South Seattle Cop [08.15.09 at 6:25 am]:
Those pointing out sleazy downtown politics (is there any other kind?) as the reason why this program was tried in the CD but not here in the South End, are right on the money.
Is the box between 23rd and MLK, Cherry to Union, really the main hub of drug dealing in the city? Is that where the problem is at its worst? Clearly not.
No, the CD was picked for another reason, which many of you are already aware of and have pointed out quite clearly in posts on this and other stories: politics.
The CD is wedged between Capitol Hill and the communities on the lake side… communities with very LOUD political voices. While the political elite and opinion makers don’t reside in the CD, many reside on the adjacent communities and traverse the CD regularly. Many are business owners and members of business associations contributing to Mayoral and City Council campaigns, church leaders and representatives of other religious organizations, vocal political activists (on Capitol Hill particularly) who can devote full-time to haranguing City officials in-person as well as via local media, and even members of the media themselves. They don’t do this out of some sense of civic duty to stand up for the poorer residents of the CD, they do it for themselves because they live nearby.
This is just a symptom of a greater problem pointed out by many readers here. Over the years I have worked in the Valley/Beacon Hill/Mt. Baker/Seward Park/ the west side, etc… I have watched our neighborhood (I was born and raised in Seattle, and even though I live in another part of town I spend most of my waking hours here, so I consider it my neighborhood too) being marginalized by City Hall.
This has allowed small problems to grow into big problems, and left those of us working your streets struggling to provide the policing services you ought to be able to expect.
This political issue in City Hall is:
- why the East and West Precincts get funded for full-time bike units for their streets;
- why West Precinct can get funding for foot patrols;
- why West Precinct if it was it’s own police department would be one of the biggest in the state (would rank 6th last time I checked) even though half the city or more lives in the North Precinct area;
- why fatal pedestrian accidents are not a big deal until someone in the Mayor’s office is involved, and then pedestrian enforcement suddenly becomes a City Hall priority;
- why when you look at what state, county, and city level political figures live there it becomes obvious why the City spent millions on a Southwest Precinct with money that could have gone to more officers, more tools, more training, keeping the Community Service Officers, keeping the School Resource Officers, keeping a fully staffed Gang Unit, and more targeted programs for neighborhoods with serious crime problems;
- why the (now infamous) NPP called for South Precinct to reassume roughly half the area formerly covered by Southwest Precinct with the same staffing, leaving South stretched thin while the West Side enjoyed a high density of officers;
- why the Gang Unit could remain gutted for years as bodies kept stacking up in our streets here and it was not a priority until the violence started to affect the CD and downtown (don’t believe me? Look up archives of news stories about gang violence over the last 2 to 3 years, and notice the correlation between when/where the stories started showing up, and when the city finally admitted after all these years that we have a gang problem and made it a priority).
Some of you have pointed out the increased police presence that came with the light rail, and correctly pointed out the political motivations behind it. Think that increase will last? Don’t bet on it.
The major mews outlets tend to dismiss the views of the rank-and file officers when pointing out these issues. Many write us off as knuckle-dragging chronic complainers (a reporter once said he needed the viewpoint of a real citizen, not a cop… what?). And speaking out publicly on the indifferences and incompetence we see in the imbeciles downtown is not a wise career move for a Seattle Police Officer.
I don’t have much of a point here I guess except to give you, from an inside perspective, confirmation that the reasons behind the problems here in the South End are exactly what they seem to be: downtown politics. And also to let you know that your frustrations with these politics are shared by your neighbors at 3001 South Myrtle Street (at least by those in the rank of Sergeant and below).
Some of you have already identified the solution: vote out the current drop of cronies, starting with the Mayor. Is it also possible, since criminals are not restricted in their movement or activities by arbitrary boundaries on maps, to work with neighborhoods with more political clout downtown who suffer form the same set of criminals, such as the CD, Capitol Hill, and/or West Seattle? Maybe some of you have already thought of this and are way ahead of me… I am an investigator and enforcer, and not much of a political organizer.
See you on the streets. 
Related:
- Letter to the Editor: Why Was SE Not Included in CD “Call-in”? (8/11/09)
- Councilman Burgess on Last Week’s Drug Market “Call-in” In the CD (8/11/09)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 47 comments }
Like I said before, best post I have read in a long time.
