I was recently handed Dick Falkenbury’s “Rise Above it All” book and found it a compelling personal story of one man’s attempt to install his vision of what the future for Seattle should be. Aside from the over-sized drama that Falkenbury portrays, some serious questions are raised about the effectiveness of government initiating and financing [...]
[More]PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN SEATTLE I believe that Seattle residents should have the opportunity to vote on whether our local elections should receive public financing. Councilmembers are beginning efforts to explore a public financing system for Seattle. If this effort moves forward, the Council will place this decision on either the primary or [...]
[More]The City Council voted 6-2 yesterday in favor of a revised Memorandum of Understanding for a basketball and hockey arena in SODO. Below are the remarks I made explaining my vote.
[More]We have to prepare for all events. We cannot count on the past as fixed guide to the future.
[More]“If we have a generation of kids who can’t think for themselves, our whole country is in trouble.”
[More]I wonder how many of you remember receiving my first e-newsletter, Urban Politics (UP) #01, back in 1996? It addressed transferring the Freeway Park garage to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. In 1996, one would start their modem, wait 30 seconds to log on, check email, perhaps spend a few minutes chatting with an AOL buddy. One could browse, but there was no YouTube, Huffington Post or Wikipedia. There was no FaceBook, Twitter or Google Search to browse to. There was no such thing as a blog.
[More]Urban Politics #320 4/6/12 By City Councilmember Nick Licata with Newell Aldrich, legislative assistant ARENA REVIEW PANEL LOOKS INTO FUNDING A BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY ARENA This past Wednesday, April 4th, the Arena Review Panel, a citizen group referred appointed by Mayor McGinn and County Executive Constantine, released their final report. The panel examined an agreement [...]
[More]Urban Politics #319 3/26/12 By City Councilmember Nick Licata With Newell Aldrich, Legislative Assistant Urban Politics (UP) blends my insights and information on current public policy developments and personal experiences with the intent of helping citizens shape Seattle’s future. The City Council heard a proposal today to place a library levy on the August 7, [...]
[More]Urban Politics #318 – February 17, 2012 By City Councilmember Nick Licata Urban Politics (UP) blends my insights and information on current public policy developments and personal experiences with the intent of helping citizens shape Seattle’s future. Mayor McGinn and County Executive Constantine yesterday announced a proposal for an arena in Seattle’s SODO district that [...]
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