Patricia Murphy

Stories

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  Founder Of University District Needle Exchange Dead

  Bob Quinn, one of the founders of Seattle's needle exchange, died over the weekend. The King County Medical examiner says it was suicide.Public health officials credit needle exchange programs with helping to control the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C. Exchanges also provide support services and drug treatment information.Quinn came to Seattle from Saskatchewan, Canada, in the late '80s. It was the height of the AIDS epidemic. Heroin use was on the rise as well. Quinn started handing out clean needles from his backpack on University Way in the University District. Eventually he set up a table in front of the old Tower Records.In an interview in 2010, Quinn said he never considered the legality of what he was doing.“The exchange in many ways was just a gut reaction. It was an emergency, something had to be done and so I did it," he said. "I didn’t think of the consequences or whether it was right or wrong. It needed to be done and I did what I had to do.”By 1989 the King County Department of Public Health issued permits to allow the exchange to operate. The University District’s needle exchange has since moved but is still in operation.Washington state now has 20 established needle exchange programs. Five are in King County.The HIV/AIDS  prevention manager for Public Health Seattle and King County says Quinn will be remembered for his dedication, perseverance and his advocacy.Bob Quinn was 54 years old.If you or someone you know are suicidal, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 800.273.TALK (8255).

  Nov 06, 2012 at 9:21 am
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  O'Dea HS Principal Resigns Amid Sex Abuse Claims

  This story has been updated since it was first published.A member of the Christian Brothers religious order who served as principal at Seattle’s O'Dea High School has resigned. Brother Karl Walczak is being accused of sexually abusing a minor in Chicago about 40 years ago.The school is operated by the Christian Brothers but owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.Seattle attorney Michael Phau has handled claims against Christian brothers and the archdiocese of Seattle. Phau says the allegation  came to light as part of the more than 400 claims that have been filed across the country against Christian Brothers as part of a bankruptcy proceeding."I think what's interesting is that you have a sitting brother who had been accused of abuse, but apparently no one knew about this -- at least parents and families,” said Phau.In a statement the Archdiocese said Walczak denies the allegations. Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni said he understood there was one person alleging multiple instances of abuse.In a statement on the O'Dea website, the School Board chairman said the board learned of the accusation Wednesday.O'Dea administrators reported last August that Walczak had been called back by the Christian Brothers to assist in resolving a claim filed in the Christian Brothers Institute bankruptcy proceeding.Update: Nov. 1, 4:30 p.m. by Patricia MurphyThe claims came to light during bankruptcy proceedings for the Christian Brothers earlier this year.Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) were outside the school Thursday speaking with reporters. They accused the archdiocese of trying to cover up the allegations. Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni said the archdiocese couldn’t say anything sooner. Magnoni said the archdiocese was under a court order of confidentiality because the information was part of  a federal bankruptcy proceeding. “We’ve been working on this since August and have just recently, at the judge's direction, received permission from all the parties involved," Magnoni said. He added that the parties are the Christian Brothers, the claimant, the claimant’s attorney, Walczak and Walczak's attorney.SNAP member Scott Abraham says keeping the accusations confidential status keeps other potential victims from speaking up.  “What kind of world do we live in when we give the perpetrator the ability to control the release of information? He should have been removed and they should have gone public the minute the accuser made his allegations.” Abraham says as a child he was repeatedly molested by a priest at a Chicago orphanage in the 1960s.

  Nov 01, 2012 at 8:56 am

• Court Appoints Independent Monitor For Seattle Police

  A federal judge has appointed Merrick Bobb as the independent monitor to oversee reforms to the Seattle Police Department. Bobb’s appointment follows disagreement between the Seattle city council, the police department, and the mayor over whether he was the best choice.

