It's an almost textbook case of textbook liberalism in the extreme.

[snip]

Of course, constituents might have been even happier if the council stuck to fixing roads, keeping up parks and enforcing meaningful ordinances that would actually do something to benefit the city.

Olympia is now a nuclear-free zone. Big deal! When will the Olympia City Council stop wasting its time and the public's money on meaningless, unenforceable ordinances that have little direct impact on the lives of community residents?

Re: “No nukes here – council votes to keep out all related materials

It's clear already that many of the corporations (or business entities otherwise) which are doing business with the city are currently involved in the nuclear weapons industry. Some examples are Chrysler, Honeywell, IBM, Motorola (nextel). There are many others.

The ordinance which the City Council passed and adopted as legislation (to go into effect in 30 days) requires citizen oversight of the matter of "Eligibility For City Contracts." Citizens will need to provide conclusive proof of the corporations' activities in the nuclear weapons industry.

Here is the relevant text of the Ordinance:

Section 6. Eligibility for City Contracts

A. The City of Olympia shall grant no awards or contracts for any purpose to any person, firm, corporation or entity which is knowingly or intentionally engaged in the development, research, production, maintenance, storage, transportation and/or disposal of nuclear weapons or their components. It will be the responsibility of any recipient of a city contract or award to certify by a notarized statement to the City Clerk that it is not knowingly or intentionally engaged in the above defined activity. Notice of this certification shall be included in all "Requests for Proposals" issued by the City.

B. Exceptions may be granted if the City Manager makes a specific determination that no reasonable alternative exists, taking into consideration the following factors:

1. 1. The availability of alternative services, goods and equipment, or other supplies substantially meeting required specifications of the proposed contract; and,
2. 2. Quantifiable additional costs resulting from use of available alternatives.

C. If such certification is not provided, the City of Olympia shall make public the contractor’s

[update 9/6/05]

The interview is tomorrow, so if you have any burning questions for your mayor, now is the time.

[update 9/7/05]

Interview completed. Video to follow.