The Pacific Science Center, which gets $4.5 million a year from public sources, is fighting unionization efforts. The center's attorneys have been locked for days in legal hearings at the National Labor Relations Board, arguing with the Service Employees International Union Local 6 to redefine who can and cannot vote in any union election. PHIL CAMPBELL

Conceited Cop

Madison Police Chief Richard Williams, the runner-up for the Seattle police chief position, has apparently been trying to save face ever since Mayor Paul Schell rejected him late last month.

According to sources in the Madison Police Department, Williams has been telling his top officers that he was offered the Seattle job, but he turned it down.

Schell aide Dick Lilly says, "Uh, that would be wrong. Both candidates [Williams and new chief Gil Kerlikowske] were neck and neck to the end, but Chief Williams was not offered the job." PHIL CAMPBELL

Peace Out

To the chagrin of Peace Action of Washington, a nuclear disarmament group, City Council Member Heidi Wills isn't supporting efforts to keep the USS Alabama Trident nuclear submarine out of Seattle during Seafair. Reagan-era relic Peace Action endorsed Wills in last year's election. AMY JENNIGES

Quote of the Week

"We voted against the stadium, and they built it. We voted for the monorail, and they don't build it. Maybe we should have voted against the monorail."--pro-monorail activist Peter Sherwin at a July 27 public hearing.

Food Fight

Seattle and King County's public health department is getting tougher on downtown homeless meal providers. Department officials told the providers last week to start following basic food-safety regulations for caterers, like preparing food in a licensed kitchen.

Homeless meal providers like Operation: Sack Lunch, one of the 12 who serve 80,000 meals a year in the city's Public Safety Building, say the health department is being too rigid. The do-gooders want the law rewritten to exempt them from the required $100 site review and $70 catering license. Instead, health department spokesperson Mark Alstead pledges to waive the fees"but not the standards." ALLIE HOLLY-GOTTLIEB