Minutes of the 34th District Democrats
Meeting of 14 February 2007
Chairman Ivan Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:04PM. The flag salute was lead by
County Councilman Dow Constantine.
The Adoption of Agenda, the Minutes of the January meeting, and the Treasurer's Report
were approved unanimously. The chairman introduced the 34th District officers who
were elected at the January meeting.
Chairman's Report
Senator Erik Poulsen has filed three bills which would effectively
bring the Glacier strip mining on Maury Island to a halt. Representatives Eileen
Cody and Joe McDermott will be introducing House versions of the bills. All are urged
to attend the WSDCC PCO Training and Crab Feed in Olympia at St. Martin's University
Pavilion on Monday, February 19th. Toni Lysen also urged attendance at the King County
Dems Legislative Action Day in Olympia also on February 19th. A listing of LAC
prioritized bills and other local bills was made available.
Ivan appointed Linda Johnson as timekeeper. Jackie Dupras announced 88 credentialed voters.
Program
Tim Nuse moved to table Seattle Advisory Measure 1 - Tunnel Hybrid Alternative.
The motion was seconded and passed (54 approve/24 oppose).
It was moved to table Seattle Advisory Measure 2 Elevated Structure Alternative.
The motion was seconded and failed (37 approve/46 oppose).
Wendell Sprigg moved to endorse Measure 2. The motion was seconded.
Phil Talmadge and Toni Lysen spoke to support. Dow Constantine and Chris Arkills
spoke against. Motion failed (35 approve/53 oppose).
Robin Hess moved to urge city and state officials to consider other options
for viaduct alternatives. Motion failed for lack of a second to the motion.
Dan Fievez moved the 34th District request the City Council and Mayor work together
on other viaduct options. The motion was seconded. The chairman ruled the motion
out of order and remanded it to New Business.
Kathy Minsch moved to endorse Washington Environmental Priorities:
Clean Air-Clean Fuel, Wildlife Recreation Program, Save Our Sound, and
Elimination of Flame Retardants. The motion was seconded. Tom Nuse spoke to
support. There was no opposition. Motion unanimously passed by voice vote.
Greg Doss introduced a resolution to endorse Common Sense Firearms Regulations.
Seattle Police Officer Steve Paulson spoke to support. There was no opposition.
The resolution was unanimously passed.
George Cheung, political consultant and PCO 34-1473, presented an analysis of
the 2006 election emphasizing voting patterns in the 34th District. The results
were discussed and are posted on the 34th District website.
New Business
Fifteen Precinct Committee Officers were appointed: Dave Coffman -
SEA 34-1488, Judith Aguilar - SEA 34-1470, Robin Hess - Vashon, Michael Ninburg -
SEA 34-1469, Robert Murano Cove, Jeff Upthegrove BUR 34-0465, Chuck Finney SEA
34-1460, Russell Brubaker SEA 34-1487, Brian Bennett BUR 34-0560, David Rosendale
SEA 34-1511, Tania Maria Rosario SEA 34-1514, Chris Weiss BUR 34-1032, Brian Duncan
SEA 34-1516, Al Rouyer SEA 34-1468, Christine Raver SEA 34-1259. Dan Fievez moved to investigate the firing of U.S. Attorney John McAKay.
The motion was seconded. Ernestine Pearl-Rosendale spoke to support.
The motion passed (39 approve/26 oppose).
Michael Taylor moved to endorse a NO vote on Advisory Measure 2 Elevated Structure Alternative. The motion was seconded. Toni Lysen and Wendell
Sprigg spoke to oppose. Allan Munro spoke to support. Motion failed for lack of a
two-thirds majority.
Robin Hess made a motion to urge elected officials to consider other viaduct options.
Motion was seconded. DaveCoffman and Tom Jurewicz spoke to oppose. Dan Fievez spoke
to support. Motion passed (46 approve/ 16 oppose).
Andrew Lewis spoke to draft Al Runte for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A petition was circulated.
Good of the Order
Dina Johnson spoke about the Clean Elections Rally in Olympia sponsored by
Washington Public Campaigns.
Leslie Harris announced Pathfinder School's annual auction at South Seattle
Community College on March 3rd.
Ann Martin gave phone number, 206-601-0641, for volunteers to canvas and
telephone for promoting the tunnel option.
Michael Taylor announced Equality Lobby Day on February 26th and urged support of
HB 1351 which would extend rights of spouses to domestic partners.
