Latest news with #NextDoor
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Spokane Valley City Council to consider settlement with sitting member over public records lawsuit
Jun. 2—Spokane Valley's public records lawsuit against one of its sitting city council members could come to a close without a day in court if the council approves a settlement proposal this week. The Spokane Valley City Council will hear a settlement offer from Councilman Al Merkel Tuesday that would end the city's lawsuit against him — a monthslong legal dispute centered around the councilman's use of the social media platform NextDoor. The city opened an independent investigation into Merkel's NextDoor use last June following a complaint from Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger that he was using the platform as a form of city-related communication without keeping proper records of his activity. Rebecca Dean, a Seattle-based attorney who conducted the investigation, determined Merkel's use likely violated the state's Public Records Act and city code governing council members. Merkel has maintained that he does not believe his activity, whether posts, surveys or messages, constitute public records, and unsuccessfully appealed the investigation findings to the city's hearing examiner last fall. Citing a lack of compliance from Merkel following the investigation, and the hearing examiner's decision to uphold it, the Spokane Valley City Council voted to sue Merkel in February to force him to comply with open records rules. Merkel's fellow members on the city council voted unanimously to strip him of committee assignments, and to publicly censure Merkel — a formal condemnation for his actions — in a special meeting Dec. 19 following the appeal. The punishments are among the most severe available to the council when disciplining a fellow board member, and will remain in effect for the remaining three years of Merkel's term. The settlement offer, passed along by Merkel's attorney Patrick Kirby, comes just before the lawsuit was to appear before Spokane County Superior Court Judge Rachelle Anderson on July 18. If approved by the city council, the settlement would lead to the dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the city could not refile the same claim down the road for events before the settlement took effect. The city would also cover all of Merkel's attorney fees past, present and future, "as they pertain to this dispute," according to meeting materials including in the agenda for Tuesday. Merkel is also requesting the city come to agreement with him on appointing an "independent master" to review his social media and determine what activity constitutes a public record, and to have the city cover the costs of the role. Merkel would only be legally obligated to produce social media posts the "master" determined to be public records, the settlement terms state. The city would pay for an attorney to serve as the "independent master." The city already has a staff that is trained in public record's law to fill records requests, and the city covered the costs of two independent experts already for the investigation and hearing examiner proceedings. The settlement would preempt a court from weighing in on whether, or to what extent, Merkel's activity on NextDoor is a public record. It would also preempt a court from directing him to provide those posts and to comply with state law and city policies moving forward, which is highlighted as a potential concern in the meeting materials. "Both determined Councilmember Merkel violated the Governance Manual social media policy and did not comply with his good faith obligations under Washington case law," the agenda item states. "Councilmember Merkel did not adhere to those determinations, and thus it would remain to be seen whether he would adhere to a third independent attorney's determinations in this regard when not in his favor." City Attorney Kelly Konkright will brief the council on the offer from Merkel at its regular 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spokane Valley City Council pulls public safety funding to cover costs of struggles with Councilman Al Merkel
May 28—The Spokane Valley City Council clawed back funding intended for public safety Tuesday to help cover the costs of the ongoing legal struggles with a member of the governing board. Controversy has followed Councilman Al Merkel throughout his first year and change in office. Bickering between Merkel and his opponents on the council has become a mainstay of Tuesday meetings, and two independent investigations into his behavior were launched last year following complaints filed by his peers and city employees. One found Merkel repeatedly disrespected city staff, often engaging in "intimidating behavior." The latter found Merkel's use of the social media platform NextDoor was likely in violation of state public records law and city code, and is the root of a lawsuit the city launched against him in February. The council on Tuesday voted 5-1 to approve amendments to more than a dozen city funds to reflect a $5.4 million increase in revenue due largely to grant awards, as well as a nearly $14 million increase in expenditures. Merkel was the lone dissenting vote; Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger was absent. Several of the increases in expenditures are from obligated spending of the grant awards on projects, like various energy efficiency and clean building grants or affordable housing and homeless services