In a More Substantive Way

I heard rumors that Jessie is not the only candidate being endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters. Maybe in that race, but not in total.

@1,
Yes. Thank you. I should have been clearer about that. Israel got the sole in the Licata race.

@1,
Yes. Thank you. I should have been clearer about that. Israel got the sole in the Licata race.

Nick Licata just received a sole endorsement from the Sierra Club today!

Nick Licata just received a sole endorsement from the Sierra Club today!

@3 That’s great, Andrew! But I support Nick because you have great hair….

@3 That’s great, Andrew! But I support Nick because you have great hair….

Those of us out of the enviro-advocacy loop are dying to know…

what’s the difference between a WCV endorsement and a Sierra Club endorsement? How do I decide which endorsement should sway me?

Hot poop on intra-environmental community differences (tensions? *conflict,* even?) appreciated as well.

Tx.

Those of us out of the enviro-advocacy loop are dying to know…

what’s the difference between a WCV endorsement and a Sierra Club endorsement? How do I decide which endorsement should sway me?

Hot poop on intra-environmental community differences (tensions? *conflict,* even?) appreciated as well.

Tx.

Damn Andrew Lewis and the hair vote!

I heard that Sierra Club endorsement form was like a full-time job to fill out.

Jessie Israel got the endorsement of the WASHINGTON Conservation Voters–that’s worth a lot more to me than an outpost of a national conglomerate like the Sierra Club.

Damn Andrew Lewis and the hair vote!

I heard that Sierra Club endorsement form was like a full-time job to fill out.

Jessie Israel got the endorsement of the WASHINGTON Conservation Voters–that’s worth a lot more to me than an outpost of a national conglomerate like the Sierra Club.

Don’t know if I’d interpret Burgess’s proposal as an attack on Nickels. Maybe it is. But Nickels is just good at what has been standard operating procedure at City Hall for years, probably decades. And limiting the asks is hardly going to turn off the spigot. Business will continue as usual, which is that political appointees will spend their paychecks from taxpayers are the reelection campaigns of those who appointed them.

Personally, I think it would be better to ban such contributions entirely. But that would be against the first amendment, which I believe says that money is speech, or something like that…

Don’t know if I’d interpret Burgess’s proposal as an attack on Nickels. Maybe it is. But Nickels is just good at what has been standard operating procedure at City Hall for years, probably decades. And limiting the asks is hardly going to turn off the spigot. Business will continue as usual, which is that political appointees will spend their paychecks from taxpayers are the reelection campaigns of those who appointed them.

Personally, I think it would be better to ban such contributions entirely. But that would be against the first amendment, which I believe says that money is speech, or something like that…

Over 1/4 of Greg Nickels campaign warchest was pulled from people he is capable of firing on a whim? Yeah, that’s ridiculous.

Over 1/4 of Greg Nickels campaign warchest was pulled from people he is capable of firing on a whim? Yeah, that’s ridiculous.

Trevor,

I was being facetious about Burgess “going after Nickels.” I was just trying to point out that Burgess’ legislation seems like a more realistic way (than his first-termer’s campaign for mayor would have been) to hurt Nickels—who, the numbers show, does seem to rely on employee contributions.

Trevor,

I was being facetious about Burgess “going after Nickels.” I was just trying to point out that Burgess’ legislation seems like a more realistic way (than his first-termer’s campaign for mayor would have been) to hurt Nickels—who, the numbers show, does seem to rely on employee contributions.

Great for Jessie! She was also just endorsed by The Alki Foundation!

Great for Jessie! She was also just endorsed by The Alki Foundation!

Agree with Jessie Israel has cultural value.

I follow WCV’s endorsements because they’re Washington-specific. They do a thorough job of vetting candidates for their knowledge of and perspective on enviro challenges facing Washington.

Right on, Jessie Israel.

Agree with Jessie Israel has cultural value.

I follow WCV’s endorsements because they’re Washington-specific. They do a thorough job of vetting candidates for their knowledge of and perspective on enviro challenges facing Washington.

Right on, Jessie Israel.

There is a large difference between the endorsement of Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club. Whereas the WCV endorsement was based on a broader scope of environmental issues, the Sierra endorsement was likely based on a single issue—the tunnel.

There is a large difference between the endorsement of Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club. Whereas the WCV endorsement was based on a broader scope of environmental issues, the Sierra endorsement was likely based on a single issue—the tunnel.

@7 The U.S. Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo said that campaign expenditures are protected by the 1st amendment, but contributions can be limited.

Tim’s proposal is a good first step, but what we really need is an optional public campaign financing program, like they have in Portland and Albuquerque, and AZ, ME, CT, etc. More info here.

@7 The U.S. Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo said that campaign expenditures are protected by the 1st amendment, but contributions can be limited.