Ditto, JC
“The major mews outlets tend to dismiss the views of the rank-and file officers when pointing out these issues.”
Big Media ignores a lot of real people, which has a lot to do with why they are quickly headed to oblivion.
Your RVP on the other hand, ALWAYS welcomes the views of the rank-and file.
Nice piece. The only way things will change is if we act. Mark your ballots for a new mayor and mail it in by Tuesday. I attended the SE Candidates forum and I like the fact that Joe Mallahan has promised to give access to the citizens our crime data and is pushing for a larger gang unit.
Vote out Nickels if you want things to improve in the Rainier Valley. Read this example of how bad the crime is getting in SE Seattle with an uncooperative victim:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2009669143_spd_even_the_victim_was_uncoop.html
B I N G O
That sums it up………and why do they keep saying they are on track with their committed staffing plans and hiring but forget to tell us how many officers are retiring or leaving for other areas? It’s easy to cover things up when they say they’ve brought in 10 officers but if they’ve also had 10 go out it is a zero sum gain.
Tom A.
Gotta have a new mayor to changes things. But ALSO have to have a new City Attorney.
I’m voting for Mike McGinn for Mayor and for Pete Holmes for City Attorney.
McGinn is serious about neighborhoods and understand the complicate issues involved. He’s for looking at facts and making good decisions – you won’t see a bunch of bullshit photo ops and nasty politics with this guy.
Pete Holmes understands the balance between the police, the people and the city’s budget/exposure and will hold the police accountable and bring transparency back to Seattle – something we haven’t seen in a long time.
The City Attorney set the prosecution strategy and allocates money. That’s how we’ve ended up with puritanical prosecution in Seattle and why we’re building jails instead of schools. We give people stiffer sentances in Seattle than we do in district courts for the same offense. If we focused our money and time on prevention and pre-arrest strategies, Seattle would be a different place.
We need to bring back the Diers neighborhood plan and fully fund the Gang unit.
Your ballot for mike must be in by the 18th and the City Attorney’s race will be on the November ballot.
The West Seattle Democratic Women are having a full debate format for City Attorney (likely the only one you will see) and all these issues will come up! Seats are limited: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=99712309170&ref=ts
When a republic no longer represents the community, it’s no longer a republic. Changing the faces within the system will not fix a broken system. Checks and balances need to be installed, before changing the faces, otherwise you are like a hamster running in circles on a stationary wheel.
Quietly and gently guiding the critics and activists toward a hamster wheel solution is a successful end result for the folks who stand to gain from a broken system — especially if the critics and activists are proud of the work they are doing.
I heard the candidates at the SE Candidates forum: Nickles was a no-show, Mallahan addressed the lack of crime data available and shortage of officers in the SE Precinct and building up the gang policing unit. McGinn did not even raise the issue with the gangs. McGinn does not address crime or public safety on his website. I will vote for Mallahan!
Just want to make sure everyone knows the SE precinct still hasn’t staffed to the levels the Mayor promised – see earlier post.
This is a tremendous post. Police officers suffer hugely from Nickels’ heavy-handedness.
I think police are needed to establish better norms of behavior, but that they cannot achieve this without having a highly functioning sense of citizenship at the neighborhood and block level.
I marked McGinn on my ballot and put it in the mail. Now, I am forwarding your blog entry to his campaign. He’s shown he knows how to help neighborhoods lead and supports police to be professionals like you’re demonstrating. McGinn is the anti-Nickels.
I think, technically, they are all anti- nickels; even his bedfellow Jan.
Have a good weekend David.
Tom A.
I also marked my ballot for Mike McGinn. I grew up in SE Seattle and still live here. I’ve had several long conversations with McGinn about the inequities in SE Seattle and because he has been a neighborhood activist for about 15 years, he is the best person to set things straight.
Mallahan couldn’t name a single S. Seattle or Central area neighborhood group. He doesn’t have any record of working at the neighborhood/community level – he has good sound bites, but McGinn has been walking the walk – not simply talking the talk and so I know we can trust him.
I voted for Mallahan. He has attended a few events in SE Seattle and gets it. Mallahan has worked in communities, lived in South Chicago and has demonstrated that he can marshall resources (staff, phone minutes, etc.) to give needed help to hurricane victims.
