Unsound Transit

You'd think that the financial black hole called "Sound Transit" would be under federal scrutiny for swindling the taxpayers out of billions of dollars, but the unaccountable rogue agency is under review for something, at least:

The Federal Transit Administration has begun a broad review of Sound Transit's compliance with government "Buy America" requirements after discovering that foreign steel was used illegally in the construction of a Sound Transit project in Kent.

Sound Transit acknowledges $9,500 worth of Canadian steel tubing was used to build a foot bridge between its Kent commuter-rail station and a parking garage.

Anybody who bothered to pay attention in economics class knows that "Buy America" rules are idiotic. Any public project that's worth doing is worth doing with the best quality materials for the lowest price no matter where they're made. Not to mention that that's also the most effective way to keep the most Americans gainfully employed. Nevertheless, Sound Transit officials lamely attempt to defend their worthless agency:

"The FTA takes it (Buy America) very seriously," said Sound Transit board chairman and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "We take it seriously, too."

It's a sad indictment of Sound Transit's leadership that they fail to recognize that "Buy America" rules are contrary to the public's interest while they also fail to implement their own misguided policies anyway.

Do what you can to support the Trust and Transit initiative (I-894) that will force a revote on the unaccountable and sadly mismanaged multi-billion financial black hole of Sound Transit.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 30, 2004 11:41 AM