(He amended it earlier this month, too.) The bill gets its first committee meeting tomorrow morning—and it’s expected to draw a large crowd. Previously, the bill defined “intimidating conduct," a criterion for a violation, as behavior that "puts a... Full Article at The Stranger

Charlatans are to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their classic debut album Some Friendly - by performing it in Scotland. Singer Tim Burgess told how he never thought the record would be a hit before it shot to No.1 in the charts. Now, at Barrowland... Full Article at The Sunday Mail

City council member Tim Burgess chairs the council's public safety committee, a catchall for complaints about crime. A wave of shootings, including the murder of a Seattle cop, and a rise in burglaries at the bottom of the recession only exacerbate the... Full Article at The Stranger

The city already has a criminal statute on the books for aggressive begging; Burgess's proposal would add a civil fine and spell out the various scenarios in which a violator could get a ticket. But Full Article at The Stranger

According to a poll sponsored by the Downtown Seattle Association, two-thirds of downtown residents are concerned about aggressive panhandling. I accidentally said one-third of residents rated this as a concern. I regret the error. (The poll also found... Full Article at The Stranger

The proposed law broadly disallows solicitation of any kind within 15 feet of a person "immediately before or after conducting a transaction at an ATM or parking pay station," who is "handling in plain view any money, bank card, receipt, check or other... Full Article at The Stranger