Conflict of Interests
"People think we've shut down," frets Back Door Ultra Lounge club owner Kyriakos Kyrkos.
But that's not true--yet. The Pioneer Square club on Third Avenue and Yesler Way is still open, but it's caught in a conflict between two vital Seattle interests: homeless shelters and dance clubs.
For the past few weeks the club has been turning down the DJ volume to keep Kyrkos' new landlord, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), happy. DESC has operated a homeless shelter directly above the club's space since 1979, and took over the building's ownership in October.
"The level of disruption is remarkable," says Daniel Malone, housing program manager with DESC. "We need to make it clear that 200 homeless people are being adversely affected by his operation."
Kyrkos says he had until Saturday, November 17 to comply with a DESC order to quiet down, or face possible eviction. AMY JENNIGES
#50 The Double Jinx Mystery
Greg Nickels not only won the mayoral election last week, he also broke a 24-year endorsement tradition.
Since 1977--before I was even born!--the winning candidate has grabbed the endorsement of at least one of the daily papers. This year, neither daily endorsed Nickels.
1977's victor, Charles Royer, lost The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer endorsements to a young (and handsome) Paul Schell. Royer won by 24,966 votes, and served three terms.
Mark Sidran, this season's loser, also bucked a campaign tradition. The last time he faced an opponent (in 1989, during his original run for city attorney) he scored the endorsement of the Seattle Weekly. This election, the Weekly abandoned Sidran for Nickels. NANCY DREW
Unwelcome Party
While mayoral election winner Greg Nickels' rollicking Friday, November 16 victory press conference was jam-packed, there were a few significant no-shows. Namely, City Council Members Margaret Pageler, Jan Drago, and Jim Compton. As council president, city budget chair, and possible council president for 2002 respectively, Pageler, Drago, and Compton are arguably the city council's most powerful members. The trio's MIA status may be a sign that the dynamics between the council and the mayor are about to get dicey. (Pageler and Compton endorsed Nickels' opponent, Mark Sidran. Drago didn't endorse anyone, but has been Sidran's strongest council ally.)
The only council members who showed up Friday were the council's lead lefties, Nick Licata and Judy Nicastro. Both had endorsed Nickels. JOSH FEIT
