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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.

Non-Agenda Driven

News   July 21, 2009 at 8:26 am Josh Feit

fizz42

1. A local lobbyist—with a hippie-causes lobbying firm—filed an ethics complaint with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Office yesterday about one of Mayor Nickels’ campaign commercials.

The complaint contends that a shot in the ad (of a light rail train coming into the station) appears to have been filmed from a vantage point that the public could not have had access to—presumably a station platform that wasn’t even open when the ad was video taped.

lightrailad

The complaint theorizes that Nickels used his position as mayor to get access—essentially taking advantage of his public office to make the video. It’s not kosher to use public resources in campaigns.

I would add: If Sound Transit cooperated in making the Nickels spot, that could be a violation too.

Here’s the commercial .

I have a call in to Seattle Ethics and Elections Director Wayne Barnett (no relation to Erica C.) to get his take on all this.

2. The non-agenda-driven Muni League is coming out with its just-the-facts-ma’am candidate ratings in the mayor’s race, the King County Executive’s race, the city council races, and  other local contests on Thursday.

3. "Nickelsville," the homeless encampent on state-owned land in South Seattle, is being threatened by both the state and the city to leave the property. The Seattle Post Globe has the story .

This morning’s Morning Fizz brought to you by Candidate Survivor .

survivor1


  • Ho Hum

    Regarding number one, it is quite possible that the video is pubically available or could be purchased.

  • Ho Hum

    Regarding number one, it is quite possible that the video is pubically available or could be purchased.

  • Ho Hum

    Regarding number one, it is quite possible that the video is pubically available or could be purchased.

  • Trevor

    I was surprised to hear that the Mayor has suggested that the state does not need to rush the process of evicting Nickelsville. Indeed, the City has suggested that the State should apply for a permit to host Nickelsville from the City. I like the idea. But it seems really fishy, like some kind of weird petty move by Nickels to screw with the Governor.

    Also: too bad for Jan Drago. She’s on Weekday right now with two non-contenders.

  • Trevor

    I was surprised to hear that the Mayor has suggested that the state does not need to rush the process of evicting Nickelsville. Indeed, the City has suggested that the State should apply for a permit to host Nickelsville from the City. I like the idea. But it seems really fishy, like some kind of weird petty move by Nickels to screw with the Governor.

    Also: too bad for Jan Drago. She’s on Weekday right now with two non-contenders.

  • Trevor

    I was surprised to hear that the Mayor has suggested that the state does not need to rush the process of evicting Nickelsville. Indeed, the City has suggested that the State should apply for a permit to host Nickelsville from the City. I like the idea. But it seems really fishy, like some kind of weird petty move by Nickels to screw with the Governor.

    Also: too bad for Jan Drago. She’s on Weekday right now with two non-contenders.

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

    The dude in Nickels’ ad is not wearing a bike helmet, which is a civil infraction punishable by an $81 fine.

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

    The dude in Nickels’ ad is not wearing a bike helmet, which is a civil infraction punishable by an $81 fine.

  • http://www.dougsdoodles.com DOUG.

    The dude in Nickels’ ad is not wearing a bike helmet, which is a civil infraction punishable by an $81 fine.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,
    Yep. That’d certainly be a good explanation.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,
    Yep. That’d certainly be a good explanation.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,
    Yep. That’d certainly be a good explanation.

  • abc

    He so concerned about the environment that he is supporting the most expensive miles of highway in the state with the tunnel. The tunnel is worst environmental choice and it prevents us from spending the money on good choices.

  • abc

    He so concerned about the environment that he is supporting the most expensive miles of highway in the state with the tunnel. The tunnel is worst environmental choice and it prevents us from spending the money on good choices.

  • abc

    He so concerned about the environment that he is supporting the most expensive miles of highway in the state with the tunnel. The tunnel is worst environmental choice and it prevents us from spending the money on good choices.

  • Sam H.

    Good lord is there anything more pathetic than a hippie lobbyist?

    “Um, excuse me, but this video snippet MIGHT have been taken in an improper manner. I demand that public resources be used in attending to my frivolous attention-whoring! Waaaa!”

  • Sam H.

    Good lord is there anything more pathetic than a hippie lobbyist?

    “Um, excuse me, but this video snippet MIGHT have been taken in an improper manner. I demand that public resources be used in attending to my frivolous attention-whoring! Waaaa!”

  • Sam H.

    Good lord is there anything more pathetic than a hippie lobbyist?

