The weather may still have overtones of winter, but Crosscut writers seemed to be getting everywhere this week, as if it were midsummer. Their stories and blog posts got deep into City Hall, state lawmaking, public broadcasting, the media, health care, and even the intersection of higher education and big-time college athletics.
That means there's a lot to visit if you want to take a few minutes to tour Crosscut's site this weekend.
The decisions City Hall must make about Seattle Center drew the biggest readership of the week. Knute Berger provided an in-depth report and personal commentary on the proposals for how to use part of the center property from artist Dale Chihuly, listener-supported KEXP radio, and other.
Berger's story (plus quite a few reader comments) is here: "Visions for the Seattle Center's future: I hear Seattle singing."
Anthony B. Robinson used his great knowledge of leadership and management to provide a unique look at Mayor Mike McGinn, who, incidentally, is coming up on six months in office. Robinson got at both what McGinn has communicated so far and how he will need to develop as a city administrator to create as much transformation as the new mayor seems to want.
Here: "Assessing leadership: The McGinn style."
Jordan Royer introduced a coming move by McGinn and City Attorney Peter Holmes to revise nightlife policies and regulatory enforcement, something that is likely to provoke a lively discussion.
"A first look at McGinn's new nightlife push."
Mark Hinshaw provided a very informed urban-planning perspective on the debate over the rising fees for permitting a skywalk between a parking garage and the downtown Macy's store.
"Seattle's $30,000 skybridge: Here's a compromise."
Over two days, Feliks Banel examined the direction of Seattle's public television station, KCTS:
"KCTS, free of debt, sets its programming sights on local public affairs."
"KCTS will kick off arts initiative with a NW film series this fall."
Distinguished journalist (and author) Joann Byrd reviewed a new book that tells the story of how state law changed in response to the accident on I-405 in which 24-year-old Maria Federici was almost killed.
"When the debris crashed into her car, the world changed. And the law."
As the Pac-10 expanded, Mike Henderson stepped back and looked at the conference from a different kind of standings: how the colleges are ranked academically.
"A bigger Pac-10 makes no forward progress academically."
Judy Lightfoot wrote a recollection of her father, the kind of memory that may be on many minds in different forms this weekend.
"Saying goodbye to a father who was never there."
Plus, among other good articles, there were these stories:
"Obama administration zealous about stopping wrong leaks," by Ken Bunting, another distinguished journalist, who is leaving Seattle to take a position advocating for the freedom of information nationally.
"Seattle police chief appointment comes at a critical time," by City Councilmember Tim Burgess, whom we asked for his perspective.
"The practitioner, not the doctor, will see you now," by Mark Trahant.
"Gelato is the hot new thing," by Ronald Holden.
"Soup dumplings: a whole lot of flavor and a little bit of mystery," by Hugo Kugiya, whose "Eating on the Edge" series about food and culture is proving quite popular and educational.
We hope you have an appetite for more as you look around Crosscut this weekend.
