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News & ArtsThursday, March 19, 2009
City City to Take On Budget Crisis
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 9:39 AM
The City Council's budget committee is debating to deal with an unprecedented budget crisis—an unanticipated city shortfall (on top of the shortfall the city already dealt with last year) that could go as high as $35 million (or higher) in 2009. Although the city may be able to make up this year's gap with across-the-board cuts between 1.5 and 3 percent in city departments and by using up part of its rainy-day fund (which totals around $30 million), that won't help in 2010, when revenues are also expected to come up short; one city staffer predicted a "bloodbath." And 2011 may not be looking so great, either—Seattle usually comes out of recessions later than the rest of the country, and this recession is unprecedented in modern history.
What that means is that, sooner or later, the city is going to have to make some major cuts. What those will look like is, at this point, anybody's guess, although parks maintenance and library hours are obvious and relatively painless targets. The city is also spending some $30 million to upgrade its computer system, including its Novell Groupwise email system, which city staffers say will soon be obsolete. (More on that here).
Council budget chair Jean Godden is seeking input from citizens and interest groups (in her words, "It takes a village to make the difficult choices and steer us in the right direction. That village is you") in a series of upcoming meetings that start March 26, with a meeting in council chambers (at City Hall, 600 4th Ave.) at 5:30 pm and continue every Monday morning at 10:30 throughout April.
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wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine wine
5
I think there are probably some smart cuts to make in Food services, Events and Catering.
The city should not be paying more than $8.99 for a bottle of red wine. I was just at QFC and they had some real decent options in that range.
The city should not be paying more than $8.99 for a bottle of red wine. I was just at QFC and they had some real decent options in that range.
6
When I have a budget crisis, I just steal shit.
I'm not even embarrassed about it. The place I work at, everyone steals shit. We sit around and tell stories about stealing and that makes me feel better.
It's a real support system. If you don't understand why this is ok you are a troll.
I'm not even embarrassed about it. The place I work at, everyone steals shit. We sit around and tell stories about stealing and that makes me feel better.
It's a real support system. If you don't understand why this is ok you are a troll.
7
Obviously the city should spend less money on prosecuting misdemeanor theft.
That will help lighten the load. Also, banning handicap people from buses and outlawing pitbulls and fixed-gear bikes would be a step in the right direction.
Replace this with a massive tax on plastic bags and you will balance the budget.
That will help lighten the load. Also, banning handicap people from buses and outlawing pitbulls and fixed-gear bikes would be a step in the right direction.
Replace this with a massive tax on plastic bags and you will balance the budget.
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The city is hurting for tax revenue for a variety of reasons. For example, if people shoplift from grocery stores in the Seattle area, figuring that chain stores are big and evil and won't miss that bottle of wine anyway, they're also denying the city sales tax revenue. I certainly hope that such behavior hasn't unduly affected local governments' budget.
9
one city staffer predicted a "bloodbath."
i spilled red wine all over my couch yesterday. totally looked like a bloodbath.
clean up cost more than the wine itself.
i spilled red wine all over my couch yesterday. totally looked like a bloodbath.
clean up cost more than the wine itself.
11
The bag tax is the obvious solution. $.50 per bag at grocery stores.
And if you don't like it -- DON'T BUY ANYTHING.
And if you don't like it -- DON'T BUY ANYTHING.
13
Wow, lots of comments from a guy who is a Hutcherson or Mark Driscoll church member?
Condemn, whine and point fingers!
Condemn, whine and point fingers!
14
They should tax yuppies like this one, right Erica?
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
best part:
"A quick web search reveals that your setup cost about $1,000. That's more than a lot of people make in a week, but it's still no reason to think any of us would steal it."
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
best part:
"A quick web search reveals that your setup cost about $1,000. That's more than a lot of people make in a week, but it's still no reason to think any of us would steal it."
15
I look up to ECB as a role model. Especially ever since she judged Slut Machine from Jez for not apologizing for her drunken behavior on her blog that one time. I totally agree with you there, Erica.
