On this Ides of March:
* Chris emails that the Mug Bugs Coffee stand at 5th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 85th Street (at Rick’s Chevron) was robbed o
n Friday.
A Seattle Police report confirms that a “robbery business bodyforce” occurred at that location shortly after noon. The map also shows assorted burglaries and car crimes around Maple Leaf.
* More candidates emerge running for district seats in Seattle’s new City Council scheme. Nearly all of Maple Leaf is in District 5, where there are currently six candidates: Sandy Brown, Mercedes Elizalde, Debora Juarez, Mian Rice, David Toledo and Halei Watkins.
In a roundup, our news partner The Seattle Times notes that Brown leads that pack in fundraising, at $35,753.
One campaign contribution of note: super-rich Seattle venture capitalist and big-time Democratic donor Nick Hanauer last November gave $700, the maximum amount allowed, to 5th District candidate Sandy Brown. Hanauer’s wife, Leslie, also gave $700…. The Hanauers live in the 5th District.
The southernmost toe of Maple Leaf is in District 4, candidates Jean Godden, Rob Johnson, Taso Lagos, Michael J. Maddux and Tony Provine. The fundraising leader is longtime council incumbent Godden at $47,678.
* Finally, it’s of neighborhood interest that the blighted properties down 15th Avenue Northeast near Roosevelt High School are back in the news, as Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and other officials float the idea of tearing down houses belonging to Hugh Sisley and developing a pocket park. The Times’ story is here.
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My family has a 40+ year history in the area. I was raised in North Seattle and am asking to represent you on the Council. Please take time to read the recent article I wrote on my thoughts on our community needs.
“https://wevotetoledo.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/sidewalks-and-sewage-drains-bike-lanes-and-light-rail-trains-an-honest-talk-about-the-infrastructure-needs-of-district-5/”
Now that we have district elections, candidates had better run on reducing traffic congestion and crime. Because voters really care about these issues.
MLL: Doorbelling has already begun; Mian Rice just stopped by Maple Leaf Life South (3/21).
Money won’t be the ruling factor in this election. The race be won by one of the three candidate who are actually from the district and know the neighborhoods.
Hanauer’s $700 is just 2% of what Brown has raised. Big deal. Shouldn’t a D5 resident be allowed to give to a D5 candidate? Why is this newsworthy?
Didn’t Sisley let these houses degrade over decades knowing that eventually the area would require more than single family zoning? Did he not try to upzone his properties and the City said no? The arrival of light rail and the need for higher density seem to support his view, if not his approach.
Sorry to hear about the robbery at the coffee stop at the Chevron.
Back in the late 1960 and early ’70s, the term “The Establishment” came into being to describe entrenched interests, that were against change or diversity of opinion. From what’s going on now with the districts embracing Maple Leaf, something similar is happening.
Whatever you think about Nick Hanauer, his views represent those of someone willing and able to buy elections. In an interview recently with Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times, Mr. Hanauer said that people should be concerned that someone such as himself – referring to himself as a “goofball,” if memory serves – was attempting to steer politics, in Olympia, for the entire state. We should be equally concerned that he’s trying to do the same thing for the northern portion of Maple Leaf.
Moreover, with all due respect to Jean Godden, who has served her time admirably as a member of the Seattle City Council, we need new blood.
Why doesn’t Taso Lagos, who has a fine record as an academic and whose family ran a business that was the heart-and-soul of the University district, the Continental Pastry Shop, get more interest from the press and more money from contributors? It would seem that, at this point in Maple Leaf’s history, we need an intelligent voice on the city council that understands small business, beleaguered as it is.
Instead of more same old/same old, we need thinking outside of the proverbial box. We need real diversity: diversity of thinking and approach.
Hanauer a Plutocrat? It might be interesting to be have Mickey Mouse’s dog involved in governance. Maybe more doggie rest stops like Mike’s @ NE 89th & 12 NE…
Find your district by address here:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/referenceresources/electionmaps/findmydistrict.aspx
Again, the area in “MapleLeaf” south of 85th is apart. Maybe it should rejoin the GreenLake neighborhood as it once was, and as our underlying plot/plats are still labelled in the city’s DPD system.
Anyone self proclaimed plutocrat Nich Hanauer endorses isn’t someone I want. he himself claims we are too stupid to govern ourselves.