It’s tough to keep up with everything moving and shaking in your city. Luckily, you’ve got us. Here are a few things to know from the week.
> ‘It’s been a difficult week.’ And that’s our mayor putting it mildly. It’s been seven days since The Seattle Times ran a story about three men who say Mayor Ed Murray sexually abused them 30 years ago. That set off “the biggest political scandal in Seattle in generations,” as the Times editorial board put it, not so mildly. There’s a lot of talk about what could change — though not a lot actually has. The mayor is insisting he’ll still run for re-election, despite calls for him to drop out. New candidates are considering a run for the office, but none have stepped forward yet. The mayor tried to discredit his accusers by saying he didn’t have a mole that they say he had. That hasn’t made any of this go away. Can the mayor get through it? He seems pretty determined to try. ⚖
> A protest double feature. Seattle has never been one for staying quiet on political issues, and tomorrow is proof. First up, at 11 a.m., a big Tax March hits streets here and around the country to demand that President Trump release his tax returns and make a more equitable tax system. Its symbol is a rooster that resembles Donald Trump, which, by the way, was created by Seattle artist Casey Latiolais. Then in the afternoon, Black Lives Matter is having a dance party at Westlake Park, followed by a rally and a march downtown. Their symbol: black beanies. Dig the movements? Enjoy the busy day. 🇺🇸✊
> Where do you want a new sports arena to go? Once upon a time, Seattle had an NBA team called the Sonics. The team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, making some local fans pretty upset. Now, almost nine years to the day after the Sonics played their last game in KeyArena, two groups of developers turned in $500 million plans to make KeyArena bigger and better. Meanwhile, another group is working on a way to build a brand-new sports arena in SoDo. The goal: to draw a pro basketball team and maybe even a pro hockey team to the city. Seattle’s City Council is weighing all the options. 🏀🏒
What does that have to do with you?
“Even if you are not a sports fan, the council’s decision will impact you in many ways,” writes Jeff Shulman, marketing professor at the UW Foster School of Business and host of the Seattle Growth Podcast, on theevergrey.com. “Care about Seattle traffic or housing prices? Now is the time to become informed of the issues and involved in the process.”
Jeff’s suggestion? Read his take on how a big arena in Seattle Center or SoDo would affect your life in the city, then speak out on #SonicBoomDay on Monday, April 17, to tell City Hall what you want to see happen. Learn how here.