We know it’s true. The only police I had ever seen on my street in the six years I’ve lived here have been cops chasing suspects or answering burglary calls. Patrols? Never, until the train began operating and since then, I have seen two cars cruise by. No one had to tell me that the train was the reason. Alas, South End Cop says it won’t last. How can it when our mayor failed to request stimulus money for police? Crime has decreased, he says. I guess it has in West Seattle. Doesn’t snow there that much, either.
The push in policing the Light Rail will run all the way through the election if I’m not wrong.
Tom
But here’s the thing: West Seattlelites will tell you that they have been neglected by the city for years, and the west precinct is just window dressing. Phinney Ridge-ites will tell you the Zoo is strong-arming them. Greenwood-ites will tell you the city is “dumping” low-income housing on them. Everyone south of the ship canal will tell you the north end gets more attention, and many north enders will gripe to you about how the south end gets sidewalks while they have to walk in the street.
My point is that every neighborhood in this town has something they complain about, whether it’s legitimate or not. The challenge is to rise above the blah blah, get someone to champion your cause in the City Hall, and build on it from there.
Link has given us a prominence, but only for a time. Not because they will start neglecting it, but because it will soon become a north end and Capitol Hill issue, and those areas – as the good officer points out – are experts at getting attention. So I say this is a window of opportunity for us.
It seems to me that our job, as rank-and-file neighbors, is to work to engage all of our neighbors, some of whom tend to be either apathetic or not culturally engaged, because a lot of them are new to the country and trying to just put food on the table. I admit it’s hard for me personally to go outside my comfort zone, and I admire the many people who easily do, but I keep trying. After all, a neighborhood can be unified by more than just money and connections.
Lastly, keep in mind that city services aren’t going to get better anytime soon: City employees (excepting fire, police and certain utility workers) are facing ten days furlough next year. In addition, 200 or so positions will be laid off – with maybe more to follow. In light of this, effective organization and a stronger presence will be key in getting things done with the city.
@ahow
“Ditto, JC”
Not you too.
And then Jesus said “Can you put me up for the night?”
So now chez Ahow is the B&B of the beach, eh? Sorry, I meant Renton, or was that Mt. Baker?
And then Jesus said “Peter, I can see my house from here”
It is election time again. Please vote. Vote even if you do not agree with me. It is important to vote because your vote does make a difference. If we have big turnouts our elected officials will realize we are paying attention and just might throw the rascals out if they are not doing their jobs. As a onetime candidate your support is of no value if you do not vote.
We in Southeast Seattle face unique problems when compared to the rest of the city. We have little clout as we do not have as much disposable income to donate to candidates. Many of us are not citizens, so we cannot vote. However, if those who can vote go to the pole or send in ballots, we will be listened to in the future. Which of the mayoral candidates can solve our problems?
Clearly the Mayor is at the center of the problem. He is the “Commander in Chief” of Seattle. What has he done? He disbanded the police Gang Unit and spread these officers out to other areas of the police department. We saw Gang crime escalate and continue to climb. He next stopped giving the citizens crime statistics and then declared that crime was down. Our press kept reporting increasing numbers of our youth being killed in gang activities but the Mayor insisted crime was down. This is the ostrich technique of management. If you burry you head in the sand and do not let the citizens know; it does not exist. Except of course for those who are killed, mugged, and robbed.
He was particularly unable to face the issues of a storm emergency last winter and the winter before. My home was without power for almost 3 weeks two years ago, there were hot wires down on the ground next to a park where kids play. I called the mayor’s office everyday to report this. It took two weeks to secure these wires. Our snow last winter showed the mayor to be toothless when it came to solving that problem.
We have one candidate, Mike McGinn is a community activist. We do need activists for our communities. However, the city is almost a billion dollar a year organization with thousands of employees. As has been pointed out some of departments approach incompetence because of their management and lack of leadership. The city needs a mayor up to managing thousands spread through the whole city.
Joe Mallahan has also been a activist in communities in his early years. He grew up in Seattle. He is the only candidate who has run an organization that has the complexity of our city and he has done it very well. I have seen Joe at three meetings in Southeast Seattle. He admits if he does not know an answer. Do any of us know everything, but he gets back to you with an answer. He is personable. He is bright. He answers questions with specifics.
