Comments

1
The Forchen, oh god, it burns.

Loves this.
2
ANY bullshit initiative pushed by Tim Eyesore: Just Say No!!!

When can we stick a fork in Eyesore's ass and call him done already?
3
I didn't see any write-up here about the Seattle School Board candidates you endorsed, but I guess things haven't changed much since the primary, other than the challengers have won the endorsements of Seattle legislative district Democrats, and, oh yes, that charges will be filed in the Silas Potter scandal, the one that Director Maier knew about but kept mum.
4
This publication has just shown that its opinions are completely whacked and out of touch.
5
The Stranger included some erroneous details in its endorsement of Sherrill Huff for King County Elections Director.

It reports: "Sherril Huff . . . has been running the county's elections department since 1995."

In fact, Huff started at King County Elections in 2005. And, that's a good thing, as Huff was recruited from Kitsap County as a fix-it expert to conduct a top-to-bottom overhaul of King County's screwed up elections bureaucracy.

Over in Kitsap, Huff had been elected twice as the County Auditor. Kitsap's loss was definitely King County's gain, as Huff has been highly successful in remaking our elections division into a streamlined, responsive, professional entity. She clearly deserves reelection.
6
@4 "This publication has just shown that its opinions are completely whacked and out of touch."

Now? Just now?

Please.
7
So you guys were against Harium before you were for him? or am I missing something. also how can you support Kate Martin's reforms and then criticize Sundquist's TFA policy? Don't make no sense yo.
8
@6 you are absolutely right. This publication has been whacked and out of touch since the git-go. My mistake.
9
Haha, Harrell's here.

Anyway, new name for the abomination that illustrates this piece: Godderch.
10
"maybe it’s Buetow’s thorough and thoughtful critique of the district’s ills." Ya think? Plus, maybe it's also the fact that Martin-Morris has been MIA in the community. Gee, he's the only board member up for re-election who didn't screw up royally? Big whoop--so he didn't do as much bad, but what good did he do? What new ideas did he introduce? Call me when you have something that Martin-Morris did, not some bad things he didn't do.

Oh, he's the only one on the current board who was once a teacher? Luckily, there's Stranger-endorsed Marty McLaren to fill the former-teacher slot.

Vote the full clean slate!
11
@5) We'll get that corrected--Huff started in 2005, not 1995--stat. Thank you.
12
Harium Martin-Morris is a quart low on personality--and achievement.

Still voting for Michelle Buetow & the Challengers!
13
The Stranger Election Control Board is always fucked up but rarely so gullible. Harium was Goodloe-Johnson's BFF until he had to fire her or risk public castration. The teacher's union refuses to endorse him, tho he was a teacher. Labor doesn't like him either. It's Harium, not Sundquist, who worked behind the scenes to bring Teach for America to town. (Sundquist is just used to taking the credit.) Harium's campaign sugar daddy is a downtown business developer trying to shove National Education Reform up the unsuspecting asses of Seattle voters.

If you hadn't been salivating over Beutow's high heels you might have understood some of this shit. At least you got one thing right. Beutow is hot. Harium is not.
14
Harium Martin-Morris? Really?

This is the man who has made clear that he believes the Board's job is to implement policies that the Administration wants, not to do their own research.

This is the man that proposed lowering the graduation standard for high school kids in Seattle in order to graduate more kids.

This is the man who steadfastly supported Maria Goodloe-Johnson, even up to the end, and all but stated he was voting to terminate her not because she was a complete failure, but because if he didn't he was afraid people would be think he was playing the race card.

I get it. Goldy's kids couldn't get into TOPS. But my daughter shouldn't have to suffer because he's still bitter.

15
Not bad but I join the chorus saying pick Martin-Morris over Buetow in District 3 is the wrong choice for School Board.

Harium lectures his fellow Board members, from the dais, about questioning data/information from staff. OVERSIGHT IS THEIR JOB. And yet, he did that.

He supports TFA, supported Goodloe-Johnson until the bitter end, had early warnings about Potter (and, like most of the others, did nothing) and is not a visible presence in the community.

We need nuance and balance on the Board, not more of the same.

Vote Buetow (and I could care less if she wears a brown paper sack over her head) - she's the best candidate for the job.
16
Not bad but I join the chorus saying your pick of Martin-Morris over Buetow in District 3 is the WRONG choice for School Board.

Harium lectures his fellow Board members, from the dais, about questioning data/information from staff. OVERSIGHT IS THEIR JOB.

He supports TFA, supported Goodloe-Johnson until the bitter end, had early warnings about Potter (and, like most of the others, did nothing) and is not a visible presence in the community.

We need nuance and balance on the Board, not more of the same.

Vote Buetow (and I could care less if she wears a brown paper sack over her head) - she's the best candidate for the job.
17
Donuts ftw.

I'm shocked you didn't endorse Godden.

You do know she helped Edison invent the electric light bulb after shocking him with static electricity when they were fooling around on their bicycles on a date, right?
18
I sure hope this is satire.
19
Once again Ron Paul is completely ignored. What's it going to take?!
20
Once again, Ron Paul is completely ignored. What's it going to take?!
21
I don't know if Eyeman's initiative will win, but it sure will be fun to watch Prop. 1 go down in flames. If we're lucky, I-1125 will win big, and Prop. 1 will lose big. Suck it, cyclistas!

