Jeffry Berner
@pyth-of-samos.bsky.social
Climatehawk. Democrat. Sounder Til I Die. Boeing Airplanes (retired). MIT alum. Progressive Christian. Cascadia Bio-region. Hike-Bike-Ski-Swim some.
Just tax the golf courses based upon their real value if they would be developed as luxury homes in a gated community. Personally I don’t know why that isn’t on the table to bridge the funding gap. If it was an initiative it would pass in a landslide.
November 27, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Just tax the golf courses based upon their real value if they would be developed as luxury homes in a gated community. Personally I don’t know why that isn’t on the table to bridge the funding gap. If it was an initiative it would pass in a landslide.
I have always thought that overdose deaths would taper off in Seattle because the size of the pool of addicts would be smaller each year due to overdose deaths within that population.
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I have always thought that overdose deaths would taper off in Seattle because the size of the pool of addicts would be smaller each year due to overdose deaths within that population.
Are you sure about that? WSDOT allowed on-time performance to slip below 50%. Millions spent in this time frame on rail projects intended to improve service but really nothing to show for it. No projects in the queue at the ready for when FRA grant opportunities arise.
November 24, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Are you sure about that? WSDOT allowed on-time performance to slip below 50%. Millions spent in this time frame on rail projects intended to improve service but really nothing to show for it. No projects in the queue at the ready for when FRA grant opportunities arise.
We should be building dedicated track for Amtrak Cascades right now. That was the plan in 2006. For example, there is a 26 mile segment south of Nisqually River delta where dedicated track could be built. As of today, Airo trainsets will be limited to 79 mph and average only 53 mph to Portland.
November 24, 2025 at 2:07 AM
We should be building dedicated track for Amtrak Cascades right now. That was the plan in 2006. For example, there is a 26 mile segment south of Nisqually River delta where dedicated track could be built. As of today, Airo trainsets will be limited to 79 mph and average only 53 mph to Portland.
33 yo today (Nov. 22, 1992). Happy Birthday, Jesse!
November 23, 2025 at 2:05 AM
33 yo today (Nov. 22, 1992). Happy Birthday, Jesse!
Imagine what ridership would look like if we prioritized making Amtrak reliable, faster, and easy to connect to. Imagine easy connections from Link and Metro. Imagine speeding past slow freight trains at 110mph on dedicated track. Only thing missing is the long-term vision and sense of urgency.
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Imagine what ridership would look like if we prioritized making Amtrak reliable, faster, and easy to connect to. Imagine easy connections from Link and Metro. Imagine speeding past slow freight trains at 110mph on dedicated track. Only thing missing is the long-term vision and sense of urgency.
I believe that you are not accounting for values, namely that the political right values what suburban sprawl represents to them. To the political right, a single-family home means individual liberty & responsibility. Owning a car is seen as freedom to travel. Transit is a tax that reduces freedom.
November 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I believe that you are not accounting for values, namely that the political right values what suburban sprawl represents to them. To the political right, a single-family home means individual liberty & responsibility. Owning a car is seen as freedom to travel. Transit is a tax that reduces freedom.
What did you expect? Wealthy folks who don’t understand their privilege and responsibility. Heaven help us if this type of socialism spreads and other cities remove single family zoning, expand transit service, and install bike lanes.
November 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
What did you expect? Wealthy folks who don’t understand their privilege and responsibility. Heaven help us if this type of socialism spreads and other cities remove single family zoning, expand transit service, and install bike lanes.
What did you expect? Wealthy folks who don’t understand their privilege and responsibility. Heaven help us if this socialism spreads and other cities remove single family zoning, expand transit service, and install bike lanes.
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
What did you expect? Wealthy folks who don’t understand their privilege and responsibility. Heaven help us if this socialism spreads and other cities remove single family zoning, expand transit service, and install bike lanes.
It's always about oil. US production is plateauing and set to decline. "Energy dominance" is not just US domestic production. It is also US oil field services and refining industry. Venezuela is next big opportunity. We all saw this play out in Iraq.
November 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It's always about oil. US production is plateauing and set to decline. "Energy dominance" is not just US domestic production. It is also US oil field services and refining industry. Venezuela is next big opportunity. We all saw this play out in Iraq.
Why does Seattle have a sister-city relationship with a Be'er Sheva which is a product of the Nakba? Maybe we should have a sister-city relationship with Hebron or Rafah as well.
www.seattle.gov/parks/allpar...
www.seattle.gov/parks/allpar...
November 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Why does Seattle have a sister-city relationship with a Be'er Sheva which is a product of the Nakba? Maybe we should have a sister-city relationship with Hebron or Rafah as well.
www.seattle.gov/parks/allpar...
www.seattle.gov/parks/allpar...
May I offer a suggestion? 15,000 seats, just saying. It would be pretty awesome. Accessible by transit.
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 PM
May I offer a suggestion? 15,000 seats, just saying. It would be pretty awesome. Accessible by transit.
Huge fan of light rail as well. Often ride Amtrak to/from Portland and walk over to/from the International District station to catch Link. But that is exactly my point that investments should be made in the near term to improve mode connectivity today rather than waiting for UHSR to solve it all.
