If you’re in Seattle, Geov has plenty of protests going on. Before and during the inauguration. I heard some people say they didn’t realize there were anti-Trump rallies going on in the immediate wake of his election. So there you go.

It’s the first day of the Washington legislature. And that means it’s the what-do-you-want-from-the-legislature thread:

Mostly for me it’s playing defense against some of Trump’s excesses. It’s making sure that don’t tangle ourselves up in any attempt to deport people. It means making sure that the people kicked off Obamacare get health care in Washington; Maybe it means keeping up the exchange. Maybe it means universal health care from the state. But it can’t mean we let people die for want of health care.

But I don’t think we can just be stuck in react to Trump mode. I was kind of inspired by California’s we’ll launch our own satellites thing (a reaction to Trump, sure, but would also be pretty cool if Clinton had won the election). I’d like Washington State to build a space elevator. It seems like with Boeing and the universities and some good places to build it East of the mountains, it’s the sort of thing the whole state could be involved in.

Every year I say I’d like the reproductive parity act, or whatever we’re calling it. Every year, it doesn’t pass, but it’s still a good idea.

Anyway, those are the things I’m hoping and maybe dreaming will happen in the legislature. What do you want to see?

Did you get your democracy voucher? I did! I’m super excited to use them. Like, should I just find one candidate I like and give them all of the money? I can’t just use them to reject Tim Burgess due to the fact that he’s retiring. But surely there will be someone.

It’s kind of amazing that when the Office Of Congressional Ethics gutting vote came about all of Washington’s Republicans were either for it or Didn’t vote (it’s not organized by state, but I’m pretty sure that’s right). Remember when Reichert was running as a straight arrow? Well, it was always bullshit, of course, but now it’s even more exposed as such.

Oh hey, people’s minimum wage just went up. It’s still needlessly complex in Seattle. Washington’s is not as much as I’d like it. Still and all, the sky hasn’t fallen yet.

Also, everywhere in Washington has sick leave/safe leave now. So use that if you need it. I don’t know how strong the enforcement will be (it has been pretty weak in Seattle).

Good riddance 2016.

The precinct maps of ST3 are both illuminating and about what you expect. The cities, especially Seattle, and the close in suburbs are for it and the rest of the area isn’t as much or are against it. I hope as rail gets further and further out, that more people between the cities and further out can enjoy it as much as some of us in the city.

If you’re celebrating the Feast of Sol Invictus, Newtonmass, Festivus, or perhaps some obscure one, have happy holidays.

Good on the protesters of the new youth jail. I’m not as opposed to the jail as they are. But, I’m glad they’re keeping the pressure on it.

Y’all can guess I don’t like Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and her being Sec. of the Interior would have been bad. But holy shit, her being passed over for Donald Trump, Jr.’s hunting buddy is pretty awful. Trump can pick whatever unqualified asshole he wants. On the other, there should probably be a better process. I mean Trump Jr. is supposed to be running the business. Still, there has to be a better selection process.

Councilmember Sawant’s Wells Fargo, disinvestment bill is pretty rad. The city shouldn’t undermine its own values and positions with how it spends its money. I like this a lot better than Seattle boycotting states or cities.

I go to West Seattle via bus quite frequently, and I never noticed any problem with the bus shelters Metro is removing (h/t). That shelter in particular has some very neat history on it. I always appreciated those plates. Hopefully they can at least go somewhere. Also, maybe my least favorite thing in Seattle is when it rains hard and too many people share too few bus shelters.

Congrats to The Sounders! There will be a parade tomorrow and while good on the Sounders, I just hope it doesn’t screw up traffic too much.

When we get a little closer to the start of the legislative session, I’ll write my regular what do you want post. But for the legislative Republicans, they’ve already decided what they want. From being the worst to leaving and making their own state. They could chose to not be assholes instead of restricting abortion access, destroying the environment, and trying to make their own shitty state East of the Cascades.

I’m going to write a few letters to various state and local officials (and maybe my member of Congress and Senators). Mostly it’s urging them to do as best they can to resist Trump, but also other things maybe. Here’s the first one. I wrote the following to my city council members (at large and the one who represents me) and Mayor Murray and City Attorney Holmes. Murray’s has 2nd person language in the executive order section, but otherwise it’s the same.

I was heartened when Mayor Murray reaffirmed his commitment last month to make Seattle a sanctuary city. I hope you’ll do everything you can going forward to make that a reality.

I’m asking specifically that you use your power to have the city not to assist in deportations. People’s immigration status is not their value to the city. This is a moral issue in and of itself and it’s also a test for future issues.

Donald Trump has already threatened to do even worse. From Muslim bans to national stop and frisk. If you give in on the sanctuary city front, it will make it easier for him to do these other things.

Thank you,

Carl Ballard
horsesass.org