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More Departures at City Attorney's Office

News   December 21, 2009 at 12:18 pm Erica C. Barnett

City Attorney-elect Pete Holmes

City Attorney-elect Pete Holmes

Phil Brenneman, the head of outgoing city attorney Tom Carr’s civil enforcement division, has left the city attorney’s office at the request of City Attorney-elect Pete Holmes, according to an email automatically generated when PubliCola contacted him at his city address. (“I am no longer with the City Attorney’s Office,” it says).

Ted Inkley, an assistant city attorney under Carr, is also leaving when Holmes takes office, Inkley confirms in an email. In 2002, Inkley argued that dancing was not protected free speech.

Brenneman, a holdover from the Mark Sidran era, was controversial among nightlife advocates and civil-rights activists for his tough stance toward nuisance crimes and his support for laws like the notorious Teen Dance Ordinance, a draconian set of rules that effectively prohibited all-ages venues in Seattle. (Inkley also defended the TDO).

Under Carr, Brenneman defended a proposed noise ordinance that would have given the police new power to crack down on noisy tenants; wrote up legislation declaring Pioneer Square an Alcohol Impact Area (banning certain types of cheap booze preferred by low-income people and chronic public inebriates); supporting the smoking ban in bars; worked on a proposed nightlife license that was opposed by the entire nightlife community; and drafted the controversial added activities ordinance, which required nightclub owners to obtain a separate license for music or dancing. (That last one was later thrown out of court).

“Brenneman, and I think Inkley as well, came from that broken-windows philosophy—arrest crowds of people, keep marginal people out of the city,” says David Meinert, a longtime music promoter and co-owner of the Crocodile and Five Point. “I think Pete has different ideas about how to handle those type of situations to put more responsibility on individuals’ behavior” instead of business owners, says Meinert, who was once deposed by Inkley for seven hours.


  • Cook

    Wait, what’s wrong with the AIA and banning smoking in bars? I thought those were both good things.

  • Cook

    Wait, what’s wrong with the AIA and banning smoking in bars? I thought those were both good things.

  • Mr. X

    AIA’s are ridiculously overbroad – go into any convenience store for awhile and watch who buys 24 ounce cans of Steel Reserve and whatnot and you’ll see that the overwhelming majority of folks who purchase these products are NOT so-called “Chronic Public Inebriates” – they’re just regular working-class and poor folks who are trying to get a lot of alcohol bang for their buck.

  • Mr. X

    AIA’s are ridiculously overbroad – go into any convenience store for awhile and watch who buys 24 ounce cans of Steel Reserve and whatnot and you’ll see that the overwhelming majority of folks who purchase these products are NOT so-called “Chronic Public Inebriates” – they’re just regular working-class and poor folks who are trying to get a lot of alcohol bang for their buck.

  • pl

    Let’s hope that the City Attorney’s office also focuses on issues other than nightlife–it’s gotten a lot of attention, but it’s a very small piece of what the City Attorney’s office does every day.

  • pl

    Let’s hope that the City Attorney’s office also focuses on issues other than nightlife–it’s gotten a lot of attention, but it’s a very small piece of what the City Attorney’s office does every day.

  • Glenn Fleishman

    AIA is both class discriminatory and displacement oriented: it tries to get people who buy cheap booze to get drunk to simply live the neighborhood. Put enough AIAs in, and you displace everyone to Kent and make it their problem, instead of addressing core issues for alcoholics.

  • Glenn Fleishman

    AIA is both class discriminatory and displacement oriented: it tries to get people who buy cheap booze to get drunk to simply live the neighborhood. Put enough AIAs in, and you displace everyone to Kent and make it their problem, instead of addressing core issues for alcoholics.

  • slag

    Also, more support for noise ordinances please! I know of at least one situation wherein enforcement of noise ordinances may prevent a homicide. And that ain’t nuthin.

  • slag

    Also, more support for noise ordinances please! I know of at least one situation wherein enforcement of noise ordinances may prevent a homicide. And that ain’t nuthin.

  • Cook

    I’d like to read/learn more about AIA’s. Is there any literature on that? Also, I take it by lack of response that no one is pro-smoking-in-bars, so at least I don’t have to rethink my worldview on two things today

  • Cook

    I’d like to read/learn more about AIA’s. Is there any literature on that? Also, I take it by lack of response that no one is pro-smoking-in-bars, so at least I don’t have to rethink my worldview on two things today

  • Dorsol Plants

    @6

    I have heard some people make claims that crime has gone up around bars since smoking was banned inside of them. I’m not sure anyone could actually get numbers that would a. either prove one side or the other or b. be realistic enough to be believed.

    I thought it was an interesting point though.

  • Dorsol Plants

    @6

    I have heard some people make claims that crime has gone up around bars since smoking was banned inside of them. I’m not sure anyone could actually get numbers that would a. either prove one side or the other or b. be realistic enough to be believed.

