What if you hosted a party then decided not to come? That's what dear Mayor Greg did to his own neighbors in West Seattle last Wednesday night. Not only did I get a card stating that the Mayor was hosting a town hall meeting (along with Jan Drago and the Seattle Department of Transportation), but he took the time to leave a message on my answering machine inviting me to the event as well. (OK maybe it was a taped invitation!) His message was clear - come and talk about Seattle's transportation system. We arrived to discover an impressive bait and switch scheme where not only did he not show, his deputy mayor made it clear that a discussion about the viaduct was not on the agenda. (I guess that is not a transportation problem any more now that he has decided the tunnel is the best solution for us.) We were encouraged to talk about our pothole problems or paving needs, but his Deputy Mayor made it clear that the viaduct was not on the agenda. Oh, but feel free to take the wonderfully expensive brochure the major has put together and made available to us that night about why the tunnel will be a wonderful solution to swallow! Just don't bring it up as a topic, that's not what we are here for!

The irony was in the carefully scripted presentation of the city's back log of transportation problems that were clearly outlined by transportation staff and the estimated $500 million in costs associated with them that they wanted us to figure out how to fund. Well how about taking the extra cash needed to build a tunnel and address the incredible array of problems the major's office outlined.

Hooray for the number of West Seattleites who showed up hoping to have a discussion with their "friendly" neighbor, the mayor! But, Mayor Greg, you deserve a social citation from Miss Manners for not showing up to the evening event you told us twice you were hosting.

A.E. Nicoll

West Seattle

Belvidere