This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from SeattleIAM where you will find the best blogs from Seattle, Washington as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Governor Gregoire’s Generic Response to Inquiries

Blogger Steve Zemke at Majority Rules, a blog “Promoting Citizen Awareness and Participation for a Sustainable Democratic Future,” is disappointed in Governor Gregoire’s one-sided auto-response to e-mail questions. The Governor probably hasn’t the time to read them all, but “when you send a message… you would hope that someone actually reads it.” Zemke sent an e-mail questioning the scramble to reinstate I-747, and received a generic response that stated “Thank you for contacting me regarding the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Initiative 747. I know that voters are disappointed by this, and I am committed to acting quickly to resolve the situation.”

Zemke wonders why the office doesn’t at least have two generic responses, one for supporters and one for those opposing the initiative. The blogger states in his post that we need “property tax relief that addresses the unfairness of laws like I-747 with its across the board cuts that benefit wealthy property owners more than middle and low income property owners” and asks that the Governor address “the real property tax problem.” Many voters are not disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision and by simply reinstating the measure without “evaluating its impact on local and state governments [or] exploring alternatives… show a Governor and a Legislature out of touch with the real world.”

Expensive Opportunity for Mariners

In the latest post from the Seattle P-I Mariners Blog, John Hickey reminds us that Seattle Mariner GM Bill Bavasi has said in the past that “given certain conditions, he would consider trading his top young prospects, say outfielder Adam Jones and/or Brandon Morrow for Johan Santana if the opportunity arose.” The opportunity has come in the form of the Minnesota Twins “actively seeking offers for the two-time Cy Young Award winner,” who will be a free agent and the end of the 2008 season.

Hickey ruminates on the possibility of the Mariners acquiring “one of the best young pitchers in the game – if they are willing to slug it out with the Yankees, the Mets, the Dodgers and the Red Sox.” He states in his post that Bavasi will consider giving up players like Jones and Morrow only if the Twins give “the Mariners a window to sit down with Santana and hammer out a long-term contract.” He may be the most expensive pitcher in baseball history, but “the rewards would be huge.”

Sims Wants to Appoint Sheriff, Rather than Elect

Laura Onstot reports in the Daily Weekly that the Seattle Times recently revealed Sheriff Sue Rahr is “seeking control over contract negotiations with deputies.” Then, last night, King County Executive Office Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett stated that Ron Sims would like the Sheriff to be an appointed position rather than an elected one. “Triplett says that would make the office more accountable… as well as easier to get rid of someone if problems arise.”

According to Onstot, “asking for more control of a position already in existence is a little politically tricky.” She notes in her post that Triplett made sure to point out that the last two elected sheriffs have been “well suited to their positions.” In addition, Triplett requested that the commission keep the County Elections Director an appointed position. Earlier this month, over 56% of King County voters approved an initiative that makes the position elected. “Last night there was speculation on the ability of the commission to declare that the Charter cannot be changed by Initiative,” although former Secretary of State Ralph Munro says “an elected elections director is a good thing.”

Seattle Townhouse Market Sinking

Over at the Seattle Bubble, news about Seattle area real estate, The Tim’s recent post ponders over whether the Seattle townhouse market is taking a dive. He calls attention to an article in the Seattle P-I that looked into the state of the townhouse market, which “has slowed down considerably more than the single-family or condo markets so far this year.” Even priced at last year’s rates, townhouses have sat for months with little traffic. According to the P-I article “More and more, homes of all types in Seattle are chasing a buyer pool that has become smaller and more cautious over the past year… [and] we are seeing… huge price reductions.

The blogger points out that many believe “condos and townhouses are a leading indicator of where a local housing market is heading,” which he believe to be a sound argument, “since townhouses and condos typically represent the least expensive properties on the market, and if the low end isn’t selling, it will inevitably trickle up to the high end.” He wonders in his post if a major deterioration in the townhouse market will lead to a similar effect in the single-family market.

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