However, in his business when he found a major storm was about to hit the gulf coast. He brought in his technical people over a weekend. He and they formulated a plan so everyone with a cell phone, even those who has purchased minimum minutes that had run out, would function in the time of danger so everyone would be able to call for help if needed. He is famed for bringing in workers, lower management and top management on an equal basis to solve complex problems quickly. He is the man we need. I live and work in Southeast Seattle and have for 43 years. I have been to three meetings where Mr. Mallahan was meeting those of us in Southeast Seattle. He gave good answers, asked bright questions, and listened to our issues. This is the mayor our city needs.
McGinn in answering a West Seattle Blog question about gang violence, shows that he understands that the gang problem not only requires more police, but that we also need to deal with the root of the problem. Here is his answer:
McGINN: The youth and gang violence problem is complex and tragic. This will be a high priority for me if I am elected mayor.
We need to bring every person from an at-risk child or youth’s support agencies in the same room to craft a plan that meets the needs of the child. By focusing on at-risk kids and steering them towards positive lifestyle choices before they got involved with gangs, the City can decrease gang activity and youth related violence.
In 2004, the city changed the focus of the case management system (Seattle Team for Youth) from intervening with at-risk youth, to academic performance. This shift has had negative effects on youth violence. We need to go back to a more effectively identifying and intervening with at-risk youths.
In response to the recent escalation in youth and gang violence, Greg Nickels recently released a program to direct city resources to at-risk youth. However, the City’s new youth violence initiative is flawed. Instead of working with public social-service agencies, it farms out the responsibility for youth intervention to separate NGOs, resulting in a process will likely be balkanized and inefficient.
McGINN: We cannot rely solely on policing to deal with this issue. Reducing youth and gang violence will take a collaborative effort by police officers, teachers and social service providers. I founded Great City (a nonprofit organization) to bring together neighbors, environmentalists, and business leaders and find points of agreement around complex development issues. If elected I will bring the same commitment and collaboration to solving this issue.
I read the posts above and then I went to the candidates websites and McGinn does not address crime on his website. I think Joe Mallahan has the best reply on crime from his website:
The solution to improving public safety should include more than law enforcement, courts and jails. We need to increase the reach of public health interventions with at-risk new moms, school readiness and after-school programs for our children, and job training, substance abuse counseling, and housing placement for adults vulnerable to committing desperate acts of violence.
Rather than viewing a gang member as a case file in the police department, we should see them as a person in need of support and outreach – and provide them with every opportunity to regain their identity, their self-confidence, and their realization of their own potential.
Because the mayor has neglected to prioritize programs that help reduce serious crime in the long-term, we must also focus in the short-term on addressing the violent crimes that are taking place right now on Seattle’s streets. We must make wise use of police officers by targeting high-crime areas because Seattleites have the right to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods.
Anyone want to do a proper analysis of a political candidate and talk about their money connections, who funds their campaigns, who their greatest campaign contributors are, what political philosophies they subscribe to — that sort of thing? Any candidate can say whatever they want, in order to get votes. If U.S. presidents do it on a very regular basis, why wouldn’t someone running for city office?
Please, folks, don’t be so gullible as to actually believe what comes out of a politician’s mouth, what they write, or what they post on their web site.
I should mention that some folks enter politics with good intent, but since the system is so absolutely corrupt, they are forced to change their humanitarian ways in order to survive, once they are in office.
Where there’s money and power, there’s corruption, and our country has more money and power than any other country.
I’m writing this trusting that the New Rule would only affect my Friday night posts (no argument there), but I’ll leave that up to the editor’s judgment:
Clearly there are some serious pre-primary posts going down here; and that may be natural, for the next couple of days. But it also shows that this blog is considered useful to some for political purposes.
Personally, I was in favor McGinn for his tree-hugging ways. That he’s not polling so well means that it’s likely a race between Nickels and Mallahan. So, since everyone knows Nickels and either hates him or…tolerates him, I’ll give my two cents on Mallahan.
I don’t know much about him, but judging by the people that support him I’d guess he’s a Republican, weather he calls himself that or not. The people that most support him, and are the most virilent anti-Nickels, are clearly Republicans. Maybe Obama Republicans, but Republicans all the same.
