South Seattle Progressive
Seattle, WA
November 6, 2007
Japhet, Jesse, with the help of their friends, put together a guide for forward-thinking voters in Seattle. And some help from the FUSE, voter guide
I-960
Endorsed Vote: No
Yet another lousy initiative from Tim Eyman. The only potential outcome of passing this would be that it would help make government worse. Which is something that maybe Grover Norquist and Tim Eyman want, but citizens in a democracy should avoid
R-67 - Insurance Reform
Endorsed Vote: Yes
What it does
This bill would make it illegal for insurance companies to deny legitimate claims, and permit triple damages plus attorney fees for that and other violations.
What that really means
Insurance companies make more money if they don’t pay your claim. They earn billions of dollars by delaying, denying, and disputing legitimate claims. Referendum 67 makes it illegal for an insurance company to delay or deny legitimate claims. If you are forced to sue your insurance company to get them to pay a legitimate claim, you can recover actual damages and attorney's fees, and in some cases up to triple damages.
Passing R-67 would give insurance company an incentive to pay legitimate claims in the first place and not go to court.
The insurance industry says passing 67 will raise rates. But if insurance companies treat people fairly in the first place, they won't have anything to worry about.
This has already passed both the House and Senate. Insurance companies have funded signature gathering to place it on the ballot in an attempt to repeal it.
Who's behind it
Consumer Groups, the AARP, Unions, Police, Firefighters, Teachers, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, and Fuse.
Who's against it
Insurance Companies and some conservative business interests. The insurance industry has poured in millions of dollars from out of state to fight for their right to deny legitimate claims. State Farm tops the list at more than $1.6 million.
The Question for You
Should it be illegal to for insurance companies to deny legitimate claims?
EHJR 4204 - School Funding
Endorsed Vote: Yes
This makes it easier to fund education Currently it's harder to fund schools than jails, I think schools should be at least as easy to fund as jails.
Rainy Day Fund
Endorsed Vote: Yes
This calls for a 1% reserve for the State budget so that if there is an economic downturn, and sales tax revenues plunge, vital services will not be interrupted. For more info
http://wwwbudgetandpolicy.org/documents/rainyday.pdf
SJR 8212 - convict work rules
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Work programs help convicted criminals receive job training and can help prevent repeat offenses. This administrative measure allows convict labor to be used under a wider variety of circumstances that do not compete "unfairly" with other labor contractors.
I'm in favor of anything that gives convicted criminals an alternative to crime and a chance to improve their lives after their sentences have been served.
SHJR 4125 - Education Funds Investment
Endorsed Vote: Yes
a minor administrative fix that allows education funds to be invested in other types of investments. overwhelmingly supported by state house and senate
Prop 1. Roads and Transit
Endorsed Vote: No Endorsement
This one is a doozy! I've been wrestling with it for at least a week, and many endorsers/opponents are equally conflicted.
The bottom line is that this political compromise legislation will not solve any transportation problems, but it is doing something, and it will throw an awful lot of money at fixed-rail transit.
The progressives who support the bill look at the rising cost of construction and looming population growth and say "We've got to get transit started now. They'll build the roads anyway. We can't afford to wait."
Progressive opponents point to the fact that the roads portion of the package failed a few years back and now the legislature has saddled a half decent transit package with a crapload of freeways which will undo the good work that the transit can do. If passed, the roads + transit package would build 182 new highway lane miles, some of them in environmentally sensitive places and the vast majority in suburban areas. 150 of those lane miles are for general purpose traffic, as opposed to bus and carpool lanes. Not only will those additional highway lanes (literally) fuel sprawl, they will only fill up with traffic and generate more air pollution and more global warming.
The bill adds 182 miles of new highways, more than three times the 50 miles of transit service in the package. This is why the Sightline report noted that it will be projected to increase carbon emissions not decrease it. It will add density around the transit stations, but will add even more sprawl.
Additionally, the funding of the bill is regressive: because it's a sales tax, poor people pay more of the cost as a
fraction of their income than rich people.
That said, many local analysts, advocates and planners are going to "hold their noses, grit their teeth and vote yes." I'm still holding my nose and gritting my teeth and wondering which of the potential futures is more likely. Will failure lead to a better bill? or a worse one?
King Co. I -25
Endorsed Vote: No
An election to decide whether to elect an official to oversee elections. This is basically because the Republicans were pissed about the governor's race last election and want to further politicize the electoral process. No thanks.
King County Prosecutor
Bill Sherman
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Young, creative, smart and progressive. Bill Sherman plans to bring the prosecutor's office into this current milennium
Seattle School Board
Seattle's public schools are an embarrassment to the "progressive" city. The system is broke, and the school board and new superintendent must fix it.
There are four open spots and three of them have strong candidates. The remaining spot is between two questionable candidates, David Blomstrom and Harium Martin-Morris. Your call.
Darlene Flynn
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Current school board member. She's doing fine. Let's keep her.
Peter Maier
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Smart, effective, willing to think outside the box.
Steve Sundquist
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Business/Enviro type provides a nice balance of skills to the board.
Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle is a major player in economic development, transportation and land use. It's critical to have competent and progressive leaders. There are two positions open at the Port.
Alec Fisken
Endorsed Vote: Yes
An incumbent, Alec is far more progressive than the Republican-donating challenger.
Gael Tarleton
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Electing Gael Tarleton will be a big step forward for the Port. Far more responsive and competent than the competition
King County Council
Dow Constantine
Endorsed Vote: Yes
From the Stranger:
Very liberal Dow Constantine was a punk rocker when he was a little younger and should run for mayor, but won't because he's from West Seattle and doesn't want to embarrass his friend Greg Nickels. Keep him on the council. Vote Constantine.
Seattle City Council
There are several council seats open and we're just listing the candidates we want to support. Most of these races are "No-brainers"
Sally Clark
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Her opponent, Judy Fenton, is really really concerned about a piece of public art that may or may not have something to do with homosexuality. Sally has more important things on her mind, like running a city. Let's keep her on the job.
Venus Velasquez
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Fortunately, good driving is not a requirement for Seattle City Council. She seems better than her opponent in terms of having a coherent vision. She's also endorsed by Peter Steinbrueck, whose opinion we respect.
Tim Burgess
Endorsed Vote: Yes
He's not great, but unfortunately, David Della has been a lousy Council member and deserves to move on to a new line of work. Let's give Della the career-changing opportunity he so desperately wants. Also, the lame race-baiting and name calling in the campaign doesn't make me happy. Sierra Club endorsed Burgess (which is always a mixed blessing)
Seattle Charter Amendments
Endorsed Vote: Yes
They both seem like innocuous and somewhat toothless amendments, but they sound nice so vote for 'em
