Cary Moon for Mayor
This blog endorses Cary Moon for Mayor of Seattle.
Why Moon over her opponent, Jenny Durkan?
1. Moon is willing to put herself out there and talk about education issues at her campaign page (look under Racial Equity). As well, she just did a recent story at Medium. It's meaty, good reading.
2. Moon interviewed with me and Durkan didn't.
However, what did Durkan say in an interview with the 36th Dems earlier this year about public education? (bold mine)
3. Moon has many more ideas around how the City can support public education than Durkan. Durkan has said two things - she doesn't like how the School Board works and she'd like to divert Families and Education levy money to provide free community college to SPS grads.
4. When Moon shows up to endorsement events, she sticks around and talks to people. Durkan - from the three events I have been at where she has appeared - came for the main thing and then beats a quick exit.
I think someone who is willing to truly engage with voters is the person I would want to be Mayor.
I note that the Times covered an ed reform forum that happened last night but, like many a Time's article, it is vague. It had not a single quote from any of the actual Seattle School Board candidates but it did from mayoral candidates. Weird.
Why Moon over her opponent, Jenny Durkan?
1. Moon is willing to put herself out there and talk about education issues at her campaign page (look under Racial Equity). As well, she just did a recent story at Medium. It's meaty, good reading.
2. Moon interviewed with me and Durkan didn't.
However, what did Durkan say in an interview with the 36th Dems earlier this year about public education? (bold mine)
Question: In your view, what is the role of the City in assuring equal educational achievement and achievement opportunities in Seattle Public Schools?I'm not voting for anyone who has ideas about taking over the Board and/or the district. She has not once explained those comments.
Answer:
You know, I think it's a really difficult thing when the City has such a critical role in education but yet the School Board controls it. And I think we have to reexamine those connections as a city but there are things we have done and continue to do.
For one, pre-K. You know, universal pre-k , I think, is not just an important issue but I think it should be a universal right. I think if we are looking to the future and what families need, we have to have it. Our pre-k initiative, you know, the initiative we funded ourself, it expires.
But we have to work with the schools and find better ways so that every kid has the chance to excel and not get left behind. I think we are more and more balkanizing into neighborhoods and locales and have so many languages that are spoken in the public schools...the future of our city is the kids. There's just no question about that. And I think we have to find ways to work with the School Board and to reexamine if that's the most efficient way to work in schools.
One thing I think we can't do is blame teachers. You know, I was a high school teacher for two years, between college and law school. And teaching school is one of the hardest jobs there is. You're required to not just be teacher but social worker, sometimes absentee parent, you name it - you have every single role. And more and more I think we have not done enough to support our teachers.
3. Moon has many more ideas around how the City can support public education than Durkan. Durkan has said two things - she doesn't like how the School Board works and she'd like to divert Families and Education levy money to provide free community college to SPS grads.
4. When Moon shows up to endorsement events, she sticks around and talks to people. Durkan - from the three events I have been at where she has appeared - came for the main thing and then beats a quick exit.
I think someone who is willing to truly engage with voters is the person I would want to be Mayor.
I note that the Times covered an ed reform forum that happened last night but, like many a Time's article, it is vague. It had not a single quote from any of the actual Seattle School Board candidates but it did from mayoral candidates. Weird.
One topic area, and a focus of questions in others, was the city’s Families and Education Levy and the Seattle Preschool Levy, both of which are up for renewal in 2018. The levies are separate from the school district.Moon said this in the Medium about the F&E levy (bold hers):
Mayoral candidate Jenny Durkan announced in August that she wants the city to pay for two years of community-college tuition for all Seattle public high school graduates, using the Families and Education Levy as one of the funding sources. In a four-part education equity plan released Tuesday, candidate Cary Moon said she thinks levy money should only center on K-12 education “as it was originally intended.”
