Ralph Nader seems bent on destroying everything he has ever stood for. In restarting his role as spoiler, Obama will now be competing in the general election with one hand tied behind his back.
I think Ralph Nader’s last run for president was a disaster, and I resent him even more for doing it again. I don’t know what he hopes to accomplish. If he just wants to contribute to the dialog, he should get himself a radio show like Rush Limbaugh, or a blog like this one. Becoming a candidate is a sure-fire way to make sure that the next president, whether republican or democrat, is elected by a plurality…a minority of voters.
Grrr…..
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Nader Announces Another Presidential Bid
Ralph Nader is launching a third-party campaign for president. The consumer advocate made the announcement Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He says most Americans are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties, and that none of the presidential contenders are addressing ways to stem corporate crime and Pentagon waste and promote labor rights.
Thanks to Drewski2112 for this great photo!
From guest contributer Sarah Leingang:
In the hills of the Renton Highlands there is a charming little blueberry farm. This farm is located on about 3.5 acres of land, which is roughly equal to 3.5 football fields. This is quite a bit of land for a suburban neighborhood like the Highlands. Especially when considering how quickly these areas are being densely developed into much smaller lots covered for the most part with single family homes.
This farm has been Tucked away in between I-405 and Edmonds Ave, and has been enjoyed by countless families. But most visitors coming and going never realize the true value of the place they have visited.
So what’s the point of this random rambling? Well in recent years this bit of land has undergone a lot of discussion between those that want to develop and those that want to conserve. With the common residential zoning of R-4, you can build 4 homes per acres, which means that if there were no wetland issues there would be a potential for 14 homes to be built over this beautiful farm. Already the farm owner has expressed concerns about the effect neighboring developments has had on the microclimate of her farm. These effects include such items as the loss of trees as a wind buffer, and water run off from nearby land that used to water her farm but is now diverted uselessly into the city’s storm water system.
This little blueberry farm tucked into the highlands is a rare find. It has a value even greater than just a bit of green space in a ever more developed suburban neighborhood. What people most often miss when looking at this farm is that this bit of land is a truly unique and rare ecosystem known as a fen. A fen is an ecosystem similar to a bog; but what makes a fen different from a bog is that it is feed by a natural water source, not simply by rainwater. An official definition describes “The fen is a phase in the development of the natural succession from open lake, through reedbed, fen and carr, to woodland as the peat develops and its surface rises.”
A naturally occurring fen is a rare treasure to come across, and without protection this fen could soon be only a memory. If this farm were to be developed intensely, the loss of this complex and remarkable natural wonder would be truly unfathomable. And even if it is not developed, the rate of development nearby may alter the fen’s microclimate so much that is damaged and loss anyhow.
City stormwater retention laws would require that some land be set aside, to serve as a retaining pond to mimic the natural function of a wetlands ability to slowly recharge ground water sources and filter clean water back into the ground. But the small effort of a retaining pond could never truly recover the ability of a natural wetland, 1 acre of wetland 1 foot deep can hold up to 330,000 gallons of water. The complex nature of any ecosystem cannot be remade (even with the best of intentions) since there is so many layers of perfectly balanced life. From the obvious flora and fauna down to the bugs and algae and even down to the unseen but just as important bacteria within the hydrological soil all work in perfect harmony that we are simply unable to recreate just anywhere.
Any bit of green space within our ever developing Highlands is a rarity, and should be considered for conservation for us and future generations. And this small blueberry farm tucked in amongst many homes is easy to overlook, but it is not just a blueberry farm… it is a FEN that is worth saving.
Sarah Leingang grew up in Renton Highlands and graduated from Hazen in 2003. She has recently obtained her degree in Architecture.
My nine year old took this picture of my wife on one of the first sunny days we have had in a while…
Great information about events happening around town!
Last updated February 19, 2008 12:50 p.m. PT
KingCo counting ballots at new elections center
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
RENTON, Wash. — King County election workers are counting primary ballots at a new processing center in Renton.
