Washingtonians --Oppose initiatives tomorrow!

There are not a lot of interesting offices on the ballot, but there are some important state-wide initiatives that will be close.  This is what I have decided so far. I assume you, the reader, have some familiarity with them.

Statewide.

Initiatives:  912, 330 and 336.  I oppose 912.  If enacted, 912 will put Washington state in a position like New Orleans -- waiting for disaster to happen.  Money is needed to fund infrastructure repair and maintenance.  Taxes are needed to provide that money.  Let's keep the tax and fix the viaduct and other road repairs.    

I-330.  This initiative is a total boon for the health insurance, hospitals and doctors.  It makes it harder to file and prosecute medical malpractice claims and places an arbitrary mandatory cap on damages while provided no provable cost savings.

I-336: Any ideas?  I am leaning against it.

Seattle Issue: Monorail.  For the umpteenth, and hopefully last, time I am voting against the monorail.  It is as much a waste of mass transit funds now as it was the first time we voted on it.  

King Co Executive: Ron Sims.  

Mayor: Greg Nickels.  I don't care for him, but he will get my vote again this year.  Runte just has not made a case for himself.

Councils: Any ideas?  I will be boning up on my voters pamphlet tonight, so I would look forward to hearing from anyone with a strong opinion about any of these candidates.    

Vote!

•  Initiative 901

  I hope that initiative 901 passes.  No one should have to breathe in smoke in order to work, eat or socialize in public places.

  by ortcutt on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:51:25 PM PDT

  •  Agreed

    It's all about the common good, as Armando and Jim McDermott discussed way back when. Smokers routinely violate this without concern for others. Time for the government to step in and cure this piece of market failure.

    by eugene on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:53:10 PM PDT

    •  Well

      I'd say it's about harm to others.  I believe strongly in the right to lead your private life the way you want, but no one has the right to do harm to others.

      by ortcutt on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:58:40 PM PDT

  •  it pisses me off when

    people who have never worked in a resturant say it's good for the workers...  a great many of whom smoke...

    this is an argument i've heard more than a little...

    if you want to help workers get 'em fuckin' healthcare!

    there should be non smoking and smoking places, there should be choices, and mos def there should be pot smoking places...  (maybe then we'll be voting to overturn this ban which, of course, will pass)

    the 25 foot rule is also fuckin absurd... it doesn't allow there to be even an outdoor smoking area...

    ok. rant over. but they'll be coming for people who use bad language next, or have political conversations because it stresses out the other customers.

    please don't give a butt load of  1's for this.

    by binFranklin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:28:15 PM PDT

    •  What's your point?

      I don't think the argument was that every worker cared whether they inhaled second-hand smoke.  I'm sure that some restaurant workers who smoke enjoy passive smoke.  The concern is that there are workers who don't like the smoke and don't want to be subject to it.

      by ortcutt on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 08:55:37 PM PDT

      •  what about cars?

        fuck it.

        i'm going back to the drunk thread.

        by binFranklin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 09:34:36 PM PDT

    •  I'm with you here, and a smoker myself...

      I know it's bad for me, I'm as polite and considerate as possible and avoid blowing it in peoples faces. I even stand well away from the bus stop when I'm smoking.

      But come ON! I WILL NOT BE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN!

      There are PLENTY of places that are non smoking, plenty of options for people that work the industry. Do NOT make me a social pariah, just because I smoke!!

      I will BREAK this law if it passes, I'll take whatever boneheaded fines that come with it, and continue to break it, because DAMN IT, I will NOT be treated as second class and pushed out into the street to have a smoke. I'm responsible about it, as MANY others are, and we should not have to fucking be treated with such contempt.

      Can you guess which way I'll vote on this?

      -Christina Baldwin

      by Erevann on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 09:41:56 PM PDT

      •  the 25 foot law

        means you can't even go out back on your break.

        i guess people with cars can rev the engines up and smoke.

        whatever, it's a feel good thing.

        try the drunk thread, it did make me feel good.

        by binFranklin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 10:42:06 PM PDT

        •  Yeah... no kidding...

          already got a 30ft rule here on MS campus. Though we mostly get only about 15 on most days. 'Specially when it's raining.

          hehehehe Loved the drunk thread. One of the best ones I've seen in a while.

          -Christina Baldwin

          by Erevann on Tue Nov 08, 2005 at 09:28:54 AM PDT

•  I think 336 is a no too.

  Special interest push. This stuff should be hashed out in the legislature. That is what it is there for.  No 330.

  And please god No on 912. I am afraid this will pass despite editorials against it everywhere. Much is made of the effect in Seattle but it will be a statewide disaster.

  by melvin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:51:38 PM PDT

  •  FWIW Washington voters, when in doubt,

    seem to just vote no.

    by melvin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:53:27 PM PDT

    •  That is precisely how I vote

      I frankly think Initiatives usually make bad law.  They are either Tim Eyman/anti-tax or pro-industry.  That is why opposition is my default position.    

      by flo58 on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:02:40 PM PDT

      •  How about an initiative to

        exile Eyman for life?

        by melvin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:04:04 PM PDT

        •  Where do I sign up to start gathering

          signatures?  

          by flo58 on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:06:33 PM PDT

      •  since eyman the terrible

        i pretty much vote no on everthing.

        maybe if we didn't have a part time legislature we would have so damn many.

        also voting no just feels so right.

        by binFranklin on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:39:31 PM PDT

•  Monorail isn't a waste

  Show me a major public works project that is constructed without problems and on-budget. Sure, the monorail has its flaws, but it's a small price to pay for better movement of peoples and increased urban densities.

