« Back to Hard 7 | Archives: December 2007
Mary Verner will become Spokane's first two-term mayor in a generation
That's the final Spokane political prediction in my ultimate 7 column, which also outlines the three biggest improvements I'd like to see in the quality, and justness, of life in this city.
So let's open up this forum to discuss your list of priorities for a more just Spokane. That's a chewy subject to take us into the new year.
Also, thanks very much for checking in with encouraging words in recent days. I'm working in a low-key way on trying to find you all a fresh hangout spot, and will let you know as soon as I hear one way or the other.
And as always, I invite you to sign up for the free Alternative Source podcast. My final show airs tomorrow, but podcast producer Doug Dobbins plans to pick up where I leave off in coming weeks.
The penultimate column
Some of you have been asking for updates on my departure. I appreciate it. This week's column is my second-to-last one for 7, so watch for the final go-round next Friday.
My final Blogspotter runs in Monday's .TXT section.
Yesterday, I recorded my last two episodes of the Alternative Source. One will air this Saturday and the final one will run next Saturday.
The good news there is that podcast producer Doug Dobbins plans to continue the show in the new year and another friend of mine might be working with him to launch an Alternative Source International podcast I did a demo of in January. I'm not sure if the Alternative Source will continue airing on the radio, but it will still be available as a free podcast.
I'll continue blogging here at least until the last column runs and will do a final post to let you know when I'm done.
I'm going to dearly miss hanging out here with you all.
If you can hang on through scandal, everything starts easing back to normal eventually
More proof of that truism comes today from Politico:
"Less than four months after becoming a national laughingstock, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was an administration guest at a Wednesday ceremony where President Bush signed a major energy bill. ...
"...Washington being Washington and senators having senatorial swat, Craig is already being treated normally again."
It also helps that Leno and Letterman have been in repeats during the writers strike...
Mark your calendar for homeless memorial
"This year, 23 homeless people died in Spokane County. Three were stabbed, shot or beaten to death, but most died of diseases left untreated or from exposure to heat or cold," the S-R's Pia K. Hansen reports.
"Advocates for homeless persons plan to memorialize those who have died during a service at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Denny Murphy Clinic, 1001 W. Second Ave."
Now that's a worthwhile event.
"This is a blank check"
Well, it's official: the Democratic controlled Congress has utterly failed to check the president's disastrous war and security-state policies, as the Washington Post reports:
"Handed control of Congress last year after making promises to end the war in Iraq, restore fiscal discipline in Washington and check President Bush's powers, Democrats instead closed the first session of the 110th Congress yesterday with House votes that sent Bush $70 billion in war funding, with no strings attached...
"'This is a blank check,' said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). 'The new money in this bill represents one cave-in too many. It is an endorsement of George Bush's policy of endless war.' ...
"Efforts to change Bush's Iraq policies took on the look of Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. From the first days of the 110th Congress to its last hours this week, Bush prevailed on every Iraq-related fight, beginning with February's nonbinding resolution opposing the winter troop buildup and ending with this week's granting of $70 billion in unrestricted war funds."
In addition:
"The military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains open. Bush's warrantless surveillance program was actually codified and expanded on the Democrats' watch. Lawmakers were unable to eliminate the use of harsh interrogation tactics by the CIA."
The well of my disgust for Congress over its shocking lack of will and fortitude on the war is pretty much bottomless at this point.
Shameful cowardice and duplicity doesn't even begin to cover it.
Patty Murray denies plan to remove Byrd from power on Senate Appropriations Committee
The long knives are out for Sen. Robert Byrd. As Politico reports:
"A group of Senate Democrats has begun quietly exploring ways to replace the venerable Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, believing he’s no longer physically up to the job...
"Under one scenario being circulated in Democratic circles, the 90-year-old Byrd would be named 'chairman emeritus,' and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) would become 'acting chairwoman' for the remainder of the 110th Congress."
But Murray "vehemently denied there was any leadership plan to replace Byrd and added that she has not been approached by any of her colleagues with such a proposal."
Murray would have to vault over five more senior colleagues to take the post, which would be a major vote of confidence in her abilities.
Looking for fingerprints on a story like this is difficult. But one logical inference would be that Byrd supporters, perhaps members of his staff, caught wind of the plot and decided to leak details in an attempt to embarrass the plotters and derail the plan.
Meanspirited Christmas reveler cold-cocks Santa
Spokane firefighter Kevin "Smith suffered a broken nose, two black eyes and a concussion after being struck in the face by an unidentified object while riding in the back of a truck decorated as Santa's sleigh just west of St. Aloysius Church on the Gonzaga University campus," the S-R's Meghann M. Cuniff reports.
