That apparently is the issue now before the Washington Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on the case tomorrow.

Below is an e-mail news release from the American Civil Liberties Union Washington. So, it's not exactly balanced, but you can get the drift of the issue. And it's not every day you've got the First and Second Amendments teaming up on the same side of a lawuit. (Check out who the plaintiffs are.)

The ACLU wants the Internet filters (which prevent the user from visiting certain sites) removed at the request of adults. Probably has some key words that are verboten. I wonder if "Political Buzz, the Naked Truth" would be filtered out.)

Washington Supreme Court Considers Suit Seeking
Access to Information on Internet for Library Patrons

Tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. the Washington Supreme Court hears oral argument in an ACLU of Washington lawsuit to defend the rights of adults to access information on the Internet on public library computers. It is challenging a filtering policy that hampers adults in researching academic assignments, locating businesses and organizations, and engaging in personal reading on lawful subjects.

The ACLU is representing three library users and a nonprofit organization in the lawsuit (Bradburn v. NCRL) filed in 2006 to ensure that patrons of the five-county North Central Regional Library (NCRL) in eastern Washington have access to useful and constitutionally protected information. The lawsuit challenges the library system’s policy of refusing to honor requests by adult patrons to temporarily disable a filter on public computers for sessions of reading and research.

=> Read more!

Well, you don't really expect Larry Phillips or Dow Constantine to suggest raising taxes for bus service BEFORE the King County executive election, do ya?

But after a few months of bus drivers selling brownies at bus stops and making no dent in a projected $168 million deficit, the King County Council might think about tapping into the taxing option it got from the Legislature this past session.

UPDATE: Only the 7.5-cent-per-$1,000 in property valuations is available. I incorrectly reported in my first posting there was a $20 car tab option. That was vetoed by the governor.

County Council calls on Metro Transit to become
more entrepreneurial

Motion seeks to leverage revenue through partnerships and entrepreneurial activities

The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously passed a motion calling on Metro Transit, which is facing a $168 million shortfall over the next two years, to report on efforts to leverage Transit Division resources through partnerships and entrepreneurial activities.

“When the Girl Scouts need extra money, they sell cookies. Looking at a $168 million budget hole, what kind of clever revenue-generating activities can Metro come up with to fill the budget gap and protect bus service?” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of the motion. “It’s time to think outside the box and explore innovative ideas for keeping bus service on the streets.”

=> Read more!

The four 82-year-old ferries, whose replacements are well overdue, are headed to a scrap heap in California to be recycled.

Apparently, the state couldn't find a buyer who could put them to any water-borne use, so we sold them for $200,000.

Could be worse. The state ferry system could have sold them to some guy who claimed he could rehab them and turn them into tourist attractions in Commencement Bay.

WSDOT Ferries Division sells Steel Electric class vessels to California recycler

SEATTLE – Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) has sold four 1927-built Steel Electric class vessels to Eco Planet Recycling, Inc. of Chula Vista, Calif. The total combined sale price for all four ferries is $200,000.

The Washington State Department of General Administration approved the sale on Wednesday, June 17 followed by completion of the signature process on Thursday, June 18. Receipt of the payment was confirmed late on Friday, June 19.

=> Read more!

Vitamin E (for Education) is a term coined by state Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor. He said it refers to the "next step" in education, beyond House Bill 2261, the ed reform measure that passed this session.

Seaquist said he voted against HB 2261 -- not because he opposed it but because it didn't go far enough. He said he brought together a groups of teachers, parents, union folks, special ed workers, etc. a few weeks ago in Bremerton and has more meetings planned over the legislative interim.

Anyway, the 26th Legislative District Democrats have a slew of folks on tap for their July 7 meeting.

