A bizarre morning

I feel like I fell through the Looking Glass and wound up at the Seattle City Council this morning. Today was the day, that the council voted to send Council Member Tim Burgess' ``Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance'' to full committee. About a dozen Real Change supporters showed up with signs but it was a far cry from the last Public Safety Committee meeting that featured a standing room only crowd of speakers.
Before the Public Safety Committee meeting, chaired by Burgess began, 15 minutes of public comment was held. Seven spoke (including a couple of Real Change vendors)against the Solicitation Ordinance and four in favor. It does seem like regular people are against this ordinance and those in favor are representing some special interest organization. Perhaps the type of organization that would support a Burgess campaign for Mayor? Just a thought.
After some provisions by absent council member Sally Clark were added to the ordinance, Burgess, council president Richard Conlin and council member Sally Bagshaw were joined at the table by the most progressive member of the council, Nick Licata.
Licata felt that the bill was now more humane than the original but still had two amendments. The first was a proposal for more police - bringing back fixed beat patrols and hiring new police officers. The second was for more street outreach and increased housing capacity and street services. Licata noted that ``services are now miniscule,'' a point that Burgess seemed to agree with when he ``debated'' Real Change director Tim Harris at Seattle University a month ago.
``You can't build a bridge halfway,'' said Licata. ``The bill shouldn't take effect until these provisions are met.'' However, Licata noted in an exchange with Conlin that even with the provisions he still wouldn't support the bill.
That became a mute point when none of the council members would support Licata's add-ons. It's worth noting that two of the Public Safety Committee members weren't in attendance. Burgess said that Sally Clark was ill but alternate Bruce Harrell was nowhere to be seen.
Those in attendance voted 3-1 to send the bill to full committee. Just like on the Supreme Court, Licata has the option to write a dissenting opinion which he hoped to do in the next couple of weeks. Council president Conlin said he would decide whether Licata's report would have to be done by next Monday. Somebody's in a hurry to get this bill passed.
As if those opposing the bill hadn't suffered enough, council member Bagshaw then said she agreed with Licata although she didn't vote for his provisions. Bagshaw then went on for another five minutes saying she was for Real Change, the Seattle Police, Tent City, more human services, and just about anyone else that came to mind. Bagshaw was offended when someone put up a sign that said, ``Liar.'' Actually, ``Please Shut Up'' would have been more appropriate.
Now it appears the ordinance will go to council and be passed by an 8-1 margin as Licata, unlike some council members, doesn't mind being the lone dissenting vote. Who knows what will happen when the ordinance takes effect?