"No one knows what hit Smith – or who threw it – and no witnesses have come forward. Smith was the only firefighter in the back of the truck when it happened about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Other volunteers realized something was wrong after they hadn't heard from Santa in a few minutes. They stopped the truck and found Smith unconscious in the back, blood pouring from his face."
Someone needs to bust open a stocking full of whoop-ass on the idiot who attacked St. Nick.
I'd bet serious money that the jerk was out with friends when he (guaranteed it was a he) decided to conk Kris Kringle with a heavy object.
Here's hoping one of his doofus buddies suffers an attack of guilty conscience for Christmas and turns the bum in.
Gregoire pitches budget message straight at voters
"Gov. Chris Gregoire, seizing the initiative in her re-election campaign against Dino Rossi, on Tuesday proposed a $144 million supplemental state budget that leaves most of the state's $1.4 billion surplus socked away for a rainy day," the AP's David Ammons reports.
The modest package, focused on "safety" and "security" initiatives, has both Republicans (she wants to spend too much!) and statehouse Democrats (she doesn't want to spend enough!) grumbling.
But it's clear Gregoire is adopting a hardline fiscal restraint message to build a firewall against Dino Rossi's candidacy. His right-wing views on social issues aren't going to get him elected, so if the governor can win the budget stewardship argument she should coast to victory.
Fractious City Council makes its pick
I hope you'll excuse my being a day late in posting on this: As the S-R's Jim Camden reports, "Michael Allen, a top administrator at Eastern Washington University, was named Monday night to an empty seat on the Spokane City Council."
When Allen served as EWU's associate athletic director, he was "responsible for financial oversight, developing and managing the budgets of 15 sports programs," according to the school.
He doesn't appear to have many student fans at Rate My Professors. The comments are anonymous and thus should be taken with a big grain of salt, but a common thread about his marketing class was "He only talked about his involvement with the sports department."
Universities are often known for a lot of in-fighting, so maybe he'll fit right in on the council.
Next time, use a shredder
"Thick black smoke billowed from a fire Wednesday on the White House compound in the Executive Office Building," the AP reports.
"The blaze appeared to be located near the ceremonial office of Vice President Dick Cheney on the second floor of the building. The vice president was across the street in his office in the West Wing of the White House."
It's terrible what can happen when those document burn bags malfunction, isn't it?
And isn't it nice to see the Bush administration takes care of the people's house as well as it's taken care of the people?
Scooped by my own boss!
It's only fitting that Steve Smith, who brought me into this organization and who has encouraged me and had my back every step of the way, should break the big news about the next chapter in my professional life.
I'll get into more detail on the big change in the coming days, but want to give you a chance to weigh in.
Because this became one of the S-R's top blogs only after we opened it up to comments. So any successes it's had are largely your successes.
Winning Spokane candidates got plenty of bang for their campaign bucks
"A winning vote in the Spokane mayor's race cost $4.24, while a losing vote cost $10.75. Winners also spent less than losers in two of the city's council races, the most recent campaign spending reports from the 2007 election show," the S-R's Jim Camden reports.
If you have a persuasive message, it seems, all you need around here is enough money to put it in front of the voters.
Ho, ho, no!
Just saw this disturbing product description for the Santa Sweets Tower in the Harry & David catalog:
"More personality than a department store Santa. And we've filled him up with better-tasting treats, too."
Hmm.
What kind of treats are department store Santas filled with, exactly?
Is the catalog copywriter a serial killer who's been taking out Santas and feasting on their insides?
If so, at least he realizes that Chocolate Moose Munch is tastier than Santa's liver (even with fava beans and a nice Chianti...)
Council to candidates: You sure you want this thankless job?
"Spokane City Council members tried to make sure Friday that anyone who wants to join them on the job realizes the hours are long and the pay is low," the S-R's Jim Camden reports.
"That theme came up repeatedly as council members interviewed eight applicants to fill an opening created by former Councilwoman Mary Verner's election as mayor last month."
Council Prez Joe Shogan repeatedly harped on the long hours.
Geez, for a guy who just won reelection, he sure seems soured on the gig.
Foxes guarding the henhouse, take MCMXXLVI
"The Justice Department's voting rights chief stepped down Friday amid allegations that he'd used the position to aid a Republican strategy to suppress black votes," McClatchy reports.
"John Tanner became the latest of about a dozen senior department officials, including former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who've resigned in recent months in a scandal over the politicization of the Justice Department."
I'm sorry, so sorry
If it's December, it's time for my annual look back at all of the egregious errors printed in my columns this year.
Please forgive me.
