LESS TALK, MORE ACTION! What are we waiting for??
FYI, I don’t believe in ANYONE/THING campaigning prior to 4-6wks before an election, as in other countries. It is one of many changes that should be made here.
On May 17, the final day to register to run in the city of Seattle, like many of you I had had it with the state of things. Much came to a head that week: from all the terrible anti-abortion assholery nationwide, to more women victims of various abusive crap, to vocal intolerance of a women’s tiny home village on 15th Ave in Ballard, to all the debate ( and continued assholery ) around our homeless, substance abuse problems, mental health needs and way too much over-development while tearing down our neighborhoods. Two hours before the deadline I registered, thinking to myself “well, I can take the weekend to decide if I want off the ballot and Voters Guide, if I’m really gonna be serious”…
What really set me off and clinched the deal was our Nextdoor list. A guy ( yeah, I know who you are but will not give you the credit ) actually said the words “BURN THE TENTS”. Later, another guy made a crack about using NAPALM. On humans. On THE HOMELESS. Excuse me?! Where is (y)our compassion?? How is this human(e) in any way?? Why is it that seemingly, only The Privileged matter?? WTF, people! Mature people do not joke about hurting others. Now I want to verbally slap some of you — and I have now, on Nextdoor, and will continue to do so.
Btw, regarding death threats or threats of violence or mischief to city council members OR ANYONE: at best, this is NOT the way to act if you want to be heard. Talking to you, Ballard folks re Mike O’Brien’s being thrown out of Nordic Museum, Nazi assholes threatening Ari Hoffman, those who threatened Rob Johnson. Some of you are acting like spoiled whiny brats, some as dangerous criminals. Stop it. Unacceptable and disgusting.
I am a “Seriously Challenging the Status Quo & Recent Shit” candidate. A Protest Candidate. A Real Person candidate. A fellow home owning, taxpaying, concerned citizen that has lived here for almost 27 years. I have lived in several cities and ( even as recently as last week ) have seen a number of ways in which Seattle can much more successfully Get Stuff Done ( Denver. And look at San Jose, Boston, NYC. ). Unlike many council candidates, I have actual ideas. I have thoughts on all sides, of many matters. I hate re-inventing the wheel, especially when there are plenty of examples of What Has Worked. And I resent this great city being used as an example ( like San Francisco! ) of what NOT to do, of who all will NOT matter, of how to destroy the personality of a neighborhood while cheering on greedy developers and corporate assholes.
I wanted my main issue to be Seniors — in the US there are more citizens over 60 than ever before; AARP and existing senior centers and assisted living facilities aren’t the only answers. In fact, it is wrong — and dangerous — to leave it all at that. As a highly knowledgable, experienced caregiver and elder advocate for the last decade, I can uniquely see how serious the situation is. As a former Wallingford Senior Center board member and daughter/assistant to the Medford Senior Center president, I know even more. In Wallingford where I was President and Director of the Chamber of Commerce, I saved the Wallingford Senior Center from certain closure with a big fundraiser. I know how to raise money, delegate, and can get things done. As Chair of the Green Party of Washington State ( after being drafted by the Greens to run for state legislature ) I helped propel the party to much larger membership and involvement. As a Chamber Pres and Exec Director for quite a while ( while owning and running Not A Number Cards & Gifts ), I grew the business membership hugely, developed events and more, and helped very small businesses deal with city rules and regs. A few businesses didn’t want the Farmers Market in Wallingford, and I ensured all voices were heard in a town hall meeting, which ended with a setback for the Market. But we got it settled and the Wallingford Farmers Market has been there now for years, a needed addition to the many great Farmers Markets in seattle.