And what's this with the liberal puritanism on the liquor stores? Come on you know that Costco is one of a whole bunch of retailers that will do well if I-1183 passes. You know: QFC, Albertson's, Safeway, Cash & Carry, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, Grocery Outlet. We'll have a much better selection of booze, and cheaper prices.

The only loser is the clerks at the Soviet liquor stores. Boo hoo. I think 1183 will pass. See ya on Nov. 8th. This ought to be fun.
22
@14, I was with you until "I get it. Goldy's kids couldn't get into TOPS. But my daughter shouldn't have to suffer because he's still bitter."

Like TOPS has rigid admissions standards or something. Kids who "get into" TOPS get a lucky number in the school choice lottery, is all. Linking Buetow to that attitude isn't doing her any favors.

23
regarding the school board picks: y'all noticed the part where they said that school board elections are like multiple choice questions where all the answers are wrong, right?
24
Down with liqueur stores. Seriously I have a massive phobia about going into them. They smell like the god dam DMV. I don't care how badly it damages our economy. Viva la Kirkland Signature booze!
25
A suggestion for dealing with Tim Eyman: rename the 520 bridge the Tim Eyman Toll Bridge. Either his head will explode, he'll lose all credibility, or he'll just go away because that's all he's wanted all along.
26
Fuck yes, vote for 1183. I mean why the fuck would anyone think the sale of hard alcohol is something that needs to be handled by government employees? Prices will most likely be lower, with the elimination of the state's 55 percent mark-up and, you know, free market competition.

The square footage requirement came from the butthurt opponents and their lame-ass commercials showing drunk kids scooping up bottles of booze at the corner convenience store.

Fuck yes, get the state out of the booze business. Fuck The Stranger for saying otherwise.
27
Perhaps your endorsements would have more credibility if they were less pathologically foul-mouthed. Your cheap thoughtless profanity convinces no one, and it shows how unserious you are. And I say this as a fan of George Carlin, Henry Rollins, and intelligent profanity.
28
@the deluded Stranger

Perhaps your endorsements would have more credibility if they were less pathologically foul-mouthed. Your cheap thoughtless profanity convinces no one, and it shows how unserious you are. And I say this as a fan of George Carlin, Henry Rollins, and intelligent profanity.
29
HMM, the "representative of diversity" on our school board (Betty Patu is a Suntropics addict). Your endorsement of HMM mars an otherwise scholarly, if scatological, review of vital election choices we face. Harium just needs to get retired and makes (shit) money flying around pretending to be an education (Birth to K?) expert.

What a load of BS.
30
Why do right-wing assholes bother to comment on Stranger endorsements?
31
The overwhelming majority of the many dozens of yard signs I've removed from public greenbelts, school properties, public trails, road medians, etc, this year have said "Bobby Forch" on them. A real "smart, solid progressive" would respect the citizens of this city enough to not litter the public right-of-way with illegal signs.

I won't be voting for his opponent, but I also won't be voting for some asshole who thinks the best campaign strategy is to break the law more than everyone else. Fuck Forch.
32
SJR 8206: i don't have an axe to grind in this thing, but how exactly does it steal from necessary services in hard times? the description seems to be exactly the opposite, and a little web searching reveals it passed the house and senate with flying colors, and every other voting guide seems to be for it. so who suffers to lose, exactly? what services are going to be harmed? there is no way in hell we will ever pass budget stabilization provisions except when we have are feeling the sting of an economic hangover, so now seems like the time. so what is there not to like about it, exactly?
33
I really appreciate the hard work that the Stranger writers put into researching these recommendations. I don't know what Seattle would be like without the Stranger, but it would definitely suck.

Keep up the good work guys, and thank you.
34
Agree: Harium has to go
Disagree: Harium isn't the only teacher Betty was at RBHS
Add: Betty seems nuts though
Agree: Political signs in right of way suck
Add: Saw a lot of Harium signs in right of way
Agree: Seattle thrives because of The Stranger
Add: Kecks a douche though; should have met me in 1995ish to talk about putting his rag on the Internet.
35
@33 are you fucking kidding me! These hacks do not know what the fuck they are talking about.
36
I don't live anywhere near Seattle and can't vote in any of these races, but I always read the SECB endorsements anyway because they're just so entertaining. I wish Blue Mass Group was as fun to read as you guys are. If only there were more local rags unafraid to tell it as they see it straight up, and even use swear words where it helps to get the point across. Most coverage of the inner workings of local and state government bores people to tears, which is a big part of why they don't get held accountable and hence suck so badly.
37
@32 - 8206 sounds awesome, but it's terrible. Because of how shitty revenue is now, once we get back to normal, that would be considered a 'windfall', and the State would be unable to bring expenditures for social services back to normal.

Additionally, while it is true that, on occasion, programs are expanded in boom times, more often than not there are capital improvements (highways, infrastructure, buildings, etc) that happen. And that is a good thing. Making more efficient infrastructure when we have the money saves money for when we don't. This amendment would disallow that.

