Saturday, March 30, Traveling Town Hall: Perhaps a small step toward a healing

All of us -- as parents, as children, and as fellow members of our Seattle and Washington and American neighborhood -- grieve over the terrible, very recent accident involving a motor vehicle hitting pedestrians on a street in North Seattle.

Two people were killed, and two others were very critically injured. They were innocent pedestrians, minding their own business and simply crossing a road not far from our community's Eckstein Middle School. Though we don't know for sure, as the police investigation is ongoing, it does look as if the driver was severely impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

In the very neighborhood of this awful tragedy, Representative Gerry Pollet will host the latest in his series of Traveling Town Halls Saturday morning, March 30, from 10 to noon.

 

The Town Hall will happen at Top Pot Donuts, 6855 35^th Avenue Northeast (between 68^th Street and 70th Street). Rep. Pollet and constituents will talk about proposals for stronger DUI laws, of course, as well as other issues. As we endure the aftershock of yet another grievous heartbreak, perhaps coming together in this way, as a community, can be a small step, a little fragment of help toward a healing.

People are talking: Good turnout so far for Pollet's 'Traveling Town Halls'

Rep. Gerry Pollet

State Rep. Gerry Pollet's Traveling Town Halls are proving to be a pretty decent ticket for folks who have something to get off their chest on Saturday mornings.

The46^thLegislative District meetings stem from Pollet’s past experience organizing carpools of parents and others into a three-to-four-hour weekday excursion to Olympia -- for just a few minutes of face time with legislators. These Traveling Town Halls allow constituents to meet with Pollet most every Saturday morning from 10 to noon at various locations around the district, instead of trekking to Olympia.

Pollet has already welcomed three-dozen citizens to his first two meetings earlier this month: the premier 2013 get-together at the U-Village Burgermaster and his most recent constituent-conversation at the Lake Forest Park Town Center. Pollet's informal meetings -- you might even call them "Flash Town Halls" -- start at 10 most every Saturday morning. The next one is this Saturday, Feb. 2, at Diva Espresso, which is located at 8014 Lake City Way Northeast (between north 14th Avenue and north 15th Avenue). Pollet and Kenmore Mayor David Baker will hold a joint Traveling Town Hall on Saturday morning, Feb. 9, at Espresso Works, which is located at 6734 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore.

"We’ve covered local issues, for sure," he said of the meetings so far, "such as the red-light-camera authority at the 'Five Corner' intersection of Sand Point Way Northeast and Northeast 45th Street. And we’ve engaged in spirited discussions on statewide issues, such as potential reforms in the revenue system, funding for education, and reducing gun-violence."

Pollet launched his traveling-office tradition last year, holding Saturday-morning meetings all over the 46th District during the 2012 legislative session. With the 2013 session now in full swing, he said he wants residents from 46th District neighborhoods to have an opportunity to speak their minds without having to travel to Olympia.

Folks can always find information on Pollet's in-district meetings -- as well as information about a wide variety of community, legislative, and state-government issues -- at his legislative website.

Pair of 46th Legislative District Town Halls set for Saturday, Jan. 12

Rep.  Pollet

Come one, come all! Sen. David Frockt, Rep. Gerry Pollet, and Rep.-elect Jessyn Farrell are looking forward to hearing from their 46th Legislative District neighbors in one or both Town Hall meetings next Saturday morning and afternoon, Jan 12. The three Democratic lawmakers will meet with interested citizens:

• From 10 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at North Seattle Community College. North Seattle Community College is located at 9600 College Way N., Seattle.

• From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Upper Level at Third Place Commons in the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. The Town Center is located at 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park.

Rep.-elect Farrell

Frockt, Pollet, and Farrell welcome discussions about these and additional key issues they will join other legislators in facing this year in Olympia:

• Funding our K-12 schools.

• Strengthening access to our colleges and universities.

• Preserving health care for our children, and for our disabled and elderly fellow citizens.

• Developing our transportation options.

Sen. Frockt

For more information, contact either Sen. Frockt at 360-786-7690, or Rep. Pollet at 360-786-7886.

