Morning Fizz
Damaged Psyche
1. Everyday, for weeks now, a bike gets parked in front of city hall with an anti-tunnel "Reject Ref. 1" yard sign attached to it. (This would be Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien's bike.)
This Monday, another bike showed up, parked right next to O'Brien's, with a pro-Ref. 1 "Let's Move Forward" yard sign on it.
The thing is: At the end of the day, O'Brien's bike disappears from city hall because O'Brien actually bikes home. The rival bike, at last report on Tuesday night, stayed locked up in front of city hall.
There's a metaphor in there somewhere.
2. The PI.com has a report on the political gamesmanship at the King County Council where—going over law committee chair Bob Ferguson's head—Democratic council member Larry Phillips signed on to Republican council member Reagan Dunn's request for more funds to fight gang violence. Phillips isn't even on the committee with Dunn and Ferguson.
The PI's take: Phillips is a bitter man and was trying to snub his longtime intramural party rival, Ferguson—who is Dunn's Democratic opponent in next year's state attorney general race.
Read the PI's speculation about Phillips' damaged psyche here.
3. Fizz asked viaduct replacement manager Ron Paananen whether he was concerned about the fact that gas-tax revenues have been dropping steadily across the state (indeed, the most recent forecasts from the state Office of Financial Management—number-crunched by Sightline's Eric de Place—show gas consumption declining steadily over the next 20 years).
Won't that impact the state's ability to pay for the tunnel? [pullquote]"I can't think of one project to date that's been cancelled because of a revenue problem."---State tunnel project manager Ron Paananen[/pullquote]
"We have to report back to the legislature periodically on the statewide [transportation funding] program, where it's coming in, where it's going out," Paananen said. "This project is just one of hundreds, although it's a big one, that the program is managed for, and we work with the legislative transportation committees yearly as the program advances to make sure everything's financed. I can't think of one project to date that's been canceled because of a revenue problem, and in fact we are realizing savings across the state because the economy is slowing down."
4. After work today at 6 pm (doors open at 5:30), PubliCola is moderating a double header CityClub debate at the downtown library.
First, it's initiative maven Tim Eyman vs. state Sen. Adam Kline (D-37, S. Seattle) discussing the initiative process; why is one Eastside developer underwriting Eyman's latest "grassroots" campaign? And what's with Kline's Democrats bailing on an initiative to go after corporate tax loopholes just because the funders wouldn't line up.
Next up, it's Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncas vs. Seattle City Council Member Mike O'Brien debating Ref. 1, the tunnel initiative. O'Brien's against. (See above.)
5. Fizz was robo-polled this week with a very odd battery of questions. First, they wanted to know if I was a techie consumer—was an iPad or a Kindle on my shopping list? And then there were a batch of follow ups about Amazon.com.
But then, Pt. 2, the survey, conducted by something called The 2011 Poll, veered hard into politics: Was I for an all cuts no new revenue budget? Was I pro-life? Did I own a gun?
The only connection I can think of: Amazon's fight to avoid online sales taxes.
This Monday, another bike showed up, parked right next to O'Brien's, with a pro-Ref. 1 "Let's Move Forward" yard sign on it.
The thing is: At the end of the day, O'Brien's bike disappears from city hall because O'Brien actually bikes home. The rival bike, at last report on Tuesday night, stayed locked up in front of city hall.
There's a metaphor in there somewhere.
2. The PI.com has a report on the political gamesmanship at the King County Council where—going over law committee chair Bob Ferguson's head—Democratic council member Larry Phillips signed on to Republican council member Reagan Dunn's request for more funds to fight gang violence. Phillips isn't even on the committee with Dunn and Ferguson.
The PI's take: Phillips is a bitter man and was trying to snub his longtime intramural party rival, Ferguson—who is Dunn's Democratic opponent in next year's state attorney general race.
Read the PI's speculation about Phillips' damaged psyche here.
He had dreamed for years of becoming county executive, but he finished fourth in the 2009 primary for that office. Now the Magnolia resident is rumored to be thinking of seeking vindication by entering the Seattle mayor’s race in 2013. When Ferguson decided to run for attorney general, he asked Constantine and the other four Democrats on the council to endorse his candidacy. All did – except for Phillips.
Thwarting Ferguson’s ambitions could give Phillips a measure of revenge for the former’s unseating of two Phillips-backed council Democrats.
3. Fizz asked viaduct replacement manager Ron Paananen whether he was concerned about the fact that gas-tax revenues have been dropping steadily across the state (indeed, the most recent forecasts from the state Office of Financial Management—number-crunched by Sightline's Eric de Place—show gas consumption declining steadily over the next 20 years).
Won't that impact the state's ability to pay for the tunnel? [pullquote]"I can't think of one project to date that's been cancelled because of a revenue problem."---State tunnel project manager Ron Paananen[/pullquote]
"We have to report back to the legislature periodically on the statewide [transportation funding] program, where it's coming in, where it's going out," Paananen said. "This project is just one of hundreds, although it's a big one, that the program is managed for, and we work with the legislative transportation committees yearly as the program advances to make sure everything's financed. I can't think of one project to date that's been canceled because of a revenue problem, and in fact we are realizing savings across the state because the economy is slowing down."
4. After work today at 6 pm (doors open at 5:30), PubliCola is moderating a double header CityClub debate at the downtown library.
First, it's initiative maven Tim Eyman vs. state Sen. Adam Kline (D-37, S. Seattle) discussing the initiative process; why is one Eastside developer underwriting Eyman's latest "grassroots" campaign? And what's with Kline's Democrats bailing on an initiative to go after corporate tax loopholes just because the funders wouldn't line up.
Next up, it's Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncas vs. Seattle City Council Member Mike O'Brien debating Ref. 1, the tunnel initiative. O'Brien's against. (See above.)
5. Fizz was robo-polled this week with a very odd battery of questions. First, they wanted to know if I was a techie consumer—was an iPad or a Kindle on my shopping list? And then there were a batch of follow ups about Amazon.com.
But then, Pt. 2, the survey, conducted by something called The 2011 Poll, veered hard into politics: Was I for an all cuts no new revenue budget? Was I pro-life? Did I own a gun?
The only connection I can think of: Amazon's fight to avoid online sales taxes.
