Letter to Marc Styles on the Backbone Campaign's light projection about TPP

In Protesters light up a Seattle building with their message — and it’s legal, Marc Styles of Puget Sound Business Journal reported on a light projection in opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership by the Backbone Campaign. Here’s my letter to Mr. Styles. Dear Mr. Stiles, I really appreciate that you stopped and took the time…

Microsoft abandons practice that Bill Gates promoted for public schools

Lots of my coworkers came from Microsoft, and they all say it was a horrible place to work because of “stacked ranking”, according to which workers were graded against coworkers, on a curve, and the weakest workers were pushed out. It caused workers to avoid helping coworkers, for fear of giving them a leg up….

Join EOI Dec 3 for the Legislative Summit on Racial Equity

Too often, policies are blind to the true impact they have on low-income and communities of color. Well-intended hopes can result in disastrous outcomes when the voices of those most affected are not included or considered. Here at EOI, we believe in the power of everyone coming to the table to have a stronger collective…

Seattle judge to hear arguments on the constituionality of Washington charter schools

The Spokesman review is reporting: SEATTLE (AP) — A King County Superior Court judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments Friday over the constitutionality of Washington’s new charter school law. A coalition of parents, educators and community groups say it violates the state Constitution by diverting public school dollars to private organizations that are not…

Medical mj protest in Olympia

On a trip to Olympia on Friday, I saw outside the capitol protesters dressed in red advocating for more tolerant treatment of medical marijuana. This woman explained to me that she needs to take special breeds of marijuana for her medical condition; recreational marijuana that the state has legalized will likely not have the correct…

Darcy Burner played a big role in fixing the Senate filibuster

Virtually Speaking reports that Washington State’s Darcy Burner played an important role in Harry Reid’s move to fix the Senate filibuster. Click here to hear filibuster experts Joan McCarter and David Waldman’s analysis.  Listen from 10:30 to hear the discussion of Darcy’s role. Here’s an excerpt: To me Darcy Burner was instrumental in moving us…

Lobbying Olympia for Fair Taxes

Steve Zemke and I went to Olympia on Friday and met, briefly or longer, with about a dozen legislators, including Maralyn Chase, Bob Hasegawa, Gayle Tarleton, Frank Chopp, Reuven Carylye, Cindy Ryu, Joe Fitzgibbon, Judy Clibborn, and Tana Senn.  We spoke about tax fairness and accountability for tax loopholes. We had in-depth discussions with a…

Trade Talks Open In Utah, Secrecy Spurs Protests

By Tom Harvey, www.sltrib.com Above photo: (Jim McAuley | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bill Moyer, executive director of the Backbone Campaign, and Raphael Cordray of the Utah Tar Sands Resistance speak to demonstrators gathered to protest the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. Note: The…