And unlike my opponent, I believe that levy money should remain focused on K-12 education as it was originally intended.In a one-minute wrap-up at the education forum from the Times' article:
However, the city should evaluate levy-funding decisions based on need and in consultation with the community rather than relying solely on high stakes test scores. I want to acknowledge Nikkita Oliver and the Seattle’s Peoples Party for raising this issue during the primary election campaign, and thank the community leaders who have discussed with me the need to ensure we are doing everything we can to target levy funding in a way that benefits all children — but especially students who need additional support to succeed.We must also re-prioritize funding for crucial social services that low-income and homeless students need to succeed, including social workers, family support, school nurses, and mental health counselors. In addition, the city should provide greater technical assistance to programs navigating the grant application process for levy funds, and review grant-making policy to ensure the application and evaluation metrics create a level playing field for funding access. Finally, we should increase funding for critical thinking, civics, and arts education to provide all students with a well-rounded education.
At the end of the forum, each candidate offered a one-minute reflection, with many speaking about the importance of learning from others in the room.Both things are true but I still believe Durkan would spend the time (and the money) to take over the system rather than truly support it.
“If we can provide every kid in this city with a great education and a chance to pursue their dream, we will have made a giant step forward to ending racial inequity in our city,” Moon said.
Durkan said she learned from the participants that community members are very engaged, but very frustrated with the current system.
“ … We have heard the same problems spoken about over and over again, but it doesn’t seem that people are delivering real solutions or delivering on the promises,” Durkan said.
Cary Moon for Mayor.
Comments
If we can honestly and directly address the whyte supremacy and casual racism lying underneath, within, and on top of nearly every policy decision that gets made, we might actually start taking steps toward addressing the racial inequality in the city. This is the conversation we need to be having. I resent the fact that Cary Moon is being put forward as a white savior to POC, particularly when she has appropriated Nikkita Oliver's racial platform without honest attribution.
I specifically asked Cary about this issue during her event at El Centro de la Raza on Monday. Her answer, though well-intentioned as all whyte feminists are, indicated she does not understand that racism is not the same as ageism, classism, or misogyny.
Racial inequity and intersectionality is the major issue our city - and country - is facing right now, and cannot be uncoupled from the other issues all the endorsements list in Cary's qualifications.
Please explain, what is "whyte"?
And what are good examples of the "casual racism lying underneath, within, and on top of nearly every policy decision that gets made"?
Also, how about some examples of policies that will effectively address racial inequality in this city?
unclear
Moon's Medium statement includes, regarding the opportunity gap, a claim that "Until we recognize these struggles are the result of deliberate policy choices ..." It's all just cowardly virtue signalling if she isn't willing to say what policy choices she is referring to. Of course she doesn't. Politicians love to pander on topics where they have no real influence, because they think it gives them free points with no accountability.
Other commenters on this blog have put the blame on the neighborhood school assignment policy, and suggested that a return to forced busing to break up "impacted" schools would reduce the opportunity gap. Whatever you think of that, it at least reflects the courage to state a policy, and it's just about the only concrete policy anyone has ever mentioned. Is that it? Does Cary Moon favor forced busing? Or does she have other policy changes in mind? Or is it all just empty talk?
"I want to acknowledge Nikkita Oliver and the Seattle’s Peoples Party for raising this issue during the primary election campaign, and thank the community leaders who have discussed with me the need to ensure we are doing everything we can to target levy funding in a way that benefits all children — but especially students who need additional support to succeed."
That's Moon's statement in her op-ed. Maybe she is late to saying this but I note that The Stranger said that Durkan also appropriated from Oliver's campaign.
Also, this - "as all whyte feminists are" is not really fair. No one group - as you may know - is all one thing.
Outsider, have you ever written an op-ed? You only get so much space so while you think it's because she didn't name the policy choices, she might not have been able to do so.
Ask Cary what she thinks. I'll bet you'll get an answer from her far sooner than from Durkan.
Please show one iota of evidence for this accusatory prediction. Without supporting facts, this is Breitbart journalism.
