crosscut.com : Politics / Government

Strange figure sighted at the City Council

Crosscut — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:50:01 PDT

Oddly enough for a public figure, but Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is rather shy. And one place where he rarely shows his face is at City Hall, except around his top-floor offices. So it was big news when he suddenly showed up in City Council offices Thursday, working the corridor and greeting the councilmembers. "It made for a lot of buzz," said Tim Burgess, one councilmember who had been urging Hizzoner to "come on down."

Alaska blogger Celtic Diva's identity is revealed

Crosscut — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:00:01 PDT

I got in touch by e-mail with Celtic Diva, who found out this week that she's been selected by the Democratic National Convention Committee for a press credential at the August convention. She'll join a corps of bloggers representing the 50 states, three territories, and interestingly enough, U.S. ex-pats in Argentina.

Spin the bottle: The climate-action mayor misses the point on drinking water

Crosscut — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Seattle's tap water is the "gold standard," says Greg Nickels. Really? No, not really. It could be a lot better.

The need for cruise control

Crosscut — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:00:01 PDT

An environmentalist explains why better federal regulations are needed to police polluters among the world's fleet of cruise ships: State and local authorities can only do so much. Over six months this year, Puget Sound will see 211 big ships bearing 835,000 passengers call on Seattle.

Why Hillary Clinton should stay in the race

Crosscut — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:00:01 PDT

There's no real reason for her to step aside until the convention, argues Crosscut's national political writer. Let her finish the last five primaries. But if she fails to get the nomination, she then must embrace Barack Obama and go to work for him during the fall campaign.

Barack Obama's big Oregon lead

Crosscut — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:01 PDT

A look at the polls suggests the Illinois senator's victory dance is warranted.

There's nothing new in a plan to save Puget Sound

Crosscut — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

While the Puget Sound Partnership works to include citizen comment in the process of developing a plan to save the Sound, some scientists say they already weighed in — back in 2006 — but it looks as if their comments are being ignored.

Responding to her readers on paid family leave

Crosscut — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:01 PDT

When I recently wrote about Washington state’s landmark paid family leave legislation (only the second in the nation), Crosscut readers’ responses were striking. Two-thirds of comments expressed the same feeling: The legislation is “a token for the irresponsible,” a “confiscation of my tax dollars” for “social parasites.” One reader even called the legislation morally depraved.

Seattle neighborhoods at one table

Crosscut — Sun, 11 May 2008 19:00:01 PDT

Chapter 3: Members of the City Neighborhood Council refer to the body's role as "holding the city's feet to the fire," but that expression is more incendiary than the reality. The role is advisory, but sometimes its influence can be seen in City Hall initiatives born or programs saved.

Hillary Clinton, will you please go now!

Crosscut — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:00:01 PDT

Flip Side: With apologies to Dr. Seuss and Maureen Dowd.

57 states — and the Soviet of Washington?

Crosscut — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:43:01 PDT

Sen. Barack Obama must be drinking some of the same Seattle water as secessionist Mayor Greg Nickels. In Beaverton, Ore., he told the crowd that he'd visited "57 states" with "one left to go." He goes on to say that the only states he hasn't been to during his presidential bid are Alaska and Hawaii, which means Obama thinks the U.S. has 58 states, though by his own count there should be 59.

A city of scolds

Crosscut — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:00:01 PDT

Seattle City Hall has cracked down on drinking and clubs, it's on the verge of banning fast food and taxing plastic grocery bags, and now even plastic-bottled water is a civic sin. Switch to tap water! says the mayor. Mossback thinks enough is enough.

The city's own series of tubes

Crosscut — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Would municipal broadband service for all residents be better and cheaper than what the free market is providing now? Seattle City Hall wants to find out.

It's not over until Hillary Clinton's cash runs out

Crosscut — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:00:01 PDT

As Barack Obama takes North Carolina and Clinton narrowly wins in Indiana, it's time not for celebration or a victory concession but a look ahead at months of stalemate.

Clinton's gas tax holiday is no vacation

Crosscut — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:42:01 PDT

Let’s see if primary voters buy Hillary Clinton’s line that respect equals pandering, that if you really feel people’s pain, you appeal to their ignorance. The recent to-do over Clinton’s — and McCain’s — proposal for a federal gas tax holiday marked a new low in this already-rock-bottom campaign. George Bush’s suggestion that high gas prices mean we should drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) was merely business as usual. Even before the end of Bush’s first term, it had become a kind of running joke: Ask this administration a question, any question, about domestic policy and if the answer isn’t "cut taxes," it’s "open ANWR." Never mind that ANWR oil wouldn’t be available until some time after 2015; Bush is just being Bush.

As long as we're beating up on the mayor today ...

Crosscut — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:00:01 PDT

Seattle Mayor for Life Greg Nickels is issuing press releases fast and furiously. There are, after all, only 546 days until the election — the 2009 election. And although he has no real opponent as yet, His Excellency has only $129,639.98 in the bank for the 2009 campaign and only took in $29,430.90 in March — and hired fundraiser Colby Underwood got $3,500 of that.

So it's no wonder Nickels' staff is cranking out press releases that attach his name to everything that happens in this town.

Annals of Northwest secession

Crosscut — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

A primer of regional separatist movements, real and imagined.

Greg Nickels' rebel yell

Crosscut — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Seattle's mayor waves the flag of secession. In so doing, he may have waved goodbye to a future in state politics.

Who loves our presidential election marathon? Norwegians

Crosscut — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:45:01 PDT

"I never thought I could get the Norwegian government interested in the Mississippi primary," quips Wegger Chr. Strommen, Norway's Ambassador to the U.S. "There isn't one Norwegian in Mississippi."

Psst! Wanna see the Viaduct disappear?

Crosscut — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:58:01 PDT

The debate about Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct used to be a very public, contact sport, but as many local politicians were carted off the field, the controversy moved to a 30-person stakeholders group, who meet very quietly. Meanwhile, the politicians edge back onto the playing field and hint at solutions.