After months of fighting &, fingerpointing between downtown residents, nightclubs, police, the mayor's office and city council, many people expected a decision from the Seattle City Council yesterday about whether Seattle should "license" its clubs. But a last minute amendment essentially tabled the issue for another year.
The amendment, which passed by a 5-4 vote, was sponsored by Council Member Jean Godden. It says a licensing requirement will go into effect in September, 2008--but ONLY if the council takes action to approve it. This means the Council will need to take up the licensing question all over again. In the meantime, a newly created Night Club Commission will study the impact of new enforcement tools contained in the ordinance that did pass and report back to the council and mayor next August.
As I was leaving the City Council Meeting yesterday, and again after doing my live report downtown, I heard versions of the following comments over and over:
"That's SO SEATTLE." "Why do we also want one more study? Task force? Commission?" "Why can't we just make a decision and stick to it?"
What do you think? Is Seattle too indecisive?