Or, at the very least, sign up for the free Alternative Source podcast...
Messy Council replacement process still on fast track
The City Council will go ahead with voting next week to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Mary Verner, the S-R's John Craig reports. Here's the list of finalists, which notably does not include ex-KGA producer Rebecca Mack:
"When the council members' nominations for finalists were tallied, the list included nine with the support of two or more council members.
"Only Eastern Washington University associate athletic director Michael Allen had three votes.
"The others to be interviewed today and Monday include: Carrie Anderson, urban forest coordinator for The Lands Council; Jeffrey Bierman, Gonzaga University physics professor; Kenneth Garceau, Realtor with John L. Scott Real Estate; Lori Kinnear, former manager of the YWCA Opportunity Center; Dean Lynch, former Spokane city councilman; Dean Ozuna, audit and tax manager at Moss Adams LLP; John Prosser, president of Patriot Electric Inc.; and Rick Shulman, Realtor at John L. Scott Real Estate."
Whoever gets selected had better remember the old saying "Be careful what you wish for," as the Council seems perilously close to a major derailment under the ineffectual, cantankerous leadership of in-over-his-head Council President Joe Shogan.
Final note:
Councilman Al "French apologized to [incoming Councilman Richard] Rush for accusing him last week of attempting to stack the deck by encouraging people to apply for the vacancy.
"The culprit was someone associated with Rush's campaign, not Rush, French said."
Well, that makes my point from yesterday even more pressing. Not only has Rush admitted he heard about the monkey-wrench attempt, but now it apparently was orchestrated by someone associated with his campaign.
So what did Rush do to stop this ridiculous stunt that has increased tensions on the Council and undermined his ability to get along with his new colleagues?
Did he just stand by under the notion that two wrongs make a right? Because if that's the kind of leader he is, Spokane deserves much better.
He owes the city, his future colleagues and especially his constituents an apology.
"Danger: Avoid Death" seems like good advice to me
The 11th annual Wacky Warning Label Contest results are in. This year's winners, according to the AP:
* "A warning on a small tractor that reads 'Danger: Avoid Death'"
* "an iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: 'Do not iron while wearing shirt'"
* "a label on a baby stroller featuring a small storage pouch that warns: 'Do not put child in bag.'"
* "a label on a letter opener that says: 'Caution: Safety goggles recommended.'"
Any favorite goofball warning labels you'd care to share?
My take on the latest City Council contortions
The selection process for filling the Council seat vacated by Mayor Mary Verner is getting messier and messier. My read on the situation, after reading Jonathan Brunt's latest story and gleaning some additional insights into the process:
* Though he denies it, others have credibly alleged that incoming Council member Richard Rush, angered at potentially being aced out of the selection process, encouraged folks with little interest in the job to flood the city with applications in an attempt to delay the decision until the new year. If so, that was a bush-league stunt and it is already alienating the folks he'll soon be serving alongside. It's an embarrassment, is what it is.
* While this was happening, outgoing Councilman Brad Stark came to a decision to bow out gracefully and support moving the process into the new year to give Rush a say after pitching in on the initial screening process.
* But when the apparent monkey-wrench attempt came to light, it undermined any goodwill that existed in terms of moving the vote into next year.
Although the vote still might well take place next year, the ridiculous stunt will make it tough for the new Council to work together effectively, at least in the early going.
Key line from the story: "Rush said he heard about an effort to encourage people to apply as a way of slowing down the selection until next year, but that he did not participate in that effort."
If he heard about it, did he try to nip that effort in the bud like any sensible leader would?
This is one of the least-reassuring debuts Spokane has ever seen from a City Council member.
Weak, weak, weak.
Council budgets for independent police oversight
A new day in Spokane might finally be dawning: The City Council has "included an extra $200,000 for a proposed police ombudsman program" in next year's budget, the S-R's Jonathan Brunt reports.
Also, another indication of our new mayor's commitment to free-flowing communication:
"Mayor Mary Verner is moving City Council offices to the 5th floor of City Hall, where her office is located, in an effort to improve dialogue."
These kinds of moves aren't flashy, but they can pay big dividends in terms of creating a more collaborative, open approach to governing.
Our keystone courts
"A convicted bank swindler, summoned to U.S. District Court on Tuesday for a parole violation, didn't stick around to see the judge and boldly walked out of a courtroom filled with FBI agents, deputy U.S. marshals and federal probation officers," the S-R's Bill Morlin reports.
"John Earl Petersen, who voluntarily showed up in the courtroom of Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno for a 2 p.m. hearing, apparently saw court papers indicating he was about to be arrested and sent back to prison for violating terms of his supervised release.
