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Thursday, September 17, 2009

City McGinn Courts Southeast Seattle

Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:18 PM

In an attempt to attract Southeast Seattle votes, mayoral candidate Mike McGinn announced today that he would open a new office at 6951 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Suite #223 (near the corner of MLK and S Willow Street). He plans to use the site for recruiting volunteers and stationing phone banks.

"I think that Southeast Seattle is historically underserved," says McGinn. "There are disparities in education, jobs, and attention from the city."

"There are a lot of votes north of the ship canal, but we want to win votes in the southeast, too," McGinn says. In the primary election, "Nickels earned the support of voters in southeast Seattle and I want to earn their support, too." He already has one office on Aurora Avenue N and N 40th Street. The new office will open Saturday.

While we were on the phone, I asked McGinn how he plans to appeal to labor unions, a powerful force in Seattle elections, which have been steadily gravitating to challenger Joe Mallahan (I report on the trend here.) "Well, you know, I respect the decisions made by big business and the big construction unions," he said. "They really want a tunnel and Joe Malllahan is their man. We have been reaching out to unions and we would love to win union support, and it is in process." Does he have plans to reach out to any specific unions? "I think it's premature," said McGinn.

UPDATE: McGinn has announced two town halls in Southeast Seattle this Saturday (on what seems to be very short notice).

COLUMBIA BRANCH OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
WHEN: 10:30am, Saturday, September 19th
WHERE: 4721 Rainier Ave S

JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER ON BEACON HILL
WHEN: 8pm, Saturday, September 19th
WHERE: 3801 Beacon Ave S

Comments (25) RSS

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So, is that quote really supposed to say "undeserved" or "underserved"? BIG difference...

Posted by Jaime on September 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM

I hope that he meant "underserved", Dominic!

Posted by ralph on September 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM

Yay for him opening a spot in SE. (Psst - did he really call the area "undeserved"?)

The union thing is weird though. He's just now getting to be "in process" of reaching out to them? By tarring Mallahan-endorsing unions as big-business tunnelhumpers? Excellent humility there, Mike.

Posted by gloomy gus on September 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM

Neat!

Plus, bonus, the light rail takes bikes, so he can still bike and use transit to get to the office.

Just because the $358 billion hole in the state budget means the Billionaires Tunnel is dead, doesn't mean unions won't have jobs in Seattle, they just won't be wasting them on an under-capacity tunnel with zero downtown exits and 40 percent of the freight capacity of either a rebuilt viaduct or a surface plus transit solution.

Freight and people will still need solutions to move around.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on September 17, 2009 at 3:33 PM

He should definitely reach out to SEIU. They're huge, politically active, and don't really have a stake in the tunnel.

Of course, unions do like to stick together, and the King County Labor Council has already made their decision ... solidarity and all that.

Posted by Mahtli69 on September 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM

I'll try not to run him over if I see him on Rainier. Is he staffing this office with locals, or more Wallingforders?

Posted by meks on September 17, 2009 at 3:54 PM

The idea that always bugs me about people talking about the need for the tunnel because of trucking doesn't even understand the trucking industry. The vast majority of deliveries happen late night/early morning when there aren't a lot of personal driving happening. If a truck is moving through Seattle mid-day they are probably driving through town on the way to another town for delivery so they're on I-5. So how does the tunnel help trucking?

Posted by Enigma

on September 17, 2009 at 3:54 PM

meks, be nice. It's Mallahan from Wallingford, and McGinn from Greenwood. Big difference, especially north of 85th.

Posted by gloomy gus on September 17, 2009 at 3:57 PM

From down here, they look pretty similar.

Posted by meks on September 17, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Is he gonna start telling the homeys to put $2000 rims on their bicycles?

This and other Whiteboy Adventures coming soon.

Posted by Roger That on September 17, 2009 at 4:02 PM

It's not just that he hasn't reached out to unions (though to my knowledge, he's studiously avoided doing so).
It's that throughout his Great Cities days, he went out of his way to diss labor folks.

Posted by nedludd on September 17, 2009 at 4:06 PM

GO TUNNEL!!!!!!

Posted by clint on September 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Great to see McGinn figuring out where his base will come from. How come he didn't choose the hip kids on Cap Hill to base out of?

And if he does staff the office from boyz in da hood...

Are those boyz going to be hip to the rhyme of white talk when calling possible donors to the campaign? Or are they not going to call north Seattle with da homies?

He just keeps looking more hilarious with every announcement.

Posted by Reality Check

on September 17, 2009 at 4:15 PM

meks, I know, right? like rainier view v. beach to northies.

Posted by gloomy gus on September 17, 2009 at 4:19 PM

@5 - SEIU is not affiliated with the MLK County Labor Council, and it is at odds with several of their affiliates, so they won't just follow along with the MLKCLC's Mallahan endorsement.

On the other hand, what exactly does McGinn think outreach to labor means? At least three MLKCLC affiliates complained that McGinn never returned their calls.

Note: Not just that he didn't call them. They called him and he didn't respond!

Tunnel or no tunnel that's no way to campaign...

Posted by Gompers on September 17, 2009 at 4:51 PM

The unions will tell McGinn to get bent. That is why he'd downplaying their importance. It's further proof that he is a moron unfit to run Seattle. Two managers are running, both under qualified, but Mike doesn't think on his feet.

Posted by hmmm on September 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM

In what universe is Wallingford not local

Posted by Reader1 on September 17, 2009 at 5:46 PM

The biggest strategic problem for McGinn is that when people get to know him and his policies, they run away. The guy is a loony attorney masquerading as some kind of visionary.

Cool-Aid, anyone?

Posted by ralph on September 17, 2009 at 6:03 PM

"In what universe is Wallingford not local"

In gangbanger/baby mama world. You see in Wallingford, a 'gang banger' is a kid who jumps the line at Dicks on 45th and then threatens you with the ketchup bottle, not spray da hood with semi automatic gunfire.

In Wallingford a 'baby mama' is a woman who has 3 babies with ONE corporate lawyer and/or Amazon rep.

Posted by Roger That on September 17, 2009 at 6:12 PM

Short notice meeting - so much respect and campaign skill - it is desperate time for Mc Ginn.

Just reactiong totally - where the fuck is a brillandt campaign plan?

He a fat dofus. Needs a shave and some pressed shirts as well, Seattle does the under dress, but he looks like a pig.

In the past two days I have decided to vote for Mallahan, Mc Ginn has nothing to offer.

Posted by Lives South of Yesler, Way South on September 17, 2009 at 10:03 PM

@20 - probably where your speling skilz went.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on September 17, 2009 at 10:37 PM

@19,

There are no ketchup bottles at Dick's. And, believe it or not, the many people of color who go to the one in Wallingford stand in line just like the rest of us white folks.

Posted by Mr. X on September 17, 2009 at 11:21 PM

@19,

That said, your white people disses weren't bad.

Posted by Mr. X on September 17, 2009 at 11:23 PM

Yes, really dissed those white folk in Wallingford for being so square.

Posted by Ian Smith on September 18, 2009 at 8:02 AM

the mostly volunteer campaign is going to be his downfall. there is no one to organize and keep track of things. It seems to be a common thread atm with mcginn - no response/acknowledgement in a timely manner.

all this election means is the city council will have more power again since neither mayoral candidate will know what to do.

Posted by beef on September 18, 2009 at 8:33 AM