  I-912 is an appallingly shortsighted initiative, everyone here ought to be voting no.

  Ron Sims is one of the best, most solidly liberal Democrats in the entire country. We owe him our strong support.

  Greg Nickels is a hack, but Al Runte is a total joke. Dunno what I'll do there.

  As to the Seattle City Council: Pelz is a strong leftist with lots of political experience. Jan Drago is an effective legislator and a sight better than the conservative Casey Corr. Dunno much about the other race.

  by eugene on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:52:18 PM PDT

  •  Thanks

    I knew someone would know about the council positions.  

    I just don't see the monorail as a long term solution to the problems of this city.  That is why I oppose it.  It reminds me too much -- frankly -- of the People Mover in Detroit -- a way to allow people to move from one place to another without actually having to step on the ground any where in between.  Also how do you expand it?  I just don't like the idea.  I would rather see light rail.

    by flo58 on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:00:07 PM PDT

    •  The argument for the monorail

      Was that by being elevated, it didn't take away from traffic capacity on surface streets and so wouldn't get bogged down on the streets as a light rail might. A cheaper way to achieve a dedicated ROW.

      The monorail itself would not be a solution to the city's problems. But it would be an immense help. The key for Seattle like other cities is transportation diversity.

      I just think it's stupid for Seattle to repeat the mistake in made in 1970, when it voted down a mass transit system. The money went to Atlanta - MARTA is Seattle's mass transit system, just located in Georgia - and Seattle now has to spend infinitely more money to build much the same system now, over 30 years later.

      by eugene on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:04:31 PM PDT

      •  Not either/or

        What about Vancouver's light rail system?  It is the longest automated light rail transit system in the world, and it's mostly elevated.

        by fishhead on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 07:15:41 PM PDT

  •  I'm with you

    and besides that, Seattle shouldn't shy away from beautiful solutions like the monorail. I'm a lifelong Seattle-ite, and really, a damned monorail going to west seattle from downtown is ALL i've EVER wanted! Oh well, they'll build it later, when it will cost more (not that it would cost more then out two side-by-side stadiums in prime downtowm real-estate now THAT's a waste).

    I wrote in J.P. Patches in the Conlin-Miller race. I am sick to death of the City Council, and the mayors office, encouraging downtown Seattle to become a damned mall. It looks like every other city now, and that is a shame for ANY city. We don't need another cineplex or another cheesecake factory, thank you.

    The rest of these are advice from a friend who is a lifelong lefty, and always has the scoop. She'll know if she reads this who I am!

    As for the other initiatives: No on 900, it's an Eyeman piece. It sounds harmless enough, but it's costly and duplicative.  It will cost the state over $12 million a year and will be time consuming and expensive for local governments.  If it's such a great idea, then let the legislature pass something less costly and onerous.  

    Prop 1 Veterans & Human Services Levy - YES
    Pays for housing assistance, mental health counseling, drug and alcohol treatment and job counseling.  If your house is worth $400K, this adds $20/year to your property taxes.  

    County Council

       * Larry Phillips* (D) - Ballard, Phinney, Queen Ann
    

    • Dow Constantine* (D) - West Seattle, Burien, Vashon
      
    • Larry Gossett* (D) - Capitol Hill, Central District
      
    • Bob Ferguson* (D) - NE Seattle, Shoreline, Bothell

    PORT OF SEATTLE

    Why should you care about the Port?  While all other large ports on the west coast, including Tacoma, break even or make a profit, ours spends $60 million a year in your property taxes.  This avgs over $100 per King County homeowner.  The port manages the airport and shipyards and owns tons of valuable waterfront, making it responsible for tens of thousands of jobs and giving it a huge impact on our clean air and water.

    Lawrence Molloy*
    Lawrence is a fiscal conservative who's working to protect the environment and jobs for working families.  He's a vocal critic of the Port's powerful bureaucracy and he's full of creative ideas and solutions.  Isn't the picture on his mail piece of his daughter Zoe adorable!  His opponent is endorsed by big business and the cruise lines.

    Lloyd Hara
    I'm not a big fan of Hara, a former King County Auditor, but his opponent is a shipping industry lobbyist. Since this elected office pays less than $10K/year, he'd keep his day job as a lobbyist--sounds like the fox watching the hen house.

    Jack Jolley
    This former numbers cruncher from Microsoft is endorsed by labor and environmental groups.  He's running against Pat Davis who's been a port commissioner forever and is supported by big business and the cruise lines.

    by dnamj on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 06:17:35 PM PDT

•  Over at My Left Wing

  I have a diary recommending votes on Washington State issues, as well as California ballot measures.

  by eugene on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 05:54:48 PM PDT

•  I voted no on

  both I-330 and I336. Both are special interest written. Yes for no smoking. No on repealing gas tax. Live in a small rural town so don't vote on Monorail. However, did just find out our town sends it mail to a larger city that processes it and it may or may not be post marked on the day you sent it. Actually had property taxes mailed at 7AM on due date and not post-marked until the next day. It'll be interesting to see if this is happening in other rural areas and how many votes it'll impact.

  by pacificcoaster on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 07:09:20 PM PDT