A shadow councilmember, more turmoil at the homelessness authority, and so, so much election news
Monday, September 29
Packed Morning Fizz to start the week: Common Power, the Black-led group Mayor Bruce Harrell accused of “darkening” his skin in an email invite to a pro-Katie Wilson debate watch party, responded to the incendiary allegation. A pro-Harrell PAC has raised more than $1 million, mostly from tech and real-estate interests. And Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes took some time during a city council meeting to let everyone know he doesn’t read PubliCola and won’t answer councilmembers’ questions if they’re phrased in a way that mentions us.
Tuesday, September 30
Former city councilmember Cathy Moore quit the council after just 18 months, but she continued to work as a shadow council member, editing legislation and ghostwriting questions for current council member Maritza Rivera, after her departure in July.
On this week’s podcast, we talked about Mayor Bruce Harrell’s short-term election-year budget, which piles on tens of millions of dollars in new spending for his priorities while funding many important (and politically popular) programs with one-time funding, plunging the budget into deficits just in time for the next mayor to take office. Also, King County bans rent-fixing software and Pete Buttigieg says vote for Harrell.
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Wednesday, October 1
After an investigation into several complaints alleging that King County Regional Homelessness Authority CEO Kelly Kinnison fostered a toxic work environment and favored white job applicants, the agency’s board, made up of elected officials from around the region, gave Kinnison a slap on the wrist, with just one board member arguing for a more serious response.
Thursday, October 2
Harrell proposed a new law that would ban grocery stores that are closing down from restricting the size of future grocery stores when they sell their land, saying the proposal would help address “food deserts.” The city offered two examples where this has happened; both are currently grocery stores, and neither is in a food desert.
Friday, October 3
A new US Post Office policy could delay postmarking on mailed-in ballots, invalidating votes cast just before, or on, election day; although most Washington residents drop their ballots off at ballot boxes, elections officials are advising mail voters to send their ballots well before November 4. Also, the mayor’s proposed budget expands the War on Graffiti.