"But before the handcuffs could jingle, the dapper-looking Petersen left the U.S. Courthouse, jaywalked across Riverside Avenue to his parked 2007 black Cadillac and roared away."
Sounds like a bad guy, but he's definitely got moxie.
Wonder if that jaywalking charge will stick...
Time to stock up on crack...
...because it looks like there's going to be quite a run on it soon.
(I know, I know--this is about social justice and equal treatment under the law, but sometimes my satirical bent trumps all political considerations.)
The conservative religious war on Christmas
You won't hear this from BillO or AnnC, but America's first religious fundamentalists didn't much cotton to Christmas, according to this report picked up by Alternet:
"It's ironic to hear Religious Right groups portray themselves as the great defenders of Christmas - their spiritual forebears hated the holiday and even banned its celebration.
"The Puritans of Massachusetts Bay frowned on Christmas revelry, considering the holiday a Roman Catholic affectation. A law in the colony barred anyone from taking the day off work, feasting or engaging in other celebrations on Christmas, under penalty of a five-shilling fine.
"The law was repealed in 1681, but Christmas celebrations remained unpopular in New England and other colonies for many years. ...
"...Congress did not begin adjourning on Christmas Day until 1856. Public schools in New England were often open on Dec. 25, as were many factories and offices. Many Protestant churches refused to hold services, considering the holiday 'popish.'"
And here's a further ironic twist. Guess who turned Christmas into a popular holiday in America after the Civil War?
Immigrants.
You know, the type of undesirables the right-wingers are tripping over themselves to keep out of the good ol' U.S. of A.
As a jolly wise man once said: ho, ho, ho.
Testy times for the City Council
The S-R's Jonathan Brunt serves up two chewy Pendulum posts today about how the process of selecting a replacement for Mary Verner is exposing, and perhaps deepening, City Council rifts.
Also, check out JB's Council story in the paper today.
Harbingers of recession?
Things are getting tougher out there for a growing number of folks, a scan of today's paper suggests:
* "Spokane County has 50,000 people living without health insurance, a bleak number reflective of a larger problem that has prompted the state’s top insurance regulator to seek a new model that would offer all residents basic coverage," the S-R's John Stucke reports.
* "Credit-market tremors – like the ones linked to the housing crisis – are beginning to show up in the $85 billion student-loan market," the AP reports. "The rising defaults have surfaced amid falling home prices and rising foreclosures. In some cases, families whose home loans are resetting at dramatically higher rates may be having a harder time keeping up to date on auto- or student-loan payments."
* "Washington Mutual Inc., the nation's largest savings and loan, said Monday that problems in the mortgage and credit markets are forcing it to close offices, lay off more than 3,000 workers and set aside as much as $1.6 billion for loan losses in its fourth quarter," the AP also reports.
* "The sheer volume of poor people coming to the Christmas Bureau for help with their holidays continues to surprise bureau organizers," S-R correspondent Susan English reports.
That last data point is perhaps the most telling.
Brits declare victory and get out of Iraq
From coalition of the willing to coalition of the leaving: The last British troops may be gone from Iraq as soon as March, and they will shift from combat operations to a training role within two weeks, according to the Sun.
Details:
Prime Minister "Gordon Brown yesterday delivered a stirring festive message to Our Boys in Iraq: 'Happy Christmas – war is over.'
"The PM was cheered as he praised UK troops and revealed combat operations in Basra will end 'within two weeks.'
"Iraqi forces will take over as the 4,500-strong British force switches from front-line duties to a training role.
"By early next year, our contingent in Southern Iraq will be cut to 2,500 – and may be withdrawn completely in March."
Meanwhile, congressional Democrats continue to play footsie with the Bush Administration on giving the president more no-strings war money to play with.
This after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised the American public Congress would approve no Iraq money without linkage to a withdrawal plan.
Despicable.
More than two dozen vie for open Council seat
The S-R's Jonathan Brunt has the list.
As first reported here, ex-KGA producer Rebecca Mack is on it.
So is former Councilman Dean Lynch, who's also listed as one of Mayor Verner's transition advisers.
But what's with the two John L. Scott Realtors? Are they competing against each other on a bet?
Ok readers, take a peek at the names and tell us what you know about them. Let's crowdsource some sense out of this, shall we?
Booth Gardner vs. his son on assisted suicide
The New York Times Magazine has all the details on what the former Washington governor calls "my last campaign":
"His walk was a vigorous lurch. One foot twisted inward, one knee buckled. His torso keeled slightly with each step. He has Parkinson’s. He was governor of Washington State for two terms in the 1980s and ’90s. He is 71, and his last campaign is driven by his desire to kill himself. 'I can’t see where anybody benefits by my hanging around,' he told me, while his blond grandchildren, sticks prodding, explored the water’s edge. ...
