Category Archives: Government

France Is on Fire

By Harrison Stetler – opinion in the NYT Mr. Stetler is a journalist who writes about French politics and culture. Sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter  Get expert analysis of the news and a guide to the big ideas shaping the … Continue reading

Posted in Essays, Government, Guns, Law, Race | 1 Comment

Mayor Harrell releases blueprint to ‘activate’ Downtown Seattle

By Josh Cohen in Crosscut The laundry list includes ideas for denser housing and expanded homeless outreach — along with some Space Needle-level swings. What does Mayor Bruce Harrell want to do to help Downtown Seattle recover? A little bit … Continue reading

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Fixing Seattle’s Downtown: First, Do No Harm

by David Brewster By David Brewster in the Post Alley Newsletter June 26, 2023 Many are the chefs in the kitchen, cooking up a recipe for the revival of Seattle’s downtown — Downtown Seattle Association, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Markham McIntyre … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Business, environment, Government, In the Neighborhood, Politics, Traffic, Transportation | Comments Off on Fixing Seattle’s Downtown: First, Do No Harm

Juneteenth

by Heather Cox Richardson Tomorrow is the federal holiday honoring Juneteenth, the celebration of the announcement in Texas on June 19th, 1865, that enslaved Americans were free.  On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern … Continue reading

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Illinois becomes first state to pass law curtailing book bans

Thanks to Pam P. llinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivers remarks at the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) 2019 legislative conference in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo CHICAGO, June 13 (Reuters) – Illinois has become the first … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Communication, Government, Law | 1 Comment

Giving Red America a Reason to Love Electric Vehicles

By Binyamin Appelbaum in the NYT June 10th Photographs by Reva Keller Mr. Appelbaum is a member of the editorial board. Ms. Keller is a photographer based in Seattle. Electric vehicles are rare in Moses Lake, Wash., a small city in the … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Climate, Economics, environment, Government | Comments Off on Giving Red America a Reason to Love Electric Vehicles

Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President

Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President By Peter Baker, Michael D. Shear, Katie Rogers and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the NYT There was the time last winter when President Biden was awakened at 3 a.m. while on a trip to Asia and told … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, Government, Politics | Comments Off on Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President

By David Brewster in Post Alley/Seattle A disturbing, Seattle-relevant story in the New York Times traces the exodus of highly educated employees from “superstar cities.” Seattle and other expensive coastal cities are definitely on the list, and the story notes the loss of magnetism … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Business, Crime, environment, Essays, Government, In the Neighborhood, Parks | Comments Off on

From State Senator Jamie Pederson

Thanks to Mary Jane F. Dear friends and neighbors, The lack of affordable housing and homelessness are two of the primary challenges facing our state. In the last decade, roughly one million people moved to Washington, but only about 250,000 … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Homeless | Comments Off on From State Senator Jamie Pederson

Joe Biden and the Struggle for America’s Soul

by David Brooks in the NYT Joe Biden built his 2020 presidential campaign around the idea that “we’re in a battle for the soul of America.” I thought it was a marvelous slogan because it captured the idea that we’re … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Justice, Morality, Politics | 2 Comments

“Seven hundred days of listening, then one day of success”

The remarkable Good Friday Agreement – essay by Heather Cox Richardson I love Northern Ireland. I love the people. I love the place. They’ve been extraordinarily generous and hospitable to me and my wife, my family,” former senator George Mitchell … Continue reading

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Q&A: WA AG Ferguson on Google antitrust case, local news

Thanks to Diana C.  By Brier Dudley – Seattle Times Free Press editor Helping save local journalism in Washington state is a priority for Attorney General Bob Ferguson. That’s partly why he joined eight other state attorneys general and the U.S. … Continue reading

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A president has faced arrest before Trump — for carriage speeding, 150 years ago

Thanks to Bob P. Former President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday on charges related to hush money payments to cover up affairs. While the nature of Trump’s indictment is unprecedented, he’s actually the second to face arrest. The first was … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Law | Comments Off on A president has faced arrest before Trump — for carriage speeding, 150 years ago

Biden Plan to Cut Billions in Medicare Fraud Ignites Lobbying Frenzy

Ed note: The privatized Medicare Advantage programs are making a lot of money. It turns out that a number of the Insurers are “upcoding” the severity of illness in their enrollees in order to be able to charge more. The … Continue reading

Posted in Finance, Government, Health | Comments Off on Biden Plan to Cut Billions in Medicare Fraud Ignites Lobbying Frenzy

The news in perspective by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted in Government, Politics | 1 Comment

Why Poverty Persists in America

Why Poverty Persists in By Matthew Desmond Thanks to Diana C. Published March 9, 2023 Updated March 13, 2023 in the NYT This article is adapted from Matthew Desmond’s book “Poverty, by America.” It is being published on March 21 by Crown. In the past … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Education, Government, Politics, Poverty, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Why Poverty Persists in America

The Silicon Valley Back Rescue/Bailout – what does it mean?

Thanks to Frank C. Also see the Op-Ed piece by Paul Krugman in today’s NYT. It remains to be seen, how the jitters play out over the next several days.

Posted in Economics, Finance, Government | Comments Off on The Silicon Valley Back Rescue/Bailout – what does it mean?

CEG Meeting Minutes for February 17th

Find them here.

Posted in Community Engagement Group, Government | Comments Off on CEG Meeting Minutes for February 17th

Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro blocks death penalty, calls for repeal

Thanks to Pam P. HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday he will not allow Pennsylvania to execute any inmates while he is in office and called for the state’s lawmakers to repeal the death penalty. Shapiro, inaugurated last … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Crime, Government, Law | Comments Off on Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro blocks death penalty, calls for repeal

The life expectancy of a British PM

Thanks to Tim and Tony

Posted in Government | Comments Off on The life expectancy of a British PM

January Skyline quarterly residents’ association meeting – on video

Thanks to Put B. and the staff To find the recent SRA quarterly meeting, one scrolls down to the section titled “Videos” on Caremerge and expands it to show subtitles.  One of them is 2023 Videos, with a blue highlight … Continue reading

Posted in CCRC Info, Communication, Government, Skyline Info | Comments Off on January Skyline quarterly residents’ association meeting – on video

Don’t Try to Appease Economic Terrorists

By Paul Krugman in the NYT A few days ago I received an automated text from my bank. For some reason the bank’s algorithm flagged a valid charge on my debit card as potentially questionable; the text asked me to verify … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Finance, Government | 1 Comment

US Postal Service to purchase 66,000 electric delivery vehicles in major shift

Thanks to Pam P. By UMAR SHAKIR from The Verge The United States Postal Service said that it will add 66,000 fully electric delivery vehicles to its aging and polluting fleet of trucks. The mail agency agreed to spend $9.6 billion on 106,000 … Continue reading

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A Christmas message from two Presidents – one with hope and grace; one with anger and lies

Posted in Government | Comments Off on A Christmas message from two Presidents – one with hope and grace; one with anger and lies

WHY THE PAST 10 YEARS OF AMERICAN LIFE HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY STUPID

It’s not just a phase.By Jonathan Haidt in The Atlantic What would it have been like to live in Babel in the days after its destruction? In the Book of Genesis, we are told that the descendants of Noah built a great … Continue reading

Posted in Essays, Government, History | Comments Off on WHY THE PAST 10 YEARS OF AMERICAN LIFE HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY STUPID