Tim’s proposal is a good first step, but what we really need is an optional public campaign financing program, like they have in Portland and Albuquerque, and AZ, ME, CT, etc. More info here.

I follow both WCV and Sierra Club, but on this one I say good decision WCV! Jessie’s the stronger environmental candidate in the position 6 race…

I follow both WCV and Sierra Club, but on this one I say good decision WCV! Jessie’s the stronger environmental candidate in the position 6 race…

Who, oh why, can’t we have Nick and Jessie on City Council? I’d much rather vote for Jessie than anyone in the McIver-position and Drago-position mobs.

If we’re really gonna have an “at-large” Council (I’d like to see districts myself), make it truly at-large — dump ‘em all in one pot, vote for up to four. Top four vote tallies win.

Who, oh why, can’t we have Nick and Jessie on City Council? I’d much rather vote for Jessie than anyone in the McIver-position and Drago-position mobs.

If we’re really gonna have an “at-large” Council (I’d like to see districts myself), make it truly at-large — dump ‘em all in one pot, vote for up to four. Top four vote tallies win.

So, how does Nick get a sole endorsement from the Sierra Club when he has spend his entire time on the council bashing Sound Transit and light rail? Not to mention his early support for an elevated viaduct. Just askin’

So, how does Nick get a sole endorsement from the Sierra Club when he has spend his entire time on the council bashing Sound Transit and light rail? Not to mention his early support for an elevated viaduct. Just askin’

For those of you want to keep up with endorsements, we just posted our endorsements page, which will track all local party endorsements:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/2009candidates

We’re up to date on endorsements, except for the 27th LD, whom we’re still waiting to hear from. There’s a couple of King Co. endorsements coming up:

http://wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=482

Thanks for being awesome,
Misty, New Media Director, WA State Dems

For those of you want to keep up with endorsements, we just posted our endorsements page, which will track all local party endorsements:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/2009candidates

We’re up to date on endorsements, except for the 27th LD, whom we’re still waiting to hear from. There’s a couple of King Co. endorsements coming up:

http://wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=482

Thanks for being awesome,
Misty, New Media Director, WA State Dems

After Harrell stood with Drago during her mayoral annoucement; it looks like Burgess is feeling a need to appear independent from the mayor as well. However, I would not call TB’s proposed legislation substantive as the Nickel’s campaign allready has that money from the city employees.

After Harrell stood with Drago during her mayoral annoucement; it looks like Burgess is feeling a need to appear independent from the mayor as well. However, I would not call TB’s proposed legislation substantive as the Nickel’s campaign allready has that money from the city employees.

Nick has been one of the most consistent voices for environmental responsibility on the Seattle City Council, and really for much of his life before the Council (During college he as an organizer for WASHPIRG). Nick has even gone so far as to give up his parking space at Seattle City Hall, preferring instead to take the bus to work. Here are some of the accomplishments Nick submitted to the Sierra Club prior to our receiving their sole endorsement, they are written in Nick’s first person:

• Cedar River Watershed: I played a key role in ensuring that no commercial logging would take place in the Cedar River Watershed, a key source of Seattle’s drinking water. Right after I was elected, I sent a letter to Seattle Public Utilities requesting that a no-logging alternative be studied, which hadn’t even been considered until then. I supported the “no-logging” option, and worked closely with environmental activists to ensure its passage, and the long-term protection of the quality of Seattle’s drinking water.

• Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility: I introduced a resolution urging the United States Secretary of Energy to halt efforts to restart the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) nuclear reactor and the proposed Plutonium processing at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. This helped prevent the facility from restarting, and prevented the possibility of spent nuclear fuel being transported through the Port of Seattle.

• Thornton Creek Daylighting at Northgate: Worked for several years with neighborhood and community activists to gain approval for the daylighting of Thornton Creek at the south parking lot at Northgate Mall, as part of the development there that is now reaching fruition.

• Precautionary Principles: I worked with activists to secure the incorporation of the “Precautionary Principle” into the environmental section of the City of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, as follows: “Where threats of serious or irreversible harm to people or nature exist, anticipatory action will be taken to prevent damages to human and environmental health, even when full scientific certainty about cause and effect is not available, with the intent of safeguarding the quality of life of current and future generations.”

• Open Space Gap Report: As Chair of Parks Committee, I required Parks and Recreation to create a map of gaps in open space in Seattle, to focus meeting the open space requirements in the Growth Management Act and Seattle Comprehensive Plan. Previously, there had been no clear tool guiding implementation. The updated 2006 Open Space Gap Report guided planning for the 2008 Parks levy.

* Laid the groundwork for the Incenting Zoning legislation requiring contributions from developers to keep neighborhoods livable and affordable, by sponsoring a forum with national experts on creating development partnerships between developers, communities, and government can address possible impacts upon housing, employment, and our environment. More Info at Crosscut.com

@5—good question. The Sierra Club is a multifaceted environmental organization that also does political work. The Washington Conservation Voters is an environmental lobbying organization that works in Olympia.

