Seattle City Light, which convinced the city council to sign off on four rate increases in the past year, with assurances that each increase would financially fortify the agency, is $1.4 billion in debt.

The series of rate hikes has dragged residential customer rates from $40.75 a megawatt-hour in the fall of 2000 to about $63.62 a megawatt-hour today. That's a 56 percent increase.

An audit of Seattle City Light, initiated by Council Member Jim Compton, is on the way. Calls for City Light Superintendent Gary Zarker's head will reportedly follow. JOSH FEIT

Everybody Hates Sidran

Evidently, ka-razy Stranger readers and those liberal Seattleites who voted for Greg Nickels in September aren't the only people who don't trust former city attorney Mark Sidran. Last week, Sidran's supposed fan club, the pro-business folks at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, rejected Sidran's bid to become the Chamber CEO. Sidran was on the list of losers that included City Council Member Margaret Pageler ["Margaret Pageler Wanted to Leave City Council," Josh Feit, Feb 28], political busybody Nate Miles, and Downtown Seattle Association head Kate Joncas. The job went to Chamber V.P. Steven Leahy. NANCY DREW

Quote of the Week

"I'm not sure the business community wants to pay for a referendum campaign. We've already paid to elect legislators."--Stan Barer, co-chairman of shipping company SaltChuk Resources, in the March 1 Seattle Times. Trying to prevent a costly public campaign and save money for the biz community, Barer was urging legislators to pass a gas tax without voter approval. PAT KEARNEY

Explain Yourself

The Seattle Human Rights Commission (SHRC) sent a strongly worded letter to the Seattle City Council on Monday, March 4, urging them to accept the Racial Profiling Task Force's data collection recommendations to identify officers. However, rather than arguing for the task force's version of the study, the letter spilled more ink just trying to keep the study alive. (Council Member Richard McIver had recommended bagging the study and putting the cash into cop-car cameras. ["Camera Ready," Amy Jenniges, Feb 28.]) "To even think of NOT doing the data collection piece will further erode any possible constructive dialogue between police and communities of color," the letter said.

However, the letter didn't outline how another study--undoubtedly showing racial disproportionality in traffic stops, but not explaining why it's there--will foster dialogue. In reality, it may lead to more debate. AMY JENNIGES