November 12, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Huge fan of light rail as well. Often ride Amtrak to/from Portland and walk over to/from the International District station to catch Link. But that is exactly my point that investments should be made in the near term to improve mode connectivity today rather than waiting for UHSR to solve it all.
No one is a fan of the cost overruns and waffling on station location. For all its faults, light rail was passed by the voters with a funding source.
November 12, 2025 at 1:21 AM
No one is a fan of the cost overruns and waffling on station location. For all its faults, light rail was passed by the voters with a funding source.
Reposted by Jeffry Berner
And you’re going to see a LOT of this coming out of COP.
But if you want to see what the real issues of food and climate change are, and find solutions that work, we have you covered.
First, the science underpinning the issue:
go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
But if you want to see what the real issues of food and climate change are, and find solutions that work, we have you covered.
First, the science underpinning the issue:
go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
The problem with food and climate — and how to fix it
Global food production — from meat to grains — accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, says sustainability scientist Jonathan Foley. He presents a portfolio of data-backed solutions to b...
go.ted.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
And you’re going to see a LOT of this coming out of COP.
But if you want to see what the real issues of food and climate change are, and find solutions that work, we have you covered.
First, the science underpinning the issue:
go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
But if you want to see what the real issues of food and climate change are, and find solutions that work, we have you covered.
First, the science underpinning the issue:
go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
and there is no clear path to downtown Vancouver through a congested & built urban environment. Politically, there is little indication that the British Columbia provincial government is willing to forward the effort & funding commensurate to achieve a true high speed railroad linking down towns.
November 11, 2025 at 6:12 AM
and there is no clear path to downtown Vancouver through a congested & built urban environment. Politically, there is little indication that the British Columbia provincial government is willing to forward the effort & funding commensurate to achieve a true high speed railroad linking down towns.
The rail experts that worked on the predecessor to UHSR, the 2006 Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan, have identified that the most difficult and expensive part of a UHSR segment is once you reach the US-Canadian border at Blaine. Crossing the Fraser alluvial delta is a construction nightmare...
November 11, 2025 at 6:12 AM
The rail experts that worked on the predecessor to UHSR, the 2006 Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan, have identified that the most difficult and expensive part of a UHSR segment is once you reach the US-Canadian border at Blaine. Crossing the Fraser alluvial delta is a construction nightmare...
not connecting Portland-Tacoma-Seattle-Everett-Bellingham-Vancouver BC today with fast and efficient rail service that is reliable, frequent and fast enough. Cascade Innovation Corridor wants to bridge tech hubs in the region. Is it really smart business to wait 20 years or more for that to occur?
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
not connecting Portland-Tacoma-Seattle-Everett-Bellingham-Vancouver BC today with fast and efficient rail service that is reliable, frequent and fast enough. Cascade Innovation Corridor wants to bridge tech hubs in the region. Is it really smart business to wait 20 years or more for that to occur?
Microsoft's obsession with UHSR is doing a real disservice to the region by diverting energy and delaying action on improving our existing rail system. An UHSR system that is completed in 2045 does nothing in the meantime to address the transit needs we have to day. There is opportunity cost in...
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Microsoft's obsession with UHSR is doing a real disservice to the region by diverting energy and delaying action on improving our existing rail system. An UHSR system that is completed in 2045 does nothing in the meantime to address the transit needs we have to day. There is opportunity cost in...
utilized an existing railroad right-of-way, not a new right-of-way which would be required for Washington state.
The political challenges are even greater. Map out a scenario to how UHSR gets 25 votes in the Senate & 49 votes in the House when the route will be skipping past legislative districts.
The political challenges are even greater. Map out a scenario to how UHSR gets 25 votes in the Senate & 49 votes in the House when the route will be skipping past legislative districts.
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
utilized an existing railroad right-of-way, not a new right-of-way which would be required for Washington state.
The political challenges are even greater. Map out a scenario to how UHSR gets 25 votes in the Senate & 49 votes in the House when the route will be skipping past legislative districts.
The political challenges are even greater. Map out a scenario to how UHSR gets 25 votes in the Senate & 49 votes in the House when the route will be skipping past legislative districts.
but actually yield is 15%. The bond market says that these are high risk investments. Brightline's bonds are also tax-free municipal bonds due to sleight-of-hand passed through Florida legislature. Washington state's legislature is not as friendly to developers as Florida. Here again, Brightline...
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
but actually yield is 15%. The bond market says that these are high risk investments. Brightline's bonds are also tax-free municipal bonds due to sleight-of-hand passed through Florida legislature. Washington state's legislature is not as friendly to developers as Florida. Here again, Brightline...
expedite schedules. Washington's highways in comparison do not allow that approach to be utilized. Too hilly. Too winding. The business case in PNW for passenger traffic is not as clear as Las Vegas. As for Brightline Florida, it recently remarketed $1 billion of bonds at a term rate of 10%,...
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
expedite schedules. Washington's highways in comparison do not allow that approach to be utilized. Too hilly. Too winding. The business case in PNW for passenger traffic is not as clear as Las Vegas. As for Brightline Florida, it recently remarketed $1 billion of bonds at a term rate of 10%,...