"I believe"=ESP
Sounds eerily like "I believe McMaster is working with the Russians because I don't like him."
Just because Durkan didn't grant you an interview doesn't mean she deserves to be treated with truthiness.
undecided voter
Exactly. Totally agree. Also, do not agree with conversations in Seattle that ignore poverty of all children including white, asian etc. When we only talk about race (equity in HCC only focused on race etc) & do not talk about poverty, we are hurting poor kids who are being excluded from the conversation. They are truly without voice in this conversation. We have a long way to go.
-DG
Do not try the Breitbart tag on me. That dog won't hunt.
Also, I say "I believe" to show this is my opinion (based on my research). I try not to tell people what to do. Show me someone who never says "I believe."
I'm always interested in people who attack, rather than give evidence to support their own position.
DG, I agree but good luck with that argument. Many people get very upset and will say, 1) "you think poor kids can't learn", and 2) "you want to solve poverty before educating kids?"
Neither thing is true, of course, but it's a way to deflect your argument.
And yes #allwhytefeminists. I used that term specifically and purposefully.
Do not assume that Jenny Durkan gets a pass on pandering to marginalized groups to win the "which whyte woman candidate is the better advocate for intersectionality" award.
Of course, Durkan is shamelessly most concerned with winning the whyte vote in Seattle. She clearly knows which side the 'who holds the power and controls policy making in Seattle' bread is buttered on.
I'm sorry you think all white women think and act the same way.
Specifics, please
I too supported Nikkita Oliver in the primary. She's not one of the final two candidates any more. It's Moon or Durkan. Only choices left. Moon takes these issues seriously and has policy proposals to match. Durkan doesn't care and won't care in office. I doubt Moon is perfect. But in an election between her and Durkan, I choose Moon.
If someone doesn't want to choose Moon, that's fine too. Then they are choosing Durkan. Let's just be honest about that.
Delridgeite
Why no response to my legitimate questions (9/20/17, 12:16 PM)?
unclear
I recognize those are our choices. I recognize that a whyte woman will become our next mayor, no matter what I do or say. The fact that we no longer have a WOC in the race only makes it more imperative that the conversation surrounding intersectionality and racial equity is kept on the front burner.
If Cary Moon he's going to put herself out there as someone who feels she is the right person to address these issues, I am going to challenge her to address them in a way that does not continue to maintain the whyte culture default narrative - whether or not I plan to vote for her. For example, her recently presented Four Point Plan for Education started right off the bat with discussing the racist idea of an "achievement gap." They changed it to "opportunity gap," after it was pointed out, but they seem to be trying to cover, rather than listening and understanding. This is the conversation we should be having.
Again, I'm not going to stop trying to change the narrative, no matter who I vote for.
Her campaign from my perspective is one of nothing more than virtue signaling. She has no experience to back up her claims of virtue but she says the right words to the right groups who are focused on equity. But what faith do you have that she has the political and management chops to get anything accomplished?
Maybe in the political climate of this city, experience isn't necessary. I could argue it's actually harmful to electoral success. Virtue signaling (without any experience that might contradict one's words) is the path to electoral success.
Cary Moon has inexperience and the right code words in spades. She'll probably win.
Federalist 10
Richelle, I appreciate your perspective. But I do think it would be helpful to explain what you mean by "whyte," which is not an expression everyone is familiar with (or anyone - I Googled it and came up with nothing). If you are going to use "that term specifically and purposefully," then bring your audience along with you.
Flummoxed
1) "Whyte": Online algorithms are biased towards what is perceived as hate speech against white people. When POC use "white" in posts that get reported, they are often suspended or sanctioned. However, when whyte people are actively racist and say things about black people, nothing happens. Particularly true in with Facebook, and this blog's conversations are often reposted there.
