Schell On His Knees

It took a last-minute lecture from Mayor Paul Schell to prevent the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) from publicly calling bullshit on Sound Transit. Everyone already knows that the 400-member Seattle business lobby--which includes weighty players like Nordstrom, the Bon Marché, and the Seattle Symphony--says it won't support light rail unless the line goes to Northgate. However, according to sources familiar with the DSA, the lobby has some new concerns. On September 13, the DSA held an executive meeting to fret over new research that showed--forget Northgate--that Sound Transit can't even foot the bill to reach the University of Washington! The damning research also raises questions about Sound Transit's optimistic ridership estimates.

The DSA was reportedly ready to go public with a vote of no confidence until Mayor Schell stepped in. On September 15, along with light-rail advocates like Sound Transit's board chairman Dave Earling and County Executive Ron Sims, Schell reportedly met the rebellious DSA board members at his office and begged them to keep quiet. DSA agreed for now. JOSH FEIT


Three-Minute Mystery

Thanks to City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck's long-winded speech at Ralph Nader's September 23 KeyArena rally, the crowd broke into chants of "Let Ralph Speak" rather than the planned slogan, "Let Ralph Debate."

"Under the lights, the excitement, I got a little confused," admits Steinbrueck. Peter's speech went on so long that others, like U.S. Congressional Green candidate Joe Szwaja, lost his turn at the microphone.

"I think the consensus was to keep it between three to five minutes, but I'm not sure if Peter heard that," says Green organizer Scott Royder. PAT KEARNEY


Dunce of the Week

The logic for raising city campaign-contribution limits hit a new level of idiocy last week when Council Member Richard Conlin argued that the current $400 limit prevents average citizens from competing with rich donors. By upping the limit to $600 or $800, Conlin says, average folks will gain footing with people like Microsoft V.P. Dick Brass, who dumped $25,000 into campaign ads last season. Conlin's logic is way off. First, just because they're allowed to contribute more doesn't mean moderate-income voters have the means. Second, if rich voters suddenly feel threatened by the newly "empowered" rabble, they can certainly meet the new limit themselves and pour thousands into independent ads. JOSH FEIT