The Stranger’s morning news roundup.

by Hannah Krieg

Weather: Some weather yesterday, huh? If you got caught outside without a rain jacket during that lil downpour, rest assured that will not happen today… unless the weather nerds got it wrong, in which case I’m sorry to have misled you. According to the National Weather Service, we can expect mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 60s. If you can’t get outside today, fear not. Friday should be similarly nice before we embark on a rainy weekend. 

A view of the Cascades from our roof this morning. The convergence zone is finally dissipating this morning.

Don’t get used to the sun. Rain returns early next week. But there’s hope for warmth and sunshine toward the end of next week. #wawx pic.twitter.com/N94Qo83Iyr

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) May 30, 2024

All eyes on Rafah: According to Al Jazeera this morning, Israeli forces have killed at least 53 Palestinians in Rafah and injured 357 more in the last 24 hour reporting period. At least 37 were killed in airstrikes. Most died while sitting in tents, as Israel is bombing a refugee camp after all. Since Oct 7, Israel has killed at least 36,224 Palestinians and injured at least 81,777. With President Joe Biden still willing to pay for the genocide and Israel fully taking over the border between Egypt and Gaza, the horrors continue. 

Instead of AI Instagram stories, look at reality:

More than 600,000 children are sheltering in tents in Rafah right now as they are getting intensely bombed – nowhere else left to go.

This is not war, this is genocide. pic.twitter.com/x2A6BdHMsE

— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) May 29, 2024

FYI: Earlier this week, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) announced it will once again start shutting off utilities for households who have fallen behind on their bills. This move threatens power, heat, and, air conditioning for tens of thousands of low-income families who have enjoyed protections from disconnections since late 2022. Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP), Front and Centered, the NW Energy Coalition, the Sierra Club, and Washington Conservation Action sent a press release yesterday shaming the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for letting PSE roll back such an important equity and public health measure. Can we get a big, collective “boo” for PSE and the Commission in the chat? 

No more car deaths: The fatal crash on MLK yesterday marks Seattle’s sixth traffic death in a week, according to Urbanist reporter Ryan Packer. While our city council and Mayor waste time pushing a repeal of the gig worker minimum wage, trying to slash funds for BIPOC affordable housing and community centers, and bending over backwards to pay cops as much as possible, they ignore the crisis that is car-dependency. In fact, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s transportation levy draft continues the deadly tradition of over-investing in car infrastructure at the expense of the robust transit and improved walkability we need to escape one of the country’s leading causes of death.

Today’s fatal crash in Seattle actually marks the sixth person to be killed in the last week.

Just found out about a crash on Aurora Ave on Thursday, May 23, that took the life of UW medical assistant Stephen Willis, near Aurora and N Northgate Way. pic.twitter.com/GsEWGbVVIU

— Ryan Packer (@typewriteralley) May 29, 2024

New chief in town: After Ashley broke the news that former Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief Adrian Diaz would leave his position, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced in a press conference yesterday that the legal-battle-embroiled and accused creep will still be with the department and that Sue Rahr would take his place temporarily while the City conducted a nationwide search for a new top cop. Harrell said Rahr will not apply for the position and that he would prefer to hire someone from outside the department to help change the boys club culture of SPD. However, he’s not excluding internal hires, which tbh might deter qualified outside candidates. 

My take: So, this press conference put me in such a bad mood because the whole time Harrell just praised and praised Diaz, insisting that he was a “good person” and his friend. But at the same time, four women accused him of “grooming” and “predatory behavior.” I can’t help thinking about when accusations surfaced about disgraced Mayor Ed Murray allegedly sexually abusing children and Harrell defended Murray’s good name until the bitter end. Harrell supporters Harriet Walden and Victoria Beach came to the press conference to defend Diaz and refute the allegations, to which Harrell said he respects Beach’s opinion. I just don’t think you can have it both ways, Harrell. You cannot foster an environment that’s safe for women and that encourages accusers to come forward when you “respect” the “opinion” that the accusers are full of shit. 

