Somebody please tell me why:
This project did not originally include this now measly million dollar "seismic upgrade"?
(Especially given that a seismic upgrade was the official purpose all along?)
What were the exact design features that were not included originally?
Whose oversight was all of that?
This project was projected to cost $17.85 million, which presumably had some contingency fudge factor planned in from the beginning.  Now, without the "seismic upgrade" the project cost is at least $24 million - an increase of nearly 35% - or maybe $25 million - an increase of    40%.
Why do those who proposed this design (and those in the senior city staff who approved it) still have their contracts (or jobs)?
They obviously have no idea what the heck they are doing.

Why, until today, has this big cost overrun been characterized in press reports as all being about seismic upgrade - when that is now so clearly not the case?
Whose mistake was that?
The media?
The staff? 
The design team?