Monday, June 22, 2009
Politics Welfare Queen City
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Excuse me, but WTF?
Among more than 100 local projects for which U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott recently sought funding earmarks in the coming federal budget are a new cancer-research program, municipal road projects and a law-enforcement initiative to combat gang violence. Also included on the Seattle Democrat's 2010 appropriations wish list is a relatively modest—but curious—appeal:A $250,000 request to fund a "window repair and limestone sill replacement" at The Rainier Club—one of Seattle's premier private clubs, whose members include some of the city's most well-heeled and politically connected residents. McDermott's request on behalf of The Rainier Club would match the $250,000 raised by club members to cover renovations at the club's 105-year-old brick building on Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle.
The club tried and failed to raise the $500,000 from its members. But a club spokesman insisted to the Seattle Times that the private club more than deserves these federal—public—dollars. It's all about historic preservation, says the club. But their clubhouse is not "nationally significant," which means...
...it doesn't qualify for funding through existing state historic-preservation grant programs, said Anthony Welcher, a board member. "We didn't just decide one day that we are going to request this funding because we think we're entitled to it," Welcher said. "This is about historic preservation, nothing else."
First, a note to the Rainier Club: the next time you get caught trying to swipe public dollars to fix up your private club, have some other board member—someone not named "Welcher"—make your case to the public. Second... an apology. Eight or nine years ago I attended an event at the Rainier Club and, man, what a beautiful building. The inside of the fireplace in the dining room was bigger than my first apartment in Seattle. I took a few forks with me when I left—something to remember the evening by—figuring you guys wouldn't miss 'em and could replace 'em. If I'd known you were so hard up for cash I would've brought a few forks from home and donated them to you guys.
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4
Oh, God, Dan, you're too young to turn into a old man tax protester. The Rainier Club is, indeed, a historical landmark and deserves restoration just as much as any of the others. And it's not all that hoity-toity; most of the members are pretty average people. It's only about $2,000 a year for membership; what do you pay at your gym? They have a gym at the Rainier. Should we be throwing rocks through the windows of the 24 Hr Fitness Club too?
Lame.
Lame.
5
@2 - Because the republican challengers have been far worse, and we also don't vote on this one single issue. So while McDermott is pretty much a tool in this situation he's actually done great things in Washington. I'm not a one issue voter normally, especially not something as stupid as wasting $250,000, because if I refused to vote for any politician that wasted $250,000 I'd never vote for anyone.
@4 - So you're admitting the Rainier club is nothing more than a glorified gym? If this is such an important private update they should be able to raise the money themselves, if they can't and do happen to need tax payer money the property should then become public and open to everyone because everyone is helping pay for it. I doubt these snobs are going to open up their doors to the public, so why should the public give a shit about their club?
@4 - So you're admitting the Rainier club is nothing more than a glorified gym? If this is such an important private update they should be able to raise the money themselves, if they can't and do happen to need tax payer money the property should then become public and open to everyone because everyone is helping pay for it. I doubt these snobs are going to open up their doors to the public, so why should the public give a shit about their club?
6
Fnarf, are you sure you're not confusing the Rainier Club with the WAC? I thought about joining the WAC years ago, and that's about what the dues were. But they also wanted a hefty initiation fee and a letter of reference from a minister (?) or physician, so I opted out.
The Rainier Club, on the other hand, I think you almost have to be born into. Dan is right, it is a gorgeous place with excellent food, but they can fix their own damn windows.
The Rainier Club, on the other hand, I think you almost have to be born into. Dan is right, it is a gorgeous place with excellent food, but they can fix their own damn windows.
8
Fnarf, really? 24 hour fitness does not cost "about $2,000" a year. I did the math, and I pay roughly $432 a year for it. And I know of people that are paying even less!
10
Why do you hate the local economy so?
Meanwhile Alaska gets ten times more per capita subsidies than our Green city ever will.
Meanwhile Alaska gets ten times more per capita subsidies than our Green city ever will.
11
"It's only about $2,000 a year for membership;"
How much is the unmentioned lifetime enrollment fee?
How much is the unmentioned lifetime enrollment fee?
12
The Rainier Club is a hilarious throwback in many ways. Still, it is a locally-listed landmark whose members have probably seen their paper assets shrink every bit as much as anybody recently. So I've got no particular problem with a modest earmark making up for what they can't manage to pay for themselves.
Plus the aura of the structure does help fundraising events vacuum the fancier local wallets to support, if not progressive causes, at least some decently liberal ones now and again.
On the funny throwback front, the website lists the names of its Heritage Society, charged with fundraising from members to pay for windows and such. Among the Society notables are such names as DeVere J. Burtenshaw, Penelope Peabody, and Corinne Crabs. You can't make shit like that up.
Plus the aura of the structure does help fundraising events vacuum the fancier local wallets to support, if not progressive causes, at least some decently liberal ones now and again.