Why didn't she apologize for being drunk and obnoxious? Speaking of what she was drunk off of, I wonder if she paid for it.
Why didn't she apologize for being drunk and obnoxious? Speaking of what she was drunk off of, I wonder if she paid for it.
16
Maybe instead of keeping their email in-house and using all of their core IT people to administer it, they could go with a hosted Exchange service. That could save millions in capital costs and IT headcount/salary, and also change the budget $ over to operations. There are even local providers for this to help keep those dollars here in Seattle.
And could we stop with the wine thing already??
And could we stop with the wine thing already??
17
@13 really? you're willing to just concede anyone who thinks shoplifting is wrong must be a religious freak?
speaking of budgets, stealing costs businesses millions of dollars a year as well as lost tax revenue for the city.
speaking of budgets, stealing costs businesses millions of dollars a year as well as lost tax revenue for the city.
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Well, so much for any intelligent discussion. The retard who keeps posting stupid shit about shoplifting must have a lot of time on his/her hands.
Our unemployment tax dollars at work. No wonder the troll was laid off. It's a good time for any company to get rid of its dead weight.
Our unemployment tax dollars at work. No wonder the troll was laid off. It's a good time for any company to get rid of its dead weight.
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All paranoid Slog commenters please note: the "trolls" above are, indeed, the same person. In fact, all trolls on Slog ever are the same person.
Carry on.
Carry on.
22
There's nothing like a running gag that you just run into the ground, over and over and over and over again...
It's like your typical Family Guy episode...meaning boring, stupid and unfunny.
It's like your typical Family Guy episode...meaning boring, stupid and unfunny.
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@18, First, I am neither in Redmond nor an employee of Microsoft.
Second, I was talking about a hosted Exchange service, as opposed to keeping all of that in-house. The city of Seattle is changing to Exchange ANYWAY--and Microsoft itself is not in the business of managing other companies' email. That kind of thing is handled by licensed vendors and partners--often small, local companies. Even some within the city limits.
Second, I was talking about a hosted Exchange service, as opposed to keeping all of that in-house. The city of Seattle is changing to Exchange ANYWAY--and Microsoft itself is not in the business of managing other companies' email. That kind of thing is handled by licensed vendors and partners--often small, local companies. Even some within the city limits.
24
"So much for any intelligent discussion."
Intelligent discussion makes up less than 30% of the Slog, anyways. The rest is made up of bacon, foie gras, hatred, snarkiness, and sanctimony.
When a writer does it, it's called "blogging."
When a commenter responds in disagreement, it's called "trolling."
Or at least that's what I've gathered from the past two days.
Intelligent discussion makes up less than 30% of the Slog, anyways. The rest is made up of bacon, foie gras, hatred, snarkiness, and sanctimony.
When a writer does it, it's called "blogging."
When a commenter responds in disagreement, it's called "trolling."
Or at least that's what I've gathered from the past two days.
25
@17 You are either a religious freak or you were raised by religious freaks! You reek of it!
You must be really bored and have a thing for Erica because your every thought seems to be of her!
Love can be so confusing for twelve year olds.
I have a life and have to work so you have fun here at slog today.
You must be really bored and have a thing for Erica because your every thought seems to be of her!
Love can be so confusing for twelve year olds.
I have a life and have to work so you have fun here at slog today.
26
How about a surcharge on every unit of housing a developer builds that goes unoccupied after completion of construction?
Seems like the way things are going these days, even a modest per-unit surcharge would rake in a fairly substantial amount of cash, while at the same time giving a little tweak to build-happy developers who perhaps will be compelled to reconsider their apparent ambition to turn just about every square foot of currently unoccupied land around here into some sort of butt-ugly mega-condo project.
Seems like the way things are going these days, even a modest per-unit surcharge would rake in a fairly substantial amount of cash, while at the same time giving a little tweak to build-happy developers who perhaps will be compelled to reconsider their apparent ambition to turn just about every square foot of currently unoccupied land around here into some sort of butt-ugly mega-condo project.