Harrell is really doubling down that Diaz is “a good human being.” Meanwhile, four women accused him of “grooming” and “predatory behavior.” But what do you expect from Ed Murray’s hardest rider! https://t.co/52dGpY2mLw

— Hannah Krieg (@hannahkrieg) May 29, 2024

Speaking of accusers: Dan Price, the Gravity Payments CEO, who you probably know from the good thing he did for his workers and not the allegations against him, has returned to the company. Price resigned in 2022 to “focus full time on fighting” what he called “false accusations” that he attempted to kiss a 26-year-old woman and then grabbed her throat when she refused. Those charges got dropped in 2023, but she’s really not the only one who claimed to have a bad experience with Price.

Hush money: The jury in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money case went home after more than four hours of deliberations and no verdict. They will resume talks today and rehear some key testimony to inform their historic decision.

Hong Kong: In Hong Kong’s biggest national security case, the court found fourteen pro-democracy activists guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion for planning an unofficial primary election on the heels of the 2019 protest movement. Some may face life sentences, including former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong, and Raymond Chan. 

Alito: Sure, the press may have caught Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flying not one but two flags that indicate sympathy with Jan 6 insurrectionists, but that doesn’t make him unfit to judge Former President Donald Trump’s absolute immunity case, right? Democratic lawmakers say it does, but Alito responded to their demands for him to recuse himself with a big, fat “no.” He wrote, “The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal. As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention.”

Is there anyone else, other than John Roberts, who might have some sort of power to take action here

Anyone come to mind, anyone at all https://t.co/Ebs2K0vmZ2

— Jay Willis (@jaywillis) May 30, 2024

Speaking of recusals: Did anyone else catch that Council Member Tanya Woo recused herself from a procedural vote to delay the gig worker minimum wage repeal in Tuesday’s full council meeting? As I reported, the executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission said Woo should recuse herself because of her immediate family’s direct financial interest in the bill, but she decided to get a “second opinion” from the whole commission. It sounded like they had not advised her quite yet, but her recent recusal could indicate that she will not vote on the bill at full council next week, which would likely tank it. I asked for Woo to comment Wednesday afternoon and have not heard back. 

Let’s go, workers: IAFF Boeing Fire Fighters Local I-66 have until 3 pm today to vote on a tentative agreement with their bosses at Boeing. Workers have put up with some shit for safety improvements and wage increases—they make 30% less than their industry peers. As you may remember, Boeing threw a tantrum and locked out 125 firefighters and emergency medical workers earlier this month. Then, last week Boeing offered a contract so offensive that workers “overwhelmingly” rejected it in a vote. We’ll know how they feel about Boeing and their bargaining unit’s latest deal sometime today. 

Got this stuck in my head:

The Stranger

Summer Time Marijuana Tomatillo Salsa Verde

This summer time marijuana tomatillo salsa verde recipe brings the summer heat, a cool chill and a bit of fun.

The post Summer Time Marijuana Tomatillo Salsa Verde appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The Fresh Toast

Seattle Chief of Police Adrian Diaz is toast, at least as the city’s top hog, according to a source.

by Ashley Nerbovig

As first reported by The Stranger, Seattle Chief of Police Adrian Diaz stepped down from his position on Tuesday amid a flurry of lawsuits over a culture of sexism and racism at the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and rumors about an inappropriate relationship with a top aide.

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr has stepped up to replace him as Interim Chief of Police, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced at a press conference Wednesday. Harrell emphasized her expertise in recruitment, particularly as it relates to hiring women. 

Harrell said Rahr, the former Executive Director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, has no plans to apply for the top job permanently, and he expects to keep her in the role for up to six months as the City launches a national search for a new permanent police chief. Harrell said the department plans to consider internal candidates, but he pretty clearly gave a preference to external applications, saying he had concerns that an internal candidate couldn’t make the type of cultural changes that SPD requires.