It's a terrible amendment, and should be voted down.
38
I have nothing to add. Just trying to remember my posting credentials after my browser imploded.
39
Wow! This is intense, and it's not even November.
I love the idea of voting for incompetents to oust the incompetents.
What a concept. And we all thought this only happened in the USSR.
Anyone voting for anything Eyman needs an enema.
No on 1183 is not only correct, it's CORRECT. Why would any thinking person want to cancel out Occupy Seattle and No to greed, with a yes vote on this? Don't these retail monsters (Costco, the supermarket chains, etc) already have ENUFF? If you need a bottle of booze, git yer butt to da liquor store and buy it. Stop trying to help the rich get richer.
American capitalism , as we know it, has got to die. It's time is past.
Jean Godden is a dinosaur, like all the other city council people.
Clean slate in November, people.
40
If you really want to vote against the incumbent but think the challenger is completely unqualified, why not take a page from Nevada and do a write-in vote for "none of the above"? That's what I intend to do.
41
If you really don't want to support the incumbent but think that the challenger is totally unqualified, why not take a page from Nevada and cast a write-in vote for "none of the above"? That's what I intend to do.
42
They lost any credibility with me when they flat out lie about 1183. They neglect to say that it is the worthless national liquor distributors who are backing the no side with millions. I would choose a local company like Costco which provides good jobs with good benefits (to several people I know) than national liquor distributors who's only purpose is to syphon off a portion of the profits. Oh, and small grocers will not be able to carry liquor? Do they have any concept of simple math and square footage? lol, sorry, it is the Stranger...It's 100ft x 100ft or 50ft x 200ft, etc. The average walgreens is 14500 square feet, 1.5 times big enough to qualify. Also, California based BevMo's average stores are 10-12K sq ft.
43
Vote Yes on 1183 - whiskey at Trader Joes.

You're mad that little places can't sell liquor? Who cares? Get the gov't out of my liquor.
44
I've been pissed off at all of this election stuff for the last month, seems you can't turn on the tube without seeing Dave Brandland's fat head spouting off on the same stuff he spouted off on last year for Costco. But reading your Election Control Board suggestions has made my day! Keep it up!
45
No socialists running for city council?No ranked-choice voting?Pfft!AND YOU THINK SEATTLE IS A LEFTIST METROPOLIS?HA!!!
46
@Doodseattle, that post of yours was a great parody of a typical Seattle left-wing derelict on drugs! Is McGinn your idiot cousin?
47
Wow this newspaper is turning into pointless cheap profanity filled hatred-for-change central. Many stories come across as if the editors are angry that regressive utopian ideas of early 2000's are less and less relevant now. The funny thing is that most of the Stranger's writers grew up in suburbs with parents driving them around and most of them never even visited a financial aid office in college... They came from this old American way of life that's always been there for them whenever they needed any help. If they were thrown into the reality of Seattle's youth today on their own without any old money, they would've drowned in poverty! Seriously! Can a teenager survive and progress in life in Seattle if he/she has nothing to begin with?? Get all your dreams of no cars and unicorns out of your head and start from scratch! How can you sustain your life here without a car?! The is the worst regressive tax city in the nation already. The poor, which most of us are now, pays more in taxes than the rich here, yet the editors are supporting more regressive taxes, more money for public sector unions, and more more anti-car crap like people have any other efficient way of getting around this region? Living near regional transit is not affordable. You either have to be purposeley dirt poor or make over $50K salary to afford a place near rapid transit. The city now only works for the very poor and the rich, but The Stranger is still lost somewhere in 2004 chanting about the tunnel, evil cars, and calling for more dysfunctional transit that can not accommodate anyone who makes $20k and more a year because they simply do not have the time! The poor doesn't get any representation in this newspaper anymore. Articles begin to look like they are written by confused spoiled children, who's structure was broken. We had more changes in economy and ideology of this country in the last few years than in the last 50 years. I will not be surprised if soon The Stranger articles will sound like Glen Beck's rant, making less and less sense every time they wanna talk about the cult of bicycling, devil cars, Eyman shmiman, tunnels... give me a break! Lets talk about the real issues: Regressive taxes! Bought politicians! Corrupt unions! Unaffordable housing near regional transit for people making $20-$50K a year(not Sally Clark's "affordable" $1000 studios while developer's are given tax breaks) or what about stupid jobs without any health insurance!
Just snap out of it Stranger! Times changed, get with the program.
48
I am glad the Stranger is coming to its senses to endorse Dian Ferguson, but can they get anymore bitter about it?! Feels like they are forced to do it only because Sally Clark's campaign is overfinanced by special interests. Instead of talking about Ferguson's strong views on police accountability reform, her affordable housing reform, and her issues with regressive taxation which the 99% can not afford anymore, the Stranger is taking cheap shots at irrelevant issues like where her houses are located and other out of context pointless topics. Looks like research journalism is no longer a requirement for articles in The Stranger...
49
Harium Martin-Morris may be an ex-teacher but so what? Doesn't mean teachers feel they have a voice with him. Just the opposite. There were apparently enough votes at the last teacher's union meeting to pass a vote of No Confidence in him, but the motion against him was stopped on procedural grounds. It was stopped by union leadership who saw the writing on the wall after the body passed a vote of No Confidence in Steve Sundquist.