"'Why do this?' he asked, turning from the other tables toward me. 'I want to be involved in public life. I was looking for an issue, and this one fell in my lap. One advantage I have in this thing is that people like me. The other' — his leprechaun eyes lost their glint; his fleshy cheeks seemed to harden, his lips to thin, his face to reshape itself almost into a square — 'is that my logic is impeccable. My life, my death, my control.'
"The campaign he was starting, when I spent time with him this summer and fall, goes by the name of 'death with dignity,' and the statewide law he hopes to enact by popular vote on Election Day of 2008 would allow for 'physician-assisted suicide' ...
"Only his current cause keeps him much interested in living — this and one other goal: to connect with his son, Doug, whose growing up Gardner missed as he took power in business and politics, and who is repelled by his father’s campaign. ...
"Booth Gardner’s mother died, along with his sister, in a plane crash when he was 14. When Gardner was in his late 20s, his biological father, a car salesman and alcoholic (whom his mother had divorced years before), jumped or fell to his death from an upper-story hotel room. ... 'We don’t need Booth and Dr. Kevorkian pushing death on us,' Doug said quietly about his father’s campaign. 'Dad’s lost. He’s playing God, trying to usurp God’s authority.'"
Powerful stuff. What do you think about an assisted suicide law?
As an aside, this debate brings to mind the title story from this James Salter collection, which I recommend without reservation.
Verner makes quick recovery from rookie misstep
The S-R's Jonathan Brunt reports Mayor Mary Verner will release the list of transition team members today.
Honestly, this is just what I expected to happen and I bet it'll be back to smooth sailing for her now.
Verner has impressed me for a long time as a smart, savvy, gracious person and I give her credit not only for running a great campaign and starting off on the right foot, but also in dealing with this issue in a forthright way.
UPDATE: I relied on an earlier version of the story saying the full list was released, but the final report Saturday morning states that Verner still has not revealed five names:
"Verner said one name was kept off the list because that person didn’t want his or her name released. The rest of the missing names were people who could not be reached."
Unfortunately, this is not a situation where journalists (and really, we take these stands only on behalf of the citizens, whether they agree with us or not) can accept less than a full loaf. The principle of open and transparent government is that important.
Hopefully, the four people who haven't been contacted will give the okay just like nearly everyone else.
But that last person who refuses to be named is problematic. I call on that person to embrace the concept of open government and step forward.
Otherwise, Verner will have to decide which word she will honor: The word she gave to voters that she would run an open, transparent government, or the word that she gave to this one holdout that he/she can advise her from the shadows on how to run the city.
Source of police chaplain badge lawsuit offers context
Frequent commenter David Brookbank did some of his own reporting on the suit over the SPD chaplain badges. Here's what he found:
"I just spoke with Ray Ideus, the former Lutheran pastor (ELCA) who brought us this clarification of separation of Church and state. Ray let me know that one thing is certain--i.e, about the only time that a cross doesn't mean Christianity is when it is a telephone pole.
"There is a bit more to the context of Ideus's lawsuit than the Karen Dorn Steele's article says. Ideus's initial concern was not the cross on the shoulder patch of the SPD chaplains but rather the invocation and benediction "in Jesus Christ our Lord" given by an SPD chaplain at the annual volunteer awards ceremony held in City Hall. In my conversation with Ideus, he described that ceremony as 'the only payment' that he and the other volunteers get for their volunteer efforts with the SPD. SPD volunteers are expected to go to monthly meetings and the annual event.
"It did not start out as a lawsuit. Ideus first went to Volunteer Head Sgt. Frank Scalisse and asked that the SPD forgo the benediction and invocation. Scalisse told him to go to Lt. McGovern who then sent him to Dep Chief Odenthal. Odenthall told Ideus he wanted to take time to think about it. Two months later Odenthal did get back to Ideus and told him that the SPD would not be ending the practice of the Christian invocation and benediction. When Ray asked who he would go to next, Odenthal told he 'Odenthal' was the end of the line.
"So, at the recommendation of a member of a local society of free thinkers, Ideus went to the Center for Justice. Since the out of court settlement in favor of Ideus and in favor of separation of church and state, Ideus has received hate calls and mail but also supportive e-mails.
"Let's be honest... a cross on a uniform means the Christian cross. To suggest differently is to ignore reality. Nancy McLaughlin understands that reality which is why she proclaimed the settlement to be 'anti-Christian' and the city of Spokane understood it when it provided the 1995 document that stated that all police chaplains 'must adhere to the Judeo-Christian ethic,' as reported by Dorn-Steele.