Dozens of workers are opening absentee ballots for Tuesday’s primary, verifying signatures and tabulating results.
Ballots are stored in high-security cages that can be opened only with a fingerprint scan.
This is the first election to be handled at the Renton facility since it opened in December to consolidate other offices.
Reader Mark Martinez suggested I post a blog on this news item, to see if Renton readers have any reactions they wish to share.
I was at city hall visiting with Mayor Law when the news first broke on this tragedy (it was right after the transportation meeting I blogged about below), and our first shared comments were that it was another serious human tragedy, rooted in mental illness, and it seemed clear that the police could not have done anything any quicker.
As the news has unfolded over the last few days, it is clear that the shooter was a very complex young man, who was indeed struggling with emotional issues. It sounds like he had engaged and caring parents, who made their best efforts to get him treatment. And today’s story indicates he also had a loving girlfriend, who cared about him. It is incredibly sad, but very common, that even with so many people who loved him, and professional treatment providers, their efforts were not enough to save him from his demons; and far more tragic that in his psychosis he killed and injured so many innocents before he took his own life.
It sounds like the gun that did most of the damage was a shotgun, that has a legitimate use for hunting. There were no exotic automatic weapons to blame in this case. And the police were there quickly, but not before all the damage was done. The shooter had already killed 5 and injured 18, and taken his own life in mere minutes if not seconds. There was no claimed “cautious holding-back” by the police that has been the subject of debate in other school shooting situations.
So, I’m sad to say that if there is a lesson to be learned, it may be that not all human tragedies are preventable in a free nation. This one initially looks like everyone except the shooter did everything right, and the shooter himself had cooperated in steps to get treatment for his mental illness.
Perhaps the only debate that might ensue, is that there will be some that suggest that it was a mistake to allow someone with a history of mental illness to purchase guns. This argument has some merit, but it is risky to go this direction if the young man had no “criminal” history of mental illness. It may be counter-productive to penalize people who have sought counseling, anger management training, psychotherapy to help them through a crisis, etc by taking away any of their rights. In general, it is the UNTREATED mentally ill that put the population at risk, not the people who are responsible enough to seek help. And we DON’T want to stop people from seeking help. Such a change could have the unintended consequence of increasing homicide and suicide rates. Existing laws require professional therapists to let law enforcement know if a patient appears to be a risk to themselves or others… and this should be good enough.
If someone has been found “criminally” ill, where the criminal justice system has found and treated the illness, then taking their gun rights makes more sense.
My last thought on this topic is to tell people that if you feel you are likely to kill yourself, tell someone. And whatever you do, if you must take your own life, don’t take other people with you! Saint Peter will be much more sympathetic if one arrives at the pearly gates alone… even an agnostic can see that if there is any possibility of an after-life one should not drag innocent bystanders into one’s self destruction. And the public will be much more sympathetic to one’s family and loved ones if he has not killed others before killing himself; this is important, because loved ones suffer immensely from suicide anyway, and this type of tragedy could be too much for a parent to bear.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts.
Here is today’s story:
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University shooter’s girlfriend: I couldn’t believe it
WONDER LAKE, Illinois (CNN) — The girlfriend of the gunman who killed five people and then himself at Northern Illinois University last Thursday told CNN there was “no indication he was planning something.”
Jessica Baty said her boyfriend, Steve Kazmierczak, gave no warning of the terror he planned to unleash at NIU.
“He wasn’t erratic. He wasn’t delusional. He was Steve; he was normal,” Jessica Baty tearfully said in an exclusive interview Sunday.
Baty, 28, said she dated Steven Kazmierczak off and on for two years and had most recently been living with him. Continue reading
Councilmembers Rich Zwicker, Don Persson, and I put the final touches on a new Renton Airport Leasing policy at last Thursday’s Transportation Committee Meeting. Huge credit also goes to Marcie Palmer, who chaired this committee last year when the lion’s share of the work was done. We put many, many hours of committee time into this policy, and received much input from residents and the aviation community during the past year.