While discussing Diaz’s demotion, Harrell said the chief inherited a cultural problem at SPD. Harrell stressed his confidence in Diaz and announced that Diaz would stay on to work on special assignments for SPD with the Mayor’s Office. The Mayor gave no details about the duties of that role, which rank Diaz would assume, or whether he’d keep his approximately $370,000 per year salary. Those decisions would be left up to Rahr, who steps into the role of Interim Chief first thing Thursday. 

Harrell denied that any one thing led to Diaz stepping down, but he did say the number of investigations and complaints against the chief would distract him from running the Seattle Police Department effectively. Harrell also said keeping Diaz as head of the department could lead people with complaints to fear retaliation. 

The announcement comes the day after the Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced plans to investigate a complaint against Diaz over allegations about his hiring of a top aide, with whom he allegedly had an intimate relationship. The investigation breathes new life into the rumors about the relationship, which Diaz had ferociously tried to quash last year, and which an employee admitted to inventing.

Still, the new OIG investigation comes after seven employees filed claims and lawsuits against Diaz for fostering a sexist and racist working environment at SPD and retaliating against officers who spoke up. These complaints led the Mayor to hire an outside firm to investigate the allegations, an investigation which is still ongoing. Earlier in the month in an interview with KOMO, Harrell promised to let the investigation play out and afford Diaz “due process,” but he noted that the allegations had gotten his administration’s attention.

Near the end of the press conference, SPD Community Outreach Coordinator Victoria Beach laid into Harrell for Diaz’s demotion, saying the investigation into the allegations hadn’t yet finished. 

“This is wrong. Nobody is safe in the Seattle Police Department, nobody,” Beach said. 

The Stranger

May Is The Time to Plant Marijuana And Mums

From backyard gardens to rooftop terraces, May is the time to plant marijuana and mums for the best results.

The post May Is The Time to Plant Marijuana And Mums appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The Fresh Toast

Seattle Chief of Police Adrian Diaz is toast, at least as the city’s top hog, according to a source.

by Ashley Nerbovig

Seattle Chief of Police Adrian Diaz is toast, at least as the city’s top hog, according to a source. After a series of lawsuits accusing him of allowing a culture of sexism and racism at the Seattle Police Department, combined with rumors about an inappropriate relationship with a top aide, his stint as chief has come to a close after less than four years. 

On Tuesday, the day of Diaz’s departure, the City’s Office of Inspector General sent out an email explaining that it planned to investigate a complaint against Diaz over his hiring of a top aide, who he allegedly had an intimate relationship with.

The City has scheduled a press conference at 1 pm today. 

Diaz became interim chief of the department in 2020 after the departure of Carmen Best. Mayor Bruce Harrell officially appointed Diaz to the position in September 2022. Before he began overseeing the department, he led SPD’s Collaborative Policing Bureau, which focused on community policing efforts such as youth violence intervention and educating the public about policing. 

This is a developing story.

The Stranger

Can we PLEASE just get rid of the self-checkout and go back to checkout lanes, with express lanes for 8 items or less?

by Anonymous

Can we please bring checkout lanes back? The number of people who take an entire, overflowing cart of groceries through a self-checkout lane thinking they can scan groceries faster than a cashier is astounding, especially when they eventually run out of space on the ever-so-sensitive bagging scale and start standing around to wait for employee assistance anyway. 

I’ve seen people with a broken arm and a full cart of groceries go through the self-checkout. I’ve seen parents letting their children painstakingly scan each and every item in the cart, only to have them not put something in the bagging area and—surprise!—require the help of an employee!! The grocery store checkout is not some play place! I’m sure you could even buy a toy checkout set at Fred Meyer!!

