Seattle, WA

Rantz: Most Seattle city councilmembers refuse to return to the office

Published

3 years ago

April 26, 2022

Rantz: Most Seattle city councilmembers refuse to return to the office

Most Seattle metropolis council members refuse to return to the workplace, sticking with COVID remote-work insurance policies launched two years in the past. Whereas they proceed to remain dwelling, different metropolis staff had been again within the workplace final month. The council is just not providing a timeline on after they’ll return.

Socialist councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales and Progressive councilmembers Debora Juarez, Lisa Herbold, Dan Strauss, Andrew Lewis and Tammy Morales is not going to return to the workplace to work. They earn between $65.82 and $69.26 an hour, although they’re not engaged in the identical workload after they’re at dwelling. Their workers is engaged on hybrid schedules. The one council members to work from the workplace are reasonable Democrats Alex Pedersen and Sara Nelson.

In mid-March, roughly 35% of metropolis workers labored remotely. After a return to work was introduced, a lot of the holdouts returned to the workplace on at the least a hybrid foundation. Mayor Bruce Harrell’s workplace studies solely about 13% of the remaining workers are working from dwelling (round 1650 workers).

So the place is the council? Not one of the distant councilmembers responded to my request for remark, made via the communications division, to elucidate why they’re staying dwelling.

Rantz: Public defender charged for obstructing Seattle police at bar, smelled of alcohol

Working from dwelling cuts off entry

The council members who’re selecting to remain dwelling are skirting their duties.

Their resolution dramatically cuts off constituents and media entry to their places of work. Not everybody has the time to hound council members or workers with emails that don’t get answered. For instance, Strauss is notoriously unhealthy at responding to constituent complaints submitted through electronic mail. It’s simple to excuse the habits while you declare you’re inundated with emails. It’s more durable to dismiss a criticism from somebody who exhibits as much as talk about their issues.

There’s doubtless additionally a connection between the shortage of council-focused information tales within the media and never with the ability to go to Metropolis Corridor to start out asking questions and discovering evasive council members.

Generally one of the best ways to get solutions, or observe down tales, is to go to council members and their workers within the workplace.

Rantz: Seattle progressives say arresting black or Native American suspects is racist and ‘troubling’

Council members are sending the mistaken message to small enterprise

If the council wished to push again on the notion that downtown is unsafe and small companies are worthy of our help, they’d get again to the workplace. Not desirous to commute to metropolis corridor is not any excuse to remain distant.

Seattle staff are lagging behind different cities in returning to the workplace. That many staff are within the tech sector, which permits for distant work wherever you discover an web connection, explains the low variety of staff returning. That Amazon loathes most council members is probably going making it simpler for them to justify distant work, too.

However workers are additionally unlikely desperate to return as a result of downtown isn’t secure. If a employee makes use of King County Metro to get to and from the workplace in or close to downtown, they are going to understandably really feel uncomfortable. Drug use is rampant, aggressive homelessness is constant, and the shortage of police staffing is consequential. Is Morales too scared to return to the workplace? That sends a message.

And the earlier downtown turns into crowded with residents who aren’t smoking fentanyl by a bus cease on Third Avenue, the higher it’s for struggling companies. On paper, the financial system isn’t struggling in Seattle, buoyed by the tech sector that didn’t take the identical COVID hit as different industries. However a whole lot of small companies closed for good and and not using a regular stream of staff, the remaining retail and eating places will proceed to battle.

‘Encampments pose public issues of safety:’ progressive Seattle councilmember modifications tune

Hearken to the Jason Rantz Present weekday afternoons from 3–6 pm on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast right here. Comply with @JasonRantz on Twitter, Instagram, and Fb. Examine again steadily for extra information and evaluation.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners: Casey Lawrence returns, local product DFA

Published

10 hours ago

May 20, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Mariners: Casey Lawrence returns, local product DFA

For the fourth time already this season, Casey Lawrence is back with the Seattle Mariners.

May surge: Five top Mariners prospects are red-hot at the plate

The team recalled the veteran right-handed pitcher from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the second game of a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox. Lawrence, 37, has made headlines this season because he’s been designated for assignment four times – thrice by the Mariners, and once by Toronto.

Lawrence is expected to pitch the bulk of Tuesday’s game against the White Sox after reliever Casey Legumina starts as an opener, per Seattle Sports’ Shannon Drayer. The Mariners signed Lawrence back on May 7, five days after he was granted free agency by the Blue Bays.

The Mariners optioned left-handed pitcher Jhonathan Díaz to Tacoma to make room for Lawrence on the active roster. Seattle also designated corner infielder Austin Shenton for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Shenton, a native of Washington state and Bellingham High School alum, was originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay last year. The 27 year old returned to the Mariners organization over the offseason in a trade from Tampa Bay for cash after the Rays designated him for assignment.

Díaz, 28, was recalled from Triple-A by the Mariners on May 14 but did not pitch in a game. He has appeared in one game for Seattle this season and seven with the Rainiers.

Lawrence has pitched in four games with Seattle and once with the Blue Jays this season, allowing seven earned runs over 12 2/3 innings for a 4.97 ERA. He also has a 4.91 ERA over four appearances (14 2/3 innings) with Tacoma.