"By the way, Ideus victory was a double victory. It was not only a victory in defense of church and state separation. It was also a victory in terms giving a black eye to Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi and his practice of countersuing citizens. Quoting again Dorn-Steele, Treppiedi 'countersued Ideus for filing a lawsuit that he considered "false, and unfounded, malicious and without probable cause." Treppiedi's action was part of a controversial past practice of countersuing civil rights plaintiffs that has been curtailed by the city's new chief lawyer, Jim Craven. The countersuit, along with the rest of the federal litigation, will be dismissed.'"
I added the bold to the comment about Rocky Treppiedi's practice of countersuing citizens. That was a point I meant to make when I posted about Karen's story and I plumb forgot.
Good analysis, David, and thanks for the report.
Making the right call for Shasta
I think it's safe to say that most of us who've been following the Joseph Duncan case have been worried primarily about one thing: Would Shasta Groene be forced to testify?
Thankfully, the answer is no, the S-R's Betsy Z. Russell reports:
"Young victim Shasta Groene won’t have to testify in federal court against killer Joseph Duncan, under an agreement reached by both sides in the case.
"'The parties will stipulate that S.G. will not be called as a witness at the capital sentencing hearing,' federal prosecutors wrote in a motion filed with the court this week. 'Her testimony will be presented by statements she made to law enforcement officers in July 2005.' ...
"'This is a brave little girl who has been an inspiration to all of us,' said Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas. 'And it is certainly a relief to all of us here in the community that she will not have to testify.'"
It most definitely is.
Verner gets taken to the woodshed on transition team secrecy
Unless Mayor Mary Verner makes the choice to serve the ideals of governmental transparency over the wishes of some of her transition team members to remain anonymous, this stuff is going to get worse before it gets better.
I do believe this was a well-intentioned rookie mistake, but now that Verner has admitted as much she needs to set things right by naming the members of her transition team.
Brad Stark won't vote on Verner's replacement
Councilman Brad Stark just called to reveal he will not vote on Mary Verner's Council replacement. Ending his tenure on a positive note, he said he won't be participating in the selection process at all. That paves the way for incoming Councilman Richard Rush to potentially have a significant say in the pick.
Update: I beat Brunt by 11 minutes. Woo-hoo!
"You're being Larry Craig'd here and it isn't fair"
Did anyone see last night's "Boston Legal," in which Denny Crain was busted for allegedly soliciting an undercover cop for sex in a courthouse bathroom?
Opines the Zap2It critic, "Apparently, trying to relieve oneself while constipated and soliciting gay bathroom sex share many of the same signals. Though I didn't notice any waving of fingers under the stall divider, Denny certainly did have a wide stance."
From the ersatz court transcript...
Denny Crane: I slid my briefcase out of the way and moved my foot so I could give myself a wide berth. ... I began to hum because it's a relaxing technique, and I started tapping my foot to give my hum a beat. ... I've had sex in bathroom stalls before, sometimes for money. But always, always with a woman. I'm a heterosexual. I think being gay is a sin. It's against God, it's against the president. It's bad for the troops. ... By the way, I have gay friends, and they like to look at the merchandise just like anyone else. They're not gonna just have sex with whoever in the next stall sight unseen. They may be sick, but they're not stupid.
Delightful social satire delivered by William Shatner, a national treasure even when he's not singing.
And how about this from the closing statement by Alan Shore (the delightful James Spader):
"We've got 29 current or recent members of Congress accused of spousal abuse, 27 have been arrested for driving under the influence, 19 current or recent members accused of writing bad checks, 14 have drug-related arrests, eight busted for shoplifting, seven for fraud, four for theft, three for assault--but Larry Craig's the one they simply must broom for simply tapping his foot in a men's room. And why are we paying the police to tap back?"
Pretty good points, no?
Favorite exchange?
Denny: Can you imagine, of all the times I've beaten the rap, to be convicted of public gayness? I'll be forced to unregister as a Republican.
Alan: The Republicans would have no problem with you being gay, Denny, so long as you continue to persecute homosexuals.
Denny: I hope you're right.
In praise of Jim Kershner's column
The S-R's post-layoff newsroom reorganization was announced last night. The sad revelation from where I sit is that Jim Kershner no longer will be writing his weekly column.
Quite often, Jim's column is the flat-out funniest piece in the paper all week. I believe he's forged a strong bond with Spokane readers over the years and the loss of this column will leave a significant void--even though he'll still be writing tons of features.