  Oct 30, 2012 at 12:00 am
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  The Race For A New Representative In Washington State’s 6th District

  Republican Bill Driscoll and Democrat Derek Kilmer are running to replace US Representative Norm Dicks in Washington state’s 6th Congressional District.  The district encompasses the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, much of Tacoma and Bainbridge Island.Since 1977 most of the 6th District has been Norm Dicks country. In fact, many of the voters in this election grew up with the formidable Democrat as their representative. Now that he’s retiring, Dicks has endorsed Gig Harbor Democratic State Senator Derek Kilmer as his successor.  But his Republican challenger, Bill Driscoll, has picked up some heavyweight endorsements too, including former Republican Senator Slade Gorton who calls Driscoll "one of the best first time candidates for any office that I’ve ever met." Gorton says he was impressed with Driscoll’s character. "I was simply blown away by the fact that he not only served in the Marines once back in 1990, but volunteered to return and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to being a fairly well off and a highly successful business man."Driscoll worked for Weyerhaeuser, the timber harvesting giant founded by his great-great-grandfather. Driscoll’s financial success has allowed him to make a million dollars in personal contributions to his campaign.Both candidates have raised roughly $1.5 million, but for Derek Kilmer, much of that has come from individuals and political action committees.Kilmer says Driscoll’s personal wealth puts him out of touch with most of his would-be constituents.  Kilmer says he understands the challenges that middle class families face because he's lived them. Kilmer says he doesn't begrudge Driscoll's wealth, "But I think it brings us to very different takes on issues that matter to middle class families that I’m seeking to represent."Both candidates have focused mainly on jobs and the economy. Kilmer says if elected he would vote to let the Bush-era tax cuts for the nation’s highest earners expire.  He disagrees with Driscoll’s plan to embrace the GOP’s proposal to overhaul Medicare. “[He] suggests that we should turn Medicare into a voucher program that would increase costs to seniors," says Kilmer. "That may not mean much to him, but it means a lot to my grandmother who’s 102-years-old. And he suggests we should do that to pay for another round of tax cuts for millionaires like himself."But Driscoll says it’s not that simple. "Anything we do, we’ve got to address spending cuts as well as tax increases, and we have to link those together. Just revenue increases isn’t going to be enough. And it’s too easy just to raise taxes, and the spending cuts [are] really the hard part."Driscoll says he’s willing to work with his Democratic counterparts. To him that means everything is on the table, including reforming entitlement programs and cutting defense spending.Both candidates, however, acknowledge the Pacific Rim's strategic importance to the nation’s defense.   Driscoll pitches himself as a moderate Republican. He’s fond of reminding voters he’s married to a Democrat.And, indeed, Driscoll and Kilmer have some similarities. Both candidates support Referendum 74, which asks voters to decide on gay marriage.While Kilmer says he supports the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, both candidates reject Initiative 502. It would legalize and tax pot sales in Washington.  In a recent KING 5 poll, Kilmer leads Driscoll by 15 percentage points with 11 percent undecided.Recent coverage of the 6th District on KUOWIt's Heating Up In The 6th Congressional DistrictKilmer, Driscoll To Vie For Wash. 6th District

  Oct 23, 2012 at 7:26 pm

• Wash. Senator Patty Murray Wants Timeline For DoD Mental Health Diagnosis Reviews

  Washington Senator Patty Murray has asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to provide a timeline for a review of how the military diagnoses PTSD and other behavioral health issues.

  Oct 18, 2012 at 12:00 am
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  King County And Seattle City Councils Say Yes To Sodo Arena

  The King County Council and Seattle City Council both gave the go-ahead for an agreement to build a new professional basketball and hockey arena in Seattle.The union that represents Longshore workers plans to file a lawsuit to stop it.The $490-million arena would be built with $200 million in public financing. Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen has been instrumental in pushing the deal. Under the agreement, the public investment would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena. If that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest. That detail proved critical for some county council members.Less impressed is the Longshore Union, which has vowed to file a lawsuit. The union says building another sports venue in the Sodo area will erode maritime, manufacturing and warehousing businesses. King County Councilmember Joe McDermott tried to address those concerns before the vote. He says an environmental review will happen, and other sites will be considered. “This is not a final agreement," said McDermott. "This is an agreement to a process. I’m very proud of the work that this council has done in seeking to afford this cachet, this public value the possible return of the SuperSonics to Seattle.”International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 19 attorney David Mann says the memo is a proposal, and should have been subjected to an environmental review.  Mann said, “Are they going to turn around a year from now after they’ve gone through the environmental review process and tell Chris Hansen 'no?' Of course not.”Hansen wants the stadium built near the Mariners and Seahawks stadiums.The Seattle City Council approved the deal 7-2. The County Council's vote was unanimous. 

