#39 The Clue of the Dancing Puppet

Veteran Seattle activists Bob Barnes and Jim Goettler have been trying since July to get a permit for an N30 rally at Westlake Center. Their request was denied twice--after their first attempt two weeks ago, and again on Tuesday, November 27, after Goettler and Barnes appealed to an ad hoc board of city officials.

But the rally will go on, they say. As we went to press, attorney William Broberg scheduled an injunction hearing for Wednesday November 28. Barnes and Goettler plan to sue the city on free speech grounds. NANCY DREW

Repelling the Repeal

Here's what your vote for Richard McIver got you (and the Apartment Association of Seattle & King County, whose membership donated handsomely to McIver's campaign): On Monday, November 26, McIver--reelected to the city council this month--tried to gut several renters' rights stands from the city's state lobbying agenda, including: support for just eviction laws, enforcement to assure timely repairs, and assurances that renters can sign a lease. McIver lost 8-1 on each item.

McIver also tried to kill the city's Olympia agenda that called to "repeal or modify [state law] to allow local control of rent laws." That onerous state law can undermine everything from local ordinances governing timing, notification, and size of rent increases to the more controversial idea of rent control.

McIver failed on that one too... sort of. Despite the earlier lopsided votes against McIver, Council Member Judy Nicastro--author of the original renters' rights provision--felt compelled to offer up this timid alternative, as a defense against McIver's attack: Seattle supports "more flexibility [for] local jurisdictions to set landlord/tenant laws." That soft wording, rather than Nicastro's original "repeal" tough talk, passed 6-3. JOSH FEIT

Almost There

Seattle's police watchdogs have lobbied for an independent police review panel for years, and the city responded in 1999 with the idea of a civilian review board in the police complaint office. But the board doesn't exist yet--it's been hung up in negotiations between the city and the Police Guild. Now the tug-of-war is almost over: negotiations are complete and awaiting approval.

Details of the agreement, which outlines what to do when the guild disagrees with the citizen review board, aren't public yet. "[The settlement] equally pleased and displeased both sides," says City Council Public Safety Committee staff member George Allen. AMY JENNIGES