In tight times, resource deployment realities can be harsh and I'm guessing this was a difficult call. But I wish there was some way that Jim's once-a-week opportunity to showcase his wit could be restored.
Good people have lost their jobs in these layoffs and had their lives turned upside-down. Losing a column does not compare to that. But I do think it's important to take a moment to honor what Jim has accomplished.
Kershner fans can console themselves with Jim's two collections of columns.
They also might consider consoling him by dropping an e-mail to share how much they've enjoyed those columns over the years.
I'll say it here: Jim, I love your column. If it's really going away, I'm saddened to hear it.
No crosses to bear on SPD chaplain badges
"Crosses will be removed from badges worn by Spokane police chaplains under terms of an out-of-court settlement between the city and a former Lutheran pastor-turned-atheist who sued over the government agency's use of the insignias and Christian prayers," the S-R's Karen Dorn Steele reports.
This isn't about disrespecting anyone's religion. In fact, it's about respecting everyone's faith--and respecting the appropriate separation of church and state.
To that end, police chaplains will still be able to wear lapel pins of crosses or stars of David or whatever identifier they wish. Those expressions of faith simply won't be part of the official state-sanctioned badges.
Why does this matter? As the man who brought the suit said:
"It's not a Christian police department. The chaplains have to minister to all faiths – and non-faiths."
It's a way to make everyone feel as if they're on equal footing when they're being counseled by a chaplain, not like they're somehow "less than" if they don't happen to worship a Christian cross.
City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin called the legal settlement "an attack on Christianity."
She's dead wrong. As noted, chaplains can still wear insignia of any faith. It's just not incorporated into their badge anymore.
If it's an attack on anything, it's an attack on the idea that the majority faith can lord its symbols over everyone else, pardon the pun.
Mary Verner gets her first bad press
Mayor Mary Verner's decision to keep the names of her transition advisers private unless and until they agree to be publicized has drawn a critical look in this story by the S-R's Jonathan Brunt:
"Verner met last week in a private home with two groups of about 15 people, who she's asked to provide advice and suggestions for her administration. She plans to do the same on Saturday.
"'Some may want their names in the press, and some may not,' she said of her decision not to announce the members of her transition team. 'I would like to respect their privacy.'
"The move, however, marks a departure from past administrations in which transition team membership was disclosed, and raises questions about accountability.
"'It just doesn't seem politically savvy to keep something like that secret,' said Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University, who added that the public has an interest in knowing who is helping a new mayor form policy and strategize ways of getting things done. 'You're setting yourself up for suspicion even if nothing nefarious is going on.'"
Verner's heart seems to be in the right place on this issue, and I'd bet money there's nothing nefarious going on. But hopefully she'll take a simple lesson from this situation: Don't get into situations where the feelings of your advisers might butt up against the need for transparent governance. And if that does happen, err on the side of disclosure.
Verner's advisers should do the right thing and let the new mayor off the hook. I call on them to tell Verner it's okay to release the names. That way, she can get past this minor misstep without stepping on anyone's toes.
Assessing the assessor's telecommuting plan
It looks like County Assessor Ralph Baker has the right idea when it comes to enabling employees to telecommute when feasible. Here's the story from the S-R's John Craig.
The key is managing employees by results and pulling in the reins if problems arise. Baker seems to get it:
Telecommuting would be considered if the job "involves easily monitored work that can be done anywhere. The electronic mapping and property records sections, each with eight employees, are other sources of portable work, the assessor said.
"'I'm thinking two each from those areas might be out of the office at any one time,' Baker said.
"Work in those sections tends to be predictable.
"For example, Baker said, 'We have a pretty good idea of how many senior exemptions a day we can expect someone to be able to process. We can pretty much see whether a person's productivity is dropping off or even enhanced if he works at home.'
"The retired lieutenant colonel said he learned in the Air Force not to equate sitting at a desk with efficiency.
"'That's not a very good measure of whether a person is getting things done for you,' Baker said. 'So I try not to measure just face time.'
"Because so many transactions now can be handled online, fewer people come to the assessor's office – perhaps 60 to 75 a week instead of that many daily, Baker said. But he added, 'We would never let our staffing in the office decline to where we were unable to handle walk-in clients.'"
If he can boost morale and retain good staffers without harming productivity or walk-in service, why not?
Rebecca Mack set to vie for open Council seat
Rebecca Mack, producer and incisive co-host of The Mark Fuhrman Show until she and Fuhrman were given the boot from KGA-AM 1510 last month, confirms she's applying for the City Council seat recently vacated by Mayor Mary Verner.
Read this week's column for exclusive details.