I don’t have much against Republicans in general, but I do have a bit of a problem with folks that are using the troubles in our neighborhood as a tool to recruit voters to their cause. For the most part these people live in quite, not so diverse parts of Mt. Baker and northern parts of Seward Park. They aren’t affected by the same kinds of problems as those of us farther South deal with, but our displeasure with those things is what they want to exploit, for purely political purposes. Votes.
I love Mt. Baker, and if I could live anywhere in Seattle it would likely be there, or by the arboretum. Not so much West Seattle, Queen Anne, Magnolia or Laurelhurst. Maybe Mercer Island, as i’ts just a geological and social offshoot of Mt. Baker.
But see this for what it is, and don’t let a few loud voices get your blood boiling in such a way that it clouds your judgment.
@ MF – I’m right there with you…………You should drive over and look at the way Mercer Island runs their community centers as well. They are treated like city treasures and open to kids & seniors alike. They have speaking engagements, computers, library, basketball courts and multiple other amenities. There’s no reason we couldn’t have the same in the southend.
Another plus is that Mercer Island has AWESOME parks and AWESOME schools……you’d also love the green community and Master Gardner tours.
Only problem is that it lacks diversity and is WAY outta my price range…….
Another plus for Mercer Island is there aren’t as many dangerous streets/traffic accidents and you don’t have to dodge bullets.
*** One other problem – developers were able to take advantage of some building codes and ruined downtown Mercer Island – talk about tall skinnies – try driving through their business district.
Mallahan is the ONLY way to go if Mayor Nickels is gonna be let go from office.
Tom A
“Anyone want to do a proper analysis of a political candidate and talk about their money connections, who funds their campaigns, who their greatest campaign contributors are, what political philosophies they subscribe to — that sort of thing?”
Why don’t you do it, Research Dude?
“Mallahan is the ONLY way to go if Mayor Nickels is gonna be let go from office. ”
You’re backing me up in an embarassing way, Tom.
I guess Nickels stays, then. After that, we’ll do this all again.
Then it will surely be time for that some-bitch to go, and I’ll back anyone you want me to.
Don’t be getting soft on me. I have too much respect for you.
Let’s hope Nickels is ousted – there are people from around the city who are displeased on both sides of the two party system. Being a devout constitutionalist who tends to be a bit of a Greenie/Libertarian blend, it’s hard to find anyone who meets my needs. The one thing I know about Joe Mallahan is that he seems reasonable and is willing to drive some accountability back into City Government.
The challenges we’ve had with Public Safety, DPD, and other city departments can’t go on for another four years……..If Mallahan makes it through the primary (only 14% have voted leading me to believe there’s a lot of apathy out there), I’ll be willing to baptise ourselves with Guiness and some Irish Whiskey – better yet, some El Sombrero Margeritas!!!
Tom A.
It’s only a primary.
And it’s Seattle, so except for all the ranting down here most people want someone with a soft side; and Nickels is the softest thing in town.
I thought it was funny when Anonymous said earlier that “Mallahan has worked in communities, lived in South Chicago and has demonstrated that he can marshall resources”, when he even earlier slammed Nickels for his Chicago connection (even if he was a toddler at the time). Politics is funny.
I don’t really care how this comes out. Life will be the same in either case. But if Mallahan gets in, I’ll need quite a few NW IPAs to settle me back down again; nothing but homegrown/homespun.
On the other hand, if Nickels wins I’ll need a few NW IPAs…
Yes, having the only portion of link light rail that will be at grade makes SE very prominent, right… ?
And of course, Mark’s Friend, Seattle is simply overflowing with republicans and you know specifically who they are…!? Did these folks tell you of their political bent or are you just making an ass of yourself?
“Did these folks tell you of their political bent ”
If it quacks like a duck…
If it quacks like a duck you probably should get a closer look cause it might be a goose….
like the only reason to complain about SE schools is cause you want all sea pub schools to suck…. ?!
I would not choose Joe Mallahan as a Nickels replacement… I would find another, less-talked about, lesser-known candidate.
I could do a lot more research than this on Joe Mallahan, but I already see a pattern forming: Joe is being promoted as a “fresh political newcomer” when in fact he is well-connected and has been mentored by groups that are closely aligned with the private wealth interests of corporate and financial elites.
