Schrammie: Chris Hansen's total disregard for Seattle bureaucracy
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- It's not the Seattle way.
The Seattle way is supposed to be commissions, lots of studies and blue ribbon panels.
The Seattle way is consensus.
So if Chris Hansen would step back from the foul line, I'd like him to come on down.
Prancing into Seattle without so much as a survey tucked into his portfolio, Chris Hansen - bemoaning the loss of the Sonics - decided Seattle should have an NBA franchise.
Putting his money where his mouth is, he quietly met with elected officials to put a deal together.
For every obstacle, he offered a solution.
He met concerns with compromise.
But where was the process?
Where was the muddled quagmire of bureaucracy?
Who does Chris Hansen think he is blowing into town and leading a successful charge to achieve something without succumbing to bureaucratic protocol?
Sure, he's paying for traffic improvements.
Sure, he's paying to fix up KeyArena.
Sure, he's not putting taxpayers on the hook for a new stadium.
Sure, he's buying the beer tomorrow night.
But Chris Hansen obviously has no respect for the plodding, lumbering, time consuming, energy draining tradition of how things are done.
And for that reason, Chris Hansen should take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for him.
:)
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
The Seattle way is supposed to be commissions, lots of studies and blue ribbon panels.
The Seattle way is consensus.
So if Chris Hansen would step back from the foul line, I'd like him to come on down.
Prancing into Seattle without so much as a survey tucked into his portfolio, Chris Hansen - bemoaning the loss of the Sonics - decided Seattle should have an NBA franchise.
Putting his money where his mouth is, he quietly met with elected officials to put a deal together.
For every obstacle, he offered a solution.
He met concerns with compromise.
But where was the process?
Where was the muddled quagmire of bureaucracy?
Who does Chris Hansen think he is blowing into town and leading a successful charge to achieve something without succumbing to bureaucratic protocol?
Sure, he's paying for traffic improvements.
Sure, he's paying to fix up KeyArena.
Sure, he's not putting taxpayers on the hook for a new stadium.
Sure, he's buying the beer tomorrow night.
But Chris Hansen obviously has no respect for the plodding, lumbering, time consuming, energy draining tradition of how things are done.
And for that reason, Chris Hansen should take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for him.
:)
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Sure Ken...pass out enough free beer and you can have most anything you want in King County.
Sooo right, Kenny! This Schrammie belongs to you, Mr. Hansen! Who do you think you are, MR BIG STUFF? You have the gaul to overlook and disregard Seattle's political machinations! Well, Sir, this will not stand! No, Sir! Cooperative! Responsive! Ownership with deep roots in the community! Ohhhh!  How dare you!  This will not stand! NO! I'm going to march down to FX Mcrory's and have not one but two beers on you, Mr Hansen. There!
That will teach you to completely dismiss our processes!Â
http://thankyouchrishansen.com
I agree, but my guard is still up. I just keep thinking "MONORAIL, MONORAIL"
Mr. Hansen, I would leave this deal undone. Matter of fact; I would move and take all of my net worth with me, if I were you. You have done everything you can, and are in a losing situation. Seattle is the red tape minion of the U.S. and has the reputation of indecision and waffling. They wouldnât know a good deal if it hit them in the face.
They don't look at it as the greatest deal in the history of professional sports franchise and it's their loss. Good-luck with liquidating your assets.
Hmmm, something smells fishy, and any time Ken Scam likes someone, Â it really start to smell funny, I agree with Travis Hartnett, let's just wait, and see.
Awesome job Ken. Sadly, now everyone knows that the 'Seattle Process' is no longer a requirement. Whatever will the city do now that they've shown they don't NEED to drag their collective feet?
 @theToucanÂ
Â
It's no longer a necessary process if you have a net worth of $2.7 dollars. Â Which is the same as it ever was.
 @theToucan 2.7 billion dollars, that is...
Â
My net worth is $2.7. Â :)
I am just about ready to blow my top here and call your brand of liberalism a nastier form of social conservatism than the Westboro Baptist Church... You almost had me. Hansen's to be admired. And some city folk fired. That smiley face is the only thing that saved your butt.
What if Chris Hansen, in a few years, declares bankruptcy? Think about it...He could have got everything he wanted and the taxpayers will still have to pay!
 @oh mama KÂ
Â
Wait, he goes bankrupt and got everything he wanted?  In what world is bankruptcy something billionaires want?
Â
If he isn't able to meet his financial obligations, the arena itself acts as collateral and becomes a city/county asset. Â Just like if you don't pay your mortgage, your house becomes a bank asset.
Bravo Ken, thank you for the irony and humor!
At first I was ready to blast you, Ken. Â The I started laughing! Â Great job of using subtlety and wit to get an important point across.
I love the left-handed salute, Ken. :)
Best Schrammie (and yes I got the wink) EVER. Completely agree with the decision to lambast Hansen for extending two middle fingers to the Seattle way and just getting it done. This city and region needs a whole lot more of "get it done!"
