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Friday, March 13, 2009

City Drago's Travel Schedule

Posted by on Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM

A couple of weeks ago, I reported that council members Jan Drago and Richard McIver—both of whom are retiring this year—spent $14,000 from their office budgets (city dollars that can be used at a council member's discretion) to participate in an 85-person trade mission to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. (Dubai's economy is collapsing, and the country is one of the most expensive to visit in the world). This week, I got a copy of Drago's schedule. In the past six months, Drago has spent at least 44 days out of town—including 33 days in China, (August 20 through September 18), several days shortly thereafter on vacation (October 9-12), and eight days in Washington, D.C. for "inauguration activities." Thirty of those days were city work days. In addition, Drago's schedule was completely or mostly blank for the period between December 19 and January 4, when the council shuts down for the winter holiday.

In a memo attached to the schedule, obtained through a records request, an aide to Drago defends her travel to China, asserting that Drago had "proved invaluable" in obtaining a multi-million-dollar contract for a company that creates deep-bore tunnels like the one currently proposed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. However, that company is based in Kent, not Seattle. The Dubai trade mission, which began March 4, will return to Seattle on March 14.

 

Comments (9) RSS

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1
can you grab me a bottle of wine?
Posted by ill be in the alley on March 13, 2009 at 2:14 PM
2
I can kind of see the trips to China, actually.

But Dubai is pushing it.

Next time they go, they should ask me if I can find them somebody I know who's living there (two people right now) who might know where they can stay for a lot less.
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 13, 2009 at 2:21 PM
3
What exactly is it that Dubai has to trade with us? Abandoned automobiles? $75 cocktails?
Posted by Fnarf on March 13, 2009 at 2:38 PM
4
No, giant islands shaped like palm trees, solar powered buildings, and an expanded monorail.

You need to keep up ...

Cocktails are only $8 at my my friends' place ... for visiting council members ...
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 13, 2009 at 2:59 PM
5
Sure politicians need to be flexible -- funny thing is, councilmembers don't take "vacation" or "sick" days like other City employees. And, their staff is the same way.

To think this City needs a bloated legislative branch with 9 members who maybe, maybe spent 15 hours at City Hall each day...Pathetic...
Posted by Loaf of Bread on March 13, 2009 at 3:52 PM
6
Last I heard, the palm-shaped islands were sinking back into the sea. I really don't see what Dubai has or has done that Seattle should be interested in. Is Drago thinking of setting up slavery here?
Posted by Fnarf on March 13, 2009 at 3:52 PM
7
33 Days in China last year? Does the City Council really expect Seattleites to take them serioiusly or believe they give a damn about us or our city?
Posted by Zander on March 13, 2009 at 4:05 PM
8
@6 - shh, don't tell anyone, they haven't sold all the plots.
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 13, 2009 at 4:06 PM
9
@ECB, Aaaaagh! A company in KENT that specializes in deep-bore tunnels?! Outrageous! Drago is a traitor! Surely a major metropolis like Seattle, which already has LOTS of deep-bore tunnels, must have at least a few dozen companies of its own that specialize in deep-bore tunnels!

Hell, I live in a little bumfuck town in the California desert and WE have THREE locals who specialize in deep-bore tunnels. Or maybe they're deep-tunnel bores. I forget.
Posted by rob on March 13, 2009 at 6:02 PM

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