per person each year would calculate annual total lost time. This could be summed for the expected duration of the project, including expected project delays. These hours could be priced at an hourly rate representing the value of this time stuck in traffic to the average Seattle commuter. Ten dollars per hour? Twenty? I'd pay much more to avoid it. The cost needs to be figured into each possible fix. My guess is that this will show the most cost-effective solution, by far and away, is a solid retrofit completed ASAP. I don't know anyone who doesn't have a value associated with his or her time, or a negative value associated with time stuck in traffic.

Dave Gamrath
Seattle

Councilman unfamiliar with SF waterfront

I really wonder how much City Councilman David Della knows about either the San Francisco or Seattle waterfronts (Thursday)? The main port activity of the San Francisco Bay Area had moved to Oakland long before the '89 earthquake. Taking down the Embarcadero Freeway had nothing to do with it. In Seattle, the heavy-duty port activity is north and south of the area where the viaduct should be taken down. The central waterfront is mostly a tourist area, exactly like the San Francisco waterfront.

Peter DeMan
Seattle

CROSSWALKS

Marked or not, drivers must stop for pedestrians

In Phuong Cat Le's article "Courteous to a fault, Seattle drivers can irk," Dan Manville lists stopping to let pedestrians cross where there is no marked crosswalk as an unwarranted courtesy. Please help clear up this dangerous misconception.

Vehicles are required to stop to allow pedestrians to cross at intersections whether the crosswalks are marked or not. See RCW 46.61.235 and 46.61.240.

Patrick Scheible
Seattle

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