Resignation
West Seattle state Senator Erik Poulsen (D-34) is stepping down to
become a lobbyist for public utilities. The replacement-appointment
process—which happens at the King County Council—is likely
to send gay state Representative Joe McDermott to the state
senate. JOSH FEIT
Disappointment
In a long and frequently testy briefing in council chambers on
September 4, Seattle City Light superintendent Jorge Carrasco presented
the results of a survey of City Light employees that showed
higher-than-ever levels of employee dissatisfaction at the
agency.
“When we have less than 20 percent of the employees saying the
executive managers [understand] what’s going on in the lower levels of
the organization,” Council Member Nick Licata told Carrasco, “that’s
really a condemning statement.” Carrasco asked for more time to
turn employees’ relationships with City Light management, much of it
new, around.
The survey revealed that City Light employees do not feel they are
fairly compensated, do not feel management provides leadership or
adequately supports City Light’s mission, do not feel adequately
trained or involved in decisions that affect them, and do not feel
there is effective communication between various levels of City Light.
ERICA C. BARNETT
Violence
On September 1, Seattle Police swarmed Thompson’s Point of View, at
2308 East Union Street, after a man was shot inside the restaurant-bar.
The neighborhood has almost become accustomed to incidents like this.
After Club Chocolate City—formerly located on Madison Street and
20th Avenue—closed last March, Central District residents hoped
the drug dealing and violence associated with the club would go away.
According to several neighbors, the problem has simply migrated over to
the intersection at 23rd Avenue and Union Street. Thompson’s
would not comment. The police are investigating. JONAH
SPANGENTHAL-LEE
