Slog - Comments on City Council Member Burgess to Ubiquitous Gadfly: STFU

Comment by nbc

nbc — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:08:49 -0800

The more I learn about Tim Burgess, the more I like him.

Comment by Gadfly Inc.

Gadfly Inc. — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:11:05 -0800

Correction: If a staffer showed up at Bruce Harrell's office, no one would be there.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:16:21 -0800

Me too.

Cut the bullshit off at the knees, with no mercy and a brief, cogent explanation of why. It's settled, and they can move on to real work. We've all known jerks like this Leman character, and they make meetings -- and life -- impossible.

From Leman's perspective, would all of the separate voices in his head have to register as separate lobbyists? How does a boob like that get to write op-eds in a real paper? If anyone was custom-made for irrelevant blogging, he's it. Maybe he can go form a political consultancy with Stan Lippman and Richard Lee.

Comment by J.R.

J.R. — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:18:32 -0800

I didn't vote for Burgess, but I have to give him credit for standing up to the "activist" nut jobs.

Comment by Reverse Polarity

Reverse Polarity — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:14:11 -0800

Yes, bringing private paid lobbyists into the public light would be a very good thing. But requiring council staffers to register as lobbyists for doing their job is fucking ridiculous.

Comment by six shooter

six shooter — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:41:17 -0800

Don't be fooled: Burgess is a Republican nut job! He goes to church, remember.

Comment by Q Public

Q Public — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:42:32 -0800

Chris Leman needs medication. He is insane and I am sick of the City Council enabling him. Mr. Burgess just won me over. We must stop allowing a few insane people to control our city government.

Comment by Mr. X

Mr. X — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:52:42 -0800

I got Leman's email regarding the proposed lobbying ordinance, and while I'm not as worked up over this as he is (and as long as you're going to beat someone up, you might add the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission - who also wanted these changes to the legislation), he does raise issues worth considering. Here are some excerpts -

"...Private lobbyists don�t find reporting a burden, and neither do governments�including City employees and consultants�whose lobbying of the legislature and governor, is, by state law, already reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission (and posted at www.pdc.wa.gov).
#
Experience with the state lobby disclosure law also refutes the claim that full disclosure of lobbying will prevent elected officials from getting the information they need. The governor and legislature are better informed than the City Council and Mayor because special pleading by the agencies is on the record for the public to watchdog.
#
Most government lobbyists are not �specifically employed or retained� to lobby, a giant loophole in the ordinance.

# Both houses of the legislature prohibit all their staff from lobbying. Until Seattle adopts a similar prohibition, lobbying by the Council�s own staff should be disclosed to the public...."

I'm not necessarily in agreement with Leman regarding whether internal staff lobbying should be disclosed (I actually don't have a strong opinion either way), but considering that the State does require it - and that the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission had the same position on this legislation - you do him a real disservice by suggesting that the points he raises are somehow just nutty, because they're not.

Comment by Kevin in Wallingford

Kevin in Wallingford — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:14:06 -0800

Leman is a world class loon. I didn't vote for Burgess last time, but I'll definitely consider it next time.

Comment by Naysayer

Naysayer — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:34:52 -0800

I say make Leman and other citizen activists register too. He wants everyone to play by these strict rules but never holds himself to the same standards. Let's shine a light on the practices of the City Neighborhood Council. I am sure it would be enlightening.

Comment by Naysayer

Naysayer — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:35:02 -0800

Comment by Naysayer

Naysayer — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:35:19 -0800

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:36:35 -0800

My goodness!

Comment by infrequent

infrequent — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:38:02 -0800

shut the frick up!

Comment by less than zero

less than zero — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:45:55 -0800

As a newcomer here it blows me away how much power a few individuals like Mr. Leman have over the city government (and I agree he is less than a stable person... ranting and raving like a lunatic about his never ending list of paranoid complaints).

I agree, make him register too.

Comment by wingnut

wingnut — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:51:29 -0800

Make it illegal for city staffers and reporters for weeklies to lobby for political causes while they're on the clock, since they don't have to register as lobbyists.

Staffer: good morning I've come to talk about funding the filling of potholes.

Council Person: Oh, come lie down on the blue couch.

Staffer: oh, by the way, my buddy Paul Allen, who got me this job, needs a favor....

Comment by Not all neighborhoods are crazy

Not all neighborhoods are crazy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:51:39 -0800

As far as I am concerned, what little credibility the CNC had to represent 'neighborhood interests' were lost when they made Chris Leman the President. He does not represent the neighborhoods. Perhaps a small and vocal minority only. Personally, I cannot take the guy and I think most people I know in neighborhood groups feel the same.

I applaud Councilmember Burgess for bringing some sanity to this debate and I hope this is the beginning of not letting a few folks speak for all 'neighborhood interests'.

Comment by wingnut

wingnut — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:52:04 -0800

Make it illegal for city staffers and reporters to lobby for political causes while they're on the clock, since they don't have to register as lobbyists.

Staffer: good morning I've come to talk about funding the filling of potholes.

Council Person: Oh, come lie down on the blue couch.

Staffer: oh, by the way, my buddy Paul Allen, who got me this job, needs a favor....

Comment by woah dude

woah dude — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:58:39 -0800

Is that the guys who testifies at every other City Council meeting asking to have the Seattle Channel at every conference room in the City? What's next, the Seattle Channel live streaming and broadcasting from every City staffers desk?