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RSS icon Comments on City Council Member Burgess to Ubiquitous Gadfly: STFU

1

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

Posted by nbc | March 20, 2008 4:08 PM
2

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

Posted by Gadfly Inc. | March 20, 2008 4:11 PM
3

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.

Posted by Fnarf | March 20, 2008 4:16 PM
4

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

Posted by J.R. | March 20, 2008 4:18 PM
5

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.

Posted by Reverse Polarity | March 20, 2008 5:14 PM
6

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

Posted by six shooter | March 20, 2008 6:41 PM
7

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.

Posted by Q Public | March 20, 2008 6:42 PM
8

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.

Posted by Mr. X | March 20, 2008 6:52 PM
9

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


Posted by Kevin in Wallingford | March 20, 2008 11:14 PM
10

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.

Posted by Naysayer | March 21, 2008 7:34 AM
11

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.

Posted by Naysayer | March 21, 2008 7:35 AM
12

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.

Posted by Naysayer | March 21, 2008 7:35 AM
13

My goodness!

Posted by kid icarus | March 21, 2008 8:36 AM
14

shut the frick up!

Posted by infrequent | March 21, 2008 10:38 AM
15

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.

Posted by less than zero | March 21, 2008 10:45 AM
16

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....

Posted by wingnut | March 21, 2008 10:51 AM
17

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'.

Posted by Not all neighborhoods are crazy | March 21, 2008 10:51 AM
18

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....

Posted by wingnut | March 21, 2008 10:52 AM
19

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?

Posted by woah dude | March 21, 2008 10:58 AM

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