Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

They Remained Skeptical

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[Editor's note: This morning's edition of Morning Fizz comes with lots of reporting by Erica C. Barnett. The Fizz may never be the same.]

1. Jordan Royer—a former Greg Nickels staffer who gained a reputation as a nightlife and music-industry opponent when he carried water for Nickels’ 2006 anti-nightlife crusade—is now trying to woo nightlife advocates to support his campaign, Royer says.

Last week, Royer met with Neumo’s co-owner Jerry Everard, Red Door owner Pete Hanning, and Showbox manager Jeff Steichen to explain, Royer told PubliCola recently, that “Jordan Royer the candidate is different than Jordan Royer the mayor’s staffer.”

After the meeting, Hanning said the group was open to the idea of supporting Royer, but remained skeptical about his commitment to the music community’s interests. “We understand he was [working for the mayor], but a lot of us are still kind of bitter about that,” Hanning said. However, he noted, “it doesn’t seem like any of [the candidates for Position 8] come from our industry, so [Royer] has as good a chance as anybody.”

2. Sometimes it’s hard not to fall for Seattle City Council Member Richard Conlin. What an adorable hippie. He’s growing tomatoes in the City Hall balcony.

A recent mass email to city staffers from Conlin aide Phyllis Shulman:

I thought those of you who are interested in container gardening may want to see this set of classes Parks and Tilth are providing downtown. [See Attachments]

Also, we have our own container garden planted on the west balcony off the City Hall lobby. We are growing tomatoes and will donate them to a local food bank.

3. Whoa. I have to admit, I’m a little surprised, but there’s a for real music article in the Seattle Weekly this week.

It looks like they’ve got a new writer there. A guy named Jonathan Cunningham (who reportedly shows up to Hidmo with sacks of fried fish to go around).

This week, Cunningham goes long on Seattle’s hyper rappers, Mad Rad—like 6,000 words long. It’s worth reading.

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4. Due to disappearing government funding and disappointing fundraising efforts, the tenants organizing group, The Tenants Union—founded in 1977—will decide next month whether or not they have to dissolve. Setting out last March to raise $49,000 by this summer, the group has barely raised $4,000.

If you want to donate: The Tenants Union’s address is 5425 B Rainier Ave S, Seattle 98118. 

Their phone number is (206) 723-0500.

 

This morning’s Morning Fizz is brought to you by:


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  • dacoach

    Richard Conlin, oh how your passive aggressive, can’t we all get along smile is so perfectly cute for do nothing Seattle politics. And you grow tomatoes! Like the Beaver used to say, “gee, that’s swell”.

  • dacoach

    Richard Conlin, oh how your passive aggressive, can’t we all get along smile is so perfectly cute for do nothing Seattle politics. And you grow tomatoes! Like the Beaver used to say, “gee, that’s swell”.

  • ivan

    No need to bash Richard like that. But I’d like to see Publicola pay some attention to his opponent, David Ginsberg, who is as high-quality a first-time candidate as I have seen in years.

  • ivan

    No need to bash Richard like that. But I’d like to see Publicola pay some attention to his opponent, David Ginsberg, who is as high-quality a first-time candidate as I have seen in years.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Ivan @2,

    You are in luck.

    PubliCola met with David Ginsberg last week, and we will be publishing a Q&A with him this week.

    Look for the second installment of PubliQuestion & Answer tomorrow with Mr. Ginsberg.

    The first installment was with David Miller:
    http://publicola.net/?p=7723

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Ivan @2,

    You are in luck.

    PubliCola met with David Ginsberg last week, and we will be publishing a Q&A with him this week.

    Look for the second installment of PubliQuestion & Answer tomorrow with Mr. Ginsberg.

    The first installment was with David Miller:
    http://publicola.net/?p=7723

  • ivan

    I’m in luck because you are finally getting around to doing your jobs?

    Well, I guess I should be grateful for the crumbs that Publicola strews in my path. Thankfully, I have my own sources of information.

    FWIW, I consider David Miller a superior candidate, and clearly the standout in the Position 8 race.

  • ivan

    I’m in luck because you are finally getting around to doing your jobs?

    Well, I guess I should be grateful for the crumbs that Publicola strews in my path. Thankfully, I have my own sources of information.

    FWIW, I consider David Miller a superior candidate, and clearly the standout in the Position 8 race.

  • Tenant alum

    Would be tragic to see the Tenants Union dissolve. Landlords must already be purchasing champagne. So sad.

