The Official Seattle Hip Hop Voter Cheatsheet from Julie C
The Official Seattle Hip Hop Voter Cheatsheet
Okay, okay, it’s not the official Hip Hop vote, it’s actually the Julie C vote, but since the blind, empty “Vote or Die” campaign, spearheaded by the all-incompetent P. Diddy was a failure, and by most statistics, the Hip Hop community’s absentee ballots will end up in recycling anyway (or not…but if so, can’t say I blame us), I’ma offer my endorsements up, in hopes that y’all will vote with me. There are many, many important decisions to be made on this ballot including port commissioner elections, city council, Seattle School board, and transit. This voter cheat-sheet isn’t designed to start a discussion on whether or not voting makes a difference. That argument only really works on national elections, anyway. As a Hip Hop Community, we should always pay attention to local issues and those that are directly representing us in the region. But, if you still don’t think it will make a difference, I ain’t gonna argue with you. Since it’s all the same: pull out your number two pencils, grab those absentee ballots the city mailed ya, and ride with me this election cycle.
Initiative 960
This one’s easy. Vote no.
Screw Tim Eyman, the right-wing radical, and his weirdo tax ideology.
Referendum Measure 67
This one has been all over TV, and it’s been fun watching the trial lawyers and insurance companies duke it out, but when it’s all said and done, it’s sad to see this issue be one of the most expensive campaigns in state history with more than $10 million raised.
Vote yes on R-67. It makes me sick to my stomach watching insurance companies hitting record profit margins last year, while screwing customers from New Orleans to Seattle.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 8206
This one is a bipartisan collaboration from the legislature that requires state to sets up a “Rainy Day Fund” that can be tapped into in the event of emergencies, such as natural disasters upon super-majority vote. Doesn’t seem like a bad idea, but the general consensus from most ends seems to be that it’s not really necessary, especially since we already got one, so I’m voting no. Let’s spend that money on the babies.
Senate Joint Resolution 8212
This one is supposed to help the reintegration of people in prison by authorizing state-operated inmate labor programs. VOTE NO. It sounds all good and dandy, but what it really does is ease limitations on the use of prison labor without protecting inmates from labor abuses. F** the prison industrial complex.
Engrossed House Joint 4204
This constitutional amendment makes it possible for school levies to be passed by simple majority as opposed to two thirds vote of the people. I’m voting yes for this one.
Substitute House Joint Resolution 4215
This amendment helps control costs of higher education by allowing institutions more options in investing their money. This one is pretty simple, vote yes.
Initiative 25
I’m not convinced that King county residents should vote for director of elections. There doesn’t seem to be much of a reason. Vote no.
Proposition 1, Medic One
This is a fairly simple, vote yes, renewing existing property tax levy to fund Medic One emergency medical services system.
Prosecuting Attorney
This is one of the more important races in the city. I’m rolling with Dave Meinert on this one when I say vote Sherman. He’s done a great job exposing his incumbent Satterberg’s Republican ties for this nonpartisan position.
Assessor
I’m not hip, and have no time to research, so do with this one what you will.
Metropolitan King County Council District No. 2
Only name on the ballot here is Larry Gossett. I’m waiting for someone to take this man’s crown in this position. We need fresh blood in the office. I guess for now, we vote Larry, who’s done some good things, but seems suspicious as hell to me…fun fact: Larry Gossett and Aaron Dixon ran the Black Student Union at UW together. When many folks left to start the Seattle Black Panther Chapter, Gossett opted to stay on with BSU.
Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 2
The ports! This is an interesting one. Gael Tarleton has racked up some important endorsements from Washington Conservation groups and Washington democrats but vote for Bob Edwards! Tarleton is wayyyy too close to CIA and the feds for comfort for me. I’m cool (meaning hell no) on having a senior analyst for the Defense intelligence agency, and ex vice-president and director for SAIC Global Technology in control of our ports (ports bring a lotta money and power into this city, y’all, since we are an international trade hub). Besides, SAIC has been cited in some reports as having contributed to the rumors of “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq, and thus, the occupation of Iraq. Creepy. You never know what these folks have up their sleeves. I’d rather roll with the Republican incumbent. Sorry lefties….
Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 5
Even though he is endorsing Tarleton, I gotta roll with Alec Fisken. Can’t have too many Republicans up in the Ports either….
