February 2008

Not 10 minutes, but 34 minutes

By Marc Calhoun

I recently read an ad for condos near Morgan Junction. One thing struck me as I read it; the ad said they were "only 10 minutes west of downtown Seattle." Wow! Ten minutes! Golly gee, maybe I should consider moving to Morgan, as it takes me a lot longer than that to get to town.

But before I sold up and made the move, I decided to test their claim. So join me now, on a cold winter morning, as I travel from Morgan to downtown.

The schedule says a 54 Express departs Morgan and California at 7:39 a.m.

The legendary "Seattle Way" of doing government business is to hold a slew of hearings and make a ton of Power Point presentations, take a bushel of incoming paperwork from the people and give them a bushel of stuff back - then have a couple of more hearings just because the decision is hard and may offend someone and the decision makers have no desire to offend anyone.

It doesn't always work, in fact often it does not work.

A study at the University of Washington's Economic Policy Research Center said a basic cost of the landmark Growth Management Act may be a primary dr

experience

I am a 55-year-old woman, a graduate of Mount View Elementary School, Cascade Junior High School, and Evergreen Senior High School, and a third-generation White Centerian.

Saturday, I attended my first political caucus with my 88-year-old mother. It was held at Mount View Elementary School, where we both attended, and actually shared teachers. They were young women at the beginning of their careers when my mother was a student, and savvy, senior members of the education community when they taught me.

Neither of us knew quite what to expect.

My pets and family would like to recognize Independent Pet Supply of Woodinville and West Seattle's Furry Faces Foundation for their recent act of kindness.

Independent Pet Supply had eight pallets of Natura, a high quality pet food, and other pet necessities to donate - they just needed a non-profit group to pick it up. The Furry Faces group rallied with a six vehicle caravan to Woodinville and cleared off the pallets.

I know a tradesman who is watching out for our health. Trader Joe's has a new policy that bans Chinese imports. No, they haven't had any problems yet. But here is to the man who looks ahead and keeps us safe. Good one, Joe!

Like I've said before, I shop U.S.A.-made. If we keep our money here at home we'll make it. Things aren't as bad as they were during the '30s, but it could get worse. Support your "homies", buy U.S. made.

Kathleen Vogel

Delridge Way

Seattle School Board members want to know more about where the money would come from and which projects would get deferred as a result of adding money to the Denny Middle School-Sealth High co-location project.

District staff told board members last week that the $10 million proposed added budget funds for the $125 million bond/levy project would come from some infrastructure and technology projects in the current Building Excellence III program.

About $5 million would come from deferring indoor air and water quality improvements at Salmon Bay alternative school in Ballar

The Fauntleroy Community Services Agency is facing a rent increase of double what it pays now to lease an old Seattle School District-owned building when its 10-year lease runs out Feb. 29.

The non-profit has been informed its rent will be hiked from $70,000 annually to $140,000.

Effective March 5, the West Seattle Herald and White Center News will be delivered on Wednesday afternoon or evening instead of Tuesday. If you have not received your paper by 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, please call the Circulation Department at 206.932.6456 and we will get one to you.

The change is necessary due to production and printing problems.

The Port of Seattle Commission voted to hire former U.S. Attorney Mike McKay to conduct an internal investigation of the port.

Port Commissioner Bill Bryant, who chairs the Port's Special Investigatory Committee, cited McKay's experience with similar investigations as a key factor in the selection.

"Mike's commitment to public service and the integrity he demonstrated as U.S. Attorney make him the right person to oversee this investigation," Bryant said. "I believe his expertise will ensure this investigation is as thorough as possible."

McKay served as U.S.

The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a resolution urging the State Legislature to support legislation that requires the recording of executive sessions by all governments in Washington State.

"Some of the more important deliberations by the Seattle City Council as well as other governing bodies occur in closed executive sessions," said Councilmember Richard J. McIver.