The new leasing policy, which comprises about a dozen pages of text, makes some important improvements to the process of leasing airport property in the future. Some of the changes are:
(1) A clear application process for people who wish to lease airport property. Up until now, individuals have sent letters or made phone calls with proposals, but it is not always clear whether they are “applying” for lease consideration. A new application process fixes that for future applicants, and makes it clear who is “first in line” on future applications. (Unfortunately, this does not fix the confusion regarding who is first in line for current applicants. The mayor’s office, airport manager, and city attorney will be working with those individuals who believe they have an outstanding commitment from the city… they will try to resolve these situations as fairly as possible)
(2) City ownership of new airport buildings. Applicants who want a ground lease in order to build a hanger, office, or other facility, will now be directed to construct the building in coordination with the city. If they are proposing an appropriate improvement, the city will finance it, own it, and lease it back to the airport tenant. This will be better for all parties. Under the old policy, tenants have to give their buildings to the city at the end of their lease, resulting in an incentive for some to delay/forgo maintenance near the end of the lease period. In addition, the new policy will enable the city to shorten lease periods since new leaseholders will not need 30-50 years to amortize the cost of a building. The shorter lease periods will give the city more options if a tenant is not working out, or if the city wants the land or building for another aviation purpose.
(3) The new lease policy does not give priority to a jet center….instead, it encourages a wide range of aviation uses.
(4) The new lease policy REDUCES the priority placed on the airport fully paying for itself under all circumstances. The old policy made financial return, and self-sustainment a factor above all other considerations. Under our new policy, it is seen as desirable for the airport to pay for itself, but it is recognized that that there may be occasions when the city-as-a-whole would prefer to provide a small subsidy to the the airport to maintain a more peaceful aviation use (i.e. to prevent loud fly-overs.) The highest revenues is not always going to be considered the best use.
(5) The leasing policy gives clear expectations for the financial capability/stability of new applicants for airport space. This addition, strongly promoted by Councilman Don Persson, makes good financial sense and is in line with good leasing practices for other types of real estate.
There are many other improvements in this document as well. As Transportation Chair, I have the honor of presenting the new document to the full council a week from tomorrow.
After a couple years of wrangling with Sonics leadership about a new Seattle or Renton Stadium, the “Soundoff” comment from a reader of todays Seattle PI made me laugh out loud.
Here is the article:
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By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
NEW ORLEANS — In his most disparaging and pessimistic remarks regarding the future of the Sonics in Seattle, NBA Commissioner David Stern termed the Sonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City as an “inevitability” and then revealed that the current ownership group has attempted to buy out the final two years of their lease and pay off the remaining bond debt at KeyArena.
Read the full story here
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And here is the responding “Soundoff” Comment, Posted by melakwa at 2/16/08 8:07 p.m.
How about move the (New Orleans) Hornets to Oklahoma, and then we can build a new floating stadium (for the Sonics) that will be located in Puget Sound? In bad years, the stadium can be towed to New Orleans, and they can host them until the good years roll around again. We can even tow it to Everett or Tacoma every once in awhile so they can see pro ball also. The floating stadium can double as a riverboat casino in New Orleans which will help bolster attendance. As a floating stadium it will be infinitely expandable. If the team and owners still get uppity, we can fire a salvo and send the whole shebang to Davy Jones Locker. Win-win-win-win situation.
Spectators can be sited under our Renton law, specifically because we are trying to keep them out of harms way (and discourage racing). As a reminder, here is a story about the Renton street-racing law.
Here is taday’s news out of the state of Maryland:
7 killed as car hits Md. drag-race crowd
By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago
ACCOKEEK, Md. – A car plowed into a crowd that had gathered to watch a drag race on a suburban road early Saturday, killing seven people and injuring at least four, police said.
Witnesses said they had just watched two cars in the illegal street race speed past when a car without any lights on came up behind them and veered into a crowd of about 50.
