Since we're bracing for a big jolt tonight on the tunnel—with serious winners and losers—we'll dial down today's Afternoon Jolt by issuing a non-politicized winner: Street life. (Yes, there are people who freak out about busier business districts, so I guess we'll make them our default losers.)



Working with the Washington State Liquor Control Board, Mayor Mike McGinn has changed sidewalk seating rules so that cafes and restaurants have more options to set up outdoor seating.

Currently, sidewalk café alcohol service is limited to areas immediately adjacent to a building. Changing that to allow detached outdoor cafe spots and curbside cafes will set off an excellent chain of events: Restaurants will expand their service; more customers will come; restaurants will get busier; streets will get livelier; more people will be attracted to the livelier business districts; and restaurants will want to expand their service.

Lots of winners today.

To make the change, cafe-licensed restaurants have to get approval for the liquor board to change their licenses and the Seattle Department of Transportation has to sign off on the change—making sure the new setup doesn't interfere with pedestrian access, violate ADA guidelines, or inhibit drivers from opening their doors.