Confused by new liquor prices?

There’s been a lot of news coverage surrounding the price of liquor this week. Did prices go up? Did prices go down? Are Washingtonians fleeing to the Oregon border to find the cheapest booze? While the long-term effects of liquor privatization remain to be seen, we can clear up some confusion regarding the new and not-so-new taxes and fees you’re seeing at the check-out stand.

Say you are picking up a ten dollar pint at your local grocery store. The taxes that you’ll pay are the same that they were under the state-run system.
    20.5% retail sales tax= $2.05
    .473 liters= $1.78 prorated liter tax

Here’s where things get tricky. Initiative 1183 adds two new fees: a distribution fee and a retail fee.
    10% distribution fee= $1.00
    17% retail fee= $1.70

These fees differentiate Initiative 1183 from Initiative 1100, which was defeated back in 2010. I-1100 raised concerns that revenue to state and local governments would dive, and therefore put public safety at risk. This time around the fees were included and Initiative 1183 was approved with nearly sixty percent of the vote.

So let’s do the math:

• $10 bottle

• $2.05 retail sales tax

• $1.78 prorated liter tax

• $1.00 distribution fee

• $1.70 retail fee

• $16.53 - Grand total

That’s an awful lot of math for a person to do on their fingers and toes. Under the previous system, state-run liquor stores posted the after-tax price. According to Representative Gerry Pollet, private distributors should follow suit.

“The public shouldn’t have to bring a calculator to know the actual price for liquor under our new law,” said Rep. Pollet. “The liquor taxes are much higher than the grocery-store-standard sales tax and it’s deceiving for shoppers.”

Rep. Pollet made his case for full disclosure of after-tax-and-fee prices on KOMO 4 Wednesday.  You can check out the interview below.


The Seattle Times has a price comparison on their website here. So far, price differences range from 10% cheaper to 34% more expensive compared to the state liquor store prices.

UPDATE: Many retailers will include the additional fees in the shelf price of the product and some may not. Be sure to check your receipt for a breakdown of any added taxes and fees.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Photo credit: Culligan1984 via Wikimedia Commons

Need a tow? That’ll cost you! Or will it?

The newest member of the HDC is wasting no time getting to work this legislative session!
Rep. Gerry Pollet has introduced an important consumer protection measure in House Bill 2372.

HB 2372 would authorize the Utilities and Transportation Commission to place a $250 cap on towing fees for those who find themselves in the unfortunate circumstance of having their vehicle impounded. The bill does stipulate that the owner must reclaim their vehicle within 24 hours of the tow.

Adding another layer of protection, Rep. Pollet’s bill requires that towing companies disclose their rates in writing for those requesting a lift. 

In a series of pieces last month, Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat highlighted the problem of excessive towing charges in the Seattle area. Danny found examples of towing companies charging upwards of $1,400 per impound. Take a look at his columns here, here and here!

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

46th Legislative District Town Hall THIS Saturday

• Meet with members of the 46th Legislative District as they prepare for the 2012 Session. 

• Inform your lawmakers of issues important to you and your community. 

• Learn about the issues facing lawmakers as they return to Olympia. 

• Receive an update on actions taken during the special session and the continuing budget process. 

Saturday, January 7th from 1 to 2:30 PM
North Seattle Community College Concert Hall at 9600 College Way North

For a map and driving directions, please click here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

House Democrats welcome Rep. Pollet!

Rep. Gerry Pollet

Last week a new face joined the House Democratic Caucus: Rep. Gerry Pollet. Rep. Pollet was appointed to the House of Representatives by the King County Council, following Rep. David Frockt’s appointment to the Senate and the untimely death of our colleague and friend Sen. Scott White.

A thirty-year resident of Seattle, Gerry is Executive Director and co-founder of Heart of America Northwest, a 16,000 member organization dedicated to environmental clean-up. Gerry also teaches at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health.

Gerry arrived in Olympia just hours after being sworn in by the King County Council, and has been busy getting up-to-speed with special session.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.