At Seattle’s City Hall, a coalition organizing in solidarity with Seattle’s undocumented immigrants called for a national moratorium on all ICE ( US Department of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement) raids on undocumented workers’ homes and job sites. The coalition included groups as disparate as CASA Latina, the Tenants Union of Washington, and the NAACP.

Though representing a variety of social interests, each organization’s core message was the same. As a city, Seattle can not tolerate raids on the homes of illegal immigrants without comprehensive and workable immigration legislation on a federal level.

Were a national moratorium on raids to prove impossible, the coalition called on Gov. Christine Gregoire and the state’s Congressional delegation to make Washington a place of sanctuary for immigrants.

The Church Council of Greater Seattle’s the Rev. Sanford Brown pointed to the nation’s 3.1 million children with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent. “[These children] are part of us,” he said. “And they are guaranteed a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

—JP Gritton

Nightlife rules get life

A year after Mayor Greg Nickels proposed draconian new regulations for nightclubs and bars in the city, City Council passed a final version of the new rules on Aug. 13. Nickels had originally wanted any venue serving alcohol with live music--from mom and pop taverns to large clubs--to be forced to obtain a new license from the city and to police areas away from the venue for noisy patrons and litter. Club owners protested, public hearings were held and City Council finally agreed to watered-down set of ordinances that would include a newly-created position of nightlife regulator. Council has yet to pass Nickels’ licensing provision and has tabled the matter for later this week.

Time to vote

Next Tuesday Aug. 21 is primary election day in Seattle and King County. There are active, competitive races for Seattle City Council, King County Prosecuting Attorney and the Port of Seattle. Remember to vote.

--Philip Dawdy