One big question will be whether or not the Council adheres to its plan of voting on Verner's replacement on Dec. 17, before Brad Stark is succeeded by Richard Rush. I understand that plan is not set in concrete, and that the evaluation period could quite possibly be pushed into January.
If her bid succeeds, Mack would join fellow Spokane talk radio veteran Steve Corker on the Council.
Speaking of radio... please sign up for the free Alternative Source podcast.
A case where a Taser came in handy for the suspect
This just in from the S-R's Amy Cannata:
"A Washington State Patrol Trooper fired a Taser at a Spokane driver Friday evening during a downtown traffic stop after he said the man exited the car and approached him in a threatening manner.
"Trooper Jerry Wier pulled the vehicle over about 8:50 p.m. near Third Avenue and Sherman Street, at which time the driver pulled to the back of a secluded parking lot, said Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Mark Baker.
"'Both the driver and the passenger got out cussing and swearing at Trooper Wier and being very aggressive,' said Baker, who added that Wier drew his gun and pointed it at the pair, ordering them to stop approaching him and to lie on the ground.
"'They said, "Go ahead and shoot me,"' Baker said. At that time Wier lowered his gun and drew his Taser, again warning the pair.
"When the driver advanced within 20 feet of him, Wier fired the Taser, hitting the man. The passenger then complied with Wier's orders."
So we'd have to say a Taser might have saved lives today.
That said, I do find it curious the trooper drew his gun and then put it away like that. I know it's a heat-of-the-moment decision, but isn't the general rule that you shouldn't draw down on a suspect unless you're open to the idea of actually applying deadly force?
Was this a sloppy stop with a happy ending?
When you're out shopping this weekend, remember gifts for these officials
This week's column offers a handy gift guide for some of our hard-working--and sometimes harder-playing--officials:
Only a few of the following notables were nice enough to stay in Santa’s good books this year, but let’s embrace the spirit of the season and pony up for the following presents anyway.
Former Mayor Dennis Hession
Main gift: An appointment to his old City Council seat, the one vacated this week by Mayor Mary Verner. But that would be more of a present for me and everyone else who follows Spokane politics. With network TV in the tank, who wouldn’t tune into another season of the Dennis and Mary show?
Stocking stuffer: Hession said last week he hasn’t ruled out another run for office. Quick—someone give him a tape measure so he can finish that task.
U.S. Rep. Bill Sali
Main gift: A pair of John Kerry flip-flops in honor of the GOP congressman’s recent attempt to brag about securing federal highway funding for Idaho in a bill he voted against.
Stocking stuffer: A DVD of the “I’m Only a Bill” episode of Schoolhouse Rock that explains how laws get made in a way that even Sali might understand.
U.S. Sen. Larry Craig
Main gift: The Potty Putter golf game billed at one shopping site as “a true innovation in toilet entertainment and the perfect gift for the golf (or toilet) enthusiast in your life”—not to mention “a sure fire way to iron out the kinks in your putting game.” It also includes a handy “do not disturb” sign. Warning: The action photo suggests the game requires a wide stance.
Stocking stuffer: A urinal cake from the Idaho Hall of Fame.
Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas
Main gift: An Ouija board for obtaining cheap legal advice from the great beyond.
Stocking stuffer: An egg timer to keep track of his office “quickies”—which in Coconut Willy-speak means “brief meeting,” of course.
Tim Eyman
Main gift: With reelection-minded Gov. Chris Gregoire pushing to reinstate the activist’s overturned Initiative 747—which limited property-tax increases to 1 percent a year—Eyman will need a Boeing 747 to get around Washington after the state runs out of money to maintain its roads.
Stocking stuffer: A flight plan that’ll take him to Oregon and California in hopes he might decide to bedevil another state for a while.
WSU Veep Michael Tate and convention bureau honcho Harry Sladich
Main gift: For blowing Spokane’s chance at hosting next year’s vice presidential debate—which could have exposed the city to more than 40 million viewers—this not-so-dynamic duo should receive tickets to St. Louis, where the grateful new event hosts will wine and dine them even while snickering behind their backs.
Stocking stuffer: The fumble-filled “NFL Greatest Follies Collection” DVD and a year’s supply of Butterfingers.
Former state lawmaker Richard Curtis
Main gift: Every episode of “Men Behaving Badly”—including the sitcom’s U.S. and British editions. It’ll give him something to watch besides steamy hotel pay-per-view.
Stocking stuffer: Don’t be silly. Everyone knows Curtis stuffs his own stockings when he visits Spokane.
And when you get your shopping done, enjoy more spirited holiday commentary by signing up for the free Alternative Source podcast.