Lawrence originally played with the Mariners in 2017. He is set to become the sixth player in team history to have three separate tenures with Seattle, joining Mike Blowers, Raúl Ibañez, Norm Charlton, Roenis Elías and Jeff Nelson.

Game 2 of the Mariners’ series against the White Sox is set for a 4:40 p.m. Tuesday first pitch. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 3:30 with the pregame show. However, it’s been a rainy day in Chicago, so there’s a good chance the game is postponed.

Also right now in Chicago… pic.twitter.com/V7vZRog6Bh
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 20, 2025

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Mariners switch-pitcher Cijntje wins minor league award
• ESPN’s Passan: Mariners in great spot with expected pitching returns
• Savvy play by Seattle Mariners’ Ben Williamson gets national attention
• Drayer: How top M’s pitching prospects Cijntje, Sloan are opening eyes
• Brock & Salk: Seattle Mariners leading AL West no longer feels surprising

Follow @BrentStecker

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Seattle, WA

Here’s What Dan Wilson and Julio Rodriguez Had to Say After Seattle Mariners Win Over White Sox Monday

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2025

Press Room

Here’s What Dan Wilson and Julio Rodriguez Had to Say After Seattle Mariners Win Over White Sox Monday

CHICAGO – The Seattle Mariners won their fourth consecutive game on Monday night, beating the Chicago White Sox 5-1 at Rate Field. Seattle is now 27-19 and remains in first place in the American League West. Chicago fell to 14-34, the worst record in the American League.

The M’s have won all four games to start this 10-game road trip through San Diego, Chicago and Houston.

Luis Castillo earned the win on the mound after tossing seven scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out five. He’s now 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA.

Offensively, Jorge Polanco had an RBI single in the top of the third and Julio Rodriguez broke the game open in the top of the eighth with a grand slam. It was the second grand slam of his career and his eighth homer of the year.

After the game, Mariners on SI caught up with skipper Dan Wilson and Rodriguez to talk about the win.

Dan Wilson on Castillo’s performance:

You know, great ballgame tonight. I think when you look at the outing that Castillo turned in, you know, giving us seven full innings there, really, really just attacked the zone. I thought his two-seamer was really good tonight. When you look at an outing like this, you know, he had everything going and attacked the zone, got ahead early, controlled the count on most of the hitters. And I thought that’s exactly what we needed from him. Great to get that from Luis.

On Jorge Polanco’s health, as he was pulled for a pinch-hitter against a left-handed pitcher again in the eighth inning:

He’s doing fine. You know, he’s coming along and right-handed swings are not too far behind, but we’re just taking it slow. And you know, his RBI single early was a big lift for us, I think. Getting on the board, getting us ahead, giving Luis (Castillo) a little bit of breathing room there on the mound was helpful. That was a big hit for us early in the game.

Julio Rodriguez on the team’s ability to add on late for a third straight game:

I mean, it’s huge, you know, especially, we’re on the road right now. Anything could happen later on and I feel like any run that we can add is big but, you know staying in the game…obviously it was a little slow at the beginning, but, you know, we kept having good at-bats, kept putting the ball in play, and we were able to make something happen later.

The Mariners will play the White Sox again on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. PT, but there is rain in the forecast.

NEW PODCAST IS OUT! Brady is back for another episode of “Refuse to Lose,” talking about the M’s recent struggles and why he’s still not worried yet. Then, he talks about the problems with the starting rotation and how its hurting the rest of the operation. Finally, we are joined by former Mariners coach and three-time World Series champion Scott Brosius, who talks about his career and his time in Seattle. And Brady has a message for “fans” in the wake of what happened to Astros’ pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. CLICK HERE:

BRASH BACK? Matt Brash, working back from Tommy John surgery, is looking closer and closer to his old self, as evidenced by what he did against Aaron Judge this week. CLICK HERE:

STILL A PERFECT ZERO: After a scoring change from Tuesday night, Andres Munoz still has a perfect 0.00 ERA for the season. Here’s what happened. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Weather: A wet and breezy start to the work week

Published

2 days ago

May 19, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Weather: A wet and breezy start to the work week

We saw a little bit of everything on this spring Monday. Highs only in the low 60s with scattered showers, breezy winds and sunbreaks.

We saw a little bit of everything on this spring Monday. Highs only in the low 60s with scattered showers, breezy winds and sunbreaks. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Showers this evening have come to an end with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Rain returns late tonight into early Monday.

Showers this evening have come to an end with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Showers return late tonight into early Monday.

It will be a wet start to Monday morning as our next frontal system moves onshore. We will also see snow fall along our higher mountain peaks.

It will be a wet start to Monday morning as our next frontal system moves onshore. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Winds will also be gusty on Monday as the front passes through and will stay gusty into the afternoon.

Winds will also be gusty Monday as the front passes through and will stay gusty into the afternoon. (FOX Weather)

Temperatures on Monday will be slightly cooler with highs only in the low 60s again.

Temperatures Monday will be slightly cooler with highs only in the low 60s again.

Showers will linger into Tuesday with even a possible rumble of thunder. Spotty showers can’t be ruled out Wednesday, but skies will dry out through Thursday. A few showers are possible again Friday into the weekend, but overall conditions are looking drier and warmer than we have been seeing lately.