Tina Shamseldin, KCDCC, reminded us of the Highline School Levy on March 13th and
of Legislative Action Day in Olympia February 19th.
Peggy Abby announced the West Seattle Democratic Women will be awarding
scholarships to winners of essays written about the First Amendment. West Seattle
and Sealth high school students may enter.
Paul Carr announced the showing of the film, The Ground Truth, at 7PM this
Sunday at Seattle Unity Church.
Nels Ekroth stated concerns that nobody is addressing the overpopulation issue.
Informal Notes and Photos
Click any photo to enlarge it.
Left:
Right: PCO George K. Cheung, who presented an analysis of the 2006 Election in King County.
Agenda
Meeting of Wednesday, February, 2007
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Avenue S.W.,
West Seattle, Washington
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS
"All The Democracy You Can Handle"
• 6:30 PM - Social - drinks provided, please bring potluck food to share
•
• 7:00 PM - Call to order, by Chair Ivan Weiss, Flag Salute
• Chair's remarks
• First Vice Chair's remarks
• Committee reports
Program
• City of Seattle Measures 1 and 2: An advisory ballot on whether to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with an elevated structure or a surface-tunnel option. See ballot language below.
• Legislation for Puget Sound cleanup
• Four Environmental Priorities - See Washington Environmental Council website
• Common Sense Firearms Regulations - Seattle Police Chief or Deputy. See proposed resolution below.
• George K. Cheung - an analysis of the 2006 election and lessons for the future
Business meeting
Old Business
New Business
• Appointment of PCOs
Good of the order
9:00 PM - Adjourn
Ballot Language on Viaduct Replacement
Advisory Measure 1 - Tunnel Hybrid Alternative
Seattle Advisory Measure Number 1 concerns replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a Surface-Tunnel Hybrid Alternative. This measure is advisory only. If you vote yes, you are stating that you prefer that the Alaskan Way Viaduct be replaced with a four-lane tunnel with wide shoulders that could be used for peak-period travel, in addition to surface-street and transit improvements. The estimated cost is $3,410,000,000, to be potentially funded with $2,800,000,000 in state and federal funds, $500,000,000 in city utility funds for utility relocation made necessary by the project and $250,000,000 from a localized tax on specially benefited landowners. The Governor has said state and federal funds might not be available above $2,800,000,000.
Advisory Measure 2 - Elevated Structure Alternative
Seattle Advisory Ballot Measure Number 2 concerns replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with an Elevated Structure Alternative. This measure is advisory only. If you vote yes, you are stating that you prefer that the Alaskan Way Viaduct be replaced with a six-lane elevated structure, increased to four lanes in each direction between South King Street and new ramps at Seneca and Columbia Streets. The estimated cost is $2,800,000,000 to be potentially funded with $2,800,000,000 in state and federal funds.
You may vote either Yes or No on either or both measures.
Common Sense Firearms Regulations Resolution
A RESOLUTION urging Washington State legislators to enact common sense firearms regulations to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and to keep our children and our communities safe.
Gun Show Loophole
WHEREAS, in 1994 Congress passed the Brady Act which mandates criminal history background checks on persons applying to purchase firearms from licensed firearm dealers. Since 1994 the Brady Act has prevented over one million convicted felons and other ineligible persons from purchasing firearms, and
WHEREAS, the Brady Act does not apply to unlicensed persons selling firearms at gun shows. Unlicensed sellers may sell their guns anonymously and are not required to perform background checks or keep any records of their transactions. This is known as the gun show loophole, and
WHEREAS, according to a report by the Department of Justice, unlicensed persons comprise between 25% and 50% of the sellers of firearms at gun shows, and
WHEREAS, there are more than 40 gun shows held in Washington State each year, and
WHEREAS, according to a report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), gun shows are "major venues for illegal trafficking" with nearly one-third of all trafficked firearms being channeled through gun shows, and
WHEREAS, eighteen states have already closed the gun show loophole: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, and
Assault Weapons Ban
WHEREAS, in 1994 Congress passed a ten year ban on the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons. This ban was allowed to expire in September 2004, and
WHEREAS, the federal assault weapons ban resulted in a 20% drop in the number of assault weapons used in crime, and
WHEREAS, while assault weapons make up only 1% of the guns in circulation in the United States, about 5% of Seattle’s gun crimes are committed with assault weapons. Nationally assault weapons account for a disproportionate share of guns used in murders of police and mass public shootings, and
WHEREAS, seven states have enacted assault weapons bans: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, and
Safe Storage - Child Access Prevention