Most importantly to you and me, his work with the Catholic University of America clearly demonstrates his connection to the United Nations Agenda 21 plan for implementing the fascist, pro-socialist/communist totalitarian “New World Order” from the ground up, starting at the local level with “sustainable development,” which is a means of suckering pro-environmentalists to adopt Agenda 21.
All you really need to know about Agenda 21 is that it aggressively seeks to take your private property (and your Constitutional rights that go with that) and give it to the planned collectivst government State, in which you have very few legal rights left.
Here’s what I found…
Joe Mallahan (Democrat – not that that means anything. Repubs and Dems represent the same private wealth interests):
Joe is a self-funded political newcomer. He worked as a legislative assistant while attending the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., and as a “community organizer” from a Saul Alinsky group in Chicago who worked on “affordable housing.”
The Catholic University of America (CUA), located in Northeast Washington, D.C., is the national university of the Roman Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops. Established in 1887 as a graduate and research center.
The Catholic University of America is reaching for environmental sustainability by having active programs in the community, including participation in Earth Day and Casey Tree Planting. Campus Beautification Day also promoted green living. Sustainability has been identified as one of the “key goals” of CUA’s Office of Energy and Utilities Management.
Saul Alinsky’s teachings influenced Barack Obama in his early career as a community organizer on the far South Side of Chicago. Working for Gerald Kellman’s Developing Communities Project, Obama learned and taught Alinsky’s methods for community organizing.
Argo Strategies, part of the Progressive Network, is handling Mallahan’s campaign. Argo Strategies is a Seattle-based Democratic and progressive political consulting firm that specializes in compliance reporting and treasury work, as well as providing candidates with website design and hosting, direct mail and tools for fundraising. Argo employees have personally contributed to campaigns for Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.
Other customers of Argo include Veterans Alliance for Security/Democracy. The Veterans’ Alliance for Security and Democracy (VETPAC) is a multi-candidate political action committee in the United States.VETPAC endorses, actively supports and helps fund candidates for national office who they feel share their principles of security and democracy. These candidates are often (but not always) Veterans and Fighting Dems. In March 2006, the group endorsed Mike Thompson’s plan for redeployment in Iraq. Dubbed the “Change the Course” policy emphasized a massive increase in training of Iraqi forces using Allied training capability outside Iraq. In August 2006, the VETPAC joined Max Cleland to speak out against the “swiftboating” of John Murtha.
Moveon.org supports VETPAC https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pac2pac.php?cmte=C00396820&cycle=2006
George Soros is a known major funding contributor of Moveon.org
Joe is a T-Mobile vice president. T-Mobile is a mobile network operator headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom and belongs to the FreeMove Business alliance.
As part of the Deutsche Telekom eavesdropping controversy, charges were filed against the company for allegedly abusing call data to snoop on supervisory board members and journalists. In October 2008 the company confirmed, that personal information of 17 million mobile phone customers has been copied.
Joe gave $2,000 in contributions to Obama’s presidential campaign.
King County Municipal League rated Joe “Outstanding.”
Joe Mallahan was the highest rated candidate from SEAMEC on LGBT issues. This is very important for some voters.
West Precinct is like the teacher’s pet!!! Why is that?
It’s because Mayor Nickels keeps it real. He lives in West Seattle.
Hi Tom A.,
When you become an adult and supply research and data instead of emotionally-based character assassinations specifically designed to alienate and isolate those who you do not agree with, we will have a discussion. Until then, I ignore you.
Dear Editor: If you intend to keep this an open forum with people posting their own independent research here, please make it a policy to remove Tom A.’s post (and others like it, which should be expected in the future) which is intentionally designed toward character assassination (with an aim of reducing the value of what was posted).
These methods are particularly effective in a social environment in which an entire argument, though based in fact, may be easily undermined by simply and casually calling it “conspiracy theory.” Please make a stated policy of not allowing this in your forums, or you will lose those of us who actually supply independent research here.
At Research Dude – I have no idea which post you’re talking about but if it has to do with the following I can assure you I’ve shared the data with RVP and it is up to the RVP to post it:
Staffing levels – I’ve provided the data to RVP and SPD
Non-Profit subsidized housing percentages/projects – I’ve provided data to RVP
Voter turnout – it’s public information
Issues with DPD – it’s been provided to City Council and RVP
Crime Statistics – they’ve been provided to SPD, Mayor’s Office, RVP, and Auditor’s Office
Honestly, I’m disappointed in your comments.
