Recourse for inept city council (Seattle: middle-class, neighborhoods, to buy)

[dozener]

Is there anything residents can do to get the useless city council members, who consistently seem to have a net negative impact with the decisions they make, out of their seats before next year? If not, is there some way to undermine them?

[margaretBartle]

Nope.


Besides, the next batch will be just as bad.


They go through a boot-camp training program, and only those who are in the pockets of the billionaire developers will get the media attention and money to be considered a "serious" candidate.


We chickens get to choose what fox is going to be in charge of our hen-house. Big whoop.

[bergun]

Originally Posted by margaretBartle

Nope.


Besides, the next batch will be just as bad.


They go through a boot-camp training program, and only those who are in the pockets of the billionaire developers will get the media attention and money to be considered a "serious" candidate.


We chickens get to choose what fox is going to be in charge of our hen-house. Big whoop.

So sad, but so true. Basically, another no win situation.

The city council talks a good talk for the low information voter since they simply promise free stuff and other BS like legalized "shooting gallaries" for all the drug addicts, but never explain how they're going to achieve all their "pie in the sky" dreams because they can't since they know "free stuff" isn't free. They just hope that the people stay stupid and fall in line without asking tough questions.

Look no further than the city's homeless problem.... After demanding and receiving tens of millions in funds to solve this problem, about two weeks ago, they admitted defeat... My question is... Where is the money after their failed token efforts??!! If you're honest, you already know the answer and it's not a good answer either, but don't worry, they will ask for AND tax you again for tens of millions of dollars to only admit defeat again AND never tell you where or how the money was spent... Wait and see for yourself.

Just another legalized con job.

[margaretBartle]

Originally Posted by bergun

Look no further than the city's homeless problem.... After demanding and receiving tens of millions in funds to solve this problem, about two weeks ago, they admitted defeat... My question is... Where is the money after their failed token efforts??!! If you're honest, you already know the answer and it's not a good answer either, but don't worry, they will ask for AND tax you again for tens of millions of dollars to only admit defeat again AND never tell you where or how the money was spent..

I think it's worse than that. Why is it so bad that poor people in south Seattle have to move because prices are going up, but OK when middle-class people in Ballard have to move because prices are going up?


Because the billionaire developers' shills put out propaganda about gentrification to justify their not wanting to put their new development in the south end. The billionaire developers want to put their developments in the north end, where it is nicer. They make more money by ripping off the equity produced by homeowners who support neighborhood businesses, and who take care of their streets and yards. These homeowners have created nice neighborhoods that the developers then come in and destroy.


Meanwhile, we have whole areas of Seattle that could use new development. Areas in the south end and up around Lake City where you have to get in your car and drive for miles to find a grocery store to buy some milk and bread. Those areas would be imporved by density. There are miles of Martin Luther King Way that have devastation and ruin. Down by Skyway, there are lots of areas that need improvemnt.



If we had a city council that was actually trying to help make things better, they would move development into the parts of the city that need improvement, and leave the nice areas alone.



But Noo-oooo-oooh. The developers' greed sees more money going into the areas that support higher rent. Of course it does. But if Seattle really NEEDED all this new construction, people would go where the housing is, even if it meant in a part of town where existing homeowners and businesses don't take care of things. With the new neighbors, things would get better.


So they trot out "gentrification" as a reason to not develop in the south end. But that is a bogus argument.

[Gardyloo]

A couple of questions to all on this thread:

Who did you donate to in the last city council election?
Who did you doorbell for or even put up a lawn sign for?
Quick - who's your district councilmember?
When did you last attend a town hall meeting or attend a Municipal League candidates' fair?
How did your preferred candidate do on the Muni League's rankings?
When did you last attend a full City Council or Council committee meeting?
What share of your property taxes goes to the City, what share to the County, the School District, the Port, the RTA, or the State?
When did you last have a look at the city's budget? Do you know the difference between the city's capital and operating budgets? Do you know the difference between operating and enterprise funds?
What portion of the city's funding for homeless programs comes from taxpayers vs. the State or Federal governments?

Griping is easy. Learning takes time.

[CrazyDonkey]

Simple: If you believe your council member is not representing you, vote them out.