Martin-Morris also voted to rid schools of counselors and hugely supported our now-ex superintendent. Two more things teachers opposed.
50
I love your work! I hope when I'm done getting my bachelors in print journalism I will be in Seattle, hopefully working for you! : )
51
This is the worst written article I have ever attempted to read. Where were you educated, a cabin in the woods, the bridge of a ship, cab of a 18 wheeler? What a poor excuse for writing. Do you always swear to get your point across. It shows a lack of vocabulary, a true lack of grammar and unwilling comprehension of the English language. What ashame because you could of really gotten some good attention vs. this junk.
52
#47,

You shall collect 1 (one) free internets.

Or a beer if you chase me down and twist my arm.
53
For the details of WHY you should vote against EVERY incumbent on the Seattle School Board, read the Seattle Times' endorsements of them:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ed…

AND THEN, read the COMMENTS for the truth about the utter chaos that is Seattle Public Schools. You don't know half of the shit that's gone on:

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.c…

Where is the Stranger when this shit needs to be exposed? The Seattle Times is completely owned by the education establishment so they won't write about it, and the P-I online? Who reads that?

Oh and I'm voting against the Families and Education Levy. SACRILEGE! I know, but Seattle Public Schools should quit squandering tens of millions of dollars before they get another dime out of me.

And I'm voting against the regressive $60 additional car tab tax. And so is everyone else. BOO FUCKING HOO. You coke-snorting hipsters on Capitol Hill need to understand that poor people DO own cars, because they depend on them to get from their crappy neighborhoods to their shitty jobs where and when the buses don't go and never will. Not everyone has the luxury to live where you don't need a car and can walk everywhere. I've given up on the bus; I don't have time to spend 1.5 hours to travel 8 miles. I shouldn't have to pay the same for tabs as someone who owns a $100,000 Mercedes. Fuck that shit.

@48: "Looks like research journalism is no longer a requirement for articles in The Stranger..."

This fucking paper is worthless. I've been reading it since the beginning, but mostly out of habit for the past few years. Really, I get more info from the comments section where astute readers deconstruct every stupid paragraph written by the lazy kids who are just playing "journalist" without doing the actual legwork.
54
@47 FTW!
55
Outstanding comment, #53. Truly inspired.
56
I can't believe that you the stranger staff would want to keep the government in the liquor business. Where is your brain? Hello? Your point about how Costco is funding the yes campaign should be of little consideration vs. the status quo of antiquated prohibition era controls that do nothing but inflate and manipulate the liquor market. Lay off the drugs before you spout uninformed opinions.

@53 well spoken, thank you for your common sense point of view.
57
Thank you for making this easier to get to on line.
58
Well looky looky. Who is supporting School Board incumbents Steve Sundquist, Harium Martin-Morris and Sherry Carr? Rich Eastsiders and their pet PAC - the anti-union, pro-public school privatization group Stand for Children.

Like you said: Shit is Fucked Up and Bullshit.

60
I don't understand why Kemper Freeman would want to stop light rail across I-90?

Isn't he the owner of Bellevue Square?
Wouldn't light rail that stops near Bellevue Square be a great thing for his business?
61
get in goin! - Don't be so gullible.

Do you have any idea who actually wrote I-1183?
It was written by Costco themselves.

"Oh, and small grocers will not be able to carry liquor?"

Correct. And why would Costco want their competitors to sell booze? They hate competition which is why I-1183 is in their favor, not yours, unless you get off on buying booze from a big mega store than some small state run liquor store.

But hey, at least you can buy liquor at Costco now! Doesn't mean it's going to be any cheaper but if you like more taxes on booze, by all means, vote yes but don't be mad at the state because you can't buy liquor at smaller stores.
This initiative is Costco's baby.
62
Can I sell this thing? $11? $26? How much do they go for these days?
64
[i]Wouldn't light rail that stops near Bellevue Square be a great thing for his business?[/i]

I doubt it. The real shoppers drive.
65
@ Johnny Anonymous: Kemper Has free parking lots, he wants people to drive from miles around and shop at his mall with free parking. The point is not light rail to Bellevue, it is from Bellevue to Seattle. People might actually take the light rail into Seattle to shop for the day if they had a convenient alternative rather than fighting traffic and paying for parking.