2) EVERYTHING about Seattle's political landscape is casually or covertly racist because it ascribes to the idea that the whyte culture default narrative should always prevail. The police suit up in riot gear for BLM marches, even those predominately attended by whyte people, while the women's march - The large numbers of which allowed for the possibility of a much more unrest breaking out - was received by officers wearing pussy hats and high-fiving marchers; urban planning and city programs always lean towards favoriting whyte communities and neighborhoods; our first WOC mayoral candidate spent much of her campaign being questioned about her qualifications for the job, when one of the whyte woman who made it through has no more experience managing and leading large projects - and the one big initiative she did take leadership on was a failure.
3) It's difficult to outline policies that would serve to address racial inequity until the narrative is changed and those who have the power elevate the conversation that would demand dismantling the culture of white supremacy and systemic racism in Seattle - at the cost of their own privilege; until we stop patting ourselves on the back for being so progressive when we can't even look inward and admit own failures to that end; until I can use a fairly common and easily googled term like "whyte feminism" without being dismissed with a #notallwhytewomen response.
For the record, it IS an achievement gap. The indicators we use to measure it are achievement-based (e.g., test scores, graduation rates). But we understand that socioeconomic factors play a large role in these achievement disparities, so it is more "PC" to call it an opportunity gap so we aren't blaming the kids. The same issue applies if we're looking at it by income instead of race--it's not racist to say there's an achievement gap by income, but it still makes it sound like we're blaming kids. So we call it an opportunity gap instead. To avoid blaming kids for their limited opportunities, not because the term "achievement gap" is racist.
Measure twice
I'lll against say that I don't like putting ALL people in AN'y group into a category and saying they are all alike. That's just me. I'm not dismissing anyone; I'm saying I don't believe that fair to anyone.
Measure twice, you are right but using "achievement" implies it is harder for kids of color to achieve (this is what I have been told).
I can't do much about using the term "whyte feminism" leading you to respond not all whyte women - unless I defer to the whyte culture default narrative that our implicit bias tells us is the only acceptable one. I'm workng to change the narrative.
Grow Up
Her usage of "whyte" is the same as the usage of "womyn" or "Latinx," or the more trendoid "wypipo."In this case, it's a test to expose those who would rather whine about spelling than address racism. Gotcha.
-- Ivan Weiss
1) "Whyte": Online algorithms are biased towards what is perceived as hate speech against white people. When POC use "white" in posts that get reported, they are often suspended or sanctioned. However, when whyte people are actively racist and say things about black people, nothing happens. Particularly true in with Facebook, and this blog's conversations are often reposted there.
Is very true. Changing the spellings hides it from the trolls who troll the algorithms and report POC for their posts on Facebook. White people can get away with saying hideous things on Facebook while POC are penalized and silenced. I have seen it happen first hand with my friends.
HP
The unsanctioned camps are not healthy for the homeless. They are bad for the environment and our streams. We need more sanctioned areas with trash pickup and bathrooms. We need more drug rehab facilities. More methadone clinics. We need to do more to keep the cheaper rental units.
HP
Also at the last straw with the filth in the city and the unsanctioned tent and RV camps. Sweeps are fine. Move to a shelter bed, take the social service helps this city and its voters including my family support, or turn them down and move on. Period. Doubt schools will be a decider in this race. A sane and safe policy towards those living on the streets is top of mind for more voters. So is affordable housing. Amazon's growth and Amazon's expansion elsewhere. Transportation. Taxes. Police force. These issues will decide the election not school position. From what I've seen, both candidates know it and will not be giving much thought to SPS. Unfortunate but that is politics.
"Opted Out"
Re: your #2, that seems a bit extreme. "Urban planning and city programs always lean towards favoriting whyte communities and neighborhoods." Always? Just off the top of my head I can think of several programs that don't seem to fit that, but I'm sure there are many others:
- Discount utilities for low-income persons
- Families and Education Levy programs that serve high percentages of non-white students and families
- Seattle's first-come, first served rental law designed to reduce rental discrimination, and which also bans "preferred employer" rental policies
- The proposed luxury real estate tax
Re: your #3, your response doesn't sound all that different than Cary Moon's, to me. You complain that she doesn't get it and isn't citing specific policies, yet you say can't really do that either--that we need to "dismantle the culture of white supremacy and systemic racism in Seattle" before we can discuss policies to address racial inequity? Aren't those linked? Do you really think we can reduce/eliminate systemic racism in the absence of policies to address racial inequity?