  • Tenant alum

    Would be tragic to see the Tenants Union dissolve. Landlords must already be purchasing champagne. So sad.

  • http://www.dougsdoodles.com/ DOUG.

    Funny how Conlin has time to grow tomatoes but apparently none to answer constituents’ emails.

  • http://www.dougsdoodles.com DOUG.

    Funny how Conlin has time to grow tomatoes but apparently none to answer constituents’ emails.

  • Timothy

    @4…that level of snark seems wholly unnecessary and counter-productive.

  • Timothy

    @4…that level of snark seems wholly unnecessary and counter-productive.

  • Timothy

    Regarding Jordan Royer’s assertion that the candidate is different than the staffer…that raises a whole host of questions about work in the political realm. What are we to make of those who would do political work counter to their own political philosophy for pay? I don’t ask the question lightly; it’s why I’ve never chosen to work inside of the political system, preferring to do all of my political work independently. It just seems too convenient to say that he was only following orders. Would you really want to hire someone who so casually sold his ideals for a paycheck?

  • Timothy

    Regarding Jordan Royer’s assertion that the candidate is different than the staffer…that raises a whole host of questions about work in the political realm. What are we to make of those who would do political work counter to their own political philosophy for pay? I don’t ask the question lightly; it’s why I’ve never chosen to work inside of the political system, preferring to do all of my political work independently. It just seems too convenient to say that he was only following orders. Would you really want to hire someone who so casually sold his ideals for a paycheck?

  • Leaward

    Let’s count how many different times Jordan Royer gets to say “I was just following orders.” Remember, he now works for the Pacific Merchant Shippers Association and ranks much higher than an enlisted man in that well-funded army:

    Royer and PMSA are actively working against clean air standards in California and here in Washington. Here’s an article on PMSA fighting low sulphur fuels: http://www.newsweek.com/id/158126. And here’s one on the PMSA suing CA over shipping emissions regs: http://www.cunninghamreport.com/news_item.php?id=824

    Royer and PMSA also like to pick fights against unions in an effort to protect the profit margins of their members:
    Seeking pay reductions for boat pilots: http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/25/daily13.html.
    And as part of the Waterfront Coalition fighting against the women and men working on the docks:
    Waterfront Coalition’s efforts to fight the ILWU. http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/676/.

    Royer’s a smooth talker who is telling folks what they want to hear, and we don’t need another one of those on the city council.

  • Leaward

    Let’s count how many different times Jordan Royer gets to say “I was just following orders.” Remember, he now works for the Pacific Merchant Shippers Association and ranks much higher than an enlisted man in that well-funded army:

    Royer and PMSA are actively working against clean air standards in California and here in Washington. Here’s an article on PMSA fighting low sulphur fuels: http://www.newsweek.com/id/158126. And here’s one on the PMSA suing CA over shipping emissions regs: http://www.cunninghamreport.com/news_item.php?id=824

    Royer and PMSA also like to pick fights against unions in an effort to protect the profit margins of their members:
    Seeking pay reductions for boat pilots: http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/25/daily13.html.
    And as part of the Waterfront Coalition fighting against the women and men working on the docks:
    Waterfront Coalition’s efforts to fight the ILWU. http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/676/.

    Royer’s a smooth talker who is telling folks what they want to hear, and we don’t need another one of those on the city council.

  • Meinert

    The Music Community will not get behind Royer if I have any influence. While Royer was running public safety for the Nickels admin we saw an incredible change in how the nightlife and music communities were treated by the Police. Since his leaving we’ve seen Nickels come back around to supporting music in Seattle.

    If Royer was willing to take such an extreme position against music and nightlife when he believed what he was doing was wrong, how can we expect to trust him now. It’s a bizarre change in policy.

    My money is on David Miller who is smart, progressive and has a great sense of how the City can support small businesses, including nightlife businesses. O’brien seems very solid as well.

  • Meinert

    The Music Community will not get behind Royer if I have any influence. While Royer was running public safety for the Nickels admin we saw an incredible change in how the nightlife and music communities were treated by the Police. Since his leaving we’ve seen Nickels come back around to supporting music in Seattle.

    If Royer was willing to take such an extreme position against music and nightlife when he believed what he was doing was wrong, how can we expect to trust him now. It’s a bizarre change in policy.

    My money is on David Miller who is smart, progressive and has a great sense of how the City can support small businesses, including nightlife businesses. O’brien seems very solid as well.