The Sierra Club is well-known to average voters. Washington Conservation Voters is not.

Nick has been one of the most consistent voices for environmental responsibility on the Seattle City Council, and really for much of his life before the Council (During college he as an organizer for WASHPIRG). Nick has even gone so far as to give up his parking space at Seattle City Hall, preferring instead to take the bus to work. Here are some of the accomplishments Nick submitted to the Sierra Club prior to our receiving their sole endorsement, they are written in Nick’s first person:

• Cedar River Watershed: I played a key role in ensuring that no commercial logging would take place in the Cedar River Watershed, a key source of Seattle’s drinking water. Right after I was elected, I sent a letter to Seattle Public Utilities requesting that a no-logging alternative be studied, which hadn’t even been considered until then. I supported the “no-logging” option, and worked closely with environmental activists to ensure its passage, and the long-term protection of the quality of Seattle’s drinking water.

• Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility: I introduced a resolution urging the United States Secretary of Energy to halt efforts to restart the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) nuclear reactor and the proposed Plutonium processing at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. This helped prevent the facility from restarting, and prevented the possibility of spent nuclear fuel being transported through the Port of Seattle.

• Thornton Creek Daylighting at Northgate: Worked for several years with neighborhood and community activists to gain approval for the daylighting of Thornton Creek at the south parking lot at Northgate Mall, as part of the development there that is now reaching fruition.

• Precautionary Principles: I worked with activists to secure the incorporation of the “Precautionary Principle” into the environmental section of the City of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, as follows: “Where threats of serious or irreversible harm to people or nature exist, anticipatory action will be taken to prevent damages to human and environmental health, even when full scientific certainty about cause and effect is not available, with the intent of safeguarding the quality of life of current and future generations.”

• Open Space Gap Report: As Chair of Parks Committee, I required Parks and Recreation to create a map of gaps in open space in Seattle, to focus meeting the open space requirements in the Growth Management Act and Seattle Comprehensive Plan. Previously, there had been no clear tool guiding implementation. The updated 2006 Open Space Gap Report guided planning for the 2008 Parks levy.

* Laid the groundwork for the Incenting Zoning legislation requiring contributions from developers to keep neighborhoods livable and affordable, by sponsoring a forum with national experts on creating development partnerships between developers, communities, and government can address possible impacts upon housing, employment, and our environment. More Info at Crosscut.com

@5—good question. The Sierra Club is a multifaceted environmental organization that also does political work. The Washington Conservation Voters is an environmental lobbying organization that works in Olympia.

The Sierra Club is well-known to average voters. Washington Conservation Voters is not.

@ 5 and 19 – more importantly for this election, the Sierra Club has an army of well organized volunteers who will actively support their chosen candidates (or issues).

@ 5 and 19 – more importantly for this election, the Sierra Club has an army of well organized volunteers who will actively support their chosen candidates (or issues).

@15
Agree on both counts. I’d like to see Jessie in one of the open seat races. Though from what I understand Jessie and some of her key supporters have some sort of personal beef with Licata which is why she’s running for his seat.

I’d like to see some sort of top 4 or top 5 pool for the seats if they are going to be at-large. Personally I’d rather have true council districts.

@15
Agree on both counts. I’d like to see Jessie in one of the open seat races. Though from what I understand Jessie and some of her key supporters have some sort of personal beef with Licata which is why she’s running for his seat.

I’d like to see some sort of top 4 or top 5 pool for the seats if they are going to be at-large. Personally I’d rather have true council districts.

@18 Andrew, doesn’t Licata’s work on the Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility mean that instead of exhausting the existing nuclear fuel at Hanford and turning it into cheap engery before disposing it they are encasing it in glass cylinders out at the Hanford site and then putting it in mildly secure, short-term containers while it still holds a significant amount of raw nuclear materials? Having nuclear waste passing through the Port of Seattle isn’t ideal, but Nick just ensured that we are one earthquake followed by a good headwind away from a catastrophe.

@18 Andrew, doesn’t Licata’s work on the Hanford Fast Flux Test Facility mean that instead of exhausting the existing nuclear fuel at Hanford and turning it into cheap engery before disposing it they are encasing it in glass cylinders out at the Hanford site and then putting it in mildly secure, short-term containers while it still holds a significant amount of raw nuclear materials? Having nuclear waste passing through the Port of Seattle isn’t ideal, but Nick just ensured that we are one earthquake followed by a good headwind away from a catastrophe.

@ 22:

You’re pissing in the wind. Nick is going to beat her like a drum.

@ 22:

You’re pissing in the wind. Nick is going to beat her like a drum.

I heard rumors that Jessie is not the only candidate being endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters. Maybe in that race, but not in total.