Two months after protesting in the Mayor's office, 23 People's Coalition for Justice activists--whose July 17 sit-in involved pizza, dancing, and demanding strong police accountability--were charged with criminal trespass. The city offered them a deal last week: Plead guilty, and only face a $300 fine and five days in jail. No dice, says William Broberg, attorney for several of the protesters. AMY JENNIGES

R-51 Lacks Support

Despite endorsements from bigwig Democrats like Mayor Nickels, rank-and-file Seattle Dems are not playing follow the leader on Referendum 51--the transportation package that dumps 93 percent of its King County funds into widening roads rather than public transit.

R-51 cheerleading from party leaders like Ken Jacobsen and Frank Chopp notwithstanding, the anti-51 trend continued unabated last week on September 19, when North Seattle's 46th District Dems voted against supporting the measure. Democrats handed R-51 similar fates in the key 43rd District (Capitol Hill and the U-District) and the 34th District (West Seattle). JOSH FEIT

Dress for Jihad!

Last week's September 19 Washington State Supreme Court decision affirming the right to surreptitiously film up a woman's skirt was reprehensible.

America's immoral culture--where women are encouraged to wear seductive clothing (skirts!) and men are encouraged to slobber over such harlots--spells doom. Until American women exert their real feminine power by donning the traditional burqa and black robe, America's rejection of Allah and despotic worship of secular "liberties" will lead to ruin.

Sisters, this court ruling is an attack on your dignity. Dress for Jihad! MULLAH MOHAMMED OMAR, EXILED TALIBAN LEADER

Espresso Tax Loses Steam

Backers of I-77--the quirky proposal to tax espresso drinks for early-learning and childcare funding--lost their battle to get their initiative on November's ballot. The measure's advocates went to the King County Superior Court on Friday, September 20, arguing that the city council had run afoul of the city charter by failing to take timely action on the initiative--which was submitted to the city clerk with a whopping 30,000 signatures on August 7. The city charter says that "consideration" of an initiative "shall take precedence over all other business."

Seeing no action by late last week, I-77 fans complained that the council had dawdled. However, the court said petitioners submitted signatures too late for the council to take its allotted 45 days for deliberations and still meet the deadline for sending initiatives to November's ballot. JOSH FEIT