Afternoon Edition: Edwards, Junior, and Beer for a Cause

What took John Edwards so fucking long to endorse Barack Obama? I mean, wouldn't it have made more sense had he done it, like, before the North Carolina primary?

Ken Griffey Sr.: “I’m here to straighten out my kid.”�

Barry Bonds ain't alone: One of Gig Harbor's finest faces perjury charges in drug investigation.

Do your part for charity: drink beer.

Sure, the Yahoo grab fell through, but at least there are new toys coming out of Redmond.

Topics: Afternoon Edition

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Don't Like Paying Rent? Live in a Boat

Bainbridge Islanders enjoy some of the most pristine views in the Pacific Northwest, unless they live on Eagle Harbor, says resident Gary Tripp. The small inlet is owned by the state, and without a local landlord to collect on rent and other dues, it has been filling with squatters on sail boats and small house boats. Thy live on the water and, in some cases, dump sewage straight into the bay. “They’re all illegal,”� Tripp contends. He compares it to parking an RV at a state park and just taking up residence.

So Tripp formed a group called Bainbridge Citizens to petition the state Department of Natural Resources to get the boats out. The squatters stayed. In 2005, the group, which claims 2,000 members, filed a suit against the Deaprtment in Kitsap County Superior Court, citing two state laws governing how state agencies enforce their rules, including those that prohibit taking up permanent residence on state land without coming to some kind of lease agreement.

The Department didn’t argue against Bainbridge Citizens’ basic contention that people were illegally squatting and dumping at Eagle Harbor, instead it argued that it had discretion over when, where and how to enforce its rules. The Kitsap court dismissed the case, so the group took it one court higher, appealing on the basis of one of the two administrative laws.

On May 13, the state appellate court ruled against Bainbridge Citizens. “We lost?”� Tripp cried when he heard the news. Though in the opinion, the court leaves room for a second appeal on the basis of the other state law originally used as the basis for the Citizens’ petition, so there’s hope yet for the islanders. “We will appeal,”� vows Tripp.

You can see an aerial view of the harbor at the Kitsap Sun.

Topics: Real Estate

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John McCain: Tree-Hugger

Don Ward of Sound Politics was in North Bend to hear McCain hit his campaign's environmental talking points on everything from global warming (he thinks it's real) to nuclear power (wants it) to carbon taxes (doesn't want it) to disagreeing with of the Republican base ("My job is to do what I know is best for this nation. Particularly where our environment is concerned.")

You can read highlights from McCain's remarks here.

Topics: Campaign 2008

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Not Reading All About It

Take their newspaper, please.

In roughly the breadth of a decade

the Blethen family-owned Seattle Times has gone from

a Pulitzer-contending regional news powerhouse

to a thinning paper torn apart by a strike,

ravaged by staff cuts

due to circulation slides

and a nasty JOA battle

followed by the decision of its minority owner to sell

and a decision by the new minority owner to bail:

"We have been willing to sell it ever since we acquired it"

to, today, this:

"I don't know who would buy it other than the Blethens...and I'm not sure they have the money."

Why doesn't anybody want the news you can't get anywhere else?

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Mixed Feelings for City Light Super

In a confirmation hearing that was predictable (save for a fire alarm that evacuated City Hall— the second in as many days), Jorge Carrasco— the controversial leader of Seattle City Light— appears to have lined up the support he needs from community leaders, though he drew strong opposition from a handful of longtime employees who showed up to testify.

Doreen McGrath, a 23-year employee, told city council members that every time a problem confronts the agency the solution is to hire a consultant to study it. "Part of the culture is that corporations do it better. I don't think that's true," she said. "What I don't see at the utility is a trust in employees. I don't think they're looked to for direction and answers."

Denise Krownbell, a shop steward for Local 17, told the council that Carrasco has an "anti-union, anti-rank-and-file attitude against employees." And Larry Works, a customer service employee for 34 years, agreed. He said: "The twin evils of discrimination and retaliation plague City Light."

But Joe Simpson, the business representative for Local 77, (despite telling The Weekly earlier this year that union would not support Carrasco's reconfirmation) said 77 will stand by the Super, though he was vague as to why. "We have gained on a number of positions," he said.

Former City Light employee Bob Royer, acknowledged that Carrasco brings an "edge to the place" that may cause some hard feelings, "but that's not necessarily bad for the ratepayer," he said.

Customer service has improved since Carrasco took over four years ago, said Rod Kauffman, president of the Building Owners and Managers Association, noting a survey conducted by his organization. Though he said there's still work to be done at the agency— namely coming up with a plan for managing risk and preparing for what's expected to be massive retirements, Kauffman said Carrasco's "well qualified" for the job. Carrasco also got a nod of approval from former superintendent Randy Hardy, who led the agency from 1984 to 1991.

Council member Bruce Harrell has two more sessions planned to get feedback from employees before his Energy and Technology Committee takes up Carrasco's reconfirmation May 22.

Topics: City of Seattle

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McClatchy Will Sell. Will Frank Buy?

The McClatchy Co., which inherited a 49.5% share of the Seattle Times Co. when it bought Knight-Ridder, says it's ready to offload the troublesome stake in Frank Blethen's struggling business. So will Blethen step up and buy back his baby, as Brian Miller suggested a few months ago? Can he afford it? Has he successfully talked down the price? Or will Girl About Town step in with her own competing bid and turn it into a Seattle-based Tiger Beat?

Topics: Media

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Want To Eat With McCain? Got $33,100?

