Strippergate? Sounds like Seattle is joining San Diego in means for pols to increase their pocketbooks. And the lucky owners of the clubs who do not have to worry about competition because no more licenses are being granted???Wonder what that cost them.

Posted by: Peter McMillin at July 12, 2005 02:10 PM

People give money to politicians, and expect influence? Like THAT'S never happened before??

Posted by: Brad at July 12, 2005 02:26 PM

Why is Seattle engaging in facism - no there is no safe place on the earth for peaceful humans!

Posted by: Greg L. at July 12, 2005 02:28 PM

Who the hell cares?

Posted by: OuterLymitz at July 12, 2005 02:41 PM

Why does everything that is deemed by the media as a scandal end with "gate"? This has nothing to do with Watergate.

Posted by: Buttgoof at July 12, 2005 03:09 PM

I don't care what happens as long as Rick's stays open!

Posted by: Jorge at July 12, 2005 03:26 PM

I find it difficult to accept charging the persons who originated the "contributions" but not the persons who were the transferring contributors. Maybe the candidates didn't know the money was being reimbursed, but those folks who made the fake "contributions" certainly knew. A bit inconsistent as a matter of policy, if not law.

Posted by: BR at July 12, 2005 03:38 PM

When Paul Allen buys South Lake Union, thats 'politics'. When a strip club owner tries to get 9 parking spaces, its a scandal.

How about, for a change, we take a hard look at the real influence peddlers in Seattle?

Posted by: Mezzrow at July 12, 2005 03:42 PM

The four scape goats should be prosecuted, but yet again, other guilty parties are given a pass. Rossellini isn't guiltless. I never had much faith in government doing what was right and legal (having grown up during Nixon years and Reagan). But now have lost faith in Maleng.

Posted by: Stefan at July 12, 2005 03:55 PM

The whole thing is ridiculous. Not the influence peddling- that's illegal, and they should be prosecuted for it.

But Seattle's weird Puritan-style regulation of strip clubs is just silly. Who cares if some guys want to go look at some naked girls? Who cares if the girls charge big bucks for that? Who cares if the lap dances involve some touching/bumping/grinding/whatever?

Zone them properly and let them do whatever they want. Heck, legalize prostitution and zone some cathouses somewhere, tax it, and maybe we'll make enough revenue to aid in financing the monorail.

Posted by: Paul at July 12, 2005 04:13 PM

I think this can best be summed up by... YADDA YADDA YADDA. Who cares? Paul Allen is far more guilty of this type of maneuvering but because he doesn't have a strip joint, it's not news. The prosecutor should be ashamed for filing charges in this pointless case, the PI should be embarassed for even printing the story and we should all be ashamed for reading it.

Posted by: Dave at July 12, 2005 04:14 PM

I think this is an attempt by the Mayor with his lame rules he's trying to get passed joining efforts with Maleng to try and hurt the Seattle Strip Club businesses. Starting with the big boy Ricks. Next up! Adult book stores. You would think they would have bigger and better issues to deal with.

Posted by: Rg at July 12, 2005 04:20 PM

If you're going to prosecute the temptors, you should prosecute the public officials that accepted the bribes...er...donations to their campaign funds. Do you really think they didn't know what was going on?? If so, I have some swamp land in Kent to sell you.....

Posted by: Pat Sweeney at July 12, 2005 05:17 PM

The city has time to weigh in on this when they've been virtually silent on the Monorail debacle? Our "leaders" should spend their time wisely and shut down SMP instead of wasting time on strippers. Tax, tax, regulate, regulate... yet another reason why I'll move to Bainbridge Island away from all the Seattle crap they are making us digest.

Posted by: mullins at July 12, 2005 05:53 PM

What a waste of time! Who cares?

Posted by: julie at July 12, 2005 06:51 PM