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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.

Names and Addresses

Morning Fizz   January 4, 2010 at 9:01 am Morning Fizz

fizz

1. Today’s Inauguration Day at City Hall. Newly elected city officials—that’s Mayor Mike McGinn, City Attorney Pete Holmes, and City Council members Sally Bagshaw, Mike O’Brien, Nick Licata, and Richard Conlin—will be sworn in at 2 pm in council chambers (600 Fourth Ave.) Then, from 3 to around 7 pm, there’s a public reception in the Bertha Knight Landes Room downstairs from council chambers (featuring, somewhat ominously, “performances from local music groups”). All events are free and open to the public.

2. The city lost a round last week in a traffic-safety lawsuit filed by Xiao Ping Chen, whose husband, Run Sen Liu, was struck by a car at the intersection of South Jackson Street and 10th Avenue South in 2007. He spent two years in a coma before dying this year.

The Washington State Court of Appeals found that the city had “breached its duty … to maintain in a reasonably safe condition the crosswalk” where Liu was hit. According to city records introduced as part of the case, neighbors had complained that the crosswalk was dangerous as far back as 1992. In response to complaints, the city installed an island in the middle of the road, but took it out in 2002 to make it easier for cars to turn left at the intersection. Since then, at least eight other pedestrians were hit in the crosswalk, including one in which the pedestrian was killed.

Picture 11

3. While most everyone else is talking about the budget*, state GOP Attorney General Rob McKenna is hyping his 2010 legislative agenda, including: Tougher sentences for domestic violence offenders (legislation we wrote about here); new protections for homeowners facing foreclosure; an update to the state’s lemon law, and a new agency to enforce open records laws.

McKenna will be joined by a bipartisan crew of legislators at a press conference today to hype his upcoming bid for governor, er, legislative agenda, including: Sen. Dale Brandland (R-Bellingham), Rep. Al O’Brien (D-Bothell, Moutlake Terrace), Rep. Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe), Rep. Dean Takko (D-Longview), and Rep. Jim Moeller (D-Vancouver).

*North Seattle Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) has some non-budget policy queued up too: In response to the R-71 petition flap,  he wants to pass legislation making the names and addresses of people who sign initiative and referendum petitions public records.




  • noreply

    I love how anytime a D does something, it’s out of the goodness of their heart. But whenever an R does something, it’s out of ambition. Stay Classy In 2010~!

    PS: Where are my Eve Harrington Awards?!?!?!

  • http://noreply@comcast.net noreply

    I love how anytime a D does something, it’s out of the goodness of their heart. But whenever an R does something, it’s out of ambition. Stay Classy In 2010~!

    PS: Where are my Eve Harrington Awards?!?!?!

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,

    When you click on the link re: the McKenna legislation that we covered, you’ll see we take his proposals very seriously.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @1,

    When you click on the link re: the McKenna legislation that we covered, you’ll see we take his proposals very seriously.

  • Gerry Pollet

    RE: Rep. Carlyle’s legislation
    Initiative and referenda petitions are ALREADY public records subject to disclosure under our state’s Public Records Act. Rep. Carlyle’s legislation clarifies and provides support in the face of the on-going legal challenge by R-71 anti-gay rights efforts to block disclosure.

    When people sign an initiative or referenda petition – often in public – they act as legislators seeking to propose a bill or block a law from taking effect. It’s hooey to say that this should be private and protected like voting. Without disclosure, the public and media lose the ability to ensure that the signatures were indeed valid, or to analyze who proposes a bill (e.g., were the signatures all collected at churches, or primarily came from one portion of the state are legitimate public policy debates which can not occur without disclosure of petitions).

    Look for Tim Eyman to be the loudest oponent of Rep. Carlyle’s bill because disclosure prevents his initiative machine from monopolizing the phone numbers, email and addresses collected on his initiatives.

    Gerry Pollet
    (submitted individually, not in my role as a member of the board of the Washington Coalition for Open Government

  • Gerry Pollet

    RE: Rep. Carlyle’s legislation
    Initiative and referenda petitions are ALREADY public records subject to disclosure under our state’s Public Records Act. Rep. Carlyle’s legislation clarifies and provides support in the face of the on-going legal challenge by R-71 anti-gay rights efforts to block disclosure.

    When people sign an initiative or referenda petition – often in public – they act as legislators seeking to propose a bill or block a law from taking effect. It’s hooey to say that this should be private and protected like voting. Without disclosure, the public and media lose the ability to ensure that the signatures were indeed valid, or to analyze who proposes a bill (e.g., were the signatures all collected at churches, or primarily came from one portion of the state are legitimate public policy debates which can not occur without disclosure of petitions).

    Look for Tim Eyman to be the loudest oponent of Rep. Carlyle’s bill because disclosure prevents his initiative machine from monopolizing the phone numbers, email and addresses collected on his initiatives.

    Gerry Pollet
    (submitted individually, not in my role as a member of the board of the Washington Coalition for Open Government

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Gerry,

    I think you’re interpreting the current law. Rep. Carlye would clarify by stating it outright, so there’s no room for interpretation.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Gerry,

    I think you’re interpreting the current law. Rep. Carlye would clarify by stating it outright, so there’s no room for interpretation.