Sources Say

• Roughly 75 percent of Seattle’s rentals are too expensive for someone making $30,000 a year or less, according to a new report from the Seattle Planning Commission. What’s too expensive? The US Department of Housing and Urban Development defines housing as affordable only if a household spends 30 percent or less of its annual income on rent and utilities.

• A man called authorities after discovering human remains in the Eastlake neighborhood on December 10. “The complainant reported that a human appendage was sticking out of one of the bags,” the Seattle Police Department reported.

• Speaking of police, the normally dry SPD Blotter featured a story by Detective Renee Witt the same day with the deadpan headline “Woman obviously not in the holiday spirit, assaults officer.”

• The good news for those seeking a balanced approach to Washington’s budget woes is that only 3 of 49 state senators have signed an obstructionist pledge to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” The bad news is that senate Republican budget writer Joe Zarelli is one of them.

• The Seattle Times laid off 20 people companywide on December 7, including five newsroom employees—two photo editors, a sports editor, and two clerical staff. “The mood is obviously shitty,” said one employee, reached by phone. “I think we had hoped that this was behind us.” It’s definitely not. Seattle Times staffers were told to expect the loss of 10 to 12 more coworkers in the coming year due to what spokeswoman Jill Mackie called “the ongoing economic downturn” and a need to “compete in tomorrow’s information marketplace.”

• Last week, labor unions and local grocers filed two lawsuits to obstruct voter-approved Initiative 1183, which would shut down state liquor stores and let large grocers sell hard alcohol beginning next year. “It’s illegal in Washington to include more than one subject in an initiative,” Mike Subit, a lawyer representing local grocery chain Red Apple, wrote in court filings, “and these are clearly two very different subjects.” For instance, in additional to new liquor rules, the initiative attempts to dissolve uniform pricing laws for wine (allowing stores like Costco to undercut its competition by demanding lower prices from wineries). If either lawsuit is upheld, I-1183 will be suspended and the case will likely go before an appeals court.

• On December 13, Seattle City Council member Nick Licata announced legislation to block 65-foot buildings from being constructed on three mostly vacant blocks near the future Roosevelt light rail station. While Licata contends that his support for 40-foot buildings is reasonable, the truth is that the developer won’t build unless the city allows taller buildings. So if Licata succeeds, he would simply stop density around light rail.

• Activists are circulating an initiative to save state services by piling new taxes on the wealthy. Initiative 511, which requires 241,153 signatures by December 30, has hit the streets asking voters to tax earnings over $1 million. Education activist Amy Hagopian sent an e-mail to supporters calling it an “audacious attempt” to gather so many signatures in the next few weeks.