As to your comment about the term "whyte feminism," yes, it's easily googled--it's just not easy to get any relevant hits.
unclear
She was a leader on same sex marriage in our state and was the first openly gay US Attorney. As US Attorney, she led and managed a large government office.
She has identified specific policy initiatives around housing, transportation, civil rights, and public safety.
She has the endorsement of business organizations AND trade unions as well as many civic organizations like the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.
She is a true progressive who will temper the worst instincts of our current city council.
Federalist 10
-Long Road
I thought Ed Murray was the leader on same sex marriage in our state.
Federalist 10, I'm thinking you're not so happy with the City Council but I also don't want a person as Mayor who will be telling everyone what to do.
Ed Murray was a leader on same sex marriage as was Jenny Durkan. There was no one person. It took many, many of us. I said she was a leader, not THE leader.
Mayor can't tell the city council what to do, but can veto and provide leadership and direction. She has shown, unlike Moon, the ability to build consensus and to negotiate.
Federalist 10
Don't these people usually fight against corporate tools?
Federalist 10
This is one time when a single linked interests brings together strange bedfellows. Labor benefits and so do developers. It's all just swell except for the actual people who need a place to live.
Moon has over a decade of experience working with city government on many issues. Durkan rarely ever worked with city government, and when she did, it was usually in her role as a prosecutor upholding a broken criminal justice system.
Durkan has a ton of money and consultants who know how to mislead people into thinking she's some sort of progressive. But I suspect even her advocates here know that she isn't, with the thinly-veiled references to her being a "true progressive who will temper the worst instincts of our current city council." If she's a true progressive, there wouldn't be anything for her to temper.
Durkan's campaign is really built on a series of dogwhistles to those who dislike Seattle's progressive turn. And on education, she will be truly terrible, pursuing ed reform.
JR
Can't you admit, without being willing to vote for Durkan, that the limited view of Durkan that Moon and her allies have painted Durkan just doesn't fit?
Federalist 10
Federalist 10
The only thing broken with our criminal justice system is its failure to prosecute criminals at a rate that makes our city safe for those who fund its government.
Some people
HP
"Interesting that not a single person said why they are supporting Durkan. Hmmm."
"Moon interviewed with me and Durkan didn't." (top of the list reason for Cary endorsement)
Like it or not, that last quote will taint anything you say about this race (legitimate point or not) since your choice *seems* to be more about your wounded ego from Durkan's declining you an interview than about the race itself.
Now why did she not give you a journalist interview?
Undecided Voter
Dickerson is an advocate for race equity programming in the district, btw.
Seems plenty of people are actually leaving SPS for private schools in this district--and for plenty of good reasons.
The "threat" to do so ("on the fence") continues to be in the domain of those who use it as a tactic to preserve their "privilege" and segregated programs (even though the district no longer cares about the threat because of crowded schools).
If "some people" doesn't get the comment deleted--but this response does--it's par for the course.
Just anFYI
Wait and tell us you've "gone private" after you're student is no longer an SPS student.
That way, it will no longer be a tactic threat.
