I get at least two letters every week from residents where they ask me to do something. I give them the honest answer about getting their request fulfilled and… usually never hear from them again. And I can just feel their unhappiness with my reply (which I’ll share with you in a sec). Darwinism As
... continue reading.Policy
Categories Transparency
Bring Back City Manager Reports
2 Comments on Bring Back City Manager ReportsMy second motion at the 7 May City Council Meeting was to direct the City Manager to provide weekly reports. This actually was the practice for many years (and continues in many other cities our size and larger.) It was cut back to a Monthly Report in 2018 and then dispensed with entirely in February
... continue reading.Categories Policy
A Proposal For A National Holiday For First Responders
4 Comments on A Proposal For A National Holiday For First RespondersThis is the body of a letter I sent to Congressman Adam Smith and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. It is the basis of the motion I made at the 7 May General City Council Meeting. The idea came to me about a month ago after a conversation I had with an old New
... continue reading.Categories Airport
Happy Earth Day 2020!
It’s hard to explain to people under the age of, oh I dunno, 200, what a big deal Earth Day was back when it began in 1970. I mean there were parties. Big parties. People across the entire political spectrum were engaged with ‘environmentalism’ in a way that is unimaginable now. There was a unified
... continue reading.Coronavirus Info and Resources
1 Comment on Coronavirus Info and ResourcesOh you think you’re done with COVID? Well COVID is not done with Des Moines. 😀 So here are some of my go to links for information on where you can obtain COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus) tests, treatment and vaccinations and treatment. (General FAQs about the virus.)
At the bottom are also some general links to assistance for individuals, families and businesses. If you find other resources you think others should know about? Contact me. 🙂
Vaccinations In King County
COVID Vaccine Finder (CovidWA.com)
Getting vaccinated in King County – King County
Summary of vaccination rates among King County residents
Testing/Facts about the Coronavirus
Answers to how long to quarantine and isolate, from the Washington Department Of Health
Stats
World Data – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations
State By State Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout – The New York Times
Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases from Johns Hopkins
King County COVID-19 Dashboard
COVID-19 Indoor Safety Guideline (indoor-covid-safety.herokuapp.com)
Reuters Graphics Tracking The Novel Coronavirus In The U.S.
United States/States Hospital Projections
Wikipedia Washington State Summary Of 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic
CARES Act (Economic Stimulus) Explained
New York Times Explainer On Stimulus Package (PDF)
Partial List Of Highlights:
- Pandemic Unemployment Insurance
- Increase in Unemployment Benefits by $600/week (on top of normal benefit) through July
- Direct Cash Assistance up to $1,200 per individual
- Small Business Forgivable Loans
- Emergency Economic Injury Grants up to $10,000 per small business or non-profit
- Debt Relief for SBA borrowers
- Resources for Business Counseling Services
- Eviction protection for renters
- Mortgage protection for owners
- Student Loan Deferral
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program
Small Business and 501(c)(3)s
Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants
One-Pager Of Small Business provisions of CARES act
Small Business Adminstration: Coronavirus Loan Resources
National Small Business Association COVID-19 Resources
Job/Family
State Of Washington: Financial Resources for Impacted Residents
State Of Washington: Unemployment/Paid Leave
State Of Washington: Department Of Social Services (Housing, Food, SNAP)
Multi-Service Center Energy Assistance (PSE, Seattle City Light)
Propel (Must-have SNAP Benefits phone app)
Other Stuff
A timeline. And a commitment to airport issues in Des Moines
On February 12th of 2020, I was told of a group trip to Washington D.C. being organized by the Port Of Seattle for electeds in the six airport communities. The purpose being a chance to provide a unified front from electeds and the Port Of Seattle on several pieces of legislation that all the cities
... continue reading.It’s about the policy, not the person
1 Comment on It’s about the policy, not the personWhen I ran for City Council, I ran for policies, not against a person. I could have run against any of the three incumbents and had similar results. Because the public is ready for change. Last Thursday’s reappointment was also not about the person, it was about policy. The current majority did not want change and
... continue reading.Competitive City Council Races Des Moines 1995-2024
7 Comments on Competitive City Council Races Des Moines 1995-2024*Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. Update: 03/12/2022: At the Thursday March 10, 2022 I said I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of competitive elections in Des Moines over the past ten years. I was wrong. Make that twenty. And three of those winners resigned. Some
... continue reading.Categories Transparency
My preferred Council Appointment process
Digging back into the cobwebs of history, I have researched several other appointment processes (we’ve had five in the past 25 years.) And there seems to have been a system for having eight (8) applicants which worked well. I’ve decided that this is my preferred process, not just because it seems fair, but because it
... continue reading.Categories Transparency
Dear Applicant: There may be a quiz
Leave a comment on Dear Applicant: There may be a quizDear Applicant, Thank you for stepping up to serve the City Of Des Moines. Since you have applied for the open City Council position, you will be interviewed at the Thursday February 6 Study Session. According to the Agenda, I will have an opportunity to ask you one question. I can’t tell you what question
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