awards. Others are for ongoing projects, like the $4.6 million budget left for the Spokane Valley Cross Country Course, or are due to an error in calculations, like the nearly $1 million loss of license tab fees the city planned to collect this year based on faulty data from the Department of Licensing. The line item that drew the most attention, however, was the $350,000 in legal costs associated with Merkel. The council elected to transfer funding away from vehicle replacements and an unfilled civilian analyst position for the Spokane Valley Police Department to fill the hole. Spokane Valley voters will decide later this year if they're willing to pay more in sales tax to help cover public safety, after the council voted to place a 0.1% sales tax measure on the Aug. 5 ballot. The transfer approved Tuesday will result in 12 replacement vehicles for the department instead of the planned 14, and it does away with the sole civilian position approved by the council in February 2024 as part of the board's ongoing efforts to expand the department. The budget amendment passed with little comment from the council Tuesday, but was discussed in detail while still a proposal at an April 29 meeting. Mayor Pam Haley said reallocating the public safety funding was a result of a tight budgeting process last year in which every city department saw cuts, except for public safety. There simply wasn't another place to find the funding to cover the costs associated with the complaints, investigations and lawsuit Merkel is at the center of, she said. "When we did our budget, we were very clear that we were cutting all departments, and all departments did a great job — our employees didn't take raises this year because they knew how tight we were," Haley said. "There is no money to take to pay the legal bills, except to take money that was going to be spent on something new. The only thing we have that's new are those things." Since November, the city of Spokane Valley has been tracking expenditures related to Merkel in a spreadsheet. The total is around $350,000 to date, according to the report. The report differentiates the expenses into four categories: "actions taken to protect city employees," like the $40,000 renovation of City Hall to separate staffers from Merkel; "nonproductive uses of staff time," which includes the time spent responding to the litany of public records request related to Merkel; "the actions taken to protect the city from legal risk," including the ongoing public records lawsuit launched against him; and an "investigation of Merkel's unfounded complaint against Councilmember (Rod) Higgins and Mayor Haley." "I think that it shows the city's goals here, when they're defunding public safety to pay for their vendetta against me," Merkel said, before positing the city's pavement preservation fund "could be used for that same political vendetta purpose." The preservation fund was already slashed to make funding available for the wave of Spokane Valley Police Department positions approved by the council last year, as reported by The Spokesman-Review. Haley said the little over $7 million in the fund needs to be used for its intended purpose, and that it is "not just a little slush fund that you can go in and take whatever money out you want." Yaeger, who filed the complaint against Merkel about his social media use that has resulted in the public records lawsuit the city launched against him, said in April she was disappointed by Merkel's actions and the loss of public safety funding. "I really think that we could have put this money to better use for our city," Yaeger said. "He claims that he's a victim and he's not. He's actually victimizing our citizens, and it's pretty frustrating."
AU Financial Review
28-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Justin Hemmes on a Sydney collision course with Neil Perry
The Neil Perry -fication of Sydney's luxe Double Bay is sputtering. The divine ponytail's job on restaurant Margaret (turning it into a favourite spot with a wait list and people-spotting) has been flawless. Then came the very successful casual eatery Next Door and bakery Baker Bleu. But as this masthead revealed last week it's his Cantonese restaurant Song Bird hitting the skids. It's not even about the food or dining experience.
Time Out
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
It's official: These are the 9 best burgers in Sydney right now
There are a few dishes that seem to rile Sydneysiders up more than others. The best bánh mì, for instance. Or the top places to get cracking fish and chips. Sydney's best burgers is another lava-hot topic, with people caring about buns (nearly) as much as their firstborn. We are those people. There are a million and one variations on the burger, of course, but the essence of a truly great burger remains the same: a two-handed meal made with fresh, quality ingredients, a complementary balance of flavours and textures – salt, zing, crunch – and one that makes you smile. Here is Time Out's guide to the nine best burgers in Sydney right now, based on us eating our way right around town. Odds are, your list will be a bit different – but the two things we can all agree on are: charcoal has no place in burger buns. Same with anything low-fat. We're simply not interested. 1. Gidley Burger at The Gidley The burger at subterranean swish steakhouse The Gidley is our absolute favourite in Sydney. And it's not just us – it was the only Aussie burger to make the coveted Top 10 Burgers in the world 2024 list. Made on a milk bun, it features a double beef patty sourced from their in-house butchery at sibling restaurant Alfie's, rich cheddar cheese, secret sauce and zingy pickles. Best not to share. 