@ Johnny Anonymous again: Of course I know who wrote 1183, but it is not Costco that doesn't want liquor in small stores, it is the voters. Costco wrote the initiative last year as well and it did not have a size restriction. It was written this way this time because you people voted it down the other way. You are the gullible one if you believe there is more taxes or that Costco is going to jack up liquor prices. Don't be fooled by the ads, the no campaign is funded by the national liquor distributors (corporations)who stand to loose if this passes. Right now I get my liquor when I am in California and Costco's profit margin on liquor is 10% or less. Right now the State run liquor stores mark up 52%. There is a new fee of 27% paid by merchants to sell the liquor when added to the 10% markup comes to 37%. Last time I checked my simple math 37 is less than 52. Also, at times, I am sure places will even have sales where they have little or no profit on liquor just to get people in to buy other stuff. It happens on other products all the time. The state should not be in the business of selling liquor and no, I won't be mad at the state for liquor not being available at smaller stores. I am not sure what kind of size stores you are wanting it sold in but as I stated earlier, stores two thirds the size of walgreens (that's smaller than)would qualify to sell liquor. That is pretty small. Also, all the existing liquor stores are eligible to be bought and grandfathered in to sell liquor.
66
RE: Seattle City Council Position 9:
Since, as The Stranger notes your choices are between a Giant Douche and a Poo Sandwich, Write in MARLIN HATHAWAY. Your unofficial Occupy Seattle Candidate.
67
Under 1183 Whomever is selling the alcohol to the the store becomes the distributor and has to pay the 10% distribution tax. no loophole.
68
On 1183 there is no 10% tax loophole..Either the distributer pays it or the distillery pays it.
69
I'm sure by now you have heard about the nationwide occupations of parks, city halls and any other public areas.

Maybe what you are asking yourself is "How do I fit in?" or "How can I help?" or "What is it about?"

What are the Occupations about?
The occupations are about unity with other people who are concerned about our future. All people are needed in every occupation. It doesn't matter what your concern is, heck, we are overwhelmed with concerns at this point. What matters is that you speak up about what matters to you. Most concerns can be traced back to greed. That is why you keep hearing that the occupations are about "corporate greed".

How do I fit in?
You fit in because your future is at stake. You fit in because our children are at stake. You fit in because you eat poisoned food, drink poisoned water and breathe poisoned air. You fit in because you see the wrong all around us. You fit because you strive for a better world. You fit in because you are tired of seeing our soldiers in an endless war. You fit in because you have lost your job, your home or your stability. You fit in because you care. You fit in because you want to make a change.
http://www.occupytogether.org/

How can I help?
-Close your bank account
- Tell or Discuss this with 5 different people every day
- Print posters, flyers or signs
- Plug your occupation on radio stations -
- Write to your mayor -
- Donate - Donate - Donate! -
- Send Pizza - Food / Coffee -
- Send Care Packages through Snail Mail -
- Donate to the Livestream media teams -
- Go there today, Go there tomorrow, Go there on the weekend - JUST GO!
- Contact local organic farms that deliver
- Take out ads in your local newspaper under "announcements" or other areas.
- Participate in Civil Disobedience whenever possible
- Send up fundraisers

We are growing, our voices are being heard, forces are joining and we need you to be there! General Assemblies (GA) is where your voice is heard. You get to be part of decision making, the process and we need you to be there! Things are growing organized, people are beginning to find their spots and we are strong.

Much Love to you all !!!
70
I'm sure by now you have heard about the nationwide occupations of parks, city halls and any other public areas.

Maybe what you are asking yourself is "How do I fit in?" or "How can I help?" or "What is it about?"

What are the Occupations about?
The occupations are about unity with other people who are concerned about our future. All people are needed in every occupation. It doesn't matter what your concern is, heck, we are overwhelmed with concerns at this point. What matters is that you speak up about what matters to you. Most concerns can be traced back to greed. That is why you keep hearing that the occupations are about "corporate greed".

How do I fit in?
You fit in because your future is at stake. You fit in because our children are at stake. You fit in because you eat poisoned food, drink poisoned water and breathe poisoned air. You fit in because you see the wrong all around us. You fit because you strive for a better world. You fit in because you are tired of seeing our soldiers in an endless war. You fit in because you have lost your job, your home or your stability. You fit in because you care. You fit in because you want to make a change.
http://www.occupytogether.org/

How can I help?
-Close your bank account
- Tell or Discuss this with 5 different people every day
- Print posters, flyers or signs
- Plug your occupation on radio stations -
- Write to your mayor -
- Donate - Donate - Donate! -
- Send Pizza - Food / Coffee -
- Send Care Packages through Snail Mail -
- Donate to the Livestream media teams -
- Go there today, Go there tomorrow, Go there on the weekend - JUST GO!
- Contact local organic farms that deliver
- Take out ads in your local newspaper under "announcements" or other areas.
- Participate in Civil Disobedience whenever possible
- Send up fundraisers

We are growing, our voices are being heard, forces are joining and we need you to be there! General Assemblies (GA) is where your voice is heard. You get to be part of decision making, the process and we need you to be there! Things are growing organized, people are beginning to find their spots and we are strong.

Much Love to you all !!!
71
ANON2012, give it up. Even your savior, Mayor McDope, has moved you out of downtown, to Seattle community college. I'm afraid you're someone's bitch now.
72
I'll preface this by saying the car tab levy is a good idea and I voted for it. Now then...

You're full of shit, and I'll tell you why:

In any distribution system, you'll get heavy usage customers and light usage customers. A heavy usage cable customer is the nerd who lives downstairs who records Glee and sends it to the rest of the world so they don't have to wait for
it to be broadcast in their home country. A light usage customer is your old gran, who only ever checks her Juno email once a week. The system is designed with this in mind so that light usage customers foot the bill to keep things running and heavy usage customers are tolerated because there aren't enough of them to be a problem. This is true of cable internet, health insurance, professionals kept on retainer, everything.

