Yes, We Do Have to Talk About the Mayor's Genitals for a Second: I'm sorry. In response to bombshell allegations that Mayor Ed Murray sexually abused teenagers in the 1980s, the mayor's lawyer last night released a doctor's report to attempt to refute those claims and it has to do with what the mayor's genitals look like. A civil lawsuit brought by one of Murray's accusers, identified only as D.H., last week described Murray's "distinctive genital region including reddish pubic hair and a unique mole on his scrotumâit is a small bump." Another accuser told a paralegal in 2007 that he "noticed that Ed had an unusual bump on his penis and bright red pubic hair,â according to the Seattle Times. Last night, Murray's lawyer, Bob Sulkin, said Murray's longtime doctor examined him found no moles, bumps, or spots or signs that any had been removed. Sulkin said that disproves "the heart of the accuser's allegation." The lawyer for the accuser said his client would win the case "on the merits."
Council Member Kshama Sawant Releases New Statement on the Allegations Against Murray: After Seattle City Council members said they wouldn't be commenting on the allegations against Murray, Sawant issued a statement this morning expressing support for survivors of sexual assault.
Meanwhile in King County: Sheriff John Urquhart Won't Face Criminal Charges for Alleged Rape. Urquhart denies allegations that he assaulted a former deputy he supervised in the early 2000s. King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg sided with Urquhart this week, issuing a statement that the allegation is beyond the criminal statute of limitations and "even if within the statute of limitations, the evidence obtained during this investigation is insufficient to support criminal charges," the Seattle Times reports.
City Sweeps Homeless Encampment Near West Seattle Bridge: Citing fire hazards, city staff yesterday evicted a homeless camp from under the Spokane Street Viaduct. Some residents of the camp appealed to the city council during the council's meeting Monday asking them to stop or delay the sweep, but it moved ahead anyway.
Democrats Are Helping Republicans Fuck with Light Rail: You remember the car tab tax outrage of the last few weeks, right? One of the three taxing sources in the light rail package passed in November (Sound Transit 3) was an increase in the motor vehicle excise tax, also known as car tab fees. The nicer your car, the more you pay for your car tabs. Now that those new taxes are kicking in, some people are feeling sticker shock and demanding that the state change the formula Sound Transit uses to calculate those car tab fees. That formula does rely on inflated car values, but it was no secret. During the election, Sound Transit, the Seattle Times, and others created calculators to let voters estimate how much they'd be paying if ST3 passed. And the formula was a creation of the state legislature itself, as Seattle Transit Blog explains.
Still, Republicans in Olympia are on the war path, eager to prove they can rein in a transit agencyâand Democrats are helping them. A House committee has just passed a Democrat-sponsored bill to change the car tab formula, and Republicans are pledging to cut the car tab revenue even more when that proposal reaches a full House vote, the Everett Herald reports. Changing the car tab formula threatens $6 billion in light rail funding. Seattle Subway's advice? Call the governor.
You May Not Be Voting on an Arts Tax this Fall After All: County council member Dave Upthegrove pulled King County Executive Dow Constantine's tax proposal from today's budget committee agenda saying a sales tax is too regressive and he doesn't support Constantine's proposal for where the money would go.
Famine Now Threatens More People than at Any Time Since World War I: The Washington Post explains how 20 million people across South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen are now in danger of starving to death.
Immigrant Detainee Hunger Strike Continues: Last night, activists held a rally outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, where hundreds of immigrant detainees are on a hunger strike to protest conditions inside the center. Ana Sofia was there:
Teenager: "I miss my dad right now." Says his father rescued him from foster care after he was taken away from his mom, who was using drugs
â Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) April 12, 2017
Maru translates: folks inside know this is going on the news. They say this demonstration is working. They will continue not eating.
â Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) April 12, 2017
Group chanting at gates: "No estan solos! You are not alone." In the distance, you can hear shouts from the facility.
â Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) April 12, 2017
Just talked with Maru of @NWDCResistance NWDC. She said that as if this AM, 415 detainees participating in hunger strike, more pods joining
â Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) April 12, 2017