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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.

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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.

Party Edition

News   August 17, 2009 at 9:13 am Morning Fizz

fizz58
1. The Northwest Film Forum did not meet its goal of raising $70,000 by August 15 . They’ve been in crisis mode ever since announcing a 30 percent budget shortfall earlier this month. The indie movie Mecca is now looking at drastic cuts. Imperiled departments include NWFF’s hands-on education and filmmaking programs.

Also, Susie Purves, NWFF managing director is leaving, not to be replaced. Although, NWFF is now looking for a contract position grant writer.

2. A previously planned protest against Glacier Northwest’s proposed gravel mine on Maury Island turned into a celebration this weekend after a federal judge ruled the company must do further environmental studies to determine the project’s impact on endangered species.

King County Executive candidate Dow Constantine hadn’t planned to attend the event due to a conflict. However, an announcement by his opponent (and fellow King County Council member) Larry Phillips that he planned to attend, forced Constantine to rearrange his schedule so he could make it.

Constantine—along with State Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-34), who used to work in Constantine’s office—is the elected official most closely associated with the fight against the gravel mine. However, last week, Phillips attempted to grab some of the spotlight away from his rival, issuing a press release noting his “long history working to protect Puget Sound nearshore habitat,” including a marine park near Maury Island.

Ultimately, Phillips didn’t attend Saturday’s event; Constantine did.

3. We ran a lengthy piece about Seattle’s real estate market on Friday that got buried under the rest of the day’s posts. We’d suggest going back and reading it.

4. The latest list of candidates’ election-night party plans (most parties start between 7 and 8 pm):

Mayor
Greg Nickels
UFCW Hall, 5030 1st Ave. S.

Mike McGinn
Havana
1010 East Pike St.

Joe Mallahan
Fado
801 First Ave.

Jan Drago
McCoy’s Firehouse Bar & Grill
173 S Washington St

James Donaldson
Uptown Espresso
2504 Fourth Ave.

Norman Sigler
Post
1914 Post Alley

Bag fee

Yes (Green Bag Campaign)
Dubliner
3517 Fremont Ave. N

Coalition to Stop the Seattle Bag Tax
No official party planned

King County Executive

Ross Hunter
Private party

Dow Constantine
Kells
1916 Post Alley

Larry Phillips
Spitfire Grill
2219 Fourth Ave.

Susan Hutchison
The Edgewater
2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67

City Council Position 4
Sally Bagshaw
Ancient Grounds Coffee
1220 First Ave.

David Bloom
Two Bells
2313 Fourth Ave.

Dorsol Plants
Twist
2313 First Ave.

City Council Position 6

Nick Licata
Newmark Tower
1415 Second Ave.

Jessie Israel
Private party

Marty Kaplan
No info available yet

City Council Position 8

Jordan Royer
Collins Pub
526 Second Ave.

Robert Rosencrantz
No info available yet

Mike O’Brien
604 N 45th St

Bobby Forch
Twist
2313 1st Ave.

David Miller
Cloud City Coffee
8801 Roosevelt Way NE

The PubliCola party , along with the Muni League and Seattle Works, is at Twist in Belltown—2314 1st Ave.

This morning’s Morning Fizz brought to you by:

newfizz8131


  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Shame about NW Film Forum, but would be really nice to know what happened there. Did they lose a grant, write an overly optimistic budget, or what? It’s hard to be moved to dig deep to contribute when there’s no info on what got them into this predicament. I know times are tough for all kinds of orgs, but opening up a $70,000 budget hole 8 months into they year suggests some deep operational problems. As a potential donor, I’d want to have some assurance that things have been corrected. And to do that, we need to hear something about what went wrong.

    A shiny happy PR approach doesn’t work in a crisis. Just be straight with us. What happened?

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Shame about NW Film Forum, but would be really nice to know what happened there. Did they lose a grant, write an overly optimistic budget, or what? It’s hard to be moved to dig deep to contribute when there’s no info on what got them into this predicament. I know times are tough for all kinds of orgs, but opening up a $70,000 budget hole 8 months into they year suggests some deep operational problems. As a potential donor, I’d want to have some assurance that things have been corrected. And to do that, we need to hear something about what went wrong.

    A shiny happy PR approach doesn’t work in a crisis. Just be straight with us. What happened?

  • huh?

    I love that all the parties are pretty centrally located except for Miller’s. It is challenging for folks in the south end to get to Maple Leaf by bus at that time of night.

  • RonK, Seattle

    Re point #3, I’d suggest aggressive editing – but maybe that’s just me.

  • RonK, Seattle

    Re point #3, I’d suggest aggressive editing – but maybe that’s just me.

  • RonK, Seattle

    Re point #3, I’d suggest aggressive editing – but maybe that’s just me.

  • Trevor

    Dorsol is making publicola’s party his own?

  • Trevor

    Dorsol is making publicola’s party his own?

  • Trevor

    Dorsol is making publicola’s party his own?

