One challenge of keeping our sidewalks downtown and in our neighborhoods reasonably safe and attractive is managing the use and appearance of newspaper and periodical vending boxes. It is not unusual to see them damaged or covered with graffiti and stickers or used as trash bins. In some cases a dozen or more are lined […]
Month: March 2014
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Income Inequality Symposium
This Thursday there will be a 1-day conference about income inequality in Seattle at Seattle University. The all-day event is free, but registration is required. More information and a list of speakers are available here. From the Mayor's press release:...
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My Spring Tour of the Arboretum
Beautiful blossoming cherry trees.
Who owns the Arboretum?
That was the question that Dr. Sarah Reichard, Director of the UW Botanic Gardens, asked as I stepped into the golf cart, about to take a springtime spin through the 230-acre botanical garden and park on Union Bay led by Kenan Block, Fred Hoyt and Jack Collins.As luck would have it, I had covered enough Arboretum events as a former newspaper columnist to be able to guess at the answer: The park belongs to the University of Washington and the City of Seattle. The way it works is that the city owns the land and the UW owns the botanical collection – more than … Continue Reading »
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Action Summary, Monday, March 24, 2014
Action Summary of the Seattle City Council Full Council Meeting Monday, March 24, 2014 (Councilmember Tom Rasmussen was excused) PUBLIC SAFETY, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: 1. Clerk File 313568 (PDF Version) CONFIRMED (8-0) Appointment and Oath of Office of Patricia C. Lally as Director, Office for Civil Rights. 2. Clerk File 313569 (PDF Version)...
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March 27 Income Inequality Symposium
March 27 Income Inequality Symposium On March 27 I will join Councilmembers from Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Jose and participate in an all-day symposium at Seattle University to address income inequality. The event is co-sponsored by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Seattle University, and Local Progress, a network of local […]
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Finally! Good News Out of Olympia!
I’m proud to report that this year’s state legislative session in Olympia included passage of an important bill that will help curb the rampant unauthorized use of disabled parking placards within Seattle. For years, people without disability have been illegally using the placards to get free street parking, thus taking up spaces for those who […]
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Celebrate Marvin Gnad’s Success! Off Seattle Streets, on his way back home to Kansas
Reprinted below is an article I wrote for Real Change about my friend Marvin. See details below for his going away party next Friday, March 28th. Marvin Gnad sells Real Change on the corner of 1st and Marion nearly every morning. He is one of the few people smiling at 8:00 a.m. He tells me his […]
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Councilmembers Clark, Bagshaw Convene Civics Conversation Monday Night During Happy Hour at Huarachitos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/21/2014
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Sally J. ClarkCouncilmembers Clark, Bagshaw Convene Civics Conversation Monday Night During Happy Hour at Huarachitos
SEATTLE - City Councilmembers Sally J. Clark an...
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Councilmember Rasmussen heralds passage of disabled parking placard reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/20/2014
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Councilmember Rasmussen heralds passage of disabled parking placard reform
SEATTLE - Councilmember Tom Rasmussen released the following statement today on the State Legislature's passage of House Bill (HB) 2463, which addresses unauthorized use of disabled parking placards:
"Seattle police have told me over half of disabled placards are being used fraudulently so people without disabilities can get free street parking. Our hands have been tied, but following a multi-year reform effort, HB 2463 has the muscle that will allow us to help curb that misuse," said Rasmussen, Chair of the Council's Transportation Committee. Having previously served as Director for the Seattle Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens, Rasmussen has long-been a leading advocate for seniors and people with disabilities. "I thank members of the House and Senate for unanimously passing this important piece of legislation," Rasmussen added.
"This reform is an important step toward curbing abuse of disabled parking placards, and I was pleased to see its adoption," said Toby Olson, Executive Secretary of the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. "More work remains to be done to ensure those with disabilities have easy access to street parking, but this legislation is an encouraging move in the right direction."
The impetus behind HB 2463 was the work of a 2013 stakeholder working group convened by the Department of Licensing. HB 2463 is intended to decrease the number of unlawful uses of special parking privileges for persons with disabilities; and, to provide local jurisdictions with the authority to improve their administration of on-street parking. HB 2463 will also serve to help ensure parking spots are available to those who need it most by clarifying the prohibitions against misuse of a placard, and making it a misdemeanor to sell a placard or to obtain one wrongfully; requiring health care practitioners to authorize and renew special parking privileges; establishing a parking infraction for improper display of parking placards; and, addressing other illegal activity that has occurred.
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Is the Playing Field Even Now?
On Monday, the City Council passed Council Bill 118036, the rideshare ordinance that you very likely have read about. I have received over 12,000 messages from Seattle residents on this issue, mostly urging the Council to oppose caps on the operations of companies such as UberX, Lyft, and Sidecar. I appreciate all of the comments […]