Judy Changes Teams
Got a headache about the Gore-Nader dilemma? Feeling bad that you might have to sacrifice your lefty cred and pull the lever for Republocrat Al Gore? Well, now you needn't feel so bad. Cool City Council Member Judy Nicastro says its A-okay. Indeed, in an e-mail message to the Green Party last weekend, Nicastro resigned her Green membership and threw her support to Al. Citing the environment and Bush's intention to appoint conservative judges, Nicastro laments that a Bush victory would be disastrous. And she faults Nader's campaign for getting in the way. JOSH FEIT
So, Where's the Civilian?
Stranger Personals
The city recently released short biographies on three candidates who are up for the civilian director position of the Office for Professional Accountability, which will investigate allegations of police misconduct in the Seattle Police Department.
The big question is, are these candidates the "civilians" community activists had in mind? Here's what the applicants look like:
· Omar Ojeda, 50, prosecuted Colombian drug cartels and provided assistance to police and prosecutors in Bolivia for the U.S. government.
· Former prosecutor Sandra Pailca, 36, manages King County's labor relations division.
· Joseph Olson, 48, gives legal advice to the Washington State Patrol chief. He was once a cop himself, employed in Arvada, Colorado.
Some community leaders are responding with instant disgust. "These [candidates] are all pro-law enforcement people. They all reflect a law-enforcement background," says Dustin Washington, a representative of the People's Coalition for Justice, which monitors police activity.
Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske is expected to pick the civilian director within the next week. PHIL CAMPBELL
Tent City Hall
Mayor Paul Schell has come to his senses, at least on one issue involving the homeless. According to his recent budget proposal, Schell wants to use $867,569 of taxpayer money to maintain 50 beds for the homeless in City Hall's first-floor lobby all year long, instead of just during the winter months.
What made Schell change his mind? It could have been continuing pressure from homeless activists, which started as soon as the city's shelter closed last April. Or it could just be that Schell is finally realizing that the homeless problem will not go away. Last week, for example, volunteers counted more than 900 homeless constituents on the streets. ALLIE HOLLY-GOTTLIEB
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (0)