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Paridon Williams – 50 Ways To Help Another

It’s about 1:30am in Seattle as I share a beer with a friend at the newly updated Belltown Pub. As the last call announcement is broadcasted over the speakers, a very tall house-less man walks in. His beard is a little gray and needs a good shaving. Dressed in black with a shoulder bag over his shoulder that appears to have costs a few dollars. It appears to be another awkward moment where we are going to be hustled for a buck or two. Walking the Seattle streets I am sure you’ve experienced it. Some are more honest than others and just need a beer and/or others have a more elaborate story to get some change. Normally, you just continue walking and don’t engage ignoring the behavior to save yourself the time, story, and money.

Paridon Williams was a little different then most, however. He had a passion about this book. It was a book he created and continues to create which involves helping others out. After his pitch to us, I passed on the offer. I just didn’t get it. Mr. Williams continue to chat it up with my friend (who may have had a few drinks) and eventually I was talked into a 50/50 investment into the book from my friend. He pulled out a copy of the book from his shoulder bag and it was put together quite well. He said he goes to the library and gets it binded at Kinkos. The pages are not numbered, but I am estimating it has approx. 75 pages or so (front and back also). I am guessing it must cost about the same for what he is selling it for ($12.95).

Since I basically gave the book to my friend at the Pub, I figured I would flip through a few pages and check it out (before morning) since I won’t be seeing this book again. The book, however, was impressive – really impressive. The value is in its inspiration from a guy who is struggling and continues to push forward and help others. It is his “masterpiece” and a piece of work that overlooks his own needs and problems for the sake of others. The book is filed with letters he has received from people just like me. Most several days and weeks later. People who turned their backs to him initially but after reading and being inspired have changed their point of view. Some people have also submitted stories, poems, and letters to Peridon Williams inside the book. His book, 50 ways to help another, encourages submissions and that keeps the book updated with new versions. He also has advertising in the book from local Seattle businesses.

In short, it’s a good read from a good guy filled with a whole lot of love from a whole lot of people.

Seattle Sound Transit Will Spend $2.1 Million In Rail & Research

Wow, why would they spend anything on consultants? Ask  anyone who rides the bus and they would get an ear full for free. The operating committee voted to pay EMC Research up to $1.5 million to check riders attitudes, fuel prices, and find what it would take to get a person on the bus or rail. Sound Transit already has a shortfall of $3.9 billion in their 15 year extension plan.

For starters they need a good customer service office with help that at least know where a bus stop is. Some dufus hooded a bus stop by error in Georgetown and it took two weeks for Customer Service to quit saying the stop was open. They could have asked any driver who went by it every half hour. About the time a person figures out a good route they change it. For example the 174 bus used to go from Seattle to Federal Way,  and into the Airport. No transfers and it worked real good and the bus was standing room most of the time. Then they decided to have it go in the tunnel at Holgate so it screwed it up royally and was so unhandy to have to go down in a tunnel station to get the bus. About the time we got that figured out they stopped running it completely. You have to take a bus to the Tukwila Link station(even though you have absolutely no desire to go there) then take a rapid ride from there. I did all my heavy shopping in Federal Way but don’t even go anymore. Once you have to get off and on it’s to time consuming and inconvenient. I don’t know how to get to the airport on the bus anymore. They only think of speed not that riders might want to get off along the highway and shop or do errands.

If you have to scrape the ice off your windshield and drive to a transit station you might as well drive on to work. Bus fare is not a bargain anymore at all. Sound Transit does not have nearly as many riders as they thought they would, maybe its time to just quit building, and paying consultants and doing anything if they are losing money and take the time to LISTEN to riders, not some hot-shot consultant that wouldn’t ride a bus if it were free. Oh, well they can tack on $20.00 to our car tab and have some more to squander.

An Atheist Small Business Bit the Dust Last Weekend

Bart Centre was so sure he wouldn’t be called to heaven today so he started a business to feed the pets of the people who ended up in heaven. Since the Rapture didn’t happen his post-Rapture care for pets left behind probably is not to popular today. He called his business Eternal Earth-Bound Pets USA.

As of May 10 he said he had 250 clients and I would imagine since then would be the busy time.  The cost for his service was $135.00 for the first pet and $20.00 for each additional pet. A rescuer would come to your home within 24 hours and get your pet. It didn’t say but I would imagine you needed to leave your door unlocked because all your friends and neighbors would be in heaven. How about the store that sells the pet food he needs, wouldn’t they be in heaven too? What if at the last minute he was saved and we had to face him up there? I would be pretty ticked off if that happened.

