The city let the spending flow during good times, playing generous with everything. Now, the revenue has slowed and the challenges are huge. A good place to start with cuts is at the top, where the big salaries are.
When it comes to dealing with crime complaints, hand wringing and political posturing are the classic Seattle responses. A visiting expert talks about pragmatic, humane approaches a new police chief might make work.
Everything these days has to be 'smart.' Were we just dumb before?
In the next few years, federal guidelines for urban renewal will no longer protect Pike Place Market. There are looming mandates to be financially sustainable. And newcomers' lack of market memories could be the biggest threat of all to preserving the market.
Does the Seattle Way limit progress? Rather, our habits of stubborn public criticism have mostly saved us from follies and boondoggles.
