• A group calling themselves the "Westlake Stakeholders Group" has appealed the city's Bicycle Master Plan, effectively putting the bike plan on hold during the appeal process. What are they so pissed about? A proposed cycle track on Westlake Avenue North. The group warns that the proposed cycle track "may result in a substantial loss of parking which would be a serious threat to the viability of our community." Siiiiiiigh. Not this shit again.

• The sweetest moment of Monday's City Hall inauguration ceremonies came when a hot mic caught city council member Nick Licata whispering to his wife, Andrea Okomski, "You're beautiful," just before she administered his oath of office.

• In other inauguration gossip: Ed Murray insisted on renting his own teleprompter and teleprompter operator to use for his inaugural speech (which several city hall staffers grumbled about as silly, expensive, and unprecedented).

• Mayor Ed Murray's police chief news keeps getting scooped: Rumors had been flying that Seattle's interim police chief, Jim Pugel, might step down so as to be a real contender for the permanent position. Earlier this week, Murray canceled a press conference after KIRO reported that he'd be naming a new interim chief. Now the rumors appear to be confirmed: KIRO reported on Tuesday, January 7, that Harry Bailey, a former assistant chief at the Seattle Police Department, would be stepping into the interim role. Murray spokeswoman Rosalind Brazel would not confirm the story as of press time, but a source at city hall did confirm the news. recommended