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.

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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.

Campaign Mode

Morning Fizz   January 25, 2010 at 9:04 am Morning Fizz

1. Mayor Mike McGinn briefs the City Council this morning on his proposed $241 million sea wall bond proposal.

Fizz is hearing reports that there’s a robo poll in the field right now on the sea wall bond, along with a light rail levy in November ($2 billion) and an education levy next year.

Quick advice to the McGinn squad: Time to switch from campaign mode to governing mode.

2. The bill to expand what counts as renewable energy—altering voter-approved I-937 (passed in 2006 to promote alternative energy sources like solar and wind power)— is scheduled for a public hearing in the state House today.

I-937 mandated that 15 percent of a utility’s power come from renewable energy by 2020. Under consideration for what can count as renewable energy: Conservation measures.

In the Senate they’re hearing the education reform bill.

3. Rolling Stone published a must-read cover story this month on the prospects (bad) that President Obama will deliver on sweeping carbon cap legislation.

Not surprising, lefty Rolling Stone casts U.S. Rep Jay Inslee (D-WA, 1) as one of the good guys in the fight. And he gets the lead quote

“We are in a race against time,” says Rep. Jay Inslee, a Democrat from Washington who has fought for sharp reductions in planet-warming pollution. “Mother Nature isn’t sitting around waiting for us to get our political act together.”

Inslee also calls the energy industry’s lobbying tactics—they used forged documents and outright false numbers on how much the bill would cost the average rate payer—”old tobacco tactics, pure and simple.” Meaning: They lied.

Cola coverage of Rep. Inslee’s role is here. We certainly gave Rep. Inslee props, but we’re not quite as glowy on him as RS.

4. PubliCola’s one-year anniverary party is this Wednesday night at the Crocodile. It’s free. Doors at 6.

We are beside ourselves to report that THEESatisfaction is visiting us from the future of hip-hop to headline the show.

We’ll also be revealing the results of our latest, exclusive PubliCola/Precision polling.

5. Erica’s post on Mayor McGinn’s proposed staff cuts is at nearly 130 comments. Join the discussion.




  • Voters Remorse

    Every time I’ve heard McGinn speak, it’s the same damn stump speech I heard all during the campaign. He’s STILL talking about “the non-profit I founded, Great City” and “the Roads & Transit measure I passed”. The fact that he doesn’t know how to govern doesn’t surprise me, but really, find something new to talk about.

  • Voters Remorse

    Every time I’ve heard McGinn speak, it’s the same damn stump speech I heard all during the campaign. He’s STILL talking about “the non-profit I founded, Great City” and “the Roads & Transit measure I passed”. The fact that he doesn’t know how to govern doesn’t surprise me, but really, find something new to talk about.

  • Voters Remorse

    Every time I’ve heard McGinn speak, it’s the same damn stump speech I heard all during the campaign. He’s STILL talking about “the non-profit I founded, Great City” and “the Roads & Transit measure I passed”. The fact that he doesn’t know how to govern doesn’t surprise me, but really, find something new to talk about.

  • jeff

    @ Voter’s Remorse
    Given that McGinn led the opposition to Roads and Transit and it failed I doubt he speaks to often about how he got it passed.

  • jeff

    @ Voter’s Remorse
    Given that McGinn led the opposition to Roads and Transit and it failed I doubt he speaks to often about how he got it passed.

  • jeff

    @ Voter’s Remorse
    Given that McGinn led the opposition to Roads and Transit and it failed I doubt he speaks to often about how he got it passed.

  • Giffy

    Quick advice to the McGinn squad: Time to switch from campaign mode to governing mode.

    You are assuming any of them actually know how to do this.

  • Giffy

    Quick advice to the McGinn squad: Time to switch from campaign mode to governing mode.

    You are assuming any of them actually know how to do this.

  • Giffy

    Quick advice to the McGinn squad: Time to switch from campaign mode to governing mode.

    You are assuming any of them actually know how to do this.

  • Voters Remorse

    @ Jeff– good point. Sorry– I go into a trance when McG speaks. Point is, he needs to get on with the work of leading this city, not resting on his past deeds. Campaign is over. Time to get your governance on. (Although @Giffy is right on.)

  • Jennifer B.

    I got one of those robo-calls and thought it was from the anti-tax forces because of the way it presented all these proposed levies as done deals, when they are so clearly far from it.

  • Jennifer B.

    I got one of those robo-calls and thought it was from the anti-tax forces because of the way it presented all these proposed levies as done deals, when they are so clearly far from it.