WHEREAS, firearms are the second-leading cause of death (after motor vehicle accidents) for young people age 19 and under, and
WHEREAS, guns in the household increase the risk of death by homicide by three times and the risk of death by suicide by five times. The elevated risks of homicide and suicide are strongest when guns are stored loaded or unlocked, and
WHEREAS, more than one third of US households possess firearms. Up to two-thirds of households that have both guns and children present, store at least one gun either loaded or unlocked, and
WHEREAS, Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws impose criminal penalties if a child gains access to improperly stored firearms. CAP laws have been linked to reductions in suicide rates among youth ages 14 to 17 years, and
WHEREAS, CAP laws also help keep guns out of the hands of criminals. States that have enacted safe storage laws have firearm theft rates 26% lower than the rest of the country, and
WHEREAS, eighteen states have CAP laws that hold gun owners accountable for leaving a firearm easily accessible to a child: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 34th District Democratic Organization strongly urges our state legislators to pass sensible, common sense firearms laws during the 2007 legislative session that will protect our children and our communities and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. These laws include:
1. Closing the gun show loophole (HR 1026)
2. Banning the sale of assault weapons
3. Child Access Prevention (HR 1014)
Next Meetings:
• March 14
Message From the Chair, February, 2007: Tunnel or Viaduct? Speak up now
The election will be March 13. The ballot language is in the newsletter.
We'll have the Voters' Pamphlet statements for and against both ballot measures
at our February 14 meeting. But will we have YOU? Will you be our Valentine?
If all the people (250-plus) who have paid dues by January 15 (30 days before our
February meeting) show up, we'll rock the house, and we'll send the city a message,
one way or another. Our District organization is on the map, at the local, county, and
state level. Voters in our District and elsewhere, and the media, are watching what we
do. Let's turn out and show them!
We'll have plenty of other issues on our agenda. There will be an endorsement
vote on the legislative agenda of the Washington Environmental Council, and one on
the city's efforts to reduce gun violence. Our members are involved on both fronts.
One of the strengths of our District organization has been its ability to attract top
talent. One such new member is political consultant George Cheung, formerly of the 43rd
District. George, the newly elected Precinct committee Officer for SEA 34-1473, will
give us a brief overview of one of his specialties, precinct-by-precinct analysis of
a District's performance during an election, contest by contest. George has prepared
such an analysis of the 34th District, and we think you'll find it pretty interesting.
There's more than can be presented at a District meeting with a packed agenda, but we
should get a pretty good introduction to what George does and how he does it.
George's information especially should be of use to our Precinct Committee Officers, and
we should be appointing quite a few more in February. Some of them will be familiar
faces, who either have moved to new precincts, or neglected to file for election.
Hey, it happens. We think you'll be excited to meet some of the new PCOs, also.
Certainly we are excited that they are stepping forward to serve.
Rain, hail, sleet, or snow
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the 18 PCOs and about a dozen other members who braved
the snowy, icy mean streets of Seattle to attend the January reorganization meeting
of the 34th District Democrats.
A special shoutout goes to Robin and Arlene Hess, who had to walk a mile up an
icy hill to get home on Vashon after attending. Your chairman, who also lives up a
hill on Vashon, thought better of it and stayed over in Seattle.
We needed 17 elected PCOs for a quorum and 18 showed up. We re-elected, by
acclamation, all candidates for office who ran for re-election, and elected, by
acclamation, Sharon Henderson to the position of Secretary. Ernestine Pearl-Rosendale
is our new King County Committeewoman, also elected without opposition.
In addition, we have appointed, at Greg Doss' request, Jeremy Jepson as assistant
treasurer. Jeremy, a budget analyst, adds to our deep bench of budget wonks on the
Finance Committee.
State reorganization
At the January 26-27 reorganization meeting of the Washington State Democratic
Party's Central Committee, Dwight Pelz was re-elected State Party chair, and the
entire slate of officers was re-elected.
There were two contested races. Rosalinda Guillen of Bellingham challenged
Pullman's Eileen Macoll for vice chair, and Krystal Wood of Tacoma challenged
Luis Moscoso of Mountlake Terrace for secretary.
See you on Wednesday, February 14, for "all the democracy you can handle."
It's great to be back for another term. We'll have plenty of democracy to handle
between now and November 2008.
Ivan Weiss
Chairman, 34th District Democrats
206-463-4647
"When they're working, we're working
When they're sleeping, we're working."
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