Liberal Talk Radio

Following up on yesterday’s post, King County Exec Ron Sims is calling the Port of Seattle’s bluff:

In interviews yesterday, Sims, who sits on the Sound Transit board, which oversees planning for the light-rail line, lambasted the Port’s actions as political posturing.

“It’s an unconscionable decision. It’s hostage-taking. It’s not good public policy, and it’s not appropriate,” he fumed.

Sims said future growth at Sea-Tac, even without Southwest, justifies connecting light rail with the airport. And he said the competition created by Southwest’s proposed move to Boeing Field would prove valuable to airlines and their customers.

“I’ve never seen a more flagrant foul against the free enterprise system,” Sims said of the Port’s threats.

Looks like he’s trying to nip this one in the bud, so he can have his cake (light rail at the airport) and eat it too (Southwest Airlines at King County Airport). Clearly the Port wants light rail, and they’re using this as a bargaining chip. I think our region is definitely approaching the size where it could use another major airport. As it stands, the closest major commercial airports are in Portland and Vancouver. Compare that to San Francisco, which has at least three (SFO, Oakland, and San Jose) in the metro area.