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1. sulguy
   Member Profile

   So this evening at about 8pm I responded to a telephone survey concerning Duke Moscrip's potential if he runs against current Mayor Nichols. Just a personal comment - Duke Moscrip reminds me a whole lot of Dino Rossi... Anyone else take a similar call?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. Karl
   Member Profile

   I hope I am not transgressing upon any rules...

   I found a facebook page that states some of Mr. Moscrip's views:

   http://www.facebook.com/pages/If-Duke-were-Elected/67163289458?v=app_2347471856&viewas=1082750253

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. Kevin
   Member Profile

   I received a call around 8 PM too. The survey firm was not a local firm, because I asked when the phone interviewer mispronounced "Puget" Sound.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. herongrrrl
   Member Profile

   I got that call too...at first they wanted to talk to a male over age 18 but since one wasn't home they decided I'd do. I didn't know enough about Duke to say one way or the other, but nothing they said made me think he would be the shining alternative to Mayor McCheese. I hope we DO have that clear alternative on the ballot!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. charlabob
   Member Profile

   

   Here's the Duke's view on the minimum wage -- since there's a move to make Seattle a "Living Wage" city, this is something the mayor can affect -- and, imnho, this make's Duke an UNsuitable replacement for Nickels, who at least pretends to be on the side of the middle class.

   http://www.thenewstribune.com/265/story/634707.html

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. JanS
   Member Profile

   

   the unfortunate part of this, although Duke thinks it's not supposed to be a family wage, is that IT IS...the woman who waited on me the last time I ate at his establishment didn't seem to be someone "just starting out, getting a foot in the employment door"...she was a professional, and sometimes people stay in that profession for a long time. My mother did. So I would ask him to role play sometime, exchange places with one of these employees who is making too much an hour at minimum wage, and see exactly where it leads him.

   Why is it that it's always the people who have/make the least are the ones that the (wannabe) politicians always want to take away from first?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   FWIW, we broke the news of Duke's potential mayoral aspirations a month ago.

   http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=14902

   (a citywide newspaper followed some hours later)

   He hasn't filed anything official yet though - here's the list of who HAS:
   http://www2.seattle.gov/ethics/eldata/filings/campaigns.asp?ElCycle=el09a

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. alki_2008
   Member Profile

   

   JanS - I think the idea from Duke's comments is that people "start" at minimum wage and then move UP from it. I would doubt that many experienced restaurant staff are being paid minimum wage. They START at minimum wage, but shouldn't stay there for long. Kids working seasonal jobs get minimum wage and stay at minimum wage because they're only there temporarily - ie, it's not a 'family wage' for them.

   Also, most restaurant employees make more than their hourly wage. Many bartenders and servers with a $10/hr wage earn a lot more than $21k/yr ($10/hr x 40hr/wk x 52wk/yr). Tips make a big difference in the restaurant industry.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. JanS
   Member Profile

   

   yes...but that's in a perfect world. In an imperfect world like ours there are many who are not teenagers living with their parents who are also making minimum wage, and to lower it further than it is is ridiculous. This is not a dream world, it's reality, and Duke can envision all he wants - it doesn't make it so. I don't know what world you live in , but I know quite a few people, who, even with a college education, are now making 10 bucks an hour, and can't afford to live on their own making that.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

10. alki_2008
    Member Profile

    

    Yeah - I started at $10/hr with a post-grad degree when minimum wage was $7/hr (had roommates, lived cheaply, and saved all I could until getting a better paying job). We all START somewhere. I doubt anyone aspires to raise their family on minimum wage, and I hope people don't start having families when they're only making minimum wage.

    I'd prefer the state address the core reasons that businesses don't pay employees more than minimum wage, rather than force a higher min wage rate. WA doesn't have the highest cost-of-living, so we shouldn't need the highest minimum wage rate to support our citizenry (Oregon is 2nd at $8.40).

    In any case, this thread is about Duke's potential mayoral candidacy, so...

    Posted 3 years ago #         

11. JoB
    Member Profile

    some people end where they start and they aren't all attractive enough or presentable enough or ... to start at the serving end of a restaurant where they can add tips to their income.

    the minimum wage doesn't leave them enough left over for self improvement programs... even if they are really frugal.

    the reality is that a fair number of Seattle families are supported by two parents making minimum wage...

    that's who we mean when we talk about the working poor...

    Posted 3 years ago #         

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