  • Jennifer B.

    I got one of those robo-calls and thought it was from the anti-tax forces because of the way it presented all these proposed levies as done deals, when they are so clearly far from it.

  • Good Grief

    McGinn never met a robo-poll he could say no to. Is this really the extent of the expertise we got when the Mercury Group moved into City Hall?

  • Good Grief

    McGinn never met a robo-poll he could say no to. Is this really the extent of the expertise we got when the Mercury Group moved into City Hall?

  • Good Grief

    McGinn never met a robo-poll he could say no to. Is this really the extent of the expertise we got when the Mercury Group moved into City Hall?

  • Soapboxin’

    I called KUOW during the campaign and asked McGinn a direct question. His answer came out, “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc.” I got distracted and stopped listening about 15 seconds in. And then I voted for him anyway, because I couldn’t stand Mallahan and he promised to go along w/the Council vote on the Tunnel. Then I went to the public meeting at Northgate, where he made empty promises about listening, transparency, diversity, and accountability (a code word for anti-government Tea Party wackos who aren’t qualified to hold to be Asst. Mgr. at Burgermaster). I still wouldn’t want to replace him with Mallhan, but I do want to strongly support the post I saw about RECALL: http://www.ehow.com/how_2093099_recall-city-mayor.html

  • Soapboxin’

    I called KUOW during the campaign and asked McGinn a direct question. His answer came out, “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc.” I got distracted and stopped listening about 15 seconds in. And then I voted for him anyway, because I couldn’t stand Mallahan and he promised to go along w/the Council vote on the Tunnel. Then I went to the public meeting at Northgate, where he made empty promises about listening, transparency, diversity, and accountability (a code word for anti-government Tea Party wackos who aren’t qualified to hold to be Asst. Mgr. at Burgermaster). I still wouldn’t want to replace him with Mallhan, but I do want to strongly support the post I saw about RECALL: http://www.ehow.com/how_2093099_recall-city-mayor.html

  • Soapboxin’

    I called KUOW during the campaign and asked McGinn a direct question. His answer came out, “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc.” I got distracted and stopped listening about 15 seconds in. And then I voted for him anyway, because I couldn’t stand Mallahan and he promised to go along w/the Council vote on the Tunnel. Then I went to the public meeting at Northgate, where he made empty promises about listening, transparency, diversity, and accountability (a code word for anti-government Tea Party wackos who aren’t qualified to hold to be Asst. Mgr. at Burgermaster). I still wouldn’t want to replace him with Mallhan, but I do want to strongly support the post I saw about RECALL: http://www.ehow.com/how_2093099_recall-city-mayor.html

  • seattleite

    How do we vote the Mayor out before his 4-year term is up?

  • seattleite

    How do we vote the Mayor out before his 4-year term is up?

  • seattleite

    How do we vote the Mayor out before his 4-year term is up?

  • Theo Andersen

    i think “seattleite”‘s comment amounts to the first suggestion toward recalling (the mayor); could be wrong, but well done for being first! [confetti]

    However, one might briefly consider that such an effort made, more than once, on behalf of Mayor Uhlman, didn’t succeed ( http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7854 ). That is, it isn’t as easy as it should perhaps should be.

    Somewhere Mallahan should be allowed to swirl his cognac and smile; and somewhere else Nickels may be allowed a full bitter grin and head-shake

  • Theo Andersen

    i think “seattleite”‘s comment amounts to the first suggestion toward recalling (the mayor); could be wrong, but well done for being first! [confetti]

    However, one might briefly consider that such an effort made, more than once, on behalf of Mayor Uhlman, didn’t succeed ( http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7854 ). That is, it isn’t as easy as it should perhaps should be.

    Somewhere Mallahan should be allowed to swirl his cognac and smile; and somewhere else Nickels may be allowed a full bitter grin and head-shake

  • Theo Andersen

    i think “seattleite”‘s comment amounts to the first suggestion toward recalling (the mayor); could be wrong, but well done for being first! [confetti]

    However, one might briefly consider that such an effort made, more than once, on behalf of Mayor Uhlman, didn’t succeed ( http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7854 ). That is, it isn’t as easy as it should perhaps should be.

    Somewhere Mallahan should be allowed to swirl his cognac and smile; and somewhere else Nickels may be allowed a full bitter grin and head-shake

  • Cronyism is Alive and Well

    —–When questioned about his polling at Council, McGinn mentions that Bill Broadhead could come talk to the council more about how the survey was developed and conducted. Broadhead works for Mercury, a company he co-owns with Julie McCoy. Julie McCoy is, um, McGinn’s chief of staff.