Roads are the backbone of our infrastructure and by extension our society. It would have been great if Karl Benz had designed one of those bittorrent-for-cars monorail systems instead and we'd built our society around that instead, but roads are what we've got so suck it up. Roads are awesome. They don't require as much maintenance as subways or elevated systems, basically anyone can access them with basically anything, and basically everyone does. Let's abandon them, let them fall to shit and only build footpaths and bike trails. Meat will become much fresher as cowboys reappear to drive cattle directly to the market. Heart attack? Don't worry, the paramedics are only a 20 minute ride away, and hey the guy who pumps your septic tanks just bought a brand-new zeppelin.

The overwhelming majority of road damage is caused by environmental conditions and heavy-duty vehicles; the kind that delivery your packages and your groceries and your bus-riding ass. These are the heavy-usage customers, and they can go about their merry way because there are 16 cars on the road for every mack truck. The more cars on the road, the more light-wear heavy-paying customers the system will have, and the better the conditions will be for everyone.
73
@66 Sally Clark(the 2 term incumbent) is endorsed by police and votes for regressive taxes religiously. Introduced noise ordinance that gets clubs into trouble and for years approves tax credits for developers of overpriced apartments. Her campaign is also overfinanced by special interest. Ferguson is pure grassroots and asks for a major police accountability reform, affordable housing reform, and end on regressive taxes on the 99% even before the protests began. (I say poor, because there is no such thing as middle class anymore)
So what's wrong with Ferguson?! Do some legit research before making fool out of yourself, like the Stranger is doing right now. What kind of Occupier are you if you don't even know the issues... Watch some RT America and go to Seattle Channel to watch candidates talk at least... or skip The Stranger's pathetic articles and read the comments, you'll learn much more.
74
This board needs to get its shit together about 1183. The tax will be reduced to 24% from about 61%. I would much rather buy booze from a grocery store than those fuckin' filthy yet somehow sterile state run stores with no selection and a lobotomized staff. I mean c'mon!!!!
75
Robocalled yesterday in favor of Harium-Martin Morris, Steve Sundquist and Sherry Carr for Seattle school board. Slammed down the phone.
The robocall group, Stand for Children, is backed by some of biggest contributors to keeping last year's I-1098 (state income tax) from passing. That's the tax that would have actually provided steady funding to school kids.
Stand for Children (Stand for Charters) is a totally bogus "1 Percenter" PAC and Steve, Harium and Sherry ought to be ashamed for taking money from the group and its backers. Actions speak louder than words.
76
I'm going 100% opposite of your votes save for city counsel? (still undecided) but as your picks so far don't match anything but Republican concepts I will more then likely vote totally opposite on all your picks.

The last time a "1163" idea came around as usual it did not figure that there are many people who don't speak a lick of Cambodian or Chinese or Thai and that a family member is really the only care givers that will obviously work (and I mean Obviously) You don't need to be a 8th grader to understand America and out wit people like Rick Perry and typical white and black trash that only see the Nation from a tiny speck of a Broadway hood that's more into looking for fashionable underwear and trying to be cool?

Do you want some jerk with a food handlers card cooking for you or do you want your Mom to cook for you and get paid to take care of your ass that's been trashed by the streets you live on.

Open your eyes!
77
helpful (and entertaining) as always, thanks SECB
78
Your endorsements are meaningless and a waste of space. None of your readers vote. Just ask Judy Nicastro.
79
@76 the Stranger did not do any research on complicated topics! and discredited itself as a legitimate newspaper. How can you vote yes on union funded 1163 that separates families if a family caregiver doesn't qualify anymore. 1163 is funded by SEUI union officials and no one else. Many caregivers were forced to join this union because of another measure back in 2008. Most do not speak English and have no clue whats going on except that they have to pay union dues or they will lose their jobs! In exchange they get a crappy health insurance and less pay than before they joined. Family caregivers used to work through disability-eldercare agencies before 2008 measure passed. Vote no on I-1163! We need to vote for whats good for the people and not for the unions, corporations, organizations, etc...
80
Dian Ferguson actually had a very good response to this article on her facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Dian…

She also just made a long overdue statement about the incumbent Sally Clark on her website http://www.dianferguson.com/

Besides the fact that Clark is endorsed by police, she is terribly overfinanced for this re-election! $236K worth of special interest contributions for a city council seat?! is she running for a governor?? wow.
81
I'd pay closer attention to the Stranger's criticism of Jean Godden's performance on the city council if it hadn't been so snarky about the lady's age. I cast a vote in loving memory of the Gray Panthers. (Look it up young, callow opinionators.)

