For nearly two years, Mercer Island officials have attempted to engage local, regional and state transportation officials about ways to mitigate the traffic nightmare the light rail project across the floating bridge is certain to inflict on the community’s roadways and downtown once access to Interstate 90 is restricted. These earnest efforts have been met with a bureaucrat’s most lethal weapon: Indifference.

But no longer. That indifference has been replaced with hostility and disbelief after Mercer Island informed transportation officials it intended to file a lawsuit for breach of contract and withhold permits critical to the project. Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff was outraged and warned of “significant risks” to taxpayers if the project is delayed. He also claims the state is powerless when it comes to making demands on the Federal Highway Administration and risks losing millions of federal dollars if we don’t toe the line.

Nonsense. Any transportation project of merit has delays baked into the schedule. Think the 520 floating bridge, Seattle tunnel or 405 toll lanes. And, unless Mr. Rogoff is living in another universe, he certainly must be aware that the West Coast Washington takes a particular pride in jabbing its thumb in the eye of the federal government and turning up its nose at money from D.C. Here are just a few recent examples:

1). Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine and seemingly every mayor west of the Cascades, save for Tacoma’s, have pledged to uphold sanctuary city status for undocumented immigrants, this despite threats by the Trump administration to strip tens of millions of dollars in federal aid from cities who refuse to cooperate with law enforcement.

2). In the face of stiff penalties and fines, state officials and public school educators refused to administer federal testing standards for students proposed by the Obama administration.

3). Just recently, the state’s attorney general said he would fight any attempt by the federal government to enforce national laws that restrict the sale of legalized pot.

There are plenty more examples, but the point is clear: Our local politicians are fearless when it comes to confronting the federal government, money be damned.

I suspect what transportation officials fear more than delays or pushback from the feds is exposure. The Mercer Island lawsuit carries with it the promise of discovery and depositions. It’s hard to predict what the litigation will uncover but don’t be surprised if it turns up hidden agendas to thwart Mercer Island’s interests.

Mayor Bassett and the Mercer Island City Council did the right thing by playing the lawsuit card, but this is just the beginning of what could become a protracted fight. Mercer Island’s leaders need to steel themselves for the attacks that are certain to follow and not be distracted by idle threats, bullying and false choices. Good show, Mercer Island. Game on.

Mark Pawlosky

Mercer Island