Slog - Comments on City Sustainability Office Deemed Unsustainable http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut UPDATE: Council president Richard Conlin, who was rumored to be the source of the proposal, says that although "it's perfectly valid to put [OSE] on the table," he doesn't "think it's going to happen." The city's Office of Sustainability and the Environment could be eliminated or drastically downsized by the city council, as part of an effort to restore some of the direct service cuts proposed in Mayor Greg Nickels's budget. The city, like the county, is facing a shortfall in sales-tax revenues that is only expected to worsen over the next few years; in addition, real estate excise taxes,... Copyright 2008 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:39:31 -0800 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:20:48 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fnarf Rationale? The rationale is that the city budget is caving in on all sides. Property tax and sales tax are both in the dumper. This is just the beginning.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185013 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185013 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:03:15 -0800 Comment by Lionel Hutz The Council's priorities crack me up. Eliminate Office of Economic Development. Elminate Office of Sustainability. Retain Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Cuz, you know... projects like this are an essential public service - "Working in an experimental and collaborative style, the artist will create a comical and poignant feature-length film exploring interpersonal male dynamics and the round-about machinations men sometimes go through."

http://www.seattle.gov/arts/funding/individual_partners.asp

]]> Lionel Hutz http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185023 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185023 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:11:20 -0800 Comment by Mr. X Wanna balance the City budget? Zero out every South Lake Union/Hallivulcan line item.

Problem solved.

]]> Mr. X http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185035 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185035 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:17:06 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Isn't South Lake Union going to zero itself out when the last biotech firm turns its lights out?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185054 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185054 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:27:03 -0800 Comment by what? Mike Mann is doing a great job. I can't believe Council would cut this department. Seriously. OSE very responsive to the community - more so than some Council members.

]]> what? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185055 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185055 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:30:45 -0800 Comment by Jack #1 gets it ...

And this is the first year of a severe and real recession/depression. Over the next three cycles city spending must decrease by 40 per cent, my estimate, and King county will go into bankrupcy.

GET IT.

Food banks and shelters are the highest priority... the rest can be re invented later.

The building boom at all levels fueled the boom, all down by half and almost no small projects. Each of the downtown real estate sales in the millions generated gushing millions, real cash, excise tax.

Much maligned developers are not much in the game anymore.

Cities and towns and counties beyond Seattle will go into bankrupcy, King county may be there sooner than some.

Sultan has no money to pay its small police force.

TIME TO GET IT.

]]> Jack http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185087 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185087 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:51:25 -0800 Comment by someguy This has to be the biggest bunch of whining I have ever seen. I think history has shown that environmental causes get pushed to the back burner when money is tight and this time it is going to be much worse. I should know, I work in the environmental field and it is often tied to building

]]> someguy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185114 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185114 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:08:40 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @3 for the insightful totally correct win.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185150 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185150 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:26:40 -0800 Comment by RonK, Seattle And "OSE" is what, now? Office of Sustainable Everything?

]]> RonK, Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185269 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185269 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:06:34 -0800 Comment by Hey Wait $192.9 million for the Mercer Street non-fix? NIX IT!

]]> Hey Wait http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185311 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185311 City Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:40:37 -0800 Comment by Larry #2

the arts lobby is the strongest in the city

people starve in the cold - but art projects reign supreme - many millions and millions

]]> Larry http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185480 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/city_sustainability_office_may_be_cut#c1185480 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:20:48 -0800