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Initiatives

Seattle Will Spend $290 Million+ On Seawall Repair

With overwhelming support of 77%, Seattle will spend an estimated $290 million dollars to repair the Elliott Bay seawall.  It was perfect timing considering the scarcity spoken by the council and Sandy hitting the east coast.  Being fresh in voters minds it was an easy pass.  Of course many don’t understand the consequences of approving it.  Such as their property taxes being raised $68 per year, however, many vote without even understanding most of the details.

The voters also approved a $119 million dollar levy to automate finger print processing at crime scenes.  Seems pretty expensive to me considering they already have a system in place and all they really needed was a larger Internet WIFI range to access and process that info.  That really is a cheap expense if done properly, however, I have said it many times the Seattle City Council does believe Keep Reading

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Legalization Of Same-Sex Marriage Approved

Washington State will become the first state to legalize same sex marriage with a popular vote of the public.  Other states have passed same sex marriage with their court system, however, it has never passed from a popular vote like Washington State has now.  32 states and tried and failed to legalize it before.

As of 10:30 pacific the numbers are very close, however, the win and legalization of same sex marriage is only minutes away and fully expected to pass.  Capital Hill is party central right now.  Many proud supporters are celebrating not only the win for Obama but the victory of Referendum 74 (gay marriage rights).

This measure will make history in this state.  Same Sex couples can apply for marriage licenses as early as December 6th.  Supporters of the law raised nearly $12 million dollars.  That is 5x the amount their opponents raised.  It was also the most raised compared to any other campaign on the ballot.

Washington State Same Sex Marriage
Washington State Same Sex Marriage – Approved.

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Two-Thirds Tax Law Dumped

Yesterday 2-28-13 the will of the people of the state of Washington was wiped out. Hard to believe that for

Initiative 502 Marijuana To Be Legal

Time to break out the baking goods because the legalization of marijuana just passed (Initiative 502).  Soon you’ll be able to make those old school brownies, laced butter, special cookies, or have a small supply of plants for recreational use.

The passing of marijuana makes Washington State one of the the state to legalize marijuana in the nation.  You won’t be able to have much though.  One once will be allowed starting Dec 6th and then the state will start the long process of taxing and regulating the heck out of it.  It will be a tightly regulated system for sure.  Even though marijuana is still illegal by federal law the measure overwhelming passed in King County and many other counties.

I believe this is a right step forward with marijuana and hope we can really support and manage the tax money efficiently.

 

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Presidential Election 2012 – Vote Seattle!

This is it.  The time has come where you need to make the right choice for the next President (and Washington State Measures).  Many news agencies are expecting Obama to take it, however, I am not certain about that.  Whatever happens in the next 4 years – it starts today with your vote Seattle.  Today is Tuesday November 6th, 2012 and that means the Presidential Election 2012 has started.

Seattle Voting Information:

Washington State Measures reviewed on the Emerald City Journal:

Seattle Proposition 1 – (Against)

Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 – (Against)

Initiative Measure No. 502 – (Supported)

Initiative Measure No. 1240 – (Against)

Initiative Measure No. 1185 – (Supported)

Advisory Vote No. 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)

Your 2012 Presidential voting picks (articles):

President Barack Obama OR Mitt Romney

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Photo Of The Obamacare Law. That is a lot of pages!

Obamacare Information

Starting in 2014, Obamacare is a requirement of every American citizen.  Some individuals will get Obamacare through their jobs and

Washington State Measures – How I’m Voting

I have been looking at some of the State Measures and wanted to share a few with you on the Emerald City Journal Newspaper.  These are my thoughts on why I am supporting them or voting against them.  I highly recommend you consider each one and read their descriptions.  Your views may differ compared to mine.

Here we go!

Seattle Proposition 1 – (Against)

 – Regarding the Seattle seawall project.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 – (Against)

– Regarding letting Universities invest our public funds into the stock market or other companies.

Initiative Measure No. 502 – (Supported)

– Regarding the use of marijuana.

Initiative Measure No. 1240 – (Against)

– Regarding opening charter schools.

Initiative Measure No. 1185 – (Supported)

– Regarding a larger majority approved vote to raise taxes.

Advisory Vote No. 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)

 – “The legislature extended, without a vote of the people, expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products and reduced the tax rate, costing $24,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.”

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Two-Thirds Tax Law Dumped

Yesterday 2-28-13 the will of the people of the state of Washington was wiped out. Hard to believe that for

Seattle Proposition 1 – Seattle’s Seawall Measure

While reading the Times this morning trying to decide what are lies and what might be the truth, I ran across an article that caught my eye. Remember Andy and Little Opie and the piers they would sit on and look into the sunset. Gave a person a warm fuzzy feeling. The article this morning does NOT give me that feeling. It is a shame that politicians would stoop so low. 5 councilmen and King County Deputy Executive, Fred Jarrett stood on the waterfront to warn us that a Sandy could happen here. Can you just see them standing looking into the sunset like little Opie. Opie was fishing for a sucker from in the water on his little fish hook but these 6 were fishing for suckers a.k.a.  voters for all they could. I don’t even know what Fred Jarrett does but there must have been something they could be doing rather than going to the seashore during work hours. They should have invited Obama. He would have got in his little Air Force One and toodled right out here and they could have had a photo shoot for him for sure.