  • J.R.

    You’d think the Corporate Shills to Stop the Bag Fee campaign would have saved a few of their million bucks for a party.

  • J.R.

    You’d think the Corporate Shills to Stop the Bag Fee campaign would have saved a few of their million bucks for a party.

  • J.R.

    You’d think the Corporate Shills to Stop the Bag Fee campaign would have saved a few of their million bucks for a party.

  • Trevor

    @5: I believe the party will be in DC

  • Trevor

    @5: I believe the party will be in DC

  • Trevor

    @5: I believe the party will be in DC

  • ballardiana

    @2 There is a typo in the Nickels’ part address. The UFCW Hall is at 5010 1st Ave. SOUTH.

  • ballardiana

    @2 There is a typo in the Nickels’ part address. The UFCW Hall is at 5010 1st Ave. SOUTH.

  • ballardiana

    @2 There is a typo in the Nickels’ part address. The UFCW Hall is at 5010 1st Ave. SOUTH.

  • curious

    i think it’s weird for candidates to have private parties. you’re running for public office–be public, no matter how painful a loss may be.

  • curious

    i think it’s weird for candidates to have private parties. you’re running for public office–be public, no matter how painful a loss may be.

  • curious

    i think it’s weird for candidates to have private parties. you’re running for public office–be public, no matter how painful a loss may be.

  • christi

    There’s several candidates stopping by Twist…looks like Forch and Plants will be there most of the night.

  • christi

    There’s several candidates stopping by Twist…looks like Forch and Plants will be there most of the night.

  • christi

    There’s several candidates stopping by Twist…looks like Forch and Plants will be there most of the night.

  • christi

    Cracks me up that Huchison is at the Edgewater. Dayam! She must be loaded.

  • christi

    Cracks me up that Huchison is at the Edgewater. Dayam! She must be loaded.

  • christi

    Cracks me up that Huchison is at the Edgewater. Dayam! She must be loaded.

  • christi

    FYI: Kaplan has a private party scheduled.

  • christi

    FYI: Kaplan has a private party scheduled.

  • christi

    FYI: Kaplan has a private party scheduled.

  • http://deadcatsbounce.blogspot.com/ Gomez

    Part of me’s glad I’ll be working Tuesday night and won’t have the distraction of up to the minute trickled-in election results to deal with. I can just come home, go to sleep, wake up in the morning and get the final verdict (or at least something close to it) when I check the news.

  • http://deadcatsbounce.blogspot.com/ Gomez

    Part of me’s glad I’ll be working Tuesday night and won’t have the distraction of up to the minute trickled-in election results to deal with. I can just come home, go to sleep, wake up in the morning and get the final verdict (or at least something close to it) when I check the news.

  • http://deadcatsbounce.blogspot.com Gomez

    Part of me’s glad I’ll be working Tuesday night and won’t have the distraction of up to the minute trickled-in election results to deal with. I can just come home, go to sleep, wake up in the morning and get the final verdict (or at least something close to it) when I check the news.

  • christi

    Campaign central at his house at 2316 -18th Avenue East in Montlake.

    206-726-9999

    Robert Rosencrantz

  • christi

    Campaign central at his house at 2316 -18th Avenue East in Montlake.

    206-726-9999

    Robert Rosencrantz

  • christi

    Campaign central at his house at 2316 -18th Avenue East in Montlake.

    206-726-9999

    Robert Rosencrantz

  • christi

    Brian Carver

    Gasworks Park starting at 6:30pm

  • christi

    Brian Carver

    Gasworks Park starting at 6:30pm

  • christi

    Brian Carver

    Gasworks Park starting at 6:30pm

  • Jeff

    Where’s Goodspaceguy’s party?

  • Jeff

    Where’s Goodspaceguy’s party?

  • Jeff

    Where’s Goodspaceguy’s party?

  • anon

    Why does it seem so fitting that Nickels’s party is at a union hall, Ross Hunter’s is at an undisclosed location so he doesn’t have to mingle with the masses, and Hutchison’s is at a swank hotel that the average county voter can’t even afford to look at? Hmmmm, me thinks a few of these candidates are a bit out of touch…

  • anon

    Why does it seem so fitting that Nickels’s party is at a union hall, Ross Hunter’s is at an undisclosed location so he doesn’t have to mingle with the masses, and Hutchison’s is at a swank hotel that the average county voter can’t even afford to look at? Hmmmm, me thinks a few of these candidates are a bit out of touch…

  • anon

    Why does it seem so fitting that Nickels’s party is at a union hall, Ross Hunter’s is at an undisclosed location so he doesn’t have to mingle with the masses, and Hutchison’s is at a swank hotel that the average county voter can’t even afford to look at? Hmmmm, me thinks a few of these candidates are a bit out of touch…

  • huh?

    I love that all the parties are pretty centrally located except for Miller's. It is challenging for folks in the south end to get to Maple Leaf by bus at that time of night.