    “Um, excuse me, but this video snippet MIGHT have been taken in an improper manner. I demand that public resources be used in attending to my frivolous attention-whoring! Waaaa!”

  • JC

    That shot appears to be taken next to the SODO light rail station, which S Lander St goes right by. The video could have easily been taken on a sidewalk on Lander.

  • JC

    That shot appears to be taken next to the SODO light rail station, which S Lander St goes right by. The video could have easily been taken on a sidewalk on Lander.

  • JC

    That shot appears to be taken next to the SODO light rail station, which S Lander St goes right by. The video could have easily been taken on a sidewalk on Lander.

  • http://seattletransitblog.com/ Ben Schiendelman

    Bloggers at STB have video and images that look exactly like that – it’s from a public crosswalk. My dojo is just down the street, so I see that view all the time.

  • http://seattletransitblog.com/ Ben Schiendelman

    Bloggers at STB have video and images that look exactly like that – it’s from a public crosswalk. My dojo is just down the street, so I see that view all the time.

  • http://seattletransitblog.com Ben Schiendelman

    Bloggers at STB have video and images that look exactly like that – it’s from a public crosswalk. My dojo is just down the street, so I see that view all the time.

  • Transit Voter

    Yes, JC @ 7, that video looks like it was shot from the Lander St. right-of-way. I’m more than a bit familiar with that area, having had a small part in building the nearby SODO Station.

    Complainers are ripping a page from the Fox Noise playbook — take something that’s potentially a “could be” and turn it into “probably is”. Bullshit already.

  • Transit Voter

    Yes, JC @ 7, that video looks like it was shot from the Lander St. right-of-way. I’m more than a bit familiar with that area, having had a small part in building the nearby SODO Station.

    Complainers are ripping a page from the Fox Noise playbook — take something that’s potentially a “could be” and turn it into “probably is”. Bullshit already.

  • Transit Voter

    Yes, JC @ 7, that video looks like it was shot from the Lander St. right-of-way. I’m more than a bit familiar with that area, having had a small part in building the nearby SODO Station.

    Complainers are ripping a page from the Fox Noise playbook — take something that’s potentially a “could be” and turn it into “probably is”. Bullshit already.

  • jeralyn

    I think it would be great if the Mayor would focus on getting real transit solutions in place instead of photo ops! The Tunnel is a giant boondoggle that is hideously expensive and will suck all the money out of Seattle – at the expense of all other programs. It does nothing to reduce car miles and we actually have NO idea what it’s really going to cost because the planning is only 2% completed. The voters said NO, Nickels should too.

  • jeralyn

    I think it would be great if the Mayor would focus on getting real transit solutions in place instead of photo ops! The Tunnel is a giant boondoggle that is hideously expensive and will suck all the money out of Seattle – at the expense of all other programs. It does nothing to reduce car miles and we actually have NO idea what it’s really going to cost because the planning is only 2% completed. The voters said NO, Nickels should too.

  • jeralyn

    I think it would be great if the Mayor would focus on getting real transit solutions in place instead of photo ops! The Tunnel is a giant boondoggle that is hideously expensive and will suck all the money out of Seattle – at the expense of all other programs. It does nothing to reduce car miles and we actually have NO idea what it’s really going to cost because the planning is only 2% completed. The voters said NO, Nickels should too.

  • Jack

    @5 Here’s a conversation starter, and a great factoid…the environmental difference between the tunnel and the surface transit option is the green house gas equivelent of 50 cars a year. It’s negligible. Meaning, the tunnel is not an environmental disaster, in fact the tunnel only adds the emmisions of 50 cars a year. With a system this large that amount is less than a rounding error.
    How can this be? The analysis takes into account the idling and slow speeds and congestion (for freight especially) involved with the surface option. Let’s chew on this awhile!

  • Jack

    @5 Here’s a conversation starter, and a great factoid…the environmental difference between the tunnel and the surface transit option is the green house gas equivelent of 50 cars a year. It’s negligible. Meaning, the tunnel is not an environmental disaster, in fact the tunnel only adds the emmisions of 50 cars a year. With a system this large that amount is less than a rounding error.
    How can this be? The analysis takes into account the idling and slow speeds and congestion (for freight especially) involved with the surface option. Let’s chew on this awhile!

  • Jack

    @5 Here’s a conversation starter, and a great factoid…the environmental difference between the tunnel and the surface transit option is the green house gas equivelent of 50 cars a year. It’s negligible. Meaning, the tunnel is not an environmental disaster, in fact the tunnel only adds the emmisions of 50 cars a year. With a system this large that amount is less than a rounding error.
    How can this be? The analysis takes into account the idling and slow speeds and congestion (for freight especially) involved with the surface option. Let’s chew on this awhile!