Sound Transit RTIF 1 Regional Roads and Transit System Proposition 1
Whoa! Talk about a complicated mess with this one…vote no! Fun Fact: this is the largest proposed tax package in state history! It’s also got lots of folks very confused on both sides of the issue. My main thing is that it’s expensive, and will be funded through increased sales taxes (as well as cab-tab taxes), a regressive tactic, which disproportionately puts the bill on poor folks who spend a larger percent of their income as consumers. Plus, the package is so huge, I know SOMEONE is getting over. Thumbs down.
City Council Position No. 1
Screw what the Stranger is talking about, please please vote Joe Szwaja. Joe is the ONLY one talking about ending tax breaks and giveaways for developments that don’t provide clear public benefits. And if you don’t know, the city council for the past decade or so has been CONSISTANT in their support for using FEDERAL PUBLIC MONEY that’s supposed to HOUSE PEOPLE to give tax breaks to community gentrifiers!!!! Screw that! Vote Joe! Development is the most exposing issue in the city of Seattle. He wants to put it in the forefront on council? I’m riding with him.
City Council Position No. 3
I can’t really tell what Velaquez or Harrell are really talking about from first glimpse of their sites. Their endorsement lists are equally scary, but I’m voting Bruce Harrell. Venus’s husband co-owns a law firm that has served as private council to the city of Seattle, which should raise your eyebrows…plus I like Bruce’s take on public safety (which focuses on prevention, mentorship, and community involvement), which is probably what won Venus the crooked-ass police guild’s endorsement.
City Council Position No. 5
Tom Rasmussen it is, I guess. . .it always makes me nervous though when folks are running uncontested…too much agreement…
City Council Position No. 7
Sheesh, this one is weird. Della is the more likely community candidate, as opposed to his ex-cop challenger Burgess. However, it kinda scares me that the Alki Foundation and big business in Seattle is backing Della. This means they think he will fold to their interests, essentially. (This is how it works, the people elect someone to council, the people get screwed ’cause our leaders sell out.) However, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington (a group that doesn’t usually do city council endorsements) exposed some long-time connections Tim Burgess had with a group called Concerned Women for America, a group they called “a virulently anti-choice, anti-women organization.” Even though Burgess claims to be pro-choice (you’d have to be to win in Seattle), this is fishy, so I’m still voting David Della.
City Council Position No. 9
Judy Fenton is a straight up knucklehead, who is not at all qualified to run for council! One of her biggest issues? Clothing the naked statues at the sculpture garden. Plus, she’s a tight-ass when it comes to nightlight legislation, too. Boooo. Vote Sally Clark.
City Charter Amendment 17
This technical amendment adds a preamble to city charter. Sure, why not?
City Charter Amendment 18
This amendment requires the mayor to present a second annual message to city council when he proposes a budget. Vote Yes.
Seattle School Board No.1
Sally Soriano allll day! Her and Director Mary Bass are among the few individuals on Seattle’s School board who are riders for the people. No question. Vote Sally.
Seattle School Board No.2
I’ve heard rumors that Director Darlene Flynn is not as hard as she seems (word has it she is a borderline sell-out.) That being said, she is still sharp as hell, she is serious about racial disparities in academic achievement, and seems to be the one asking all the tough questions at school board meetings. Vote Darlene.
Seattle School Board No. 3
True, he calls elected officials lying, conniving whores, and comes off a little loony, but Seattle politics will do that to good people. Truth is, I have grown to be a bit of a fan of David Blomstrom, from a distance. Besides his personal spin on things, everything he says about the “Seattle Mafia” (check his site at www.seattle-mafia.org ) is pretty much true, and anyone doing community work in the city should know about this history so they don’t get absorbed into the blind liberalism that upholds class privilege in this region. I don’t know if I really want to tell people to vote for Blomstrom, so I’ma leave this one to y’all. Wanna vote for someone who’s been driven crazy by the closed-door politics of corruption in Seattle, or vote for someone who’s won over endorsements from perpetrators of these politics?
Seattle School Board No. 6
Anyone who has attained that thug, James Kelley of the Urban League’s endorsement and flaunts it should automatically be a red flag. Luckily, Maria Ramirez who is running against Steve Sundquist, has a grassroots, community organizing background, a connection with parents and the Latino community, and is more than qualified for the position. Vote Ramirez.
Julie C is an emcee from the mighty Alpha-P crew, Assistant Chapterhead of 206 Zulu, Northwest Regional Director of Hip Hop Congress, and Co-director of Reclaim the Media. She can be reached at Juliec.206@gmail.com. SCHOLAR!
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Weekly Updates | berkhhc October 24, 2007 | 
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