Seattle Forward

Environmental Stewardship: Voluntary Bag Fee and Styrofoam Ban

I voted with the majority of my colleagues on Monday this week to pass two   environmental stewardship laws. Seattle becomes the first city in the nation to use market forces to encourage   residents to stop using disposable plastic and paper bags in favor of reusable bags by creating a voluntary   "use" fee.       

Each time a shopper chooses to use disposable bags at   the check-out counter of grocery, convenience, and drug stores a $0.20 fee per bag will be imposed. This fee does not   apply to plastic bags used for vegetables, bulk items such as nuts or candy, meat freezer bags, or pharmacy   prescriptions. The new plastic bag fee takes effect January 1, 2009.

An estimated 360 million disposable bags are used in   the city each year. The "use" or green fee is expected to reduce use of disposable bags by at least 50%. The   fees will be used by the city to offset a portion of upcoming solid waste rate increases associated with the new city   garbage contracts and also to support the city's waste prevention and recycling programs.

We also voted to ban the use of expanded polystyrene   (commonly known as Styrofoam) food containers usually used for take-out food or restaurant leftovers effective January   1, 2009. We voted to delay a similar ban on plastic tableware and polystyrene meat trays.   

Read The Seattle     Times and Seattle PI editorial   support for passage of these laws. 

These laws are a good example of how government can   help the market to implement necessary environmental change. I supported the voluntary bag "use" fee because   it maintains the ability of consumers to choose whether to use their own reusable bags or pay a fee for disposable bags   provided by the store. This is a market-driven strategy to help protect our environment.   

I recognize that change like this is difficult. I   remember when Seattle imposed mandatory recycling a few years back. There was a lot of discontent. But, today, we   accept recycling as part of our civic duty, our contribution to stewardship of the earth. (According to a recent study,   Seattle ranks 7th in total recycling rate among the nation's 30 largest cities. You can see our ranking by   downloading this PDF     file.) 

I believe we will adapt our behaviors related to   plastic bags as well; I know I'm trying to do that. I've placed reusable bags in my car trunk and in my   scooter's storage box. I've almost got it down, although just last week while standing in the grocery check-out   line I realized I had forgotten to bring my bags inside with me. I froze in a near panic. What to do? The person in   front of me had nearly completed paying for her groceries and I would be next. I imagined the hordes behind me starting   to point and scream. "Get moving!" "What's the hold-up?" "Hey, aren't you that City   Council turkey who wants to put that bag 'tax' on all of us?" I quickly regained my composure, pulled out   of line, rolled my cart to the vegetable aisle for safe storage and hustled out to my car to grab my reusable bags.   Lesson learned, although I'm sure it will take a few more practice runs before the "bag grab" becomes   part of my natural instincts.

Parks Levy Sent to Voters

The Council voted 7-0 yesterday to send a Park Levy to city voters on November 4, 2008.  I voted with the majority.  Watch our deliberations and vote at Seattle Channel.  Read Seattle Times story. 

James Paroline Memorial

I attended the memorial for James Paroline this afternoon at 61st Avenue South and South Cooper Street, the intersection where James was killed while tending the traffic circle he cared for.  It was a moving neighborhood event.  A military honor guard presented a flag to Paroline's sister and two pastors from a nearby Presbyterian church led the service which was held at the traffic circle.

If there is good to come from this tragedy, it's the unity of neighbors pulling together.  But, the question that looms large in everyone's mind is why.  Why did this happen?  What level of anger and rage would prompt such a senseless act of cruelty? 

We may find some answer in the videotape of the incident which the police may release this week.  I understand the tape captures everything, including the final assault that killed James. 

Bite and Food Lifeline at Seattle Center

We made a quick stop at the Bite of Seattle at the Center this afternoon.  The Alley, located on the north side of Key Arena, has a great bargain . . . seven "bites" from some of the city's better joints for just under $10.  Entrepreneur Tom Douglas has the prime first tasting; very, very good.  Douglas spent the day at the grill preparing chicken.  It all benefits Food Lifeline, one of the regions best-managed and effective nonprofit organizations. 

Saturday Satire

I didn't learn about it until this past Sunday, too late to grab a photo, but last Saturday's "day art" installation at Kerry Park on south Queen Anne was marvelous!  What ingenuity.  I love it.  Then today, a few photos graciously landed in my email mailbox.

A tram from EMP at Seattle Center to the Highland Drive look out.  Who would have thought?  Here's a close up of the artist's rendering.  But, don't worry, Queen Anne, this project isn't about to happen.  Call it Satirical Urban Art, a very well-executed reminder of the impact of our land-use, design, and growth management decisions. 

Storm Red Hot

Just got home from the Key where the Storm beat LA big time.  Wow!  They held LA to only 52 points, their lowest of the season.  Seattle should be very proud of our pro basketball franchise.   

New OPA Review Board Members

The Council's Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee which I chair just announced its nominees to the Office of Professional Accountability Review Board.  These individuals will go through a confirmation process that begins with our committee, then goes to the full Council. 

