Northern Pacific Report

King County Bulletin

2011-07-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

Not that many voters are aware of it, due to the negligence of a partisan, ideologically controlled news media, but there is an election for King County Director of Elections in November, 2011. The news blockade about the position that runs the elections department is just another piece of the puzzle about a media that is more concerned about controlling events than merely reporting the story. Objective journalism in the United States has become the purview of a handful of newspapers, blogs, radio stations and others, but being a part of the establishment-run apparatus that works primarily for the benefit of big business is the main status of the overwhelming number of so-called journalistic outfits, and that includes a good number of the quasi-alternative papers and slick news oriented internet sites & blogs. It's no accident that media organizations that downplay certain political campaigns also usually endorse the opponents of these campaigns. This is the FOX-ification of the broader sphere of journalism in the nation, today, and although this is really nothing new (objectivity and fair practices in journalism were just as rare 100 and 200 years ago as they are today), there still needs to be a reminder to the public every now and then that the big media outfits have deep biases and business-driven motives to distort, ignore or disproportionately promote stories.

[revised on 7/13/11]

Updates on "King County Bulletin" may be following in the coming stays.

Copyright 2009 - 2011, Party of Commons TM

Departmental Review

2011-07-09T00:32:00.000-07:00

The controversial shooting and killing of an Indian wood carver by a Seattle policeman last year, apparently sparked a federal Department of Justice investigation of the Seattle Police Department over the past several weeks, an investigation which encompasses many other allegations of brutality and unprofessionalism by this police department. The King County Attorney's Office, seemingly reluctant over the years to bring accountability for wayward police actions in the county, declined to prosecute the policeman involved in the aforementioned shooting, and who has since resigned from the department. The Department of Justice investigation of the entire department is ongoing at this time.

Copyright 2009 - 2011, Party of Commons TM

State Representative Filing

2010-06-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Mark Greene, party chairman and candidate for state representative in District 41, position 2, turned in 574 signatures on his election candidacy petition and filed for office on June 11, 2010, at 11:55 A.M. Yet, inexplicably, the King Co. Elections office did not list Mark's name on their website, resulting in Mark not being in media announcements of campaigns and also probably missing candidate invitations to forums & questionnaires by organizations.

King County Elections has not notified Mark as to whether they deemed his petition as sufficient or not, even though they know that 421 signers on the petition is all that is needed. This non-listing by King Co. Elections puts Mark's candidacy at a distinct disadvantage compared to the other candidates. What should have been done, if they cannot count 421 names in 4 or 5 hours, was to list Mark's name from the beginning, and then they would have had the option of de-listing if they later deemed the petition not sufficient.

When Mark Greene handed in his petition, the election official told him it was provisional. Why is a petition any more provisional than a check? Do candidates who write checks on a Friday have to wait over the weekend to have thier filing acknowledged since the department won't really know if there is money to back up the check until the next week?

UPDATE: King Co. Elections notified Mark on June 14, 2010 that his petition was rejected due to a 38% error rate. They said that they tried to notify Mark on late Friday, June 11th.

[Originally posted on "Commoner" on 6/12/10; revised on 6/22/10.]

Sympathy for Officer's Family

2009-12-29T05:56:00.000-08:00

Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy, Walter Mundell, Jr., died yesterday, several days after heroically intervening in a domestic dispute. The gunman who shot Mundell and wounded another officer was killed during the confrontation. "Commons" extends condolence to Deputy Mundell's family.

The Party of Commons does not sponsor or produce advertising.

Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM

Pierce County Tragedy

2009-11-29T18:49:00.000-08:00

We had thought our writings on Northern Pacific Report would be mainly about mundane court business on civil & political matters and council meetings, and never expected to write about three successive tragedies, but sadly, not very long after the other tragedies, four police officers from the Lakewood, WA Police Dept. were ambushed and killed by a gunman, today. Reportedly, the gunman is still at large, and Governor Christine Gregoire said that the State of Washington is extending help to the local authorities in trying to catch him. The gunman is reportedly believed to be injured by one of the deceased officers who valiantly tried to stop the gunman. "Commons" extends condolence to the families of the officers.

Post-script (added on 12/1/09): the alleged gunman was killed by a policeman, today, during a confrontation.

The names of the four deceased Lakewood Police Dept. officers are Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens, Mark Renninger and Greg Richards.

[revised on 12/29/09]

The Party of Commons does not sponsor or produce advertising.

Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM

Fort Hood Tragedy

2009-11-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

Thirteen servicemen and servicewomen were tragically killed by a gunman, and many injured earlier this week, reportedly and bizarrely by an officer in the Army, at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. This was obviously a senseless tragedy and "Commons," along with the nation in general, was shocked to hear about this sad news. For stopping the gunman and averting a further tragedy, praise and credit goes to female police officer Kimberly Munley, who was also severely injured during the gun battle.

"Commons" expresses condolence to the families of the deceased and hope, with prayers to the Almighty, for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Party of Commons does not sponsor or produce advertising.

Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM

"Commons" Expresses Condolence to Officer's Family

2009-11-01T22:40:00.000-08:00

"Commons" was saddened to learn about the shooting death of a Seattle police officer, Timothy Brenton, and an injury to another officer in the same incident, late yesterday according to news reports. "Commons" has much sympathy for the Brenton family and their loss. Mayor Greg Nickels announced today that every step will be taken to make an arrest in this case as apparently no suspect or suspects have been identified, yet.

The Party of Commons does not sponsor or produce advertising.

Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM

Seattle City Council Schedule

2009-07-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

July 6
09:30 Council Briefing

14:00 Council Meeting

July 7
09:30 Transportation Committee Meeting

14:00 Public Safety Committee Meeting

July 8
09:00 Planning Committee Meeting

14:00 Culture Committee Meeting

July 10
09:30 Special Committee on Open Government Meeting

Prologue

2009-06-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Northern Pacific Report! This will be a report on court and government hearings, primarily, in the state of Washington. These reports will include the federal courts in Washington, City of Seattle council meetings, King County council meetings, legislative business in Olympia, and so forth. We hope to get as many viewers as possible for this blog as this will be an informative guide for those who want to know what is going on in the courts and in the political arenas of northwestern America.

Copyright 2009, Committee of Commons & Political Affairs TM