For once, I won’t be wordy and nerdy. I have three last thoughts to share. 1. Thank you for reading my words. That is the most valuable gift you can give to any writer. 2. Please support local journalism, especially local journalism reporting on local government. It’s our government, and if we want to hold it accountable to us then we need to know what it is (and isn’t) doing. Good, professional reporting costs money to produce, and we need to be prepared to pay for it. 3. You can disagree with someone and still be respectful. Civil servants and …
Continue readingResources to help you find your way in and around Seattle government
Before I sail off into the sunset, I want to share with you a compendium of resources and some wisdom on how to find out what’s going on in Seattle government.
Continue readingFriday news roundup
The last morning news roundup for 2021… and forever. Yikes.
Continue readingCouncil’s ban on “less-lethal” weapons will be early test for Harrell as SPD waits for guidance
Among the unresolved messes that Mayor Durkan will be leaving for Mayor-elect Harrell this week is the City Council’s ordinance restricting SPD’s use of certain “less lethal” weapons for crowd control, which SPD has yet to implement.
Continue readingThursday news roundup
More snow! I’m sure that’s what y’all wanted to wake up to this morning. Here’s the news.
Continue readingWednesday news roundup
Stay warm, stay dry. More snow is headed our way tomorrow. Here’s the news.
Continue readingTuesday news roundup
Stay warm, dry and safe out there. Here’s the news.
Continue readingRent control, revisited
In early 2019 I wrote an article reviewing the research on rent control. At the time, Councilmember Sawant was making a push at trying to get a local rent control measure passed — despite the state law prohibiting it. Earlier this year she published an updated version of her draft rent control bill, though she doesn’t seem to have much (if any) visible support from her colleagues on the Council. Now having narrowly escaped recall, Sawant is making noises about a more fervent push to pass her rent control bill. That makes it a good time to provide an update …
Continue readingCourt-appointed police monitor files status report
This morning Dr. Antonio Oftelie, the court-appointed police monitor for the 2012 Consent Decree, filed a status report informing Judge James Robart of what has been happening in 2021 and previewing actions expected next year. Oftelie provided an update on contract negotiations with the two unions representing SPD officers and supervisors, and provided some details on how he is assembling his much-anticipated assessment of SPD’s compliance with the consent decree.
Continue readingThursday news roundup
The good weather news: it looks like we could have a white Christmas. The bad weather news: it’s going to be very, very cold next week. Make sure your snow shovel is ready, stock up on de-icer, and wrap those pipes and spigots. Here’s the news.
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