Have you signed? I-688 organizers say they only need a few more signatures before their July 2 deadline to get the initiative to raise the minimum wage onto the ballot. The Paycheck Protection Act (at last, the organized left has adopted the art of fatuous bill-naming!) would raise the state minimum wage from $4.90 to $5.70 in 1999 and to $6.50 in 2000, with annual adjustments for inflation. As of early June 160,000 signatures were in hand; a minimum of 180,000 valid signatures are needed (meaning 200,000 is a better goal). If you haven't signed, do it! To get petitions or help with the final push, call 206-256-6391.--Geov Parrish

One of the not-widely-discussed reasons the Mariners suck this year--and are likely to suck next year--is that the magnificent edifice we're erecting for them on Royal Brougham Way, in addition to fleecing us, is gonna cost them a shitload of money. They've squeezed as much as they can from government--to the tune of countless perks and $336 million up front--but it turns out that they were so anxious and greedy to get the thing built in time for part of the 1999 season that the project is suffering staggering cost overruns. The one concession that lawmakers got from the team while selling the farm--and it's turning out to be an essential one--was that owners would solely be responsible for cost overruns beyond a $25 million continency fund, which they've already pissed through.

By rushing the construction in their greed to sell 1999 season tickets, the club is incurring costly change orders; they're deciding how to build the stadium literally as it gets built. Net result: the most expensive sports stadium in U.S. history, and club owners facing at least $70 to $100 million, and climbing fast, in extra expenses. Not too many years ago, that was the whole value of the franchise. If more sports team owners could be convinced that rushing to suck the public teat was a surefire road to financial ruin like this, maybe we could rid ourselves of the pestilence that publicly financed ball games have become on a national basis.--G.P.

Speaking of the public-private sports mafia, remember the brouhaha when Seattle School District Superintendent John Stanford wanted to supplement his "meager" $200,000 a year salary by raising money from private corporate sources? Critics pointed out, rightfully, that public officials taking money from corporations smells kinda bad, both cuz people making purchasing decisions could be unduly influenced--it's called bribery--and cuz governments oughtn't be in practice of relying on income that can be withheld if corporations dislike a policy. Stanford's proposal was promptly, and mercifully, shot down.

So what's the deal with University of Washington football coach Jim Lambright? Many commentators blistered UW with criticism for signing a deal with Seafirst Bank for naming rights to Hec Ed Pavillion, but seems like the bigger story is the corporate influence available when coaches and athletic decision-makers stand to gain personally. Lambright, the highest-paid public official in the state, gets a lot of private money to pad (bad pun) his lifestyle.

Here's the coach's 1998 compensation package: $176,000 University compensation (his base salary), plus a $50,000 annuity; $20,000 car coach (leased value); $10,000 family travel allowance; $62,500 country club membership dues (one time expense); $3,000 country club annual dues; and $2,000 courtesy car, for a UW total of $323,500.

But there's more--over $200,000 more. Lambright gets the following media and sponsorship deals: $60,000 from Nike; $75,000, KOMO; $50,000, Fox Sports Northwest; $15,000, U.S. Bank (he does annoying radio ads for them with WSU's football coach, Mike Price); and $1,000 from Wilson. Lambright can also get over $100,000 in bonuses if the Huskies go to a post-season bowl game (which they usually do): $29,333 from UW, $25,000 from Nike, $25,000 from KOMO, and another $25,000 from UW if he wins a national championship.

How can a public employee, as a reward for his job performance, legally pocket over $100,000 a year from Nike? Is it also OK now for Gary Locke to get money to wear a Rolex? Why can John Stanford be criticized for cutting ads for a real estate company--when he donated his talent fees to the school district--but it's fine for the (white) coach, who gets more money (from a bank!) and keeps it? Why is this lucrative double standard most flagrant for someone who runs a male-only branch of The Public Trust (i.e., a state college team for a male-only sport)? And is it any wonder that so many athletes in the news seem, shall we say, morally challenged, when the state provides them with inspirational double-dipping teachers like Coach Lambo?--Geov Parrish

As we've all learned from recent months' headlines, teenagers have a constitutional right to bear arms. But what didn't make the headlines probably affects far more lives: An April federal appeals court ruling in Califonia set as precedent for the entire Ninth Circuit (including Washington State) that minors have no constitutional right to sexual intercourse--even voluntarily and with each other.

The ruling involved a 16-year-old boy who was arrested and charged with statutory rape for having sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend. According to the court, "While they may have the ability to respond to nature's call to exercise the gift of physical love, juveniles may yet be unable to accept the attendant obligations and responsibilities." Therefore, they're rapists. No word on at what age, exactly, minors are capable of "responding to nature's call" and potty training in a responsible way. If they try it too early, without waiting for the proper constitutional authority, maybe we can arrest them. Hell, given how much this country's politicians, courts, and media--rhethoric notwithstanding--seem to fear and despise our future generations, why don't we just get it over with and specify mandatory imprisonment for all youth? Whoops, never mind...we already have our public schools for that.--G.P.