Category Archives: Corruption

The Seattle Head Tax: What we’ve been missing

Posted on June 3, 2018 by DBP

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

Posted on May 18, 2018 by DBP

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

Posted on February 4, 2018 by DBP

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 →

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Taking Care of (Homeless) Business

Posted on January 12, 2018 by DBP

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 →

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Recalling Mike O’Brien: The Basics

Posted on November 18, 2017 by DBP

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

Posted on November 7, 2017 by DBP

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?

Posted on October 1, 2017 by DBP

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 →

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

Posted on September 8, 2017 by DBP

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

Posted on July 4, 2017 by DBP

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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