“There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible,” said Crystal Gaines, 27, whose father was among the dead.
I watched these videos with interest, and I would bet the fainting is authentic. Fainting would not be unusual given the long hot waits, the standing, the mixed-ages and health of the spectators, the sun (in many cases), and excitement.
Barack Obama has probably seen fainting enough that he takes it in relative stride, and he has probably learned it is safest, and he looks good, if he casually stops his speech and directs medics to the scene.
I’m curious to hear what you other Rentonites think.
Randy
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Here is Elizabeth’s posting, as she left it in my comment section:
I was out driving today and playing radio roulette. Ended up with Dori Monson on 710 KIRO. He was talking about how there have been a person, front & center, fainting at several of Obama’s rallies. When he started watching clips of each event, he said he thought it odd that the person was always front & center, and that he thought Obama basically said the same things each time and always had an unopened bottle of water at his podium that he’d give the person. (It wasn’t the same person at each event.) So Monson’s wondering if these individuals were plants. One caller was a security guy at concerts and he said inevitably someone front & center at concerts faints, and Monson shouldn’t read more into this than people faint.
For sake of objectivity re: Obama, here is Dori Monson’s website.
Click Here
He’s got several of these clips on there so people can watch and decide for themselves. Monson thinks this will show up in the press more and wonders if, after this becomes more public, we’ll stop seeing people fainting at Obama rallies.
I hope it’s just that it’s hot, folks aren’t eating, and they’re just getting caught up in the moment and getting light-headed. I keep searching for a politician who is genuine.
Elizabeth
Subject: Conner Helicopter Appeal Rescheduled
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:56:06 -0800
The Hearing Examiner appeal hearing for the Conner Helicopter Temporary Use
Permit has been rescheduled to Tuesday, March 18th, at 9:00 a.m. at the request
of the City and the applicant. The City requested the later date to avoid
confusion between this action and the code work that is underway. The
applicant’s attorney is unavailable until the March date. The appellants were
notified by our City Attorney and have agreed to the new hearing date. Notice
was mailed to the appellants, applicant, and Parties of Record.
The new hearing date is: Tuesday, March 18, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council
Chambers.
In the event that you receive questions or inquiries regarding the hearing,
please feel free to direct the parties to me at: 425-430-7286 or
jhenning@ci.renton.wa.us
Jennifer Toth Henning, AICP
Planning Manager
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425.430.7286 (ph)
jhenning@ci.renton.wa.us
If anyone wants a list of the 17 Washington State Democrat Party Super-delegates, or their current positions on the presidential nomination, they can be found here.
Greetings!
I just learned that Rob McKenna will be the guest speaker at the 99th Annual George Washington Memorial Celebration at the U.W. Knowing McKenna’s close ties to our city, I thought you would want to know. I recommend attending. It’s a great community event for the whole family from the music, presentations, and the wreath laying. (Besides, George deserves his own event ever since his birthday got lumped into Presidents’ Day!) Randy, feel free to post info on the event on your blog. Below is the basic information. Any and all press coverage for the event is always appreciated so please feel free to forward to your media contacts. The Seattle Times or P-I had a great photo last year of the procession for the wreath laying.
Best,
Elizabeth Stevens
The GREATER SEATTLE DAR REGENTS’ COUNCIL
(Daughters of the American Revolution)
Invites you to the
99th Annual George Washington Memorial Celebration
Monday, 18 February 2008
Roethke Auditorium
Kane Hall
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
All members, your family and friends are invited.
The program will begin at 9:30 AM with music, for your listening pleasure, from The Sammamish Sublimation Band. We know that all who attend will enjoy the entertainment. The guest speaker will be Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna. Following the program, we will place the wreaths at the base of the George Washington statue, which will conclude our ceremony for the day. There is free parking. It is underground, located off 15th Avenue NE, by the pedestrian overpass and signal at NE 41st Ave. Follow the signs to Kane Hall once underground. There is an elevator from the parking area to the auditorium floor (1st).