I strayed from the cheat sheet in one other instance. Where does the money come from to pay for training long-term care givers--slashing more state jobs?
82
@47, for real? I get around fine without a car. Actually almost every single person I know in this city does. I was raised in Central Florida, now there is a place where you REALLY need a car to get around, compared to Orlando Seattle's Public transit is like a magical gift from heaven. Yeah, it's not perfect, but it exists, and buses aren't randomly bursting into flames. Try living in a truly car-dependent city for a while and then get back to me.
83
I just sent this email to the Editor. I know...a little late to the party... I thought I'd share it here.
-----
Dear Stranger Editor,
I was really disappointed to find that The Stranger has come out in support of Initiative 1163.
I had hoped that you would have taken the time to really read and understand this initiative and the impact it would have on the disabled and their families.
Initiative 1163 sounds really good on the surface. I mean, who doesn't want the best care and safeguards for the elderly and disabled, right?
However, the reality is that it is far too general and wide sweeping in it's scope. I won't go into fine detail but I can tell you that, as a parent of a disabled child, this initiative would make finding a caregiver for my son more difficult, too complicated and very expensive. The caregiver we currently have for our son would never have agreed to take on this less than part time job if she had been required to take 72 hours of training. She isn't a caregiver for the elderly or disabled as a career. She has one client, works for us because she knows and loves our son and wants to help us out. The requirements for training would be the same for in-home caregivers, parents of the disabled and people hired to work nursing homes and institutions. Does this make sense?
Many arguements against the Initiative focus on the cost and the State's budget woes. I think this just clouds the issue. It's a bad initiative regardless of the State's ability to pay for it.
Another arguement is the "SEIU is just lining their pockets" arguement. I have lots of feelings about that, and tend to agree with it, but it is also beside the point.
Please reconsider your support of this initiative and inform your readers. It wasn't a good plan two years ago when the first initiative passed and it isn't a good plan now.
84
@82 You came from old money dear. you are trying something new in your life and hooray for you. But if you are poor and/or in crisis here, and have no old money to back you up, the car is the only way here. I don't like it, no one likes it, but its a fact. If you got student loans to pay and have no health insurance, you new job most likely will be far away. No bus or bicycle will get you there... Sorry to piss on your parade, Seattle is hard on the poor. It works only for dirt poor or for those who got old money and or make at least$50k.
85
@84 have you ever been on a bus? You think they are coming home to BMWs in three car garages?

Poor people need transit more than anyone & everyone benefits from butts in bus seats rather than driver's seats.
86
Hey you motherfuckers - Thanks - I had no idea who to vote for as Port Commissioners and you bought and sold me.

Go have a donut!
87
Don't vote for someone who you don't support! If you want to register a vote against an incumbent but don't support the official challenger, then write someone in. That will still have the intended effect of lowering the percent voting for the incumbent.
88
I used to enjoy - and to some degree, trust - The Stranger's election endorsements. But sometime in the past few years, they've changed. Rather than appearing to have been written by someone who has done research, they appear to be written by someone with an axe to grind. It's getting to the point where I look at The Stranger endorsements, just to see how Not to vote.
89
I met Ms. Clark at the U-District Farmer's market this past weekend. She didn't answer any of my questions. She seemed like a robot, but a confused robot. I asked her why she liked her job and she said she didn't know. I asked her how she felt about the development project and she said "either way I vote I'm going to make someone mad!" (That's not an answer or a position...) I asked her what she was passionate about and she said "affordable housing" but couldn't really talk to what that means or what specific projects she supports. I was shocked and embarrassed for her. Why are you handing out fliers if you can't talk about your job in a meaningful way?
90
@47 "I get around fine without a car. Actually almost every single person I know in this city does."

For real? First, I doubt that you know EVERYONE in this city. Second; you haven't been to every part of it, have you? What if you had to catch a bus from SW Roxbury St, or the south end of MLK South, or NE 145th st. Why do people live out there? BECAUSE IT'S CHEAP, much cheaper than your fancy apartment or condo in Capitol Hill. Trouble is, you need a car, especially if you work an odd shift or in an industrial park even farther out in the 'burbs. I'm all for funding public transit, but the $60 car tab fee is a shitty way to do it.
91
Your elections recommendations seriously misinterpret SJR 8206 - Correcting this WILL PROBABLY CHANGE YOUR RECOMMENDATION
YOU STATE: “This constitutional amendment is meant to pump up our state's rainy day fund, but it proposes to do this by taking money from necessary state services in hard times. “

The underlined text is wrong.- Seriously wrong

Section 2 (the SJR proposal) provides two separate restraints on putting money into the budget stabilization account:

((A)) the state must have “extraordinary revenue Growth” BY DEFINITION , DURING HARD TIMES THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE EXTRAORDINARY REVENUE GROWTH. now
And
((B)) “no transfer of extraordinary revenue growth ......shall occur ... (when) annual average state employment growth averaged less than one percent per fiscal year

FURTHER MONEY CAN BE WITHDRAWN
( i) when Governor declares STATE OF EMERFGENCY..(& majority votes of each house
(ii) If the employment growth forecast for any fiscal year is estimated to be less than one percent......................
(iii) on Favorable vote of at least three fifth’s of the members of each house of the legislature.”

from:

A Loud Howell

92
"QFC, Albertson's, Safeway, Cash & Carry, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, Grocery Outlet"

The local (U.Village) liquor store has shelves full of of small batch, quality Washington and Oregon-produced booze. You think any the outfits listed above are going to do that? Ever try to get something special ordered at Safeway?

