The Seattle Times reports this morning that at its regularly scheduled meeting today the Seattle City Council will discuss 2007 priorities. I'll get to those, below. Reporter Bob Young notes the council's gravitas, long unimpressive, was not aided by the body's recent commissioning of a poem that read in part, "Each member, eyes forward, strokes to heal the vices while meetings ripple like drops across the waters."

Personally, I'm not too big on government "stroking" anything - including itself - or "healing vices." But I'd like to see about 225 more cops, beyond current commitments, added to the badly undermanned Seattle force. As far as the meetings which poetically "ripple like drops across waters," this is because council members typically cast tiny pebbles into the waters. Which brings us to the council's '07 committee priorities.

With the exception of Council President Nick Licata, who pretty squarely addresses police staffing, the rest is largely piffle. Take a look for yourself, via the link directly above.

Seattle government needs to get out of marginalia and social engineering, and get deeper into improving core municipal functions.

We need a robust, well-managed electrical utility; plus more and better-maintained parks, free (especially in downtown) of drunks and druggies. We need crumbling curbs repaired promptly; and we need beneficial and affordable transportation infrastructure expansion, perhaps significantly aided by private sector investment.

We also need city council members who understand that Seattle is part of a larger region where the pace of growth, vehicle use and land development will continue and intensify, carrying significant economic and social benefits at the same time that important environmental challenges are posed.

It would also be nice if city government leaders would engineer some kind of bold intervention - rather than sideline gawking - directed at the smoking train wreck that is the Seattle Public Schools.

Finally, if the Seattle City Council would like to do some "visioning" that eschews stroking to heal vices, casting tiny pebbles into the water, and assuming the socialist mantle of "social justice" and "equity;" I have some suggested language to help them get centered. In the fine tradition of issuing city council proclamations, they might adopt this as the Seattle City Council Zeitgeist. (Of course, that could require a new city council).

WE, the Seattle City Council, do hereby proclaim that Seattle, Washington State, and The United States are exemplars of equal rights, equal opportunity, and The American Dream. Lawful residents and citizens of our municipality, state and nation enjoy robust economic, political, personal, legal and religious rights. These rights ensure that individuals and groups can have their concerns addressed on the related merits and demerits, whether in an initiative to the people; elected bodies; a court of law; or the court of public opinion. An urban political climate in which the politics of victimization and outrage are ascendant is one that demeans the great freedoms and opportunities we all enjoy. Further, Seattle's vaunted emphasis on diversity must more explicitly and sincerely acknowledge the value of political diversity.