And remarkably, some people still have NO IDEA how to use the self-checkout. They treat it as if it were some sort of elder alien technology they are first encountering after being unwillingly thrust a thousand years into the future. (Maybe they were? If so, fuggin’ talk to me! Let me live out my X-Files/Futurama fantasy!)

Can we PLEASE just get rid of the self-checkout and go back to checkout lanes, with express lanes for 8 items or less? Or at the very least make self-checkout express only!?

Just let me leave this place and show my receipt to the security guards on my way out.

Do you need to get something off your chest? Submit an I, Anonymous and we’ll illustrate it! Send your unsigned rant, love letter, confession, or accusation to ianonymous@thestranger.com. Please remember to change the names of the innocent and the guilty.

The Stranger

You’d think having more millionaires in Seattle would make the city richer. It doesn’t.

by Charles Mudede

One would expect that the 3,700 millionaires Seattle added in 2023 alone would mean the city as a whole (meaning, the public spirit of the area) would be that much richer. But such is not the case. Indeed, it appears to be the opposite. The Seattle City Council now claims to be broke, the same goes for Seattle Public Library and Seattle Public Schools. And so, the addition of, as Puget Sound Business Journal worded it, “3,700 newly minted millionaires, nine centimillionaires and one billionaire in 2023” is not at all a blessing. Indeed, it’s not a stretch to connect this explosion of the richest of the rich with the new and deeply regressive composition of the City Council. Is this a law that needs our attention? One that has, like so much in economics that’s related to reality or facts, been ignored? Concomitant with a rise in W is a decline in P? (W being the number of wealthy people and P representing public wealth.) What kind of city or urbanism can we expect with this law?

Before we examine the urbanism that’s adequate for those who have fewer infinities than most (more about this infinities business in a moment), let’s be clear about what makes a millionaire a millionaire. The less confusion on this matter the better.

Puget Sound Business Journal writes:

The number of millionaires in Seattle grew 72% between 2013 to 2023 to a current estimate of 54,200. The city is now also home to 130 centimillionaires and 11 billionaires. The report [by the global wealth management firm Henley & Partners] defines “millionaires,” “centimillionaires” and “billionaires” as individuals with over $1 million, $100 million and $1 billion in liquid investable wealth, respectively. 

Liquid means cash-in-hand or assets that can easily be converted into cash. A millionaire, in this sense, has a million that can generate income from the dividends, interest rates, or manipulation (buybacks) of financial assets. A middle-class homeowner does not fit this description. For one, a member of this group usually doesn’t outright own the key middle-class asset, a house. It’s owned, instead, by a bank. The”homeowner” can, of course, use the asset as collateral for a loan or claim its equity when it’s sold. Both forms of capital extraction depend on the state of the housing market specifically and the economy as a whole. 

What about the poor? What makes a person poor? It is a high number of infinities. A rich person, by contrast, has few or close to no infinities, this is why billionaires turn to space, to the stars, to rockets, to visions of “Occupying Mars.” There are just too few infinities for them. But a poor person is confronted with an infinity when, say, the “average rent for [a 1-bedroom] apartment in Seattle is $2,227.” Why infinity? Because the average rent is so high that it’s as obtainable as any price above it, be it a million/billion/trillion bucks. A key component of American ideology is to disguise these real and hard infinities by celebrating the self-made rich, emphasizing individualism, and pushing self-help solutions.

One more definition is in order. It concerns the economic category of late capitalism. It is used a little too loosely. For example, a class offered by the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research describes the current stage of capitalism as late:

[L]ate capitalism without citing baneful examples of its spatial manifestations—the soullessness of Hudson Yards; the Grenfell Tower disaster; the (lethal to build) Qatari World Cup stadiums; aestheticized server farms and data centers. 

But the world-systems theory correctly defines this category as the final stage reached by a nation that holds the dominant position in a globalized capitalist order. The Dutch moment, for example, experienced the late stage in the early 1700s. Great Britain entered it at the end of the 19th century. The US, in the 1980s. What characterizes late in all of these moments is the transition from a productive (real) economy to a financialized one. China is still in the productive stage of capitalism, but it will eventually sunset with the expansion and final dominance of its financial sector.

