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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Clark on Nightlife: Drop the 50-Foot Rule

posted by on June 6 at 16:57 PM

Council member Sally Clark responds to comments made at Monday’s public hearing on nightlife on her blog (who knew?). The biggest news is that Clark wants to drop the so-called 50-foot rule included in the mayor’s nightlife licensing proposal, which holds clubs responsible for nuisance crimes and violence in a 50-foot area outside the club itself. “This ‘impacted public area’ strikes me as impossible to for a club to control, if not dangerous for a club to try and control. I think the 50-foot proposal should be dropped,” Clark wrote. Also in response to public comments, Clark now plans to pull the nightlife proposal from the agenda for Thursday’s neighborhood committee meeting; the committee will take it up again on June 21, and at least once more after that.

RSS icon Comments

1

Let's not forget that Seattle's Lapdog City Clowncil selected Sally to be their very own personal lapdog...She's gotta go.

Posted by Whatever | June 6, 2007 5:09 PM
2

Well, the Mayor was the one who proposed this thing in the first place. She wouldn't have to deal with this otherwise.

Posted by hey | June 6, 2007 5:24 PM
3

The 50' rule has been one of the biggest complaints about this whole thing that I've read on the Slog. So, she listened and she's responding - what's the problem? Isn't that what we wanted? Thank you Sally!

Posted by can't win | June 6, 2007 7:49 PM
4

Good. Clark clearly listens, and by the standards of Seattle politics, that's a good thing.

Still, I can't help but wish for politicians who can actually sniff out the right answer on their own and then lead the way.

Posted by Sean | June 6, 2007 7:53 PM
5

We should remember(and I think I am correct here)that Drago co-sponsered this proposed legislation. I am of the opinion that Drago has played the roll of Clark's mentor on the city council,
and I would think she would fare better without Drago's influence. What bothers me, is I don't see Drago taking any of the public heat or supporting Clark's
position. I may have missed hearing and seeing Drago's support, however it must have been muted at best or unreported.

Perhaps Clark has learned a good lesson from this exercise, and it might suggest this is an indication of Clark undergoing a learning curve experience. If so, this is unfortunate and we should take critical notice. I would hope she will promptly learn to stand on her own feet.

--- Jensen


Posted by Jensen Interceptor | June 6, 2007 8:08 PM
6

Clark is a very smart person and it seems as though she is thinking hard, listening carefully and trying to do the right thing. I'm sure more other council members have been working on this behind the scenes too. Hopefully now the council can show some leadership and come up with their own solutions sans a license. This will take some standing up to the Mayor. Will be interesting to see if the council has the cahoonas and, as Colbert would say, the 'Thatchers', to do so.

Posted by Meinert | June 6, 2007 8:34 PM
7

What is Drago's role in all this?

Posted by Erica's in a tizzy | June 6, 2007 8:56 PM
8

Drago made a point to say at the hearing that any reports of her having "made up her mind" on this issue were premature. She definitely distanced herself from Sally's proposal. Not sure why, but that's what happened.

Posted by jessiesk | June 6, 2007 9:31 PM
9

IIRC, Jan wanted to ditch the Mayor's proposal in favor of giving teeth to the noise ordinance and public nuisance abatement ordinance.

Revising the noise ordinance is probably not a bad idea (the City has three different, and largely incompatible noise definitions on the books as is). The public nuisance abatement law is unworkable and should be scuttled.

Posted by NapoleonXIV | June 6, 2007 10:09 PM
10

For everyone who showed up at the public hearing, thank you. That hearing made the difference.

Posted by hey | June 7, 2007 8:10 AM
11

Drago was a FULL and ENGAGED participant in the draft of the legislation (Drago lives in a downtown condo). She was not "out of the country" as Meinert reported in another thread, she did not "distance herself". I think Drago's participation is being downplayed because she's not up for re-election (and rumored not to not run again next time).

Posted by not so | June 7, 2007 8:58 AM
12

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 2:02 PM
13

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 2:02 PM
14

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 2:02 PM

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