  • Elaine

    @11 Is that a fact or a factoid (i.e. fact-like)? What’s your source

  • Elaine

    @11 Is that a fact or a factoid (i.e. fact-like)? What’s your source

  • Elaine

    @11 Is that a fact or a factoid (i.e. fact-like)? What’s your source

  • Stacy

    @11 – Yeah let’s chew on this. First, show us a source and then explain your methodology, because at first glance it’s a pretty ridiculous claim that you are making. I would wager that your factoid is based on a very narrow analysis, but please, prove me wrong.

  • Stacy

    @11 – Yeah let’s chew on this. First, show us a source and then explain your methodology, because at first glance it’s a pretty ridiculous claim that you are making. I would wager that your factoid is based on a very narrow analysis, but please, prove me wrong.

  • Stacy

    @11 – Yeah let’s chew on this. First, show us a source and then explain your methodology, because at first glance it’s a pretty ridiculous claim that you are making. I would wager that your factoid is based on a very narrow analysis, but please, prove me wrong.

  • abc

    Besides the huge amount of greenhouse gasses used to build the tunnel you need to consider the opportunity costs.

    What could we do with $2 billion to reduce pollution.

    We could buy 50,000 @ $40,000 all electric cars for people or subsidize 200,000 people at $10,000 per car.

    Or we could build fast rail to Ballard and West Seattle.

  • abc

    Besides the huge amount of greenhouse gasses used to build the tunnel you need to consider the opportunity costs.

    What could we do with $2 billion to reduce pollution.

    We could buy 50,000 @ $40,000 all electric cars for people or subsidize 200,000 people at $10,000 per car.

    Or we could build fast rail to Ballard and West Seattle.

  • abc

    Besides the huge amount of greenhouse gasses used to build the tunnel you need to consider the opportunity costs.

    What could we do with $2 billion to reduce pollution.

    We could buy 50,000 @ $40,000 all electric cars for people or subsidize 200,000 people at $10,000 per car.

    Or we could build fast rail to Ballard and West Seattle.

  • http://www.munileague.org/ League Staff

    Join us for our ratings release party!

    Spitfire
    2219 4th Avenue
    Thursday July 23
    7:00 – 9:00 PM

  • http://www.munileague.org/ League Staff

    Join us for our ratings release party!

    Spitfire
    2219 4th Avenue
    Thursday July 23
    7:00 – 9:00 PM

  • http://www.munileague.org League Staff

    Join us for our ratings release party!

    Spitfire
    2219 4th Avenue
    Thursday July 23
    7:00 – 9:00 PM

  • Simply the facts

    @11 – you want a conversation starter? Check out http://www.tunnelfacts.com

  • Simply the facts

    @11 – you want a conversation starter? Check out http://www.tunnelfacts.com

  • Simply the facts

    @11 – you want a conversation starter? Check out http://www.tunnelfacts.com

  • http://seattletransitblog.com/ Ben Schiendelman

    @11 – not a chance. Don’t make things up.

  • http://seattletransitblog.com/ Ben Schiendelman

    @11 – not a chance. Don’t make things up.

  • http://seattletransitblog.com Ben Schiendelman

    @11 – not a chance. Don’t make things up.

  • http://kradeleet.com/ K

    That scene is right at the end of the Busway where the Link train comes down to ground level. The nearest station is SODO Station. If that shot had been taken from SODO Station, the poles along the middle of the track would be right behind each other. But from this angle, it could quite easily have been shot from the sidewalk on the other side of the busway. Compare the Google Street View (taken by a naughty Googlemobile)

  • http://kradeleet.com/ K

    That scene is right at the end of the Busway where the Link train comes down to ground level. The nearest station is SODO Station. If that shot had been taken from SODO Station, the poles along the middle of the track would be right behind each other. But from this angle, it could quite easily have been shot from the sidewalk on the other side of the busway. Compare the Google Street View (taken by a naughty Googlemobile)

  • http://kradeleet.com K

    That scene is right at the end of the Busway where the Link train comes down to ground level. The nearest station is SODO Station. If that shot had been taken from SODO Station, the poles along the middle of the track would be right behind each other. But from this angle, it could quite easily have been shot from the sidewalk on the other side of the busway. Compare the Google Street View (taken by a naughty Googlemobile)