    —–Nick Licata asked how the survey was paid for, and McGinn said that he paid for it himself. He is treading in dangerous water by hiring consultants who are married to key staff members. I hope he tries to get reimbursement from the city. Then we would have some grounds to recall his arrogant, no management skills ass!

  • Cronyism is Alive and Well

    —–When questioned about his polling at Council, McGinn mentions that Bill Broadhead could come talk to the council more about how the survey was developed and conducted. Broadhead works for Mercury, a company he co-owns with Julie McCoy. Julie McCoy is, um, McGinn’s chief of staff.

    —–Nick Licata asked how the survey was paid for, and McGinn said that he paid for it himself. He is treading in dangerous water by hiring consultants who are married to key staff members. I hope he tries to get reimbursement from the city. Then we would have some grounds to recall his arrogant, no management skills ass!

  • Cronyism is Alive and Well

    —–When questioned about his polling at Council, McGinn mentions that Bill Broadhead could come talk to the council more about how the survey was developed and conducted. Broadhead works for Mercury, a company he co-owns with Julie McCoy. Julie McCoy is, um, McGinn’s chief of staff.

    —–Nick Licata asked how the survey was paid for, and McGinn said that he paid for it himself. He is treading in dangerous water by hiring consultants who are married to key staff members. I hope he tries to get reimbursement from the city. Then we would have some grounds to recall his arrogant, no management skills ass!

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    That was kind of sad. The council takes testimony, and legislates, too bad Mayor McGinn rested on emotional pleas. He failed to bring new facts, and embellished the currently know estimation of 1 in 10% chance something bad could happen.

    I thought Nick Licata provided space for the mayor to save face after deconstructing the timing of a vote and when actual money could be collected.
    I thought Sally Bagshaw asked clarifying questions as to his motives, clearly she is a superior lawyer.

    Conlin offered a better menu for the next time.

    I hope he stays all 4 years because I like what the council is working on and see little stopping them in the mayor’s chair.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    That was kind of sad. The council takes testimony, and legislates, too bad Mayor McGinn rested on emotional pleas. He failed to bring new facts, and embellished the currently know estimation of 1 in 10% chance something bad could happen.

    I thought Nick Licata provided space for the mayor to save face after deconstructing the timing of a vote and when actual money could be collected.
    I thought Sally Bagshaw asked clarifying questions as to his motives, clearly she is a superior lawyer.

    Conlin offered a better menu for the next time.

    I hope he stays all 4 years because I like what the council is working on and see little stopping them in the mayor’s chair.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    That was kind of sad. The council takes testimony, and legislates, too bad Mayor McGinn rested on emotional pleas. He failed to bring new facts, and embellished the currently know estimation of 1 in 10% chance something bad could happen.

    I thought Nick Licata provided space for the mayor to save face after deconstructing the timing of a vote and when actual money could be collected.
    I thought Sally Bagshaw asked clarifying questions as to his motives, clearly she is a superior lawyer.

    Conlin offered a better menu for the next time.

    I hope he stays all 4 years because I like what the council is working on and see little stopping them in the mayor’s chair.

  • OnTheBrink

    Actually to recall someone in WA you have to demonstrate misconduct or malfeasance…But it should be noted that former CM Richard McIver got fined by the Ethics & Elections Commission because he assisted in getting a contract to a qualified consultant that he happened to be friends with (which I would guess would not be hard). Funny they pay the spouse of the Chief of Staff and no one raises an eyebrow.

  • OnTheBrink

    Actually to recall someone in WA you have to demonstrate misconduct or malfeasance…But it should be noted that former CM Richard McIver got fined by the Ethics & Elections Commission because he assisted in getting a contract to a qualified consultant that he happened to be friends with (which I would guess would not be hard). Funny they pay the spouse of the Chief of Staff and no one raises an eyebrow.

  • OnTheBrink

    Actually to recall someone in WA you have to demonstrate misconduct or malfeasance…But it should be noted that former CM Richard McIver got fined by the Ethics & Elections Commission because he assisted in getting a contract to a qualified consultant that he happened to be friends with (which I would guess would not be hard). Funny they pay the spouse of the Chief of Staff and no one raises an eyebrow.

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  • Voters Remorse

    @ Jeff– good point. Sorry– I go into a trance when McG speaks. Point is, he needs to get on with the work of leading this city, not resting on his past deeds. Campaign is over. Time to get your governance on. (Although @Giffy is right on.)

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