Category Archives: Corruption

Over the Top

Is King County Metro running an entitlement program for managers? King County has an incentive pay program called Merit Over the Top for “senior employees” (i.e., lower and middle management) who are judged by their supervisors to be outstanding performers … Continue reading

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Sawant on Trial: Deconstructing the Recall

Below is an overview of the case for and against recalling Kshama Sawant. Bear a couple things in mind as you read it. First the definitions. “Malfeasance” and “misfeasance” in this context mean, respectively, a public servant intentionally causing harm … Continue reading

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Community Leaders Support Sawant Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 23, 2021CONTACT: Henry Bridger IISawantRecall.org OVER 70 RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REBUKE SAWANT’S ACTIONS – CALL FOR “YES” VOTE ON DECEMBER 7TH RECALL SEATTLE, WA – Today, Seattle city leaders representing multiple faiths and backgrounds are releasing … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Crime, General, Seattle City Council | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Slumdog Billionaires

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. –Sinclair Lewis This image of homeless tents against the backdrop of lavish sports stadiums near downtown Seattle reminds me of a … Continue reading

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“This breaks my heart and infuriates me.”

This drama unfolded last week at an ARCO gas station in Seattle’s SODO district, less than half a mile from two major league sports stadiums and in full view of people walking and driving by.  Scenes like this are now … Continue reading

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The Ed McKenna Affair

Dedicated to the Honorable Ed McKenna The glitter of Seattle’s economic miracle has rubbed off. There’s more money here than ever, but with money comes problems that money can’t solve. Homelessness is one. According to a recent “one night count,” … Continue reading

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Boss Man

November 14, 2018 ~ These documents were sent to me by an inside source at the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE). SHARE runs a network of more than a dozen homeless shelter facilities around Seattle and King County. These … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, General, SHARE, Tent City | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Seattle Head Tax: What we’ve been missing

June 3, 2018 ~ Everyone’s talking about the Head Tax, about how much money it would raise, about how the money will be spent (or misspent), about how it might affect business… Almost no one’s talking about who it was … Continue reading

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There Was a Crooked Trail

May 18, 2018 ~ The closer you look at the way bike lanes and trails are being put in around Seattle, the more disturbing the picture looks. I know what you’re thinking: Bike lanes? Disturbing? Come on, Quixotic. Lighten up.–No really. … Continue reading

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The Swindle Cycle

February 4, 2018 ~ I have a friend, “Joe,” whose mind zips along at a hundred miles an hour. He’s always analyzing city politics and connecting the dots. On a typical day, he’ll send me a dozen e-mails with various insights … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, General, Homelessness, Politics | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Taking Care of (Homeless) Business

Campaign finance laws and the Homeless Industrial Complex  January 12, 2017  Seattle perceives itself as a national leader in the effort to get money out of politics. Initiative 122, approved by voters in 2015, tried to attack the problem in … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, General, Homelessness, Squatters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Recalling Mike O’Brien: The Basics

November 14, 2017  The right to recall an elected official is a constitutional right of the people set forth in our constitution. The procedure is governed by statute. A “typewritten charge” needs to be submitted and it has to allege … Continue reading

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Ethics Evasion Commission

November 7, 2017  The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission enforces the Seattle Code of Ethics, which was designed to keep Seattle government honest by applying fines and other penalties to elected officials, candidates, and city employees who violated the rules … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Democracy Voucher program, General | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Democracy Slouchers ~ Part 4: Where was Lorena?

October 1, 2017 ~ News of my complaint to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission on Lorena Gonzalez made the Seattle Weekly. Good on them. One correction to their story: Weekly writer Dan Person noted correctly that I was a candidate … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Democracy Voucher program, General, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Democracy Slouchers ~ Part 3: What’s left of the Dream?

September 8, 2017 ~ Remember when the Democracy Voucher Program was proposed? It was supposed to get big money out of politics and get grassroots candidates in. We’re now six months into our first election with the vouchers and where are … Continue reading

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Democracy Slouchers ~ Part 1: “Honest” Elections

July 4, 2017 ~ I-122, the “Honest Elections” initiative (aka the Democracy Voucher Program) was supposed to get money and corporate influence out of Seattle politics. It looked great on paper. The PROBLEM: “Wealthy special interests have too much power in … Continue reading

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