Reported by KING-TV

WA State Ferries inspires new 'ferry tales'

05:58 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 27, 2009

By ROB PIERCY / KING 5 News


Video: Pamphlet paints grim ferry tales
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - The fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers some 200 years ago have been read by millions of people all over the world.

Tales such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rapunzel" and "Hansel and Gretel" have been told and retold for generations.

Now there's a new story: "Grim Ferry Tales." It's a publication by a group called the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a non-partisan political think-tank based in 

Olympia.

"Grim Ferry Tales" is a slick, well produced pamphlet chronicling the history of Washington State Ferries. The pages are full of scathing criticisms of how the state ferry system is run.

One page reads: "Ferry Tales: A tragicomedy about failure, folly, and foolishness at Washington State Ferries."

Volunteers have been handing out the pamphlets to passengers waiting in line at ferry docks.

Scott St. Clair, who did the research that went into "Grim Ferry Tales," says the goal is pull back the curtain and give people a glimpse of how their tax dollars are being used and misused at W.S.F.

"We wanted to take a look at some of the issues inside the ferry system," he said.

The pamphlet hammers WSF for letting unions control what hours ferries and the ferry repair shop operate.

It also goes after the ferry system for not building the boats that were promised after a gas tax hike six years ago.


For ferry passengers, the "ferry tales" are an interesting read.

"There are a lot of things nowadays that frustrate you as far as tax dollars are concerned," said Gary Fisher.

Scott St. Clair says it doesn't have to be that way, but it will take a serious change in culture at Washington State Ferries.

Washington State Ferries has not returned phone calls asking for comment.

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