Now for the seawall measure. The council members are not earthquake  or hurricane specialists. No one knows/when or if anything of that will happen. They should have taken care of the seawall as it deteriorated. The people who owns the property should have to pay for it not the whole city. Proposition 1 is asking for $290 million. Most of what they have written about it is lies. They are saying if it failed it would severely disrupt daily traffic. Approx 12,300 vehicles use it. 3% of Seattle’s traffic. They should have been worrying about the seawall before they shoved the expensive tunnel mess through. They have no plan. They talk about two piers, but they are not even clear how long the seawall will be. When it might start to be built, when they might finish, or if it would be on budget or just another bottomless pit to scoop taxpayers dollars into. They will pay planners, consultants and have to line a few pockets along the way and the money could be all screwed away before a nail is hammered. Remember the monorail. They blew enough money planning to build the darn thing. I am not sure they even know at this point what they are trying to do, but to pose at the waterfront and try to put the fear of Sandy into the voters is low, low, low. There should be some concrete plans before we give them $290 million.

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Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 (Not Supported)

I will be voting against the Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 which allows “universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock.”  I think any of our money giving to the universities should be highly regulated.  We certainly shouldn’t let them make investments into the stock market with it or other gambling ideas which they think would be better.  First off, we shouldn’t giving the universities any money at all.  They should be rewarded by graduates only and should support themselves.  The universities charge way to much for tuition and books and their management, CEO, football coaches are making big dollars.  Universities make a lot of money and their business model is simple to make things work (students to teacher ratio).  The schools, however, should be regulated by the state as they are now just for doing business in the state but we shouldn’t be giving them more money to gamble on other investments which doesn’t help the school or students working hard there.

In fact, if they are just considering putting into the stock market then that tells me they have way to much money to be thinking about already.

With that being said, that is a no thanks on Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223.

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Two-Thirds Tax Law Dumped

Yesterday 2-28-13 the will of the people of the state of Washington was wiped out. Hard to believe that for

Initiative Measure No. 502 (Marijuana – Supported)

I support Initiative Measure No. 502 concerning making marijuana more legal.  I hate the fact that the only real reason the measure is even on the ballot is because tax revenue will be generated off it similar to liquor.  If it was a free resource then it would not even be considered or presented to the people.  The state is only ok with certain initiatives if they are getting their “fair share”.  Same reason why prostitution will never be legal (unless its highly taxed and regulated).  That is another topic obviously.

As I do support the initiative I also don’t like the 21 and over legal requirement.  If you can legally smoke at 18 now then it should be the same with marijuana.

Another reason why I support the law is because we’ve spent billions of our tax dollars trying the fight it.  The courts are filled, lawyers are greedy, and it’s just a bad situation overall.  For the record I don’t smoke.

I would have liked to of seen how the this tax revenue would be spent.  I would feel better knowing that it would all go to support the schools, education, and safety.  My fear, history, and experience tells me it will be another wasted revenue stream abused.

I think supporting Initiative Measure No. 502 is a movement in the right direction.

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Initiative Measure No. 1240 – Against

At this time I’m against Initiative Measure No. 1240.  Our schools are constantly needing more money now and obviously can’t manage what we have in place so I can’t imagine them digging any deeper into a hole with charter schools.  I do support the idea of the charter school system and perhaps would support it in the future.  At this time, however, better management, reviews, and oversight is needed in our current public schools to see where the over spending is happening and how improvements can be made.  Our public schools today are constantly complaining about lack of funding (I blame it on spending), however, with the money they are getting now through enrollment – it would be passed to the charter schools making it even more difficult.  It’s a very messy situation and the main reason I can’t support it at this time is because our current system (financial for schools) needs to be examined and repaired first.

Initiative Measure No. 1240.

“This measure would authorize up to forty publicly-funded charter schools open to all students, operated through approved, nonreligious, nonprofit organizations, with government oversight; and modify certain laws applicable to them as public schools. “

As I do support the idea of charter schools and would most likely support it down the road, due to to the current situation of public school system I can’t support this initiative at this time.  We need to root out the problems with our current system first.

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Initiative Measure No. 1185 – Supported

I’m tired of the constant and steady (and sneaky) raises in my taxes.  It’s always the same story each time and it goes a little like this “we’re broke” or “the recession is hurting us” or perhaps “they keep cutting our funding”.  It’s troubling especially with all the revenue being generated from every sector.  The revenue being generated is at it’s highest!  I believe the problem is with the spending and management and it each department needs to become completely transparent with line item spending.  Until that happens I will never be for raising taxes.

I believe most people would support raising taxes if they knew where each dollar was going.  They wouldn’t have a problem supporting their schools or the local fire department, however, without honesty and complete transparency, the public will not support it because they know it’s due to wasteful spending internally.

Initiative Measure No. 1185

Initiative Measure No. 1185 is already the law but will be expiring soon.  Your vote supporting it renews the law making it more difficult to raise taxes on all of us.  Your vote for Initiative Measure No. 1185 “would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.”

Just two years ago, 64% of voters approved this measure.  I stand with them to re-instate this measure for many years to come.  Don’t raise my taxes unless you come to me with a plan and full transparency (line item spending) for your department/program.  We then can make a decision if its useful or useless.

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