    I thought it was an interesting point though.

  • Too Bad Seattle

    Actually, Meinert, the “Fixing Broken Windows Theory” calls upon property owners to fix their own windows to keep neighborhoods vital and thriving, not “arrest crowds of people and keep marginal people out of the city.” Maybe if nightclubs were able to effectively police themselves YOU WOULDN’T BE CONTACTING THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND CITY COUNCIL FOR MORE HELP IN GETTING COPS ON THE STREET TO DO IT FOR YOU. Looks like the Public and Community Safety Division of the City Attorney’s Office could help you out a little bit on this one.
    As for Pete Holmes and his “different ideas,” your elected darling is a bankruptcy attorney who hasn’t practiced law in the last 7 years and who has no clue about public safety issues. Highlights of his record, in addition to firing members of the City Attorney’s office before the Christmas Holiday as you requested, include pissing off the police, who he needs to cooperate with.
    Good luck in building your new regime, Meinert. You’ll need it.

  • Too Bad Seattle

    Actually, Meinert, the “Fixing Broken Windows Theory” calls upon property owners to fix their own windows to keep neighborhoods vital and thriving, not “arrest crowds of people and keep marginal people out of the city.” Maybe if nightclubs were able to effectively police themselves YOU WOULDN’T BE CONTACTING THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND CITY COUNCIL FOR MORE HELP IN GETTING COPS ON THE STREET TO DO IT FOR YOU. Looks like the Public and Community Safety Division of the City Attorney’s Office could help you out a little bit on this one.
    As for Pete Holmes and his “different ideas,” your elected darling is a bankruptcy attorney who hasn’t practiced law in the last 7 years and who has no clue about public safety issues. Highlights of his record, in addition to firing members of the City Attorney’s office before the Christmas Holiday as you requested, include pissing off the police, who he needs to cooperate with.
    Good luck in building your new regime, Meinert. You’ll need it.

  • Meinert

    @8 – the problem on Seattle streets isn’t people going to see live music. So we music venues don’t need help policing ourselves. The problem is open drug dealing, street crime, aggressive panhandling, and similar activity.

    The “law and order” techniques of Sidran and Carr didn’t solve these problems. In fact, these problems seem worse after years of their administrations.

    What we do need is a combination of better policing strategies (like more cops on foot and bike patrol, neighborhood policing, etc), better social services, along with some stricter laws and better prosecution of them. To solve these issues we’ll need all involved parties to come to the table in a positive way.

    Nighttime businesses are part of the solution. The DSA is as well. And so is the City Council. And city Attorney. We will all need to work together to come up with some fresh ideas. Obviously more of the same won’t work. I think people like Burgess and Holmes, both of who I supported, will help make this happen. I’m very much looking forward to working with them on this.

    Looking forward to a more dense, green, urban city.

  • Meinert

    @8 – the problem on Seattle streets isn’t people going to see live music. So we music venues don’t need help policing ourselves. The problem is open drug dealing, street crime, aggressive panhandling, and similar activity.

    The “law and order” techniques of Sidran and Carr didn’t solve these problems. In fact, these problems seem worse after years of their administrations.

    What we do need is a combination of better policing strategies (like more cops on foot and bike patrol, neighborhood policing, etc), better social services, along with some stricter laws and better prosecution of them. To solve these issues we’ll need all involved parties to come to the table in a positive way.

    Nighttime businesses are part of the solution. The DSA is as well. And so is the City Council. And city Attorney. We will all need to work together to come up with some fresh ideas. Obviously more of the same won’t work. I think people like Burgess and Holmes, both of who I supported, will help make this happen. I’m very much looking forward to working with them on this.

    Looking forward to a more dense, green, urban city.

  • AwlBeeBear

    Peter needs to rotate the community liaison attorneys
    every two years, so they get a well-rounded education
    on the differences of each people precinct and
    communities surrounding them.

  • AwlBeeBear

    Peter needs to rotate the community liaison attorneys
    every two years, so they get a well-rounded education
    on the differences of each people precinct and
    communities surrounding them.

  • tby789

    Erica — why aren’t we hearing more from insiders at the office about how Holmes is doing so far? Me smells a story here.

  • tby789

    Erica — why aren’t we hearing more from insiders at the office about how Holmes is doing so far? Me smells a story here.

  • tby789

    Rotation is bad idea for specialist attorneys dedicated to serving specific communities. The alliances are what you want. And attorneys aren’t “rotated” unless they’re doing DV, Child Abuse, or other similar work that burns them out.

  • tby789

    Rotation is bad idea for specialist attorneys dedicated to serving specific communities. The alliances are what you want. And attorneys aren’t “rotated” unless they’re doing DV, Child Abuse, or other similar work that burns them out.

