When I tell people that I intend to run for mayor of Seattle, they either laugh or just look at me like I’m crazy. I don’t suppose I really blame them. If they told me that they intended to do the same, I might laugh or look at them like they were crazy as well. Here’s the thing about my impending mayoral run, though … I’m fully cognizant of the fact that I will...

Remember this article? http://www.seattlerex.com/the-reddest-of-states/ Well, I just learned that the “Rob the Poor to Feed The Rich” film initiative has passed. Christine Gregoire, the woman who is slashing assistance to the working poor and just-plain-poor across the state, just handed the wealthy film industry a 30% rebate of our hard-earned tax money. She actually signed it into...

Washington State. A blue state if ever there were one. At least that’s what we’re repeatedly told. What does it mean, though? What does it mean to be a blue state? Were you to ask most Americans, they would tell you that blue means that a state is liberal. That a state disproportionately taxes the rich, distributes that money to the poor, and of course, votes for the Democratic...

Lost your job, can’t find another one, you can’t see a doctor and your home is being taken away? Well, fear not, my friend, for after months of lobbying, the governor of the great state of Washington has just selflessly made herself a media darling by signing a bill that will … change the definition of “domestic partners” to that of “married...

But if he takes a massive shit in it, what can you do? In the middle of healthcare cuts, education cuts, mass transit cuts, and everything cuts … last night, voters approved a 2-mile, $3 billion tunnel under downtown Seattle.  A tunnel which may very well increase traffic congestion, and a tunnel which may have a toll of up to $5 each way. Oh, and they also re-elected Sally Clark. The...

Well, if I’m going to put on knee pads and publicly service Mayor Mike McGinn every time he’s right, I suppose it would be intellectually dishonest of me to completely ignore him when he’s wrong. For those who are not aware, Mike has been embroiled in a controversy with Village Voice Media — the company behind such “alternative” publications as the Village Voice and Seattle...

I just got my King County Ballot in the mail today, and it reminded me that I forgot to make an endorsement … or rather … a dis-endorsement The ballot item I am referencing is Seattle City Council Position Number 9, in which Sally Clark is the incumbent. Some time ago, I emailed Sally Clark. You see, Sally held herself out to be a scooter advocate on her website, and since I was...

Sometimes, people think I am contrary just to be contrary. They think I take an opposing viewpoint just to do so. It’s kind of a shame that this assumption is made. Once upon a time, Seattle had a real independent thing going on. Some of it is still around, but so very much of it is gone. Publishing in particular. Zines were replaced by blogs, and these days, blogging as an art form has...

I am neither a liberal or a conservative. Contrary to popular belief, neither am I a nihilist or an anarchist. If I had to be pigeonholed into one particular ideology, I would be considered a ‘skeptic’. Now, what does this mean exactly? Being a skeptic means that I distrust all political parties intensely. It means I assume that all politicians, all corporations, all charities, and all...

I’ve been reading a great deal about the proposed Downtown Tunnel lately. I think it’s painfully obvious to anyone reading the debates that both sides tend to, how shall I say this … exaggerate.  I think it goes without saying that the deep-bore tunnel will neither destroy Seattle, nor will it solve all of its transportation woes.  Each side has advocated its position with the passion...

I am 42 years old. I’ve been to a lot of places, I have done a lot of things. Most of those things I was proud of, some things I could have done better. Of all the questionable things I have done, however, tweeting a picture of my pecker is not one of them. In fact, it has never even crossed my mind. I mean, why would it? Why would it cross anyone’s mind? I sit here this evening in front...

Well, it looks like the tunnel is headed for a vote, although it doesn’t really look like the vote is going to count. Yesterday, the City Council decided to proceed with a referendum which will determine whether or not the city can “give notice” to the state. If “yes”, such notice will allow them to go ahead with the construction phase of the tunnel agreements. The state...

You know, it’s fine and good to disagree about things. Disagreement is what makes a market, and it’s what brings about change for the better. Tricks, manipulation, and deception, however, is a sign of desperation. Take Mayor McGinn’s Wikipedia page for instance: First, the article starts out with a complete hit paragraph which consists solely of opinion, and follows with a...

