Slog - Comments on Council Member Burgess Says Interbay Jail Site "Makes the Most Sense" and Other Notes From Georgetown's Community Council Meeting

Comment by MEC

MEC — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:07:51 -0800

Thanks Jonah - I want to hear a report on the Mexican Restaurant, too. And, if it does kick ass, you better provide its name.

Comment by Jonah S

Jonah S — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:18:26 -0800

I believe it was the Coliman restaurant. I'll follow up soon. I promise.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:51:38 -0800

And don't forget recipes - and see if they have a good Belgian Beer like you can find at Bottleworks.

Comment by Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:22:51 -0800

Who gives a shit about a good slog post?

Comment by Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:23:15 -0800

Yes, the restaurant is indeed Coliman on Carleton and East Marginal. It's worth a trip just for the salsa!

And since I am the one who raised my hand to ask for an update about the jail siting, I wanted to pipe in.

To be fair to Councilmember Burgess, prior to mentioning anything about the four sites within city limits, he did say that he felt a regional solution was the best answer. A regional solution was best as far as economic and equity issues. That was his preference, first and foremost.

And how can you beat a meeting that talks about rock sculptures and slurry walls?

-kathy, georgetown

Comment by RonK, Seattle

RonK, Seattle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:46:07 -0800

I suspect they were discussing aquitards.

"Aquatards" would be politically incorrect ... as well as Darwinially disadvantaged.

Comment by Holly

Holly — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:48:23 -0800

Slurry walls are sexy. Jails not so much. But, let's not be too hard on Councilmember Burgess. First he rode his scooter to Gtown - and did so while wearing his suit and tie. Second, and most importantly, he stressed that a regional solution is best and doubted it would go in downtown Bellevue. And really, all Burgess stated was that the Interbay site best met all of the techinical requirements for a regional facility. By no means, as we all know, does the site meet any of the political requirements. Political requirements, as it appears time and time again, are best met in the areas of lower income levels.

The question really is: should Seattle be home to a regional jail since we already are home to the County's level-3 sex offender housing facility?

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:20:54 -0800

@7 - what, you want to site it in the most logical location, on Mercer Island?

Comment by holz

holz — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:49:57 -0800

you mean the interbay site, across the street from a kindergarten? awesome!

Comment by Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer

Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:57:28 -0800

@3 - Hey Will, just head down the street to the nice folks at Full Throttle Bottles. Not quite Bottleworks, but a nice selection nonetheless...

Comment by Lock Down On Aisle 3

Lock Down On Aisle 3 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:59:52 -0800

#9: How about the produce section of the new Whole Foods?

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:21:28 -0800

Good shit. Only Seattle would plop a jail down on near waterfront property (on two sides) wedged between two of its most affluent "in city" neighborhoods, next to a Whole Foods , a kindergarten, a pea patch, a driving range and sports fields (an area that could easily be developed into a major asset for all that downtown density we're all working for.)

If anything should be located on cheap, out of town property (think Carnation) its a jail. The people who "live" there won't even be able to benefit from its extravagant location.

Is this really the greatest possible use of that land?

(My head just exploded.)

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:37:50 -0800

They need to co-locate the jail with a brewery.

Why bother torturing when you know they can't have beer?

Comment by tpn

tpn — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:45:56 -0800

Just claim that it will incorporate (post) modern sustainable design, and a few solar panels, and people will be begging for a jail in their neighborhood; even if it means knocking down a landmark or even an old lady's house. I mean, you're not against "sustainability" right?

Comment by Catch22

Catch22 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:16:13 -0800

The very last opportunity to comment on the preposterous jail proposal will be on Wednesday, July 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, located at 225 Mercer Street � focus: Interbay site. Everyone welcome to come and tell the City that they should spend the money on crime prevention instead of seven acres of concrete. This isn't rocket science, just common sense. We have way too many people incarcerated now, we don't need more. And if it's decided to build a jail to accomodate King County's needs anyway, it should be out in the sticks, not in any Seattle community. And if it is in Seattle it should be a high-rise building on a single city block DOWNTOWN! There are new high-rise jails in Everett, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sacramento, among other places. The city didn't even study the possibility of a multi-story jail before launching this effort to blight some community with this proposed sprawling monstrosity. (That they haven't even got a cost figure for, but you can bet it will be behind schedule and over budget).
This can still be avoided if King County's Ron Sims and Seattle's Greg Nichols stop pointing fingers at each other and start really cooperating on a cost-effective aproach that will eliminate the need for any new jails.
This proposal stinks!
Tell them to start over!