Hi Research Dude,
While you rail against Tom A it seems as though the connections you make are tenuous at best and you are also self contradictory in your statements.
In paragraph 2 you imply that Joe is not “a fresh political newcomer” In paragraph 7 you state “Joe is a self-funded political newcomer.” Which is it RD?
In paragraph 3 you imply that Joe is connected to United Nations Agenda 21 as a consequence of attending Catholic University. Joe graduated from Catholic in 1985 and the UN indicates that Agenda 21 was conceived in 1992 (http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/). How do you link the two given a 7 year span between Joe’s departure and the creation of Agenda 21? Ditto on your links to Catholic University’s environmental sustainability efforts.
Given that Saul Alinsky died in 1972 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky) it would be helpful if you pointed to the actual groups that candidates are associated with, what their role their was and for how long.
In paragraph 12 I’m curious as to why you are wouldn’t vote for a candidate that supports principles of security and democracy.
I’m all for Joe for a whole host of reasons. Most of all, he’s taken the time to come down and listen to the concerns of the South End.
1) He has come down to more open forums (where questions from anyone were entertained) than any other of the contenders
a) The Debate at Aki Kurose
b) An open meeting for supporters
c) An open BBQ at Seward Park last Thursday.
2) Nickels has not come down to any open meetings.
3) McGinn did attend the debate at Aki Kurose. I know of no other visits to the South End. On another issue you may want to look at Mike’s association with T-Mobile also –(http://publicola.net/?p=11631.)
All for now. Very much looking forward to outcome of the election.
Tom T
“Honestly, I’m disappointed in your comments.”
So am I.
Tom A. may be “one of them”, but he’s one of the best of them. And I’ve never seen him attack anyone’s character without cause. Also, as he says, he is the legitimate Research guy.
I’m still confused about most of R&D’s posts, and still can’t tell just where he/she stands on anything (except a hint of World Bank-type paranoia).
Looking forward, as always, to lots more posts from Tom A.
Well, I just read the posts top to bottom, and I think we all agree that Nickels has got to go. But then there is this random post by ‘Research Dude’ who swings wildly at Tom A.
When someone gives themself a handle called ‘Research Dude’ and then attacks someone for not giving him research, I have to chalk it up to moronic projection of your own issues.
Maybe you should say ‘please’ instead of attacking RD. You are just as lame as you claim Tom A. is, but way, way more.
Yeah I couldn’t get much more out of Research Dude’s comments than a profound sense of relief that I skipped Sunday School.
The best part is that if you read Research Dude’s comments carefully he contradicts himself in the space of a few sentences. And if you do a bit of research you’ll find out that Joe Mallahan graduated from Catholic U in 1985 and that Agenda 21 wasn’t created by the United Nations until 1992. Swinging wildly is an understatement.
Anonymous, you’ve come a long way from the boilerplate text of times past, and that is a welcome thing indeed.
But there was a time not too long ago where we were invaded in rapid fashion by a few Word Bank / ammo in the basement types (I think one was the previous queen of Tortola, somehow on this blog).
I’m glad you’re standing up for Tom, but I did think maybe R&D was you’re type of guy.
Out of curiousity, where do you stand on global warming, the holocaust, the World Bank, creationism vs. evolution, flag burning, and the whole “sun revolving around the earth” controversies.
Or is that prying?
OK, that’s prying. Never mind.
Spent the night down at Mallahan’s primary party – - – it was interesting, fun, and energetic. The mood at the party as well as across the streets of downtown Seattle was upbeat as we watched the initial numbers come in and show Mayor Nickels as being in 3rd place……no room to rest though – - – we have to make sure he hasn’t brought in some of The Florida Voting Machines to count the ballots.
Tom A.
Seems to me someone posted some quickly-captured random research and shared it with you folks here, in a friendly way, and then shared their personal opinion of that initial research. Tom A. then used the unfinished product to assume it was “complete” and then leveraged this for his character assassination. In obvious and blatant defense of his chosen candidate, of course. And then the bandwagon mob mentality to follow suit. Just look at the posts above.
Tom A., how much do you cost, per hour? I may need your talents. You’re damn good at rounding up the cattle.
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