Next is the naming rights for the new arena....Microsoft calling it the Bingdome!
 @yippieskippy How about naming it Chris Hansen Arena?
Very nice, Ken. Very nice.
Oh, I'd wait until a few years after the stadium's built before I'd decide that letting a rich guy just do what he wants is a great idea. Â Plenty of time for the taxpayers to be hung out to dry on expected this or that.
@Travis Hartnett  You gotta be kidding me. Zero tax dollars, that's ZERO tax dollars being are being spent.  You have no faith, fine. Here's a quiz for you:
Â
1.) How much of your money (excluding resturants & car rentals in King County) was spent to build Safeco Field?  Answer: NONE.
Â
2.) To date, how much of your money (excluding hotels & car rentals) was spent to build the CLINK? Answer: NONE
Â
So we have two successful stadiums built with no tax dollars collected other than from services usually reserved for people that live outside our area. We now have an arena proposed with a similar method except only the users of the arena will be forking over the money and you are looking for the boogie man to bend you over? On top of that, this is the sweetest deal given by an owner of a (future) sport franchise seen in a long time.
Â
Keep thinking negative, Travis. Me, I'm looking forward to the Seattle SUPER SONICS playing once again in Seattle.
Ken, you are such a smarta$$ (but in a good way). At first, I was like WTF??, then the sarcasm hit me.Â
Â
Well played, Ken. Well played.
"The Seattle way is consensus."
Â
Really Ken? Tell that to the majority of voters that said no to a new Seahawk stadium and a tunell and then said yes to $30 license tabs.Â
Seattle voters didn't vote no on the current tunnel design, they voted no on an advisory vote asking  if we wanted to pay for the older, much more expensive tunnel that would have run all the way to South Seattle.  So they went and designed a cheaper option where the southern half of the new Viaduct would be surface streets. @ByeByeBarry
Now, there's a Shrammie that can be placed on the fireplace mantel with pride :)
He should be governor.
The famously plodding and obstructionist Seattle City (and King County) bureaucracy is probably quite threatened by this development.Â
Not a big fan of basketball, but I am even a lesser fan of the Seattle bureaucracy. Here is a guy that wants to bring the NBA back to Seattle should he have to wait for the Seattle way? He found a way to circumvent the Seattle bureaucracy, more power to him I say. Now if he just bring back the Beatles.
Oh man Ken you got me. I was all ready to lambast you. Good one. Chris Hansen is a breath of fresh air that this city has needed for twenty plus years. maybe now other people in this area will see that things can be accomplished in less than an ice age.Â
 @BobDobbs "Chris Hansen is a breath of fresh air that this city has needed for twenty plus years."
Â
More like fifty years!
If we can only get him to run the City things will finally get done.
 @mstipton you can always write him in.
Yep, just what we need, another stadium.
 @Blindman Given that 20% of all tax revenue collected in Seattle comes directly or indirectly from Safeco Field, that even accounts for low attendance due to the rather lack luster Mariners I say yes, yes, Seattle needs another stadium with an NBA team filling seats and the tax coffers at the same time.
 @Blindman Arena* They don't play basketball or hockey in stadiums.Â
This comment has been deleted
Okay, Ken admitted on his Facebook page this is riddled with sarcasm. With him, it's hard to tell! ;)
 @Zoso That was not hard to tell at all. He just just got you cold ;-)
 @Komo Dragon True, but like I said, sometimes it's hard to tell with him. Plus I'm probably still tired. Makes me think of how interesting the video will be. ;)
I wont disagree with you Ken. Chris did us a favor.
Mr Hansen...."YOU DA MAN"!!!!!!
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155628/pedophile-panic
Â
Oh no it's Chris Hanson.
So ... this is a good Schrammie???
I tend to be a "Schram fan" on slightly more occasions than not, but I have to say, This is one of your better writings. I loved it. Would it be possible to present Mr. Hansen with his "Schrammie" at a Seattle Council meeting?
Very clever, Ken! While I applaud the sentiment I think this should have been a commentary instead of a Schrammie. Small nit. On the other side of the issue, the fact that Chris Hansen can waltz in and cram a new stadium into an already crowded area, thumb his nose at the Port of Seattle and do it with ease just shows that even the bureaucratic stone wall that is the Seattle City Council can be charmed like a lovesick teenager by a charismatic man with a massive pile of cash.
 @Gigantor! I wish someone would thumb there nose at be by giving me $40 million for I-405 transportation improvements between Bellevue and Renton.....
Â
Seriously, $40 million to help Sodo Transportation issues. That was the port's big complaint and it was addressed by a hell of a compromise.
I was not aware of that, I appreciate the info. Not against the whole deal, really, just playing devil's advocate.
 @Gigantor! Wouldnt be the first time!
We have to be careful.
Soon we may be able to feed and clothe ourselves.
Most witty comments I've read in a long time!! Love it!!!
Ken....with actual witty sarcasm?? Say it ain't so.
 @Sydthepiper Refreshing, ain't it?