Conserving what’s on the bottom of our oceans can be a tough sell.  We can’t see it or touch it.  It’s out of sight and out of mind for all of us except a few scientists. That’s changing, thanks to the contributions of marine scientists James L. Bodkin and Elliott A. Norse, and others like them, to the […]

Jerry Large wrote a wonderful column in this morning’s Seattle Times about the Roots of Empathy program here in Seattle. I wrote a blog post last May about the program, the wonderful Wendie Bramwell, and the work she does to further the program started by Mary Gordon. I’ve reposted it below as a companion piece to Jerry’s […]

I’ve been chosen to participate in ThinkTank, a debate function on the Publicola website. Opposing editorials are posted each week on a topic selected by the editors, and then it’s off to the races as my fellow ‘Tankers and I contribute our own perspectives to the conversation. Week three poses the question: Are Teachers Unions […]

I love flying, and even though I’ve never gotten beyond piloting a Cessna 206, every time I get into the plane I am thrilled. I can almost taste what it’s like to “boldly go,” as they said on Star Trek, and pass into the inky blackness of space. I really wish I could go with […]

The City Council is holding a public hearing tonight on the proposed renewal of the Families and Education Levy. Sign-in for public comment will be available at Council Chambers (second floor of City Hall at 600 Fourth Avenue) starting at 5:00pm. The hearing begins at 5:30pm. In 2007, Seattle voters approved a $117 million, seven […]

Council Bill 116995, related to the redevelopment of the Lake Union Armory Building and amending the development agreement between the City of Seattle and the Museum of History and Industry, passed through yesterday morning’s Parks & Seattle Committee with a 6-0 vote and one abstention.  Please note that the date of the full council vote […]

Last Friday, I posted some thoughts on the direction we should take in terms of education reform on a local level. To revisit that post, let’s once more acknowledge that our School District is primarily responsible for our students’ public education and we support the District’s efforts to be accountable. A desire for improvement does […]

As referred to in Friday’s post, here’s the first half of my twelve-point outline which I propose after having innumerable conversations with parents, education leaders, and school board members.  I welcome input on this discussion and we will collectively put more meat on the bones in coming weeks: 1. We create a strong relationship between […]

“Across the developed world, and across the political spectrum, everybody agrees about the importance of education.  It’s good for society, which needs the contributions and economic productivity – not to mention the tax – of skilled workforce, and it’s good for individuals.  People with more education earn more, are more satisfied with their work and […]

Teachers Alex Jones and Kevin Gallagher brought their classes of kinderkids from Bryant Elementary down to City Hall last Thursday. The kids studied U.S. government over the course of the year and wrapped things up by exploring Seattle government. They showed off the research they’d done on the Mayor and all nine City Councilmembers, even […]