On the funny throwback front, the website lists the names of its Heritage Society, charged with fundraising from members to pay for windows and such. Among the Society notables are such names as DeVere J. Burtenshaw, Penelope Peabody, and Corinne Crabs. You can't make shit like that up.
13
According to Historylink.org, which cites the late great Walt Crowley on the matter, the Rainier Club did not admit its first black member until 1978. That same year saw the admission of their first woman member.
I've been there just once, and it is a lovely setting. But, fuck them for their backwards ways.
I've been there just once, and it is a lovely setting. But, fuck them for their backwards ways.
15
@7: Nothing racist -- Welch: To swindle a person by not paying a debt or wager. I will admit, Dan's usage is a little off - if the guy's name was Scammer he'd have had a better zinger.
16
@15,
A little etymology lesson: welch/welsh originated as a slur against the Welsh due to their supposed habit of not making good on their promises. The English, who were just as likely to break their treaties with the Welsh, are exempt from that slur, probably because they eventually won.
A little etymology lesson: welch/welsh originated as a slur against the Welsh due to their supposed habit of not making good on their promises. The English, who were just as likely to break their treaties with the Welsh, are exempt from that slur, probably because they eventually won.
17
@16,
Huh. Actually the dictionary says the word dates to the 19th century; I had assumed it was older. Nevertheless, it's an anti-Welsh slur.
Huh. Actually the dictionary says the word dates to the 19th century; I had assumed it was older. Nevertheless, it's an anti-Welsh slur.
18
If each member paid an extra 40 dollars a month for a year they would have their windows. That is less than they pay for one bottle of wine at dinner. Perspective is a bitch.
19
@13 Kerri - those dates actually demonstrate the historical liberalness of the club. 1978 is shockingly early for a private club to be admitting black people. Go spend some time in New England - many private clubs STILL don't allow black or jewish members.
@5 The Rainier Club is a gym, event venue, restaurant, etc. It hosts world renowned poets, author, artists, etc. Members join for all sorts of reasons, including just wanting a place to socialize with people they know and people they don't.
While private clubs have the reputation of being old snobby rich white republicans, the Rainier Club is anything but. From my and other members' estimates, about 80% of the club voted for Obama. There are a lot of black members (despite being located in an extremely white city). And, furthermore, the people aren't snobby. At all.
I'm a member, and when I first read this article I was sort of appalled at this request. But then I saw that there were more than *100* local projects. Could preserving one of the oldest buildings in Seattle make it into a top 100 list of local projects? I don't know - I'll need to see the rest of the list - but I think it's certainly possible.
@5 The Rainier Club is a gym, event venue, restaurant, etc. It hosts world renowned poets, author, artists, etc. Members join for all sorts of reasons, including just wanting a place to socialize with people they know and people they don't.
While private clubs have the reputation of being old snobby rich white republicans, the Rainier Club is anything but. From my and other members' estimates, about 80% of the club voted for Obama. There are a lot of black members (despite being located in an extremely white city). And, furthermore, the people aren't snobby. At all.
I'm a member, and when I first read this article I was sort of appalled at this request. But then I saw that there were more than *100* local projects. Could preserving one of the oldest buildings in Seattle make it into a top 100 list of local projects? I don't know - I'll need to see the rest of the list - but I think it's certainly possible.
21
I'm a knee-jerk hater of rich people and pork as much as the next person, but the article states that the club has raised 50% of what they need, and many of the repairs are urgent. The Feds won't help, it's only locally historic.
What's the big deal?
What's the big deal?
23
@17 Can you provide proof that it's actualy an anti-welsh slur and your claim isn't false etymology much like the one that causes users of the word niggardly to be acused of racisim?
25
You should have licked the forks instead, Dan.
Worth noting is that Welcher used to work in Shrub's administration.
Worth noting is that Welcher used to work in Shrub's administration.
27
It's a beautiful old building. If any of you guttersnipes throws a brick at it, I hope you rot in jail.
History deserves a few scraps of federal funding.
History deserves a few scraps of federal funding.
29
FYI, here's a reference to McD's earmarks for Fiscal Year 2009.
The "100 earmarks", BTW, are requests ... not earmarks enacted (just as the Rainier Club earmark request is not expected to pass).
And while I don't favor this earmark, it would put working people to work, stimulus-wise. Did you imagine the pointing and glazing was going to be done by out-of-work Club members???
The "100 earmarks", BTW, are requests ... not earmarks enacted (just as the Rainier Club earmark request is not expected to pass).
And while I don't favor this earmark, it would put working people to work, stimulus-wise. Did you imagine the pointing and glazing was going to be done by out-of-work Club members???
31
Hilarious. If the Rainier Club wanted to modify its building in any way or tear it down or sell it to a developer, the Stranger would scream at the top of its lungs. Apparently the Rainier Club owes a lot to the public but it's outrageous for them to ask anything in return.
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