  • Too Bad Seattle

    @9 You can’t have it both ways. You beat up Tom Carr by lumping him with Mark Sidran and then you say you want “stricter laws” and “better prosecution”? You must be anti-marijuana then, too.

  • Too Bad Seattle

    @9 You can’t have it both ways. You beat up Tom Carr by lumping him with Mark Sidran and then you say you want “stricter laws” and “better prosecution”? You must be anti-marijuana then, too.

  • BeeMime

    @ 12. tby789

    No. Community liaison are supposed to remain neutral,
    not build up little empires. And, yes, attorneys are
    normally rotated out every 2-3 years, so they do not
    lose their objectivity, when they get involved in the
    community. If you look back in history, there are
    reasons why precinct captains and attorneys are normally
    rotated out every 2-3 years. Bad history.

  • BeeMime

    @ 12. tby789

    No. Community liaison are supposed to remain neutral,
    not build up little empires. And, yes, attorneys are
    normally rotated out every 2-3 years, so they do not
    lose their objectivity, when they get involved in the
    community. If you look back in history, there are
    reasons why precinct captains and attorneys are normally
    rotated out every 2-3 years. Bad history.

  • nightowl

    BeeMime doesn’t know what he’s talking about and he’s inventing a history that doesn’t exist. You don’t rotate because it breaks up the idea of a long term problem solving partnership, the idea behind these kinds of prosecutors. It’s not about building empires, it’s about being effective. He and his friend Holmes don’t know the first thing about these kinds of prosecutors.

  • nightowl

    BeeMime doesn’t know what he’s talking about and he’s inventing a history that doesn’t exist. You don’t rotate because it breaks up the idea of a long term problem solving partnership, the idea behind these kinds of prosecutors. It’s not about building empires, it’s about being effective. He and his friend Holmes don’t know the first thing about these kinds of prosecutors.

  • DigDug

    @ 15. nightowl

    Is that you Tienney Milnor the East Precinct city
    attorney liaison who worked so well and fine with
    the bars and nightclubs?

    Or, is that you Ed McKenna from North Precinct city
    attorneys liaison?

    Two folks who really helped Tom Carr’s re-election.
    Peter, learn from Tom’s mistakes, so you can get
    re-elected.

  • DigDug

    @ 15. nightowl

    Is that you Tienney Milnor the East Precinct city
    attorney liaison who worked so well and fine with
    the bars and nightclubs?

    Or, is that you Ed McKenna from North Precinct city
    attorneys liaison?

    Two folks who really helped Tom Carr’s re-election.
    Peter, learn from Tom’s mistakes, so you can get
    re-elected.

  • Jolene

    I would like to know why no one in the media is giving Pete Holmes the scrutiny he deserves. Since his election he has destroyed all morale at the City Attorney’s office. He refuses to meet with staff in order to facilitate a smooth transition. His conduct is unprofessional. WHY? Our hard working police officers are already disappointed in our city attorney elect. WHY? He is a cold and calculating politician with no recent law experience. Come on Erica, tby789 is right–THERE IS A STORY HERE! Find out what it is and do your “ojective” job.

  • Jolene

    I would like to know why no one in the media is giving Pete Holmes the scrutiny he deserves. Since his election he has destroyed all morale at the City Attorney’s office. He refuses to meet with staff in order to facilitate a smooth transition. His conduct is unprofessional. WHY? Our hard working police officers are already disappointed in our city attorney elect. WHY? He is a cold and calculating politician with no recent law experience. Come on Erica, tby789 is right–THERE IS A STORY HERE! Find out what it is and do your “ojective” job.

  • TheNewGay

    Pete Holmes was busy firing staff right up to Dec. 30 and he wasn’t even the City Attorney at that point. That is newsworthy in light of the fact we haven’t heard of a similar bloodbath over at the Mayor’s office. For crying out loud, Grace Crunican was allowed to resign.
    Yeah, Pete Holmes is a really classy guy for firing folks over the phone, some of whom were on vacation. Merry Christmas Mr. Grinch. And Meinert, it’s painfully obvious you don’t want a City Attorney, you want a Dr. Phil and as pathetic as this sounds, the City of Seattle has neither.

  • TheNewGay

    Pete Holmes was busy firing staff right up to Dec. 30 and he wasn’t even the City Attorney at that point. That is newsworthy in light of the fact we haven’t heard of a similar bloodbath over at the Mayor’s office. For crying out loud, Grace Crunican was allowed to resign.
    Yeah, Pete Holmes is a really classy guy for firing folks over the phone, some of whom were on vacation. Merry Christmas Mr. Grinch. And Meinert, it’s painfully obvious you don’t want a City Attorney, you want a Dr. Phil and as pathetic as this sounds, the City of Seattle has neither.