These individuals bring a diversity and set of life experiences that allow them to serve every neighborhood of our city with distinction.  They will enhance the credibility of the Review Board and build strong public confidence in our system of police accountability and oversight.  I'm delighted these individuals have agreed to serve our city in this manner.

Tina Bueche is a small business owner in Pioneer Square who has been active in neighborhood issues and community activism since the late 1980s.  She is chair of the Seattle Neighborhood Group's board of directors, a member of the Pioneer Square Community Association board of advisors, and a member of the Metropolitan Improvement District board of directors.  Tina is a member and past chair of the police department's West Precinct Advisory Council.  She is a former member and past chair of the Pioneer Square Preservation Board.  Tina has a master's degree in counseling from Wright State University in Ohio.

George Davenport is a lawyer and Chief Operating Officer at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.  He resigned as a Lieutenant Commander in the U. S. Navy Reserve earlier this year.  During his Navy career, George served as defense counsel to members of the military in hundreds of criminal cases.  He served briefly as a city prosecutor in Tacoma, Washington, handling misdemeanor criminal prosecutions.  His private legal practice includes criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, primarily for low-income individuals and families.  George is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta.  He received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin and his Master’s of Divinity from Seattle University.

Sharon Dear is a lawyer at the Law Offices of Kelley Sweeney specializing in insurance defense litigation since 2003.  Prior to her current position, she spent nearly eight years as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Benton and King Counties, and has extensive experience with police officers, police procedures, and constitutional law.  As a prosecutor, she handled approximately 1,300 cases, including over 80 trials involving felony and misdemeanor charges.  Sharon is a graduate of Washington State University.  She received her law degree from the University of Washington.  She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers and the Loren Miller Bar Association.

Steven Freng is a clinical psychologist working as the drug prevention and treatment manager for the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal project that supports drug trafficking law enforcement, treatment programs, and drug abuse prevention through community coalitions and public education efforts.  He is the former administrator of the King County Detoxification Center.  He is a member of the board of directors of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention and the Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals.  He is a former board member of the Downtown Emergency Services Center.  Steven received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington and his Doctor of Psychology degree from California Coast University.

Martha Norberg is a CPA specializing in forensic accounting and the founding principal of the Seabold Group, an investigation and workplace consulting firm.  She served 12 years as a sworn law enforcement officer with the United States Treasury Department.  As a Special Agent of the IRS’ criminal investigation division, Martha investigated primarily financial fraud, money laundering, and tax law crimes.  From 1990 to 2000, she served as a special advisor to the U. S. Justice Department’s international criminal investigative training assistance program in Latin America where she provided technical assistance, training and assessment to police and prosecutorial agencies in Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and most of Central America.  She is fluent in Spanish.  In 1999, Martha worked with the Mayor’s Citizen Review Panel in its examination of internal investigation procedures within the Seattle Police Department.

Pat Sainsbury, designated Review Board chair, is a lawyer who retired in 2007 after 34 years of service with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  He was chief of the fraud division for 26 years, responsible for, among other crimes, investigations of public corruption, abuse of office, and state racketeering violations.  In recent years, he encouraged efforts in the prosecutor’s office to increase attention to crimes committed against the elderly.  Pat has been involved in most fraud and corruption prosecutions of police officers in King County for the past 15 years and has developed special expertise in the criminal, civil, and disciplinary aspects of these investigations.  He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Stanford University Law School. 

David Wilma is a retired sworn law enforcement officer who served for nearly 30 years as a Special Agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, as a criminal investigator and supervisory criminal investigator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and as a police officer with the University of Washington police.  He is a graduate of the Seattle Police Academy.  David currently serves as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with the King County Superior Court.  He is a former member of the board of directors of the Pike Market Senior Center/Downtown Food Bank.  David obtained his B.A. in History from the University of Washington.  He has written extensively at www.HistoryLink.org. 

Sonics Lawsuit Settlement

The Mayor this afternoon at 5 p.m. announced a settlement of the city's lawsuit with the Sonics.  You can read the Mayor's statement here.  Eight city council members, including myself, signed a letter of endorsement of the settlement earlier today.  (Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is out of the city.)

It's a sad day for Sonics' fans and for all sports fans.  But, when one peels back the emotional layers, the settlement makes very good sense.

First, even if the city had prevailed in Federal Court that victory would have been quite hollow, only two more years of the Sonics playing in Seattle and a great deal of bitterness and hostile relations with the NBA.  After those two years, the Sonics would leave and we would have absolutely no chance of a future team.  The settlement repairs the city's relationship with the NBA and allows the city to maintain the Sonics' name, history, and memorabilia. The settlement protects our historical memories and shifts our focus toward a long-term solution--a new team. 

Second, the settlement puts the city in a good position to snag a future team either through relocation of another team, purchase of a franchise, or an expansion team.  The NBA has agreed to facilitate the city's pursuit of another team. 

Third, the settlement properly reimburses the city for lost rent and other monetary losses caused by the immediate relocation of the Sonics.  The settlement amount is large enough to also pay off all of the outstanding Key Arena debt, plus more.

So, it's a bittersweet day, for certain.  But I believe the city has made a wise, long-term, and fiscally prudent decision.