With all of this in mind, let’s turn to what I call billionaire urbanism, which is specific to late-stage American capitalism. To grasp the substance of this specificity one has to apply the Uno School’s description of a totality, which is the completion of an economy’s “inner logic” (read Uno Kozo’s Principles of Political Economy: Theory of a Purely Capitalist Society). In this respect, American capitalism was structured by a housing market that rapidly expanded after the Second World War. A feature of this expansion was gentrification, which the German-British urban sociologist Ruth Glass first identified and named in 1964. As I explained in another post, gentrification is an innovation of what’s called the Golden Age of Capitalism (1947 to 1970). It entered hyperdrive after the deregulation of finance in the 1980s. 

In Seattle, as with other cities, gentrification was totalized around the time of the housing crash of 2007. Indeed, the crash might be seen as a manifestation of this totality. The process simply ran out of gas, out of poor people to displace, out of NINJA loans to securitize. What was next? Billionaire urbanism. This kind of spatial configuration expresses the command those at the top have over all revenue. Investing in the classes below millionaires, centimillionaires and billionaires is no longer profitable for those with “liquid investable wealth.” The returns on capital-directed commoners (the infinity people) are way too small or too slow. This is why Seattle’s Council seriously considered making no investment whatsoever in the lower classes. This wasn’t an accident. It’s consistent with the new structuring (and spatial) logic of billionaire urbanism. All post-gentrification investments must (can only) go to the very top because that’s where all of the money is. 

The solution to the decline of Seattle’s downtown will not be social (long-term) investment but the phantasmagoria of its own Hudson Yards.

The Stranger

One really great thing to do every day of the week.

by Audrey Vann

WEDNESDAY 5/29  

Amy Tan: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

(BOOKS/BIRDS) In 2020, a lot of us started birding—mass layoffs and an unfamiliar amount of hours to fill tend to encourage people to look to the skies, I guess. National treasure Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) will conjure plenty of conversations about spark birds with her latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a “gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.” Even if you’ve never identified a single species beyond a parking lot crow, chances are good that you’ll find the book inspiring. My suggestion? Go pick up some ‘nocs. (Seattle Public Library – Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave, 7 pm, free, all ages) LINDSAY COSTELLO

THURSDAY 5/30  

La Luz: News of the Universe Record Release Show

(MUSIC) Newly promoted from Hardly Art to Sub Pop for their new full-length, News of the Universe, La Luz have attained a peak—a rare turn of events for a rock group a dozen years into their existence. Inspired and consoled by Octavia E. Butler’s metaphysical poetry collection of the same title, Cleveland wrote these songs in the fraught aftermath of a breast cancer diagnosis, which occurred two years after the birth of her son. On top of these turbulent life events, La Luz lost veteran bassist Lena Simon and keyboardist Alice Sandahl (although both played on Universe), and had to adapt to new drummer Audrey Johnson. Life dealt Cleveland lemons, and she squeezed them into the delicious lemonade of Universe. (The Crocodile, 2505 First Ave, 8 pm, $22, 21+) DAVE SEGAL

FRIDAY 5/31  

Meet-and-Greet with Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy

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A post shared by Maria Bamford (@mariabamfordcomedy)

(BOOKS) You’ve probably already caught Maria Bamford’s comedy, a surreal medley of voice impressions, deadpan jokes, vulnerable storytelling, and high-energy, rapidly changing characters on Comedy Central or Netflix. (She’s also played roles in BoJack Horseman, Adventure Time, and Kung Fu Panda.) But did you know that she is also one-half of a very cute couple, and you can hear the whole story through the eyes of their pugs, Blueberry and Bert?! Hogbook and Lazer Eyes, co-authored by Bamford and her artist hubby Scott Marvel Cassidy, tells the story of their OkCupid meet-cute and eventual marriage with naturalistic graphic storytelling and Bamford’s pitch-perfect comedic timing. You won’t meet the pugs at this book signing, but Bamford and Cassidy will be there, maybe even holding hands!! I’m not crying, you’re crying. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, 7 pm, free, all ages) LINDSAY COSTELLO

