Dance Protest at City Hall
Posies singer/songwriter and touring R.E.M. keyboardist Ken Stringfellow, along with The Stranger's own Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger and Long Winters infamy, played a surprise city hall hootenanny on Monday, April 8.
As the city council tried to start its weekly 2:00 p.m. meeting, the rock musicians broke out a sweet and glowing rendition of Pete Townshend's "The Kids Are Alright" while a crew of youngsters bopped down front. The group was protesting the council's failure to sign off on JAMPAC's Teen Dance Ordinance repeal, which Mayor Greg Nickels sent to Council President Peter Steinbrueck two weeks ago. Steinbrueck had nixed the repeal from the council's agenda last week, and at the meeting he rudely ended the discussion after a 20-year-old UW student asked why the council was delaying action.
TV cameras from both KING and KIRO showed up to capture the event and interview teenaged all-ages dance activist Keenan Dowers--airing the lively footage (including Heidi Wills waltzing with Dan Savage!?!) on their evening newscasts. JOSH FEIT
Judy Nicastro Joins Private Club
The Rainier Club, Seattle's 114-year-old private club on Fourth and Columbia, added City Council Member Judy Nicastro to its genteel membership roll in February. With a $1,500 initiation fee and pricey monthly dues, the Rainier Club is one of Seattle's most elite social institutions--members can wine and dine at the ornate club, while rubbing shoulders with other high-class Seattleites. Now Nicastro can power lunch just two blocks from city hall, or sip a single-malt scotch by the "magnificent baronial fireplace." NANCY DREW
SCCC to Close April 20
It seems Seattle Central Community College President Charles Mitchell is worried about an upcoming April 20 street party--so worried that he's shuttering the campus all day.
Anti-capitalist activists plan to hold a teach-in at 2:00 p.m. in the school, and a "Reclaim the Streets" party at 4:00 p.m. Last August, a similar event downtown resulted in pepper spray and 20 arrests by Seattle police. Mitchell's not taking any chances with his students' safety on the 20th--the school will be closed all day, and classes will probably convene across town.
The SCCC teacher's union president, Lynn Dodson, says she's disappointed by the closure, but understands Mitchell made the decision to protect students not participating in the street events. AMY JENNIGES