Well I am sure he is entitled to a big bail out of some kind. Just say his business failed and don’t say what kind and I am sure the Federal Government would write him a check for a million or more so he could figure out a new business.

The fools that signed up with him are still better off than the ones who gave all their property and money away. His fees were non refundable and I doubt anyone could find him today anyway.

Taste of West Seattle Is Tonight

Tonight, May 19th, is the Taste Of West Seattle.  If you haven’t got out today and enjoyed the sun then this a great opportunity for you and your family.  The Taste Of West Seattle runs from 6-9pm and you can get tickets online or when you get there.  The event continues to grow every year and this is going to be another big one.  It features dozens of food vendors and plenty of entertainment.  All proce

Seattle Real Estate Market – Down Again

The Seattle real estate market is down again in April and many are starting to think it may never rebound. I believe the general public is feeling better about real estate (compared to a year ago or more) but at the end of the day it’s comes down to money. Many don’t feel secure in their jobs and even more don’t have enough money to invest in a home. When you’re nickled and dimed everyday with the taxes, fines, tolls, penalties, and other dreamed up concoctions it makes it very difficult for the average family. When you were a child, you most likely were taught that home ownership is the American dream. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself. A place where you can call your own instead of paying rent every month (that goes no where).

The real estate market sure has changed overtime. Of course the wages were less back then but you could get a home in the 5K – 20K range. Over the course of 30 years the property would grow in appreciation and eventually you could make a profit, retire on it, or just live comfortably. Unfortuately, the banks have put a stop to that. The average family purchasing a home will not even come close to see the home appreciation as it once was. A home that cost $250K will cost you over $400K over the life of loan. If you add in the additional 3K+ per year property taxes over the 30 years, that would mean you would have paid over 490K. Do you really think your $250K home will appreciate over $490K? The value of home ownership and the Seattle real estate marketing is retirement. You must be in it for the longterm.

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Seattle Housing Authority & Yesler Terrace Makeover

Last Tuesday, the Seattle Housing Authority Board of Commissioners approved the project of redevelopment and the makeover of the Yesler Terrace.  Why the city even owns property, land, real estate and have a Seattle Housing Authortiy Board of Commissioners is another topic but it appears to be another Board that makes decisions for the Seattle residents and is quick to blow money on projects without proper discussions.  The construction is expected to cost 300 million (so they say) and will take 10 to 20 years.

The last step is getting the City of Seattle Council Members to approve it and since money is no object in Seattle Washington I would expect it to easily pass with little to no discussions or debates by the Seattle Council Members.  They probably won’t even have a public meeting.

Seattle Council Members Not Listening

Yesterday, May 17 2011, your Seattle Council Members cancelled a meeting to discuss the possibility of voting on the Alaskan Way Viaduct.  The meeting was scheduled after a judge’s ruling that stated the public could vote on the much debated tunnel. 

There is no doubt in anyones mind the viaduct needs construction.  However, how much we spend on this project is the question.  In such bad financial times should we really be spending billions and billions on all these extra and elaborate things for the tunnel like a community park looking over the water?  Do we really need to bore a tunnel underneath Seattle or should we just flatten the viaduct and connect the roads (saving billions)?  There are so many options available that could save billions yet we have to go the most expensive and elaborate route.

The Seattle Council Members have made up their minds obviously and are pushing forward with all the bells and whistles for the viaduct project.  They don’t want to discuss it and they certainly don’t want the public to vote on it.  The May 17th cancelled meeting demonstrates that they are moving 100% forward no matter what.

If you’re for or against the Seattle viaduct project, one thing must be represented and that is the people.  Seattle Council Members or elected officials with their own egos and agendas must be pushed out the door if they are being shady.  Trying to make deals behind the general public backs (or thinking they know best) is not acceptable.  These officials represent you (the public) and they really need to accept the publics vote.  Shutting out the people out on voting and proposals is clearly a communist move.  A move that is based on what they feel is best (and egos) without getting any feedback from the people who they should be representing. 

Alaskan Way Viaduct
Alaskan Way Viaduct

City of Puyallup Road Construction

It’s amazing the amount of money we waste on road constuction.  Our system is setup so different cities get a certain amount for road construction.  Anything above and beyond the cost the city has the cover or sometimes they can get it from other federal programs etc.  From my research, most road construction isn’t really needed.  Cities use it because they have to.  It’s a use it or lose it system.  The City of Puyallup has several projects going on that are a complete waste of money and now we are starting to hear they can’t cover the extra costs.  Recently, they have been working on Highway 512.  I personally drive Highway 512 between Puyallup and Lakewood all the time and this is a good example of just blowing the money because they need to.  There is absolutly nothing wrong with the Highway.  The other City of Puyallup road construction project we are hearing about is on 39th avenue.  There is no dought this area is congested (it always has been and will continue to be) but this project wasn’t really necessary.  First this road construction project in Puyallup has been going on since 2002.  So far the project has cost the City of Puyallup 15+ million.  The City of Puyallup even had to use a shady practice called “eminent domain” to legally steal the property of many hard working families.  One of them sued the City and won (by jury) a 5.4 million dollar settlement.  His legal fees were over 1 million dollars.  

