Political Endorsements
Everyone's looking for an edge in the six-person race to become the next state representative from Seattle's 43rd District (Capitol Hill, U-District, Wallingford). That's why candidate Lynne Dodson has been trumpeting her recent endorsement by the Washington State Labor Council, which represents 300,000 union members across the state.
The WSLC liked that Dodson, who teaches at Seattle Central Community College, served as the president of her local teachers' union. ELI SANDERS
Boring Meetings
The city's presentations on the three viaduct replacement proposals have been informative, but a bit of a snooze. And, one could argue, biased. If you didn't already know which option the city preferred, hearing Seattle DOT head Grace Crunican describe the elevated replacement option at a Monday May 15 hearing as "a significant visual and psychological barrier between the waterfront and downtown" would have cleared that up. For a more entertaining presentation (and a different perspective from the car-centric model driving Seattle's transportation decisions), go to a panel discussion at Town Hall on Monday, May 22, featuring John Norquist, the former Milwaukee mayor whose administration tore down a waterfront freeway in 2001. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and costs $5. ERICA C. BARNETT
Tax Breaks
The city council's housing committee voted May 16 to put off a motion that would grant $1.5 million in tax breaks to a University District developer in exchange for "affordable" rental units that would cost nearly $200 more than the average rent for the neighborhood. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $757, according to local rental analysts Dupre + Scott.
In exchange for the tax break, the developer, Lothlorien Apartments, would make 30 percent of its units "affordable" (that is, costing no more than 30 percent of a renter's monthly income) to renters making up to 70 percent of the Seattle median, or $38,150 for one person. For a one-bedroom, that works out to $1,022 a month. ERICA C. BARNETT
