Update: Helicopters, traffic, SSCC event, all part of Bidens’ visit

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(PHOTO UPDATE: Dr. Biden with SSCC president Gary Oertli; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
FIRST REPORT, 4:01 PM: As noted here this morning, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden are in Seattle this afternoon/evening for events – he’s headlining a fundraiser downtown for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell; she’s participating in an education roundtable hosted by South Seattle Community College at their Boeing Field aviation facility. That’s why you’re seeing helicopter(s) over eastern West Seattle (thanks for the texts). And the motorcade is temporarily closing I-5 – you can expect that in the other direction around 7 pm, according to SPD.

4:28 PM UPDATE: The event with Dr. Biden is under way; we’ve substituted a new photo atop this update. More coverage to come!

6:59 PM UPDATE: One more round of eastbound bridge backup as the vice president heads back to the airport (thanks to Neil for the photo). We’ll have a separate story with more on the SSCC-hosted event in a bit.

Kate July 9, 2012 (4:19 pm)

Thanks WSB. Sitting in traffic right now and was wondering what was going on. All I see is giant red Xs on the traffic screens.

44th Neighbor July 9, 2012 (4:32 pm)

90 east closed, I5 north stopped for motorcade. Bad traffic! Motorcade just went thru downtown.

HockeyWitch July 9, 2012 (4:44 pm)

I just got home from work and the ramps to and from Columbian Way and from the W. Sea Br to I-5 were blocked off by WSP. Was wondering what the heck was going on. Felt bad for those sitting there in the traffic back up in the heat. Hope they had A/C in their cars.

rats July 9, 2012 (5:24 pm)

Jacked up everywhere.

Mike July 9, 2012 (6:03 pm)

On the taxpayers dime- I would assume.

wsdad July 9, 2012 (6:39 pm)

GO ROMNEY

Al July 9, 2012 (7:36 pm)

No commute issues here. It was a gorgeous ride home. Only took me about 1 hour, which included an errand at REI.

Rob July 9, 2012 (8:48 pm)

Is it too much to ask that all candidates reimburse any tax payer supported expense for these “FUND RAISERS”!?!?! Maybe they do, I’m not sure. But I’ve always thought it was odd any American could be allowed to spend OUR money to raise money for themselves.

Robert July 9, 2012 (8:59 pm)

I would just love to see any President or VP get off the plane and head to the closest Light Rail Station and take that into downtown.

Karl July 9, 2012 (10:54 pm)

Travel rules developed under President Reagan’s administration state that the Air Force pays all costs for the use of aircraft on such trips, and the government must be reimbursed for airfare, food, lodging and other expenses incurred during whatever portion of the trip is political.
Reimbursement for political activities involves a complex formula. Secret Service costs, for one, are always footed by the government.
The political party would pay 100 percent of the legally mandated costs for the trip and must fully comply with all legal requirements apportioned to the political activity.
On a slow night, you could pour through the public documents of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for the data.

K M July 10, 2012 (9:41 am)

@Karl, it’s so refreshing to see a response spelling out the regulations (both parties’) politicians are required to comply with in response the knee jerk reaction of “on a tax payer’s dime” cries. Thanks

Uncle Chuck July 10, 2012 (12:34 pm)

Thought I was getting swatted again.. didn’t know until I read this blog why in my back yard flying over the woods near the dog park and 509 was a helicopter causing havoc with my dogs, and the shaking of my windows…

It flow over my house very slow and the shaking knocked off a some pottery art to the ground..and one of my hard drives went off line wonder if I can sue for damages. Now I have to replace my C: Drive soon or lose all my data. more work for Joe Bidden…

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