Just anFYI
What is extreme is the fact that this country, it's government, education system, healthcare system, etc have been built and maintained for whyte people through genocide, whyte supremacy, slavery and systemic racism that has never been honestly addressed or dismantled. The programs you cite are but bandages that occasionally only partially stem the bleeding on a much larger problem/injury. And the policies don't speak to just race. They combine race, class, gender, age, etc - which are not equal civil rights issues. In Seattle, they do serve to allow our citizenry to pat themselves on the back for being enlightened, ahead of the game, progressive on civil/human rights issues while not addressing its own complicity, and casually racist/classist/privileged attitudes. For example:
-The housing market is skyrocketing, and my property taxes are continually on the rise BUT
-I don't want the affordable housing building to be constructed near me because it will lower my property value. (Always a racist dog-whistle)
-There are homeless people and needles all over the city! BUT
-I don't support the urban rest stops or safe-injection sites because it enables homelessness and drug use.
-Traffic is horrible and there are too many cars on the road. BUT
-Quit building bike infrastructure and increasing bus lanes!
(Words for the examples above from Jamee Ashburn)
These are incredibly emotional and uncomfortable subjects - and life or death for some of us. They cause pain when discussed, and they should, because it has a very long and painful history. Unfortunately, Seattlites are pretty adverse to being out of their comfort zone, and really don't like it when you suggest their pride in being on the top 10 list some "most progressive city" lists is problematic and not entirely accurate.
And in terms of my message and Cary's message, no they are not the same. I'm not running for office, so it is not incumbent upon me to suggest policies and programs to address the systemic racism and white supremacy in this city, but that certainly doesn't preclude the validity of my pointing out that a wealthy whyte woman is not the person to lead this conversation just because she purports to care a lot. She has clearly not truly addressed her own implicit bias around white privilege and race. She equates race with other civil rights issues, and they are not the same. But I don't think setting up programs in the absence of looking honestly and deeply at our city's own racist whyte privileged attitudes will be truly effective or do anything but make whyte people feel they're doing SOMETHING and that POC should be grateful for it.
On another note I find it very troubling that someone who has so much power in influence over the narrative surrounding education in Seattle is clearly triggered by my addressing the attitudes of many whyte people.
I'm firmly in the "undecided" camp for the mayoral election. There is much about Durkan I found troubling, but I do notice some of the critiques being lobbed at her are the similar to those used against Hillary Clinton. And Moon is being held up as an outsider who can save us in much the same way as was Bernie Sanders.
It is interesting that Moon gets damned for having money and yet wants rich people to pay more.
No, Federalist,most of the development is NOT going to help with more affordable housing. More housing? Sure, but not affordable housing.
Will it provide union jobs? Sure, but that's short-term.
The "Durkan not interviewing with me" is not at the top of the list.
Next, I never have said I'm a journalist so that's not valid either.
Finally, though, I am a known and respected citizen-reporter in this city. I know some people just hate that but most people who know public education in this city, understand that I have a solid background in public education in this city. That I am media to Senator Murray and Governor Inslee and the Washington State Charter Commission, etc. should tell Durkan something.
As well, the problem is that NO one else would truly ask questions about public education. Every single mayoral candidate I talked to said, "No one else asked me about any of this."
I'm not "wounded," I'm concerned that her campaign staff said, over and over, she DID want to interview and then didn't follow up. They could have said no from the get-go and yet they didn't. Makes me wonder how her own staff might act in the future should she win.
JUst an FYI, neither you nor Some People did any name calling and expressed an opinion. Both statements can stand.
One issue that polite PC people never talk about is -- for every unit of affordable housing created by the city, there will be 100 people who want it. Who will be the lucky ones who get that private windfall? The PC socialists would probably prefer that it be community organizers, adjunct professors of womxn studies, and drug addicts. The corporate interests would probably prefer hotel maids and bartenders. In my fevered imagination, that is the real behind-the-scenes struggle that distinguishes all the look-alike, sound-alike progressive candidates who show up for ever Seattle election.
The corporate interests are probably nervous about someone like Nikita Oliver, who could do for Seattle what Coleman Young did for Detroit -- bring down housing prices, eliminate traffic jams, return whole city blocks to forest. Amazon is the contemporary General Motors, and someday its gleaming SOLU headquarters could be like GM's Renaissance Center -- a monument to hubris in a beat-up city. That's why Amazon is building a second headquarters. Whipsawing its home cities will be the Amazon MO going forward. The million-dollar-bungalow voters probably worry about all this too.