Some people are trying to do exactly this. They have launched an effort to recall our Mayor. How are they doing this? Via Facebook. AOL of the 21st Century. Amateur hour. Dominion of the bored, lazy, uncreative, and technically illiterate. I mean, why make an actual effort to do anything when you can have some faceless corporation do it for you with a few clicks of a mouse? Let’s face...

Once upon a time, I was a huge NBA Basketball fan. I hung out in the Capital Center, got autographs from the likes of Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld after games, and I even played on the courts with these same guys when they participated in youth programs. I watched Ewing vs. Mourning in the playoffs at the Garden, and I attended the very first Wizards game in the MCI Center. In a stroke of luck, or...

Sunday was International Workers’ Day. A day which, every year, sees thousands of people march through Downtown Seattle. A day over which I am deeply conflicted. In 2011, in my heart of hearts, I know that I am watching “Decline of the Roman Empire, Part II – This Time It’s Personal”. Not only am I watching it, but I am living it. The United States of America has become so...

Ding Dong! The witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked witch! The witch that flew airplanes into buildings? No. The witch that launched three wars and killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people? No. The witch that molested 6 year old girls in the airport? No. Come on people, you know that witch I am talking about … it’s the ”mastermind witch”. The...

This afternoon, the City of Seattle agreed to pay the family of John T. Williams the sum of 1.5 million doll ars in order to avoid a lawsuit. That’s right, the “City of Seattle” which means “the 608,000 residents of the City of Seattle”. Did Ian Birk, the man who murdered Williams, pay $1.5 million to the family? No. Did Ian Birk, the man who murdered Williams, pay...

Tunnel supporters just gained a new nemesis. The Sierra Club. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014895763_sierraclub28m.html “The Seattle group’s efforts to stop the tunnel reflect its view that a $3.1 billion highway project encourages driving, contributes to greenhouse-gas emissions and sucks up transportation dollars that could be better spent on less-polluting...

Mayor Mike McGinn, or as I like to call him, M3, has proposed a new initiative to make Seattle nightlife safer. The first part of his proposals involves cab stands. Mike would designate specific parking meters for cabs after hours, which would in turn make it easier to hail a ride home. These convertible cab stands are being proposed for Downtown, Belltown, Pioneer Square, Broadway, The U...

Last night, shortly before 9pm, a group of vandals used hammers to demolish the windows at the Chase Bank at Broadway & Thomas on Capitol Hill. The group also left paper flyers at the scene, although when I rode up to investigate this morning, the flyers were gone. This being the case, I cannot speak to the specific agenda of the group. If you will remember, this is the same bank that was...

Today, I rode my scooter up to Broadway in order to check out a couple of eateries, including our newest business, Yogurtland. After circling the block once, I found a parking space in front of one of the restaurants. I backed my scooter in so that my rear wheel was touching the curb (as is required by law), purchased my parking sticker, and hung it on my headlamp (again, as required by law). As...

Earlier today, I learned that the construction pit near my home turned up some artifacts of old Seattle. I was excited. Never content to use other people’s pictures when I can get my own, I packed up my gear and headed across the street. When I got to the entrance of the pit, I encountered one of the construction workers. “Good afternoon”, I said, “would you mind if I got a shot of the...

Officer James Lee, the Seattle Police officer involved in the following encounter was charged with assault yesterday: As you can clearly see, a man holding his hands in the air was kicked three times. Once in the leg, twice in the head/face. Ironically, City Attorney Pete Holmes ruled that the exact same behavior in the “Mexican Piss Incident” was, and I quote … “not...

Even though Seattle is the greatest city in the country, it does have some peculiarities that make it lacking in some areas. One of these areas is a vibrant street food culture. In most large cities, street vendors are part of the landscape; a landscape that really helps add to the “energy” of the streets. Seattle, however, only has a few street vendors (such as Dog Japon), and they...