When he came in Feb. 2007, Seattle greeted him with open arms.

After a couple of warm and welcoming receptions since he started his run for the White House, McCain is doing some big gun fundraising on today's jaunt to the Pacific Northwest with no plans to set foot in the Obama-fanatic Emerald City. He's hosting a $10,000 photo op for McCainiacs at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency at 5 p.m. Followed by a VIP reception at 5:30 for people who just want to rub elbows with the guy and have $2,300 burning a hole in their pocket. At 6 p.m. cheapskate Republicans can get in a little face time for $1,000 a pop, but then they all have to leave unless they're willing to shill out the $33,100 donation needed to eat dinner with the esteemed Senator from Arizona.

Last week state Democratic Party chair Dwight Pelz sent out an e-mail blast seeking donations to put a plane in the air at the event. They got the money and as the GOP party faithful arrive in Bellevue, a banner saying: "John McCain = 100 More Years in Iraq" should be circling over head.

McCain landed late this morning at Boeing Field, where upset Boeing tanker workers were planning to protest his role in an Air Force refueling tanker deal that skittered out from under the local aircraft manufacturer several years ago , reports the AP.

Following his landing was a trip to North Bend. Friend to the Daily Weekly Don Ward was there and we'll link to his coverage as soon as it's posted. (Update: Ward has posted a preliminary distpatch focused squarely on global warming over at Sound Politics.)

Sadly we won't be bringing you a digital recording of McCain's remarks at the dinner as "our fundraiser events are closed to the press," says his press office. So here instead is our coverage of some of his past appearances: Feb. 2007 and Feb. 2008.

Topics: Campaign 2008

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New Blackwater Ruling

Miller

While the Justice Department continues to review the shooting of an Iraqi bodyguard by former Blackwater security officer Andrew Moonen of Seattle (who "may soon face federal charges"), a federal judge last week ordered the re-opening of a lawsuit against Blackwater brought in part by the Spokane widow of Army Spc. Harley Miller.

Miller was killed in the crash of Blackwater 61 just after Thanksgiving 2004 in Afghanistan. The military contractor's transport plane — piloted by a former Alaska bush pilot and co-piloted by a onetime tanker pilot who fought forest fires in Central Washington — hit a mountainside in the Bamian Valley. Five died on impact but Miller amazingly survived, then died awaiting rescue.

Sarah Miller and the widows of two other military men killed in the crash - including a lieutenant colonel - sued Blackwater for negligence, citing its pilots for "failing to wear available oxygen masks, failing to properly plan and execute the flight, failing to maintain sufficient air speed and altitude above terrain, failing to maintain adequate terrain clearance appropriate for the route of flight, [and] failing to prevent a stall," for starters.

It's something of a landmark case in that Blackwater is relying on the standard defense that as a military contractor it can't be held liable, but a federal judge in Florida has held otherwise. Blackwater appealed last year, staying the case. Last week Judge John Antoon II of U.S. District Court in Orlando filed notice his ruling has been upheld by the Court of Appeals and issued an order to reopen the lawsuit.

There will be more appeals, of course, since at this point delay and cost, rather than litigating the facts, are strategic to Blackwater. According to case files, the corporation's attorneys have already submitted a motion to dismiss, claiming it's not American but Afghanistan law - what there is of it - that applies. Next stop, Kabul?

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Comments of the Week

Here's a look at a couple (unedited) thoughts left on articles over the last week:

I'm (Not) With Busey

"This rag has hit a new low with it's "Seattle is special" routine especially when the only tie is to a celebrity impersonator. You make Seattle a cow town with this sort of pandering."
— Posted by "Janmes Early"

"Many animals engage in deception, or deliberately misleading another, but only humans are wired to deceive both themselves and others. People are so engaged in managing how others perceive them that they are often unable to separate truth from fiction in their own minds. FOOD FOR THOUGHT! Jeff doesn't need to pretend!"
— Posted by "notimportant"

Topics: Comments of the Week

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Long On The Sidelines, Candidate Nominations Are A New Experience For Major Parties

Krist Novoselic at BC-STV conference, 5.10.08. Photo Larry Gordon

Most of Washington State is using a new kind of electoral system this year. The partisan Top-Two makes a party name available to any candidate who wants it. One of the major parties is fighting against this in a way that could reinvigorate democratic participation in our state.

With Washington’s partisan Top-Two, all candidates appear on the same primary ballot line and the top two vote getters advance to the general. We’re used to this kind of election with local non-partisan races. What’s different is how candidates identify themselves as partisans. A candidate will state that they prefer a political party: this is only an expression of the candidate and does not imply any real connection to a political association.

The Republicans and Democrats claim they’re harmed under the new system and are acting accordingly. The Republicans have filed an as applied legal challenge to the system: they will need to show real evidence the partisan Top-Two confuses voters over who is the real nominee of a party. Many voters rely on the candidates party affiliation on the ballot to help them choose who to vote for. There could be many candidates claiming the same party preference and this could confuse voters and lead to vote splitting to where the actual party candidate doesn’t make it in the top two.

Supporters of the new partisan Top-Two tout that political parties can still nominate candidates. The Democrats are moving forward with this notion. Democratic Party by-laws say it’s up to Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) to choose the single candidate who will be the official party standard bearer on the ballot.

Continue reading "Long On The Sidelines, Candidate Nominations Are A New Experience For Major Parties"

Topics: Krist Novoselic: Contention & Conscious

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