‘Rip-off’ of city

Plaudits to Rusty Williams [ “Magnuson development should be consistent with park activities,” Opinion, June 29] for calling out the public-private partnership for what it is — a rip-off of the city.

But, he gets two things wrong. He states the developer wants to rent to a “pediatric clinic.” Virginia Mason plans a full-service Internal Medicine Clinic. From their help-wanted ad currently running in The Seattle Times: “The new Magnuson Park Clinic will offer a full range of primary and specialty-care services, including internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology and orthopedics. The clinic also offers dietitian services, laboratory facilities, X-ray and mammography.”

Do we want a medical center at Discovery Park? at Lincoln Park? in the Good Shepherd Center? Why Magnuson?

Secondly, it’s more than the fundamental building upgrades which get deducted from the rent owed to the city. What is sickening is the developer also deducts all tenant improvements over the 45-year lease.

Medical clinics do not come cheap. Not only does the developer propose to place a medical center on our public shoreline, he also expects the citizens to pay for it.

— Gail Chiarello, Seattle