MOHAI: Mo Money Mo Problems
Sounds like someone over at City Hall has a serious case of the gimme-gimmes. Those of you who follow local politics know that there is some serious beefing going down with Mayor McGinn one side and the Seattle City Council and MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry, natch) on the other. The squabble? 7 million dollars in funds promised to MOHAI by the good people at the State of Washington. And as things do when the scraps turn financial, it’s getting ugly.
Let’s start from the beginning. MOHAI has been housed in its building in Montlake for 58 years. Come 2012, they are kicked out big time when bulldozers run through to make way for the new 520 Bridge expansion. The city, in its benevolence and buck-passing, made agreements with MOHAI that allowed them to directly negotiate with the state to receive adequate compensation for the taking of their land, building and function. And negotiate MOHAI did, to the sweet tune of $47 million dollars.
Daddy no likey this, and McGinn has proposed legislation to go before the City Council that would redirect up to 7 million dollars towards the gaping 67 million dollar budget shortfall the city is facing this year. The argument is that the MOHAI has no claim to the funds, which are to make up for the loss of the McCurdy Park land, which technically the city owns.
The City Council and MOHAI say tough titties, a deal is a deal. They are moving to the Armory in South lake Union and they wants the money they were promised or they say they will not be able to remain in business. The Stranger quotes Councilmember Tim Rasmussen as saying, "I am not convinced that we should seek anything different than what we negotiated." So it sounds like it may be a lot of huff and puff for naught.
Want to throw in your two cents? You can contact the Mayor, or City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, the Chair of the Parks and Seattle Center Committee. You can also show up the City Council meeting Monday, September 20 at 2pm.
