Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

My news release today announcing the 19th Annual Youth and Law Forum on Saturday, April 18, 2009.

Effort Intended to Empower Seattle’s High School and Elementary Students to Make Well-Informed Career and Life Choices

SEATTLE—City Councilmember Bruce Harrell announced today that as many as 300 youth will participate in the 19th Annual Youth and Law Forum, to be held on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the First AME Church, Seattle. Councilmember Harrell has participated in the Forum since it began in 1990. This year’s theme, “Law and Order”, will focus on teaching young people how to better understand the judicial and law enforcement fields from the very people who serve in them, as well as educate youth on court procedures and their legal rights and responsibilities.

“This city-wide Forum provides youth an excellent opportunity to build their confidence and to make well-informed decisions about their career path and life choices,” said Harrell. “It can be a first step in positioning Seattle’s youth for today’s challenging and diverse job market.”
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The Seattle City Council, while intending to help the environment, unintentionally hurt small restaurants and possibly your wallet or pocketbook. I am advocating for a smart fix.

Last year the City Council passed a bill which prohibits food service businesses from serving food in containers made of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) in conjunction with the plastic bag fee legislation. The legislation was created because the disposal of Styrofoam creates a burden on the city’s solid waste system and is harmful to the environment. While the environmental impacts are significant, I am also concerned about the economic burden that food establishments have faced by switching to compostable products. Restaurant owners are now stating the shift to compostable products has increased their boxing costs 35-40%, which is significant for a small business. The increased costs to business are likely to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. I am proposing the establishment of a buying co-op where local food service businesses could combine their collective buying power to reduce the cost of compostable products.

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