Adele Ferguson - A look back at people, events of 2010

I offer as my kissoff to 2010 a review of some of the columns I wrote for you during the year. Hope you enjoyed them.

5-31-10: A video showing two Seattle police officers kicking a prone detainee prompted minority organizations to form a coalition aimed at police accountability. On April 17, police detained three men suspected in a robbery. One of the officers kicking a Latino man lying on the sidewalk said, “I’m going to beat the (expletive) piss out of you, homey. You feel me?” A woman officer stomped on the man’s hand while other officers stood by, watching. The man was later released. The coalition wants those involved fired.

Although I have long thought the minority groups, in particular the blacks, were overly sensitive about Seattle cops, this incident changed my mind completely. Particularly when the woman officer stepped forward and stomped on the man for no reason at all. I wrote the two doing the stomping should be fired and the onlookers suspended and required to attend classes on dealing with prisoners. An investigation ended with the officers vindicated. Rotten deal.

7-6-10: Deprived of another transfusion of federal funds and facing a $3 billion shortfall, Gov. Chris Gregoire says it’s time to start asking tough questions, such as should the Legislature privatize the ferry system?. If privatizing the ferry system was the way to go, Black Ball would still be running it, rather than forced to sell it to the state. She should stop worrying about alienating the unions she is in thrall to and cut back on their number, salaries and benefits.

7-13-10: I wrote that anytime I see the Washington State Democratic party, Washington Education Association, Washington State Labor Council, and the Service Employees International Union joining in support of something coming up on the ballot, I know it’s something that’s going to cost you and me a bundle. This time it was Initiative 1098, establishing a state income tax. You agreed with me and dumped it big time.

8-16-10: An 81-year old Rainier Valley woman fought for her life after opening her door to a man she thought was a furnace repairman early for an appointment.

The intruder was an 18-year old with a violent history of assault and robbery.

He grabbed her throat, repeatedly punched her in the head and tore at the bathrobe she was wearing, having just come out of the shower.

A neighbor heard her screaming and came to her aid.

The neighbor, a 70-year old woman, also fought with the man and suffered a black eye and a bloody nose.

The neighbor’s husband, 74, heard the screams and ran to the house where he wrestled Solomon Xavier Thompson to the ground and tore his coat off before he ran off.

Police were able to lift his fingerprints from the cell phone in his jacket and found and arrested him.

I wrote as I have many times that you should never, never, never open your door to someone you don’t know. Make strangers show ID through a closed window.

9-6-10: Gov. Christine Gregoire called the White House and took herself out of the running to replace Elena Kagan as solicitor general. The time wasn’t right for her or the state, a spokesman for her said. I wrote the usual reasons politicians publicly remove themselves from consideration for a plum new job is to get the word out that they’d like to be considered or they got the word in private that they haven’t got a prayer of getting it and don’t want to be known as a loser. I don’t know which fits Gregoire.

(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69, Hansville, Wa., 98340.)