SATURDAY 6/1  

Pride in the Park

(PRIDE) Kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations of Seattle Pride with a day of music, dancing, performances, and more. Emceed by drag favorites Versace Doll and Betty Wetter, one stage will feature live performances from the likes of headliner LIVt and groovy sextet Day Soul Exquisite while the other will showcase local DJs spinning dance tracks. It wouldn’t be pride without Drag Queen Storytime, and the family and teen space from Camp Ten Trees will also return. New this year, GenPride hosts an area specifically designed for seniors with accessibility features like ADA restrooms, ASL interpreters, and priority seating. As always, there will be an alcohol garden, a sober area, food trucks, community booths, queer vendor marketplace, and the most welcoming vibes. (Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, noon–7 pm, free, all ages) SHANNON LUBETICH

SUNDAY 6/2  

Bacon Eggs & Kegs

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A post shared by Bacon Eggs & Kegs (@baconeggskegs)

(FOOD & DRINK) This festival revolves around the combination of savory, gut-busting breakfast foods and heady booze. Day drinking is encouraged with craft beers from over 30 local breweries, ciders, and seltzers, plus mimosas, boozy root beer floats, Irish coffee, and a 30-foot Bloody Mary bar—that’s FOUR Victor Wembanyamas! It’s stocked with dozens upon dozens of toppings, including tater tots, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, veggies, herbs, pickles, puffed Cheetos, bacon, and pork rinds. You’re probably going to want to clear your schedule for that requisite post-brunch nap. Entertainment includes DJ Supreme La Rock, dueling pianos, giant lawn games, bacon bingo, photo ops with a gigantic inflatable skillet, and more. A portion of proceeds benefits the nonprofit SCM Medical Missions, which aims to bring relief to people affected by conflict and natural disaster in the Middle East and North Africa. (Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave S, 11 am-3 pm, $45, 21+) JULIANNE BELL

MONDAY 6/3  

Echo & the Bunnymen

(MUSIC) You can easily identify the famed post-punk quartet Echo & the Bunnymen from their full-bodied vocals, ethereal instrumentation, and wind-tossed hairstyles (set in place with lots of hairspray, of course). Let them add some doom and gloom to the spring season (we need more, right?) with songs like “The Killing Moon” and “Lips Like Sugar” as they bring their Songs to Learn and Sing tour to Seattle. (Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave S, 8 pm, $49.50-$55, 21+) AUDREY VANN

TUESDAY 6/4  

Ballard FC vs Chivas de Guadalajara U23

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A post shared by The Stranger 🗞 (@thestrangerseattle)

(SPORTS) USL League Two champions Ballard FC return this season to defend their title. It doesn’t get much more local than being sponsored by Reuben’s Brews and having your main chant be “Up the bridges!” At the home opener this year, the game ball was delivered by parachuters and Dick’s burgers were thrown into the crowd after every goal. Honestly, it was more exciting than expected and I would recommend a game to anyone as cheap, entertaining, family-friendly fun. Plenty of local food vendors are on-site if you’re looking to do dinner at the game; the line seemingly never dies down for Nepalese food stand Kathmandu MoMoCha. (Memorial Stadium, 401 Fifth Ave N, 7 pm, $15-$40, all ages) SHANNON LUBETICH

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Hey abby is celebrating its second anniversary with a special discount. Leafly readers can save up to 40% on their very own 420 Edition of the Hey, abby grow box by clicking the link below.

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Was There Marijuana In The Old West

Watching Yellowstone and wondering about the American Frontier?  Like, was there marijuana in the old west?

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