Look, if the choice is between "government does it all" and "government colludes with big business to keep small business out of the game" then I'm going with government, right until someone puts forward a "privatization" scheme that isn't even more of a naked power grab than the last one.
93
@ 92: sorry but you are kind of an idiot, OK, sorry, I mean ignorant. Special assignment for you: go to each of those places and see if any of them carry Washington Wines then get back to me. OK, I could just save you some time and tell you the answer...it's ALL OF THEM! In fact, 1183 allows all those places to buy liquor AND wine direct from the wineries and distilleries making it more available and cheaper to get to us. (especially the wine) Oh, and yes, most of those places have wine managers and thus will have liquor managers. I have talked with the wine manager at Central Market before about carrying certain local wines. It will actually be easier for them to get now because they don't have to rely on the distributor carrying it.
94
Thank you for putting some sense back into politics.
95
#92, I want my Scotch from Scotland, and my bourbon from Kentucky. And I want more than the 20 or so Scotches, 10 or so bourbons, and three or four ryes that the Soviet liquor stores typically carry.

So what do I do? I get what I want out of state. Even if I have to drive several miles to one of the big liquor-only retailers (such as Binny's, the one in Chicago) that will surely enter and offer great selection, it'll be a hell of a lot easier than driving to California.

For my daily drink, I'd prefer not to be so shamefully ripped off. Compare, for example, the price of Knob Creek bourbon in a Soviet store to the price in the free world.
96
Lord, really? Right off the bat, pretend-bitching about not being able to be there EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY at Occupy Seattle. Could we maybe pause for a second and just agree that this isn't a full-fledged revolution until things actually start, you know, happening? Until we actually start seeing change? Maybe we have, maybe I'm just a dumbass, but until we actually see the walls start to crumble, forgive me if I think you're jumping the gun--by a lot--in saying that it's a revolution. It WANTS to be a revolution, hell, I'd like all sorts of different kinds of revolutions, but until it HAPPENS, until it actually DOES SOMETHING, you are protesters.
97
Thank you, SEBC, for spending the time chained to your desks, and apparently drinking quate eavily, so that we could all do our part.
98
This is proof you are a bunch of fucking retards stranger. Go take some math lessons or something.
99
The "No on 1183" people ticked me off with their radio ad that argued we should vote no because "it'd send more tax money to Olympia for politicians to waste." I'm sick of that "all government is bad" rhetoric.
100
You are just looking at one side, forget everything you heard and read in any publication from any side, in a nut shell the facts are very simple.
On one side, Yes on I-1183:
Who:
Costco, other retailers etc.
What they want:
1. - They want to be able to sell alcohol to make a lot of money.
2. – They want to be able to buy directly from the manufacturer to create competition, and cut the state and the distributors that add cost to the product.
3. – Update a provision law of the 1920’s that many other states did long time ago.
Who benefits:
Costco, other retailers, etc. also the consumers (you, and all of us)
The other side, No on I-1183:
Who:
Distributors
What they want:
1. - They want to be the only ones that can sell alcohol.
2. – They want to be the only ones that can buy from the manufacturer to avoid competition, and add cost to the product. (This is how it is right now, and if I-1183 does not pass, is going to be very difficult to change it in the future)
3. – keep a provision law of the 1920’s, so they can keep making money.
Who benefits:
Only the distributors.
I’m voting yes on I-1183!
When I vote I don’t believe on the advertisement, I research the facts, “Who, What they want, who benefits” and only then I vote, if I don’t know the facts or I don’t have time to find out, I simple don’t vote, like I did on this elections, I’m only voting for 3 initiatives, to me the most important.
I do not expect you to vote like I did, I'm just telling you why I voted the way I did.
If you want to pay extra for your drinks, and like having the state tell you where, when, and at what price, it’s fine with me, but I don’t like that!
101
You are just looking at one side, forget everything you heard and read in any publication from any side, in a nut shell the facts are very simple.
On one side, Yes on I-1183:
Who:
Costco, other retailers etc.
What they want:
1. - They want to be able to sell alcohol to make a lot of money.
2. – They want to be able to buy directly from the manufacturer to create competition, and cut the state and the distributors that add cost to the product.
3. – Update a provision law of the 1920’s that many other states did long time ago.
Who benefits:
Costco, other retailers, etc. also the consumers (you, and all of us)
The other side, No on I-1183:
Who:
Distributors
What they want:
1. - They want to be the only ones that can sell alcohol.
2. – They want to be the only ones that can buy from the manufacturer to avoid competition, and add cost to the product. (This is how it is right now, and if I-1183 does not pass, is going to be very difficult to change it in the future)
3. – keep a provision law of the 1920’s, so they can keep making money.
Who benefits:
Only the distributors.
I’m voting yes on I-1183!
When I vote I don’t believe on the advertisement, I research the facts, “Who, What they want, who benefits” and only then I vote, if I don’t know the facts or I don’t have time to find out, I simple don’t vote, like I did on this elections, I’m only voting for 3 initiatives, to me the most important.
I do not expect you to vote like I did, I'm just telling you why I voted the way I did.
If you want to pay extra for your drinks, and like having the state tell you where, when, and at what price, it’s fine with me, but I don’t like that!

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