Sure, there are a few who don’t like a strong woman. A few didn’t agree with my methods, as I tend to be nonconformist, subject to much thinking outside the container yada yada, and very often successful. But when old-school methods, solutions, and courtesy are needed — you couldn’t get anyone better. I have 40 years’ experience in environmental and political activism but sadly am not a member of the Greens anymore. Like many members and almost all the originals, the org is now small and ineffectual, seemingly unwilling to work with other orgs or Dems or who knows what. There have always been good groups with good intentions that get completely derailed, even destroyed, by infighting and desires to work alone. And so often nothing happens, necessary change is not made, the few become burnt-out and what I call The Same Ol’ Same Ol’ takes effect again. This leaves many of us annoyed, disappointed, driven to….. drink? Firmly committing to never vote again? Rants on social media? Taking a gun into work??
I am no longer the Far Lefty I used to be. But I will never be right of center. I can see very clearly now that BOTH sides are so similar, in certain issues. It not only doesn’t help but it absolutely hinders ANYTHING getting done, in a timely fashion, or AT ALL. I now say “Hey! You on the right: stand down! You on the left: you too! If you can’t play in the sandbox together or at least at the same time, you both need to go to your rooms!” At this time, those consequences need to include things like actually refusing a permit for the nationalist/violence-loving march, going after police who abuse their position, finding a way to help those who need various types of help, no raises for those in office right now, taxing the wealthy AND big corporations ( looking at YOU, Bezos ), and perhaps most of all: City Council members who will listen, insist on including as many POVs as possible, question and fight for what’s right while standing up for ethical conduct, and the People of Seattle, ALL OF THEM.
There is such a need for a Transpartisan Way of Communicating! We need to try. I have discussed planning a Town Hall on this for a while. And am planning a Town Hall on Homeless Issues.
I don’t believe in the no-win scenario. I do believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. All things are possible. But at this particular time in our history, our nation, our city, ALL of us MUST come together to fully take on difficulties we have rarely if ever had to deal with before, including one of the most severe homeless crises of any US city, a city/state/federal government that spends a lot of time talking but not doing, as well as an incompetent, dangerous president and the increasingly ridiculous two-party system ( and the Ds and Rs particularly, as parties, referred to by late author Christopher Hitchens as “two halves of the same rather large pair of buttocks”, which I have thoroughly agreed with for 30 years ).
It is past time now for those with actual ethics, morals and knowledge to stand the hell up, speak out, and somehow — somehow! — make real change. For the better. And for now, I think we must get Hard and Serious.
PRIMARY DAY IS COMING. DID YOU VOTE?
I know that many are waiting to vote till Tuesday. We do that often, because we like an Election Day, but mainly because we all have so many candidates and info to go through. Especially this time! It’s a bit insane how many of us there are. Which is why I haven’t spent the money I had planned on, knowing how unlikely it’d be that I’d be in the top 2…. Are you wondering why you haven’t seen much about me? Here’s why: . I started late, due to my outrage at the status quo and the assholes on Nextdoor saying “Burn the tents!” and more. I am disgusted and horrified by my own neighbors, fellow citizens who seem to care about certain issues, but ( like our leaders?? ) will NOT look at the whole, Big Picture. .
At this time I have had to assist family elders to an extent that I could not be here as much as I should’ve. We thought we were moving someone out of state after the primary but. This is why I had hoped to make SENIORS my big issue. Our elders matter, and the fact that senior centers have closed, food banks too, and even assisted living spaces like the one in the I.D. that developers want. What the hell, Seattle??
I have been very upset for a few years at the increasing over-development of parts of Seattle, and elsewhere. This is too much, too fast, with seemingly no attention paid to the Big Picture. Hmm, I’m sensing a theme…. THE NEEDS OF THE MANY OVER THE NEEDS OF THE FEW. Seriously.
In addition to all of the above, I’m a collector of inspirational quotes. My current faves include:
“When enough people make enough false promises, words stop meaning anything, and there are no answers, just better lies.” – Jon Snow
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
“Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity.” – The Dalai Lama
“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. ” – Patrick Henry, revolutionary (1736-1799)
