Matthew Richter, the founding executive director of Consolidated Works who has been keeping quiet since the board abruptly fired him on February 8, said last Friday that the "violence and drama" of his firing "encourages speculation that I must have done something horrible… They've got nothing on me." He says former ConWorks Program Director Chris Weber is "the only person in North America" who supports the board's recent actions. (Weber quit ConWorks in early January after what has been described as a "real blowout" with Richter.)

The board refuses to explain its reasons for firing Richter and is in the early stages of finding a replacement. "We're rewriting the job description and talking to advisors," Board President Robb Krieg says. Weber says there is no truth to the rumor that he will apply for Richter's job. CHRISTOPHER FRIZZELLE

Eyman Is Pissed

Initiative king Tim Eyman is mad at Olympia these days. Actually, he's always mad at Olympia, but now he's really steamed. Apparently, some Dem legislators don't much like terrible Tim, and are moving to restrict the initiative signature-gathering process, and, with it, Tim's ability to live in the style to which he has become accustomed (which includes a nice spread next to a golf course, we hear). House Bill 1222, sponsored by Rep. Joe McDermott (D-34), would require petitioners to sign an affidavit vouching for the validity of the signatures on the petition sheets they turn in. Eyman points out that the requirement would kill unattended signature kiosks, like the kind used in the monorail initiative campaigns. SANDEEP KAUSHIK

Social Security Is Fucked

Don't like Bush's Social Security privatization scheme? Have some serious computer chops? MoveOn PAC launched a nationwide contest on Wednesday to find the best online game, interactive application, or Macromedia Flash animation that conveys, particularly to younger workers, how Bush's proposal would destroy Social Security. Judges include John Cusack, Boondocks cartoonist Aaron McGruder, Al Franken, and Arianna Huffington. For details, visit www.Bushin30Years.org. SANDEEP KAUSHIK

Carr Gets Busy

Community court, the innovative part-time courtroom proposed by City Attorney Tom Carr that will allow misdemeanor offenders to work off jail time through community service, gets off the ground this week. It has funding (from the Downtown Seattle Association), a judge (Muni Court presiding justice Fred Bonner), a defense attorney (public defender Dave Chapman), and a prosecutor--the busy (but dedicated) city attorney himself. ERICA C. BARNETT