The 1989 Loma Prieta quake flattened a similar structure and dozens died horrific deaths. Seattle was content to stare at theirs for nearly 20 years, even after a 2001 earthquake damaged it and the adjoining retaining sea wall.

There was no perfect solution and that got in the way of the good. Most people had the luxury of avoiding using it. I'd summarize the overarching opinion as "suburbanites who thought it would get fixed cheaper and faster once it finally collapsed."