I-200 Goes to the Legislature

Last week, as protesters demonstrated on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro certified I-200, the anti-affirmative action initiative, and sent it on to the State Legislature for action. Munro did a random sampling of signatures and determined that about 15% were invalid (not registered voters and Washington State residents), but didn't respond to a write-in campaign to remove the signatures of people who signed the initiative thinking it was pro-affirmative action, but later discovered they'd been duped. The reactionary, Republican-dominated legislature can now do one of three things with the measure: adopt it as written (in which case it would immediately become law), send it to the ballot for Washington voters to decide, or adopt an alternative version that would go to voters on a state-wide ballot alongside the original initiative. State legislators from both parties have been outspoken in their support to end affirmative action in Washington State, but will hopefully chicken out on directly approving it into law. To get involved in the No on I-200 Campaign, call 206-292-5715, or contact the student-led UW and SCCC Coalition for the Preservation for Affirmative Action at 206-368-0832.

Downwinders Alert

The Dept. of Energy has released $5 million for a medical- monitoring program to study children exposed to airborne radiation releases near Hanford in the mid-to-late 1940s and the early 1950s. Downwinders will be screened for thyroid cancer and other disorders related to radiation exposure-- many of which are treatable if detected early enough. People who lived near the Hanford nuclear reservation during those years should contact Greg Thomas in the Seattle office of the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at 206-553-2113 to participate in the study. Downwinders should not have to suffer in silence or let the public and the government believe that restarting Hanford will have no impact on our future. Federal agencies are doing their best to cover up the level of contamination at the worst radioactive waste sight in the western hemisphere, but the testimony of people who've suffered directly from this nightmare will have the strongest impact on halting nuclear weapons production.

Government for the Rich

The Washington State Housing and Finance Commission may consider changing its policies on deciding which projects should receive tax-exempt financing. The decision comes in the wake of recent scandals over $73 million in tax-exempt bonds ($23 million more than the actual cost of the project) that the commission approved for construction of a downtown parking garage for Nordstrom. Legal agreements in the deal specify that the garage will provide 60 valet parking spaces reserved for Nordstrom and Pacific Place customers, plus extra spaces for long-term parking for their employees. Pine Street and Nordstrom will also have authority to establish parking rates in the new "luxury" garage. The city of Seattle will collect the revenues, but will have to pay for maintenance on the garage, which is expected to be twice the region's average. Nordstrom and Pine Street have set parking rates well below the downtown market level, which means the garage is set to become a drain on the city's coffers--i.e., a further gift to Nordstrom and Pine Street. The Housing Finance Commission claims that it didn't know about valet service or Nordstrom's control of the rates and operation of the garage. Fortunately, a change in the commission's policies may prevent a similar deal with Pine Street and the city of Bellevue over an $80 million garage at Meydenbauer Place.

Chiapas Whitewash

A 36-page report was released on Friday, Jan 23, by the Mexican attorney general that accuses Chiapas police officers of abetting the massacre of indigenous people in Acteal in December. Attorney General Jorge Madrazo Cuellar stated in his report that police officers lied under oath about their role in the killings, and top justice officials systematically demolished the crime scene in the hours after the massacre. His investigation also disclosed that there were many attempts made to warn local police about the impending violence, but officers and justice officials turned their backs on the massacre and "decided, at least, to remain passive." His report affirms allegations made by local witnesses, church leaders, and opposition leaders, yet he has refused to indict the top justice officials that his report has accused of covering up and sanctioning the slaughter. In Seattle, a local group, Comite Contra La Represion y Por La Democracia en Mexico is working to bring the guilty parties to justice. You can contact the group via email at lazarus9@hotmail.com.

The above Short Takes were compiled by our editors, contributing writers, and sharp-eyed readers. Anyone interested in submitting information for Short Takes can forward it to Eat the State!, Attn: Short Takes.