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@22
Anyone else have the sneaking suspicion that Michael Strangeways is actually the guy posting as several of these trolls?
Anyone else have the sneaking suspicion that Michael Strangeways is actually the guy posting as several of these trolls?
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@21: if it's not a certain person reposting the same text over and over again, it's him and his friends who find it amusing for some reason. Possibly they're bored and have been driven away from other websites...
31
Well, I can see I should lay low for awhile longer. Still one has to ask this: Didn't Josh admit to driving drunk last year? And then this most recent event?
Talk about lack of credibility...
Talk about lack of credibility...
32
Oh my bad. Abby informs me that all the trolls of the internet are actually one big group of friends.
34
This is how it works: If you work for an "alternative weekly" you can air everyone elses dirty laundry with great relish. But if any of your staff have any you just ignore it...
I hope the Seattle Times does a full page story about it myself. Maybe title it "Red Red Wine"?
I hope the Seattle Times does a full page story about it myself. Maybe title it "Red Red Wine"?
35
(rolls eyes)
I have a life, thanks.
And, if I were going to obsess over someone at The Stranger it would NOT be ECB.
Frizzelle and Holden are far cuter.
I have a life, thanks.
And, if I were going to obsess over someone at The Stranger it would NOT be ECB.
Frizzelle and Holden are far cuter.
40
Fnarf, I love ya man and your comments often make this blog, but this is a serious issue. ECB has (sorta) owned up to it but she's an adult and it should not have happened shoplifting does deprive the city of much needed taxes etc. The way that the Stranger handled it (I love you guys too) basically reinforced this idea that the paper is a kind of local Mad Magazine imitation aggregator. This will hurt Erica's access to information in the city and therefore the Stranger's (and ours!). Perhaps Erica and Bethany should swap beats for a few months until it cools off?
42
@36 - I can't speak for all the haters posting, but I'd just be happy if ECB would just think twice from now on before getting on the moral high horse when she posts. I see very little reason to believe that she will, though.
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@32: I'm just saying that I have a suspicion these particular trolls, if it's not one certain person, are mostly (but not all) in collusion. It's very directed, writing styles are similar, etc. I could be wrong. It has been known to happen. At least, I hope the trolls here aren't the same Spurs fans trolling Arsenal blogs, because that would just be weird. Why would they be interested in ECB's transgressions?
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@44: I'm really more interested in how the Spurs-fan trolls from Goodplaya make it over to here and become interested in ECB. Did Fnarf direct them?
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@43: If the comments came from one computer, the Stranger would have told us by now.
Given all the hateful stuff Erica has written, it's highly unlikely there's only one person in the city who would take this opportunity to rub it in.
Given all the hateful stuff Erica has written, it's highly unlikely there's only one person in the city who would take this opportunity to rub it in.
47
I have an idea.
Why not cancel the Billionaires' Tunnel we can't afford and the Mercer Street Golden Gift to Billionaires we can't afford?
Budget problem SOLVED.
Oh, and cut the fire cheif's pay and telephone privileges.
Why not cancel the Billionaires' Tunnel we can't afford and the Mercer Street Golden Gift to Billionaires we can't afford?
Budget problem SOLVED.
Oh, and cut the fire cheif's pay and telephone privileges.
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ECB is reading these comments. She likes to delete anything that calls here the C word.
Well sweetie cums, the first sign of a drinking problem is doing things like stealing to support your habit.
I am serious about this.
Combined with your heavy debt, propensity towards depression, and general crabbiness, my guess is that you might have a problem with alchohol. You should get evaluated.
Well sweetie cums, the first sign of a drinking problem is doing things like stealing to support your habit.
I am serious about this.
Combined with your heavy debt, propensity towards depression, and general crabbiness, my guess is that you might have a problem with alchohol. You should get evaluated.
50
@46: It's also reasonably likely that the staff don't give a shit, if they even monitor IP addresses. But you could be right, too.
51
Idiots.
You are all being trolled by the Stranger.
The Rickey Henderson post proved it.
The Stranger wants to drive up page views and will do so at any cost.