The 26 Legislative District Democrats are pleased to announce their upcoming General Meeting Tuesday July 7th at 7 PM. The location is Givens Community Center, Kitsap Room, 1026 Sidney Ave. Port Orchard WA. 98366. The outstanding lineup of speakers including Andrew Morrison potential Candidate for 26th Representative running against Jan Angel, Julie Anderson candidate Pierce County Auditor, Fred Chang for Port Orchard City Council, , Representative Larry Seaquist on Vitamin E (bill to restructure education in Washington State), and Rodger Zabinski candidate for the Port of Bremerton.

The meeting is free and the general public is welcome. For more information call Chairman Mark Brown at 360-895-6033.

Sincerely,
Mark Brown
26th LD Democratic Chair

Professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman is offering his followers bobble-head dolls (of him, or course) as incentives to get more signatures on the home stretch. He correctly points out that his may be the only measure to make it onto the November ballot.

The bobbleheads aren't free, by the way. (I wonder if I should get one for Sen. Adam Kline? I'll bet the anti-Eyman would just love a memento of the campaign.)

Eyman writes, "We ordered a few more "Super Eyman" bobbleheads as a fun way to inspire more June donations to I-1033. Send me an email (tim_eyman@comcast.net) and make me an offer (100% of the proceeds go to I-1033 -- we really need the $$$) -- it's a great conversation starter, a unique gift, and a neat memento from this year's campaign."

Here's part of an e-mail he sent to supporters today:

RE: We've hit 270,000 signatures for I-1033 -- need at least 22,000 more before July 2 deadline -- difficult, but doable.

Over the weekend, we reached a major milestone in the signature drive for the Lower Property Taxes Initiative I-1033. Jack and Mike worked all weekend in Spokane to fully review and process all the petitions we've received so far. Late last night they reported that we've hit 270,000 signatures (270,055 to be exact). We need at least 22,000 more in the next 11 days to make it.

Difficult, but doable. Working together, we can do this.

It's clear that we're going to need every single one of those 11 days so we've made an appointment with the Secretary of State to turn in our petitions on the last day which is Thursday, July 2nd. The media has reported that we're the only initiative that's got a shot at qualifying for the ballot.

=> Read more!

In May Tacoma’s general fund was $7.1 million lower than what was budgeted. By June that grew to $11.1 million, threatening to eclipse nearly $12 million in cuts the city is already undertaking.

Curious about how concerned residents should be, I sat down last Friday with Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson to talk about the numbers.

His short answer was that the city isn’t where it wanted or hoped to be, but we’re not to the point where more drastic measures, like reductions in city services, or furloughs or layoffs of city employees are necessary.

Anderson previously recommended battening down the hatches with $11.7 million in spending cuts, realized throughout 2009 and 2010. They include measures such as not filling vacant staff positions, reducing travel and training, postponing purchases and cutting back on subscriptions.

These cuts would be made under a four-tiered plan that ranges from quick, easy items to Level 4 - a " Katie- bar-the- door Great Depression."

I asked him if there was a number that residents should be looking for, a level of shortfall that would indicate things have really gone off the rails.

“It isn’t that easy,” he said, noting that an $11 million shortfall is only 2.5 percent of the $440 million fund. “It’s a lot of money but it’s a big system.”

There are a few other things that residents should understand about the general fund, Anderson said.

First, the taxes that feed the general fund over the biennium don’t come in via 24 equal installments. Property tax comes in lumpy disbursements and sales tax collections tends to be highest around the holiday shopping season.

Second, the city is operating on a two-year plan based on economic forecasts that expect a steady decline until the end of the year and then an economic upswing in 2010. (See sketch.)

After June’s numbers come in, Anderson will be making a report to the City Council about where he thinks things stand and how the city might react.

I also asked him about the $12 million in cuts that were already being made and whether city could make them without affecting service. Anderson said it could. So why weren't we taking advantage of those savings previously?

Anderson’s answer was basically in the financial crisis has forced the city to find new efficiencies and new ways of doing things.

“It doesn’t mean we’re less effective,” he said. “It means we evolve over time.”