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Monday, February 27, 2012

Education / City / Media McGinn Absent from Editorial Praising Success of McGinn's Absenteeism Program

Posted by Goldy on Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 4:17 PM

Cheers to the Seattle Times editorial board for giving the city's innovative "Be here, Get There" school attendance campaign the praise it deserves. But jeers for failing to give Mayor Mike McGinn an ounce of credit.

As I wrote in covering the press conference that introduced it, this is a program that originated in the mayor's office. And yet the editors make absolutely no mention of the mayor's involvement in a program that in six short months has already reduced absenteeism in Seattle Public Schools by 50 percent.

McGinn has a reputation for being ineffective. Maybe he is. But if he isn't, you'd never know it from his one-sided coverage in the Seattle Times.

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Not really sure about how extended parking meter hours came about, but last week the Times sure went out of its way to blame McGinn in the piece it did saying that restaurants have had few diners since the extension came along.

Posted by seatackled on February 27, 2012 at 5:17 PM

@1, and the wine thief debunked that little hit piece earlier today.

Posted by Westlake, son! on February 27, 2012 at 6:06 PM

@2

Interesting piece--thanks!

Posted by seatackled on February 27, 2012 at 7:19 PM

McGinn also whined that the "dog ate his new proposal".

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on February 27, 2012 at 7:31 PM

One-sided coverage? Oh, you mean like the Stranger. Put away your rape whistle, Goldylocks.

Posted by BetarayBilly2 on February 27, 2012 at 8:23 PM

Cliff Mass points out that a quiet flu season probably has a lot more to do with it - scroll to the bottom of this post: http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2012/02/lo…

Posted by cloudveil1 on February 27, 2012 at 9:25 PM

@6, that's a great find - Cliff Mass also calls more bullshit than that:

This is entirely wacky! The program started in Sept 2011. You will notice that the absentee rates for this Sept through January are virtually the same as the last TWO years. For some reason, 2008-2009 was a bit higher--but that is not an issue here. So other than this February there is ABSOLUTELY no evidence that the new program is doing anything. Where in the world did they get that the rate was cut in half?

Posted by gloomy gus on February 27, 2012 at 10:33 PM

Its ok, what comes around, goes around, McGinn doesnt have any problem taking credit for other peoples work.

"When I took office there weren't any cranes on the skyline," McGinn told the rapt crowd seated inside council chambers. "On my way to City Hall this morning I counted at least a dozen. It's good to see hardhats."

We can thank former mayor Paul Schell and Paul Allen for the development explosion in South Lake Union. Construction of large buildings can take years of planning before ground is broken. All those cranes existed before he was even elected.

Posted by Kinison