Memo to Dan Savage & Company

Maybe you folks should get encourage your readers to get out to bars. Like this one in NYC :

DEBATE AT LOLITA BAR on...urban planning?

Go, New York driver, go! Next week, regardless of whether you see Speed Racer, you must see a debate on New York’s hottest automotive topic (and one that sources say may yet be revived by Mayor Bloomberg with special help from Gov. Paterson):

Should Manhattan Streets Have Congestion Pricing?

YES: Charles Komanoff, economist who has prominently weighed in on transportation, energy, and environment issues throughout the City’s long congestion pricing battle (see his writing at Komanoff.net)

NO: Doug Dechert, controversial journalist devoted to “puncturing the pretensions of the plutocrats” who’s irked New York Post with his reporting in New York Press on the Page Six corruption scandals (see the archives of ScandalMonger.net)

Maybe even sponsor such discussions.

I am no particular fan of congestion pricing for Seattle and think it's a will 'o the wisp wonkish fantasy. But I am a big fan of intelligent civic debate and The Stranger promotes more such conversation than any other medium in Seattle, and especially about, believe it or not, urban  planning issues.