Meanwhile, the self-supporting non-government middle class have no future in Seattle, and no support in city hall, and can only watch with amusement as these politics unfold. (That is my default bourgeois narrative, in case you were wondering. Lecture all you want; I'm sticking to it.)
P.S. The "threat" to go private is largely a bluff. Most who could afford it are already gone, and anyone who huffs and puffs in a blog comment probably can't afford it. My advice to the threateners -- no one is fooled. You look foolish doing it. The word you are looking for is "vouchers."
Forced out
In ordinary and professional parlance, "reporter" and "journalist" are synonyms.
Also, you have made it clear that you are given a press pass in Olympia because you are "press"
Your attempted parsing of words is ineffective and, frankly, insulting.
Undecided Voter
I don't know if this is a Seattle affect, but there isn't a collective "POC" experience or identity. It just doesn't exist.
There is a spectrum of values from conservative to progressive within all people regardless of race. Using political affiliation as a proxy for values, Blacks may strongly skew Democrat, but over a quarter of both Hispanics and Asians lean Republican on a national level. Part of George W. Bush's legendary win of over 40% of the Hispanic vote was because he strategically spoke to the more socially conservative values of many Hispanics. Hispanics were willing to cross the party line when values were the selling point.
In cities much more diverse than Seattle such as Los Angeles and New York, conflict and competition between races and among their diverse sub-groups has unfortunately magnified the differences vs. uniting in common values.
If you said progressive left, then I could see a collective set of values. However, POC, definitely not.
Been There
Durkan is similar to Ed Murray. IMO, Durkan more likely to use the Family and Education levy to do an end-run around the board, and seek mayoral control of public education. Although, mayoral control of public education has to go through the legislature.
I also believe Moon makes promises that can't be kept.
-YW
I think you make a lot incorrect and prejudiced assumptions. Changing spellings to hide terms from trolls so they don't report you for your postings is absolutely a social media thing. Pyple who aren't posting on social media don't need to worry about disguising race-related postings since they aren't making them, nor are they likely to come across or pay attention to discussion of the issue. It's not genetic, or shared via a secret POC newsletter. My spouse--a "POC"--was also unfamiliar with this usage.
But those examples you gave of the "racist/classist/privileged attitudes" of "whyte" Seattlites? Yikes. Do some people think like that? Probably. Is that the "whyte attitude"? No--but the fact that you are willing to suggest that says a lot about your racial prejudices and willingness to make negative assumptions about people you know nothing about, based on their race. Kind of funny, given that you're supposedly trying to eliminate racism.
For the record, white friends in my neighborhood are fine with affordable housing being built nearby, provided there are appropriate amenities to support the development (e.g., parking, transportation, stores, services, etc.). Property values are not their concern. A well-functioning (and diverse!) neighborhood is. If the neighborhood already has problems and more development is likely to make it worse, so it's no wonder people balk.
Most of my white friends support urban rest stops or safe-injection sites because they understand full well that most homelessness and drug addiction are not choices, and that these people deserve opportunities to turn their lives around. They support "housing first" approaches, funding for mental health care, etc. Imagine that.
Most of my white friends do agree with the first part of your statement--that traffic is horrible and there are too many cars on the road--but they also support, not oppose, more biking infrastructure and busing lanes. They even bike to work themselves, and use public transit for themselves and their kids. Imagine that.
You seem to have a pretty narrow view of how white people think. I urge you to expand your view a little. Some of the issues you assume have to do with whiteness are probably better attributed to political leanings (e.g., opposition to safe injection sites is more likely a conservative position, not a white one) or other issues. Things are not all so black and white like you seem to think.
gray
Now comes another wet ,cold and dark 300 days and there is zero chance that the number of bike commuters will increase. From my perspective a person is risking their life riding in the dark on any main arterial designed for cars not bikes.
