Bikes passed the counter at the Fremont Bridge 926,025 times last year. It’s quite a bit over 2012 and a testament to Seattle and the region’s commitment to infrastructure for bikes on the government level, and to riding on the individual level.
It’s obviously still a small number compared to the number of cars crossing the bridge, but it is a lot of commutes, day trips, and other outings. Still, because we like round numbers — and goals — I think we can hit 1,000,000 next year.
**Update: I just got a call from a DL regular. Apparently the Montlake Ale House is closed this evening. Good thing I posted the announcement really late tonight!
Update II: Goldy, N in Seattle and I are heading for The College Inn, 4000 University Way NE
Seattle, WA. Please join us!
Start out the new year right by joining us tonight for an evening of post-holiday politics over a pint at the Seattle Chapter of Drinking Liberally.
We meet tonight and every Tuesday evening at the Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Avenue E. Our normal starting time is 8:00pm.
Can’t make it tonight? Check out another Washington state DL over the next week. Tonight the Tri-Cities chapter also meets. On Wednesday, the Bellingham chapter meets. On Thursday the Bremerton chapter meets. And on Friday, the Centralia chapter meets.
With 212 chapters of Living Liberally, including eighteen in Washington state, four in Oregon, and three more in Idaho, chances are excellent there’s a chapter meeting near you.
– I knew that Seattle was GOP territory not that long ago, but seeing that King County went for Reagan is a bit of a surprise.
– What is happening with Don Benton and Ann Rivers (Columbian link)?
– Even by The Daily Caller’s low standards, this is pretty stoopid.
– Anyone else going to Reproductive Health and Rights Lobby Day 2014 or any other lobbying efforts in Olympia?
– You have no idea how much I tried to come up with an “it’s Spokane’s fault” joke for the fault line running through it. But no.
– I hate that there was a car crash in LFP but a couple pedestrians on the Burke-Gilman trail are pretty awesome.
– Any thoughts on Cascade’s new logo?
This year’s short session starts January 13. With the state Senate controlled by the GOP even more so than last session, and the House and Governor’s Mansion firmly in the hands of Democrats, I think we’ll see more defense than either side being able to push an agenda. They won’t have to compromise on a budget, so I suspect anything that does get passed will be small and around the edges. Still, they might surprise us. And anyway, there’s no reason to start the session out without a wishlist. Is there anything you’re hoping for or anything you’re hoping gets blocked?
For me, I’m less and less sure that there’s any sort of transportation package that isn’t terrible, but you never know. If I had one thing that in an ideal world I’d have the legislature pass it would be a high earner’s income tax. That won’t happen, doy, but it’s worth saying I’d like it. If they won’t pass that, a local option income tax would be better, although I think localities have the right, because of supreme court decisions made in the 1930’s and political cowardice, they won’t use it without some prompting. Barring that, I’d still like the Reproductive Parity Act but given that when NARAL called me, they weren’t even pushing that, it seems unlikely.
– To protect and serve, I guess.
– Melissa Harris-Perry was right to apologize.
– I grew up as a Southern Baptist, where gays weren’t just sinners — they were a donation strategy.
– The website for the campaign for the $15 minimum wage is up now.
– Congrats to Boeing on the occasion of forgetting that you get what you pay for.
– Are we glad the Seahawks will face the Saints?
Last week’s contest was won by wes.in.wa, who got 4 out of the 6 locations. Sorry that the sadness of the topic turned off a few folks, so I’m not sure I’ll do something quite like that again. But here were the correct answers:
A – Akron, OH – news story
B – Michigan City, IN – news story
C – Bullard, TX – news story
D – Memphis, TN – news story
E – Liberty Township, MI – news story
F – Yuma, AZ – news story
This week’s is a random location somewhere on earth, good luck!
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
Discuss.
Young Turks: Recreational pot causes long lines in CO .
The Horrors of Affordable Health Care for All:
Sam Seder: Did Chris Christie create massive traffic jams because of political feud?
Young Turks: Belief in evolution—Republicans versus Democrats.
Benghaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!1!!11!
Pap and Thom: Oil industry wants to privatize profits, socialize risks.
Zina Saunders: The animated life and times of Ronald Reagan.
Young Turks: Billionaire warns the Pope.
Invasion of Privacy, Florida Style:
David Pakman: Scott Walker makes WI #1…in jobless claims.
WaPo: How unemployment benefits could make a comeback.
Sam Seder: Is David Brooks high?!?
Young Turks: Charlie Christ “evolves” on gay marriage.
New Year:
Maddow: Epic Koch brothers smackdown (via Crooks and Liars).
Sam Seder: Democrats will win with minimum wage in 2014.
David Pakman: Same-sex couples breaking records in Utah.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
At 9:30 today, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will hold a live web cast to “discuss next steps to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all Seattle City employees”.
Watch it here:
Because we need another open thread.
– I Was An NFL Player Until I Was Fired By Two Cowards And A Bigot
– What the fuck, Border Patrol?
– Run Goldy.
– Hey, schools and other public institutions. Handle rape allegations better.
– The gun show loophole will almost certainly be on the ballot in November.
– I will have to stop using American idioms.
– OK, I’m going to be back to normal next week. I think it’ll still be Monday-Tuesday-Thursday open threads, but if you’d prefer Monday-Wednesday-Friday threads, let me know and I’ll consider it.
Today was “Green Wednesday” in Colorado, the first day of legal marijuana sales to all adults. Another great milestone in the dismantling of one of America’s most tragic and destructive policies. There’s not an exact date for when Washington’s stores will open, but it should be around May or June.
Here are my blogging resolutions for 2014:
(Yup…it’s another open thread.)
1) Top 1 Top Lists of 2013 of 2013
(Feel free to use this as an open thread; no more of these unless I think of something even stupider.)
The last year end list wasn’t WA/Seattle oriented, like this blog ought to be. So here’s one for that.
In no particular order:
– General
– Primary
(seriously, feel free to use this as an open thread, and yes there’s more of this nonsense to come)
Eager to share our brilliant political commentary and blunt media criticism, but too genteel to link to horsesass.org? Well, good news, ladies: we also answer to HASeattle.com, because, you know, whatever. You're welcome!