  Oct 15, 2012 at 6:05 pm
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  UPDATE: How The Sodo Arena Plan Would Work

  Story last updated by Patricia Murphy on October 15, 2012 at 3:13 p.m.The Sodo arena plan has had a few twists and turns.  After first being unveiled in February, it was later altered by the Seattle City Council and more recently by the King County Council.The latest iteration is scheduled to be voted on by the whole King County and Seattle City councils.Here’s an outline of how it works:The investor who’s pushing the arena plan, Chris Hansen, obtains land for the arena in Sodo.The City of Seattle would buy the land from Hansen, using government bonds that are backed by future taxes on arena events.Then, the city would lease the land back to Hansen.Hansen would build the arena.  He could end up paying property tax on the building for at least a year.After that, the city and King County would purchase the arena. Hansen would personally guarantee to cover any shortfalls or debt.Hansen, the city and the county would contribute toward an account that would pay for transportation improvement in Sodo.The plan is detailed in a memorandum of understanding (PDF).  Opponents To The PlanCritics of the plan include the Port of Seattle and maritime businesses.  Among other things they say that a new arena in Sodo would attract increased traffic and make it harder for them to do business.Also, a Seattle longshoremen’s union plans to announce a lawsuit Monday to stop the proposed Sodo arena.  An attorney representing the union said the actual filing will happen later, after the expected passage of the legislation.Supporters Of The PlanSupporters include many Seattle-area officials, including King County Councilman Joe McDermott, the chair of the council’s budget committee.He said it makes sense to use public resources for an arena, arguing that professional sports have a cultural value. “This proposal, which an independent expert has said is the strongest public-private partnership that he’s seen in a decade of studying them, uses only new revenue from existing taxes to pay back the county’s investment which would be financed by bonds — less than three percent of the county’s outstanding bond capacity.  So I think it’s a very solid investment for the county," he said.When asked why public bonds were needed for the plan, McDermott said public involvement lowers the borrowing cost.  “We can finance over a longer period of time, and those factors make it much easier to pencil out, and successful for the private investor. It wouldn’t otherwise be profitable and therefore it wouldn’t happen,” he said.One looming question is how Hansen would actually get an NBA team.  We’ll have to stay tuned for that.UPDATE: October 15, 2012 3:13 p.m. by Patricia MurphyThe King County Council and Seattle City Council both gave the go-ahead for an agreement to build a new professional basketball and hockey arena in Seattle.Meantime, the Longshore Union plans to file a lawsuit. They say the agreement violates state environmental law. 

  Oct 15, 2012 at 3:21 pm
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  Report: Arrests For Marijuana Disproportionally Affect Blacks, Latinos And Native Americans

  A new study by Marijuana Arrest Research Project says more than 240,000 people in Washington have been arrested for marijuana possession over the past 25 years, and that those arrested are disproportionally Black, Latino and Native American.The New York-based group analyzed crime data from the FBI. The reports co-author Harry Levine is a sociology professor at City University of New York. He says the report found that in Washington Blacks were arrested at nearly three times the rate of whites. Latinos and Native Americans were arrested at one and a half times the rate of whites.Levine says these numbers are striking since analysis of government studies show that young whites use marijuana at higher rates than either group. Levine explained, "White upper-middle class people by and large do not get arrested for this offense. White upper-middle class people do not get fines for this offense but others do, and that is blatantly unjust and unfair."Levine estimates that in the past 10 years arrests for marijuana possession cost Washington more than $194 million in police and court costs.The timing of Levine’s study is no accident. Washington is one of three states considering Marijuana reform.Initiative 502 would let adults over 21 buy taxed, inspected marijuana at state-licensed shops. Some police officials worry about increasing the availability of pot, especially for teens.

  Oct 11, 2012 at 5:44 pm