I have used metro, biked , drove, walked and rode a motorcycle to work in Seattle. Biking has to be the worst for many reasons, those of you that haven't should reserve your comments until you have tried it.
MJ
Also, lets be clear. Having a genetic predisposition to addiction may not be in a person's control, but using sure is. Life in prison for a heroin dealer would go a long way to stop the problem.
Normalizing heroin use is the wrong thing to do.
MJ
MJ
We do not have three people on the board that support charter schools. Let's not confuse conjecture with facts. If you are going to write something- prove that your statement is correct.
Blandford
Geary
Burke
Patu seems to support a sudo charter school system in poor areas, like SE Seattle.
Why do I think these people support charters? I think that because of either things they have said, wrote or what their spouses have wrote or said.
So you sound like you think there are no facts to back up my suspicions?
MJ
Suspicions are not facts. I will no longer engage with MJ.
Stop Rumors
You have to look deeper and decode what they say and what they do. HCC destruction is a path to charters, opportunity gaps are fuel for charters. STEM programs are levers for STEM charters. Special programs for certain schools is already akin to the public funding a sudo charter program and the programs are not fully supported by the district. Once they pull the programs then the MCW revolt will begin.
Go to any one of these board members meetings and ask them directly about HCC, STEM and opportunity gaps and you might have a different opinion. Watch their eyes and expressions closely.
Finally the state's redistribution of property tax funds will fuel the rebellion that will finally push people over the edge and open the floodgates for charters if the above reasons were not enough.
MJ
I appreciate your alternative viewpoints. I think we all are served by having our beliefs challenged.
-NW Mom
And who would that be but Blanford who is leaving? Geary and Burke are not for charters. Where is your evidence? Mine is that they told they weren't. You'll have to actually say where and when they said what they said. And spouses don't count.
Sigh.
I'm really surprised that you would support or for that matter believe a thing that Jill Geary has said or will say in the future. Shall we count the reasons for not trusting nor believing Geary?
Ok I guess if I can't count what spouses say then Burke is off the list. So why don't you ask Burke about charter math focused schools and who he might know that wants to start one. Oh and ask if he supports that person's effort.
Then there was two.
MJ
It's this kind of special interest representation which punishes the general public and if you are poor and marginalized person with no political connection to city hall, things get way worse. Your problems become political fodder to serve other people's special interest. Your problems are their paycheck and you misfortune provides good photo op and a touching annecdote to fill a politician's speech.
I don't see SPS families geting anywhere with either of these two candidates. But at least Moon comes off more direct while Durkan plays it safe and will coop her opponents' position when it's politically beneficial to do so. Durkan is the big money and the establishment's choice for that reason. She'll win and this blog will thrive dealing with problems which never go away.
reader
PS: Patu has my vote.
Of course, people could say different things in the future but based on what they ran on and their behavior now, I do not see what you are saying. I'd be the first to be all over it if I thought it was true. And, if it is, that will definitely be something I'll be chatting with them about.
Reader, I would like the blog to thrive but because we are finding solutions to SPS problems, not because more are being created.
I'm voting for Durkan because I think she can get something done. The city has spent a lot of money and the outcomes have been lousy in most areas. I understand people's hesitation about what she might get done because of her association with Murray, but the only two candidates are Durkan and Moon. Of the two, I think she will have a better impact on the city.
@Richelle. I do NOT support safe-injection sites. It has nothing to do with NIMBY and it is insulting and a cop-out to imply it does. Many users are asking for treatment on demand. Put the money into treatment centers so people who want treatment can get access to treatment. Current data (Dr. Caleb Banta Green)
says that 78% of people using syringe exchanges would go into treatment if it was available. If we were able to successfully offer treatment to these people, and distribute Naloxone to anyone who requested it, we would bring down the rate of addiction. It's not about Nimbyism, it's about helping people.
Tired