Print advertising revenue is shrinking right now. Go pick up the latest issue for further proof.
You are all being trolled by the Stranger.
The Rickey Henderson post proved it.
The Stranger wants to drive up page views and will do so at any cost.
Print advertising revenue is shrinking right now. Go pick up the latest issue for further proof.
52
Dang Will, you are all over the web aren't you? Sheesh, we hate the tunnel idea and the mercer mess too. I think even if you ID yourself you can still be a troll Will. You are spending more time here because of the PI closing or what?
54
Anyone who has ever responded to a troll: you lose. Let the trolls troll; it's what they do. When you try to outwit them and get bogged down in trading insults, you're fanning the flames. You're doing what they want you to do. Thus, you lose, just like an intar-n00b (though a well-intentioned one).
Rather than advising that they move on, you might do so yourselves. They'll go away in time. Pay them no mind.
Alternatively, show up at a Slog happy and threaten to beat the editors senseless for not implementing commenter registration.
Rather than advising that they move on, you might do so yourselves. They'll go away in time. Pay them no mind.
Alternatively, show up at a Slog happy and threaten to beat the editors senseless for not implementing commenter registration.
55
Look at the conjecture over the days:
* the trolls are from the Weekly
* the trolls are bored P-I commenters
* the trolls are P-I staffers
* the trolls are really one disgruntled business owner
* the trolls are a group working in concert
* the trolls are soccer fans
Maybe Connelly's fans have assembled with their laptops at the Coupeville Grange Hall.
* the trolls are from the Weekly
* the trolls are bored P-I commenters
* the trolls are P-I staffers
* the trolls are really one disgruntled business owner
* the trolls are a group working in concert
* the trolls are soccer fans
Maybe Connelly's fans have assembled with their laptops at the Coupeville Grange Hall.
56
@55: no, no, no. They're not soccer fans, they're Spurs fans, based on w7ngman's conjecture that I believe that all the trolls on the Internet are friends. Soccer fans and Spurs fans are not the same thing.
57
Don't dismiss legitimate comments about a thief as being a troll.
Let's face it... This is a grown woman not some 6 year old who has not learned a lesson about stealing. At ECB's age, this is not a "random" act, this type of behavior shows what type of character a person has. Seriously, her wages are garnished, she's being caught in petty theft?
If anything, maybe the stranger should send ECB in for a psychiatric evaluation if they want to actively support their staff.
ECB"S actions effect her ability to do her Job, how she is viewed and ultimately her reputation impacts her employer.
Currently I'd compare her public persona to that of Britney Spears immediately after she shaved her head. A train wreck about to happen.
Let's face it... This is a grown woman not some 6 year old who has not learned a lesson about stealing. At ECB's age, this is not a "random" act, this type of behavior shows what type of character a person has. Seriously, her wages are garnished, she's being caught in petty theft?
If anything, maybe the stranger should send ECB in for a psychiatric evaluation if they want to actively support their staff.
ECB"S actions effect her ability to do her Job, how she is viewed and ultimately her reputation impacts her employer.
Currently I'd compare her public persona to that of Britney Spears immediately after she shaved her head. A train wreck about to happen.
59
How on earth is it that the city takes the time to provide tips for the unintiated council investigative peoples teams of the disenfranchised, yet is so far in debt to the automated regulators of the Federal Government?
Click through from the webteam bravo!!!!
The worst thing that can be said for the defense of the numbers rackets between business leaders and community politicians is that neither of the two can agree on the secrets of the details without either getting into bed together ( figuratively as well as metaphorically ) or the inevitable lawsuit over the commentators... bloggers and trollers over the secret security files of former employees and the tales they tell.
Click through from the webteam bravo!!!!
The worst thing that can be said for the defense of the numbers rackets between business leaders and community politicians is that neither of the two can agree on the secrets of the details without either getting into bed together ( figuratively as well as metaphorically ) or the inevitable lawsuit over the commentators... bloggers and trollers over the secret security files of former employees and the tales they tell.
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