This is not just about Puyallup it’s about the country and the way our transportation taxes are being wasted.  Instead of just using it (because we’ll lose it) mentality there needs to be a way so this money can be pushed into the areas of the city that really need it.

Seattle’s 6-Figure Salary Club

This is a totally different take on 6 figure salaries that this website has written about because this story in the Times appeared to be highlighting Fire Chief salaries. They stated the Fire Chief was paid slightly more than Mayor Mike McGinn. I am the first to say that public employees salaries are so bloated, out of line, greedy (rest of descriptions are not fit for family reading). BUT, that being said, I want to just stick to the Fireman. I have to defend them completely. If people were paid for the good they do for the community and citizens Fireman would be right at the top. No matter what disaster, whether a little kitchen grease fire or an earthquake they are there. They are also basically on call 24/7 thus a lot of overtime gets racked up. Their job is dangerous but lets not view their salaries on that alone. They are there because they want to be there, they can quit anytime they want. If they cant stand the “heat get out of the kitchen”. That being said they are doing a job that our lives depend on. If ANYONE deserves a high salary it is them and the Policeman. Without them our lives would be in jeopardy.

This was a perfect time for the Times to print their salaries and the perfect time to ask if you would rather pay $160,000 to a Fire Chief, or $600,000 to the Port of Seattle CEO, or $224,000 to the new Superintendant of Schools, $700.000 to the new President of UW. $1.7 million to the UW Football coach etc. Would any of these people be able to help you in any way if you needed help? Would you miss them if everyone quit today because they thought they were working to hard?  They are simply milking the system big time.

I think its time to start thinking what services we can do without and cut the pay of the useless bunch of CEO’s. Managers and Presidents of company’s that are taxpayer supported. It would be fun to see a debate of a Fire Chief and the CEO of the Port of Seattle to see which one performs the most necessary service and rate their pay on that basis.

What is the Difference Between a School Levy and a Family and Education Levy?

There is so much talk of the financial situations at schools and colleges that a person cannot find out where there tax dollars are going. Silly me, I thought the Family and Education Levy was the same (or nearly the same) as a regular run of the mill School Levy. Mayor McGinn was backing the Family and Education Levy so I decided to ask him. Below is his explanation. If you can figure it out please feel free to list your comments on this website or send in a submission for possible publication.

Thank you for writing me about the Families and Education Levy and Seattle Public Schools administration. I want to clarify that this is a Levy for city managed services that support students, and not a school levy for the Seattle Public Schools. The City uses outcome based budgeting to get results for kids. This means we track how we spend our levy funds, to make sure they are meeting our outcomes, instead of being wasted on salaries.

As you know, I do not have jurisdiction over the school district administration. I appreciate your concern about Seattle Public Schools’ difficult financial situation.

Sincerely,

Mike McGinn
Mayor of Seattle

I think we need clarification on what exactly does city managed services do. How does it help the students? The money from this levy goes to the city not directly to the schools to pay their salaries. It must pay some city employee salaries to disburse these funds. He is trying to distance himself from the school district administration and their bloated salaries and how they skim off the major portion of levy money.

The school administration is run about as poorly as the State Welfare dept.  One small example is the unequal treatment kids get. At Garfield kids THAT WANT to take Spanish classes can’t because the classes are full but they were able to come up with a special Spanish class for Tony Wroten so he can cheat his way to play ball at the UW. His enabler Jim Valiere was fired for giving him and Valentino Coleman a “C” grade on his course he never took. Tony Wroten tweeted “we get a three person Spanish Class, #Niceeeee.” Wroten already showed he was trouble when he started at Garfield and had to hire a lawyer (I imagine taxpayers paid for that too) to prove he was eligible to go there. They are cutting Spanish classes, laying off teachers but can still have a special teacher brought in to help a “liar and a cheat” get into the UW. Wroten lied on his application so he should not be able to go to the UW at all, especially on a scholarship. Do you feel this is a good way to spend your tax dollars?

Where is our new Superintendent when we need her? Maybe she is ticked that she is only paid $224,000 where the old one that got fired was paid $294,000. For sure Levy money comes out of our pockets, not thin air like they want you to believe.

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