Amid the controversy surrounding the police shooting death of black motorist Aaron Roberts, City Council Members Jim Compton and Richard McIver sent a June 8 letter to Mayor Paul Schell asking him to speed up the establishment of the civilian oversight board of the Office for Professional Accountability. The currently incomplete OPA, set in motion a year and a half ago, is supposed to be an internal investigative agency of the Seattle Police Department.

Oddly, Compton and McIver have simultaneously dropped the ball on another push for police accountability. After first signing on to a Nick Licata letter asking the city to hire an independent investigator to look into Roberts' death, the duo backed off. PHIL CAMPBELL

Does the City Provide Coat Hangers?

Last week's decision by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik mandating that Bartell's employee health plan cover women's prescription birth control has thrown the spotlight on "liberal" Seattle's own employee health plan.

According to Sally Fox, the city's benefits manager, only one of the city's three different insurance plans covers things like women's contraceptives.

"It requires the employee to decide which health care need they are NOT going to take care of," says Lisa Stone, executive director of the Northwest Women's Law Center. NANCY DREW

Stupid, Stupid FBI

The U.S. government dropped its case against the Independent Media Center last Thursday after the media group announced plans to challenge the order in court. On April 21, FBI and Secret Service agents visited the downtown IMC, issuing a court order requiring the activist organization to turn over subscriber names and computer logs. ["Stolen Secrets," Pat Kearney, April 26.] The IMC refused to turn over the records, citing First Amendment protection. PAT KEARNEY

Stupid, Stupid Potheads

Perhaps overcome by a little paranoia, this year's Hemp Fest promoters attacked the city's proposed major events protocol. The resolution smartly proposes that groups seeking the city's help soliciting, attracting, or sponsoring events get city council approval. The legislation is intended to let the council review events (like the WTO conference) before the mayor up and invites folks to town.

The resolution, okayed by the ACLU, wouldn't affect Hemp Fest because events like that don't involve any city sponsorship; they simply involve the standard permitting process. KEVIN JONES