2. American Cheeseburger at Next Door Neil Perry's Margaret was recently voted the second-best steak restaurant in the world, so it makes sense that the patty at his next-door venue – aptly named Next Door – is bloody good. The burger features a 200g Coppertree Farm beef patty (a mix of brisket and chuck), grilled to medium so it's a touch rosy in the middle. It's topped with cheese, pickles, tomato sauce, mustard and jazzed-up mayo, all on a soft bun. 3. Yellowfin Tuna Cheeseburger at Saint Peter Bar King of the sea Josh Niland gives beef and pork a run for their money – while proving we should be eating more of the fish than just its fillet – with his legendary yellowfin tuna and swordfish bacon cheeseburger. It's available at the Saint Peter Bar in Paddington's Grand National Hotel. Think: two patties of yellowfin tuna, swordfish belly bacon, both sourced from Mooloolaba in Queensland, served with melted cheese and a sharp sauce on a fresh bun. V smashable. 4. Original Smash Burger at Eat at Robs Eat at Robs (short for Rozelle's Original Burger) was born when owner Michael Carter returned home from travelling and found a lack of good smash burger options. What began as a market stall has grown into a full-blown burger shop with loyal fans. The menu is short and simple: choose from grilled chicken or a smashed burger featuring 100 per cent grass-fed beef, caramelised onion and melted cheese on Martin's Potato Rolls that are soft, squishy and a little bit sweet. 5. Cheese and Bacon Burger at Clam Bar Clam Bar 's burger isn't cheap, but thankfully, just like the restaurant, it's a clam dunk. The 250g grass-fed patty is pretty and blushing pink, fatty and juicy, with perfectly melted American cheese, topped with a tangy mustard sauce and onion. Thick-cut bacon and pickles are served on top of the sesame bun and stabbed with a knife. It's rich, messy and yum. 6. Mary's Burger at Mary's We've long been fans of rock 'n' roll burger joint and bar Mary's and their cracking American-style burgers. The classic burger features quality beef, melted cheese, fresh lettuce, thick slices of tomato, white onion and Mary's secret sauce, all held together in a soft white bun. They serve vegan burgs, too. 7. Paul's Famous Works Burger at Paul's Famous Hamburgers Loved for its old-school, Aussie-style burgers, Paul's Famous Hamburgers has been in operation since 1957. Our pick is the works burger – with a well-cooked patty, fresh tomato, raw onions, beetroot, crisp bacon, a fried egg and pineapple. You'll find this banging burger joint in Sylvania, in Sydney's south – and we reckon you should. 8. Classic Burger at Chebbo's Burgers Chebbo's Burgers has taken the social media world by storm, and for good reason. They specialise in smash burgers, and they're as delicious as they are good looking. The team started as a food truck in Roselands and recently opened their first bricks-and-mortar store in Marrickville. We love their classic bad boy, with a smashed beef patty, American cheese, the usual suspects (lettuce, tomato, fresh onion) and Chebbo's special sauce. 9. Cheese & Bacon Burger at Regatta Club The burger at Regatta Club (at UTS Rowers in Haberfield) comes stacked with a large beef patty, a chunky slice of very thick-cut bacon, diced onions, a big gherkin slice, melted American cheese and creamy, tangy burger sauce on a sesame-seed-topped milk bun. It's everything we want from a salad-free burger.
Ottawa Citizen
10-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Vintage clothing shops are popping up across Ottawa. Here's why
Article content This trend is represented in the post-pandemic proliferation of brick-and-mortar vintage shops in Ottawa. Article content Some observers say it's also an offshoot of the popularity of 613Flea, the twice-monthly independent market in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park, which features an ever-changing array of wares, ranging from vintage clothing and decor to handmade jewelry, soap and original art, plus more than a dozen food vendors. Article content Ingrid Daniels used to be a regular 613Flea vendor at Aberdeen until she found her own space on Gladstone Avenue last summer. She now runs a shop called Tribe Co. and its next-door event space, aptly titled Next Door. For her, operating a shop is actually easier than doing a market. Article content 'It's a lot of physical work at a market,' she said. 'You have to make some predictions to select what you want to bring, then you have to put it all in your car. Your racks, your bags, your table, accessories, a mirror. And then you have to unload it all, and reload again when everything's done. It's easily a nine-hour day.' Article content Article content Article content The vision for her Gladstone establishment combines clothing and events, whether it's a mending session, fashion show, clothing swap, paint night or collaboration with other vendors. Article content 'The concept honestly is to have carefully curated clothing of quality, and to host events,' Daniels said. 'There's a photo studio, too, so I want it to be kind of a community hub where people can come and express themselves.' Article content For her part, Mcleod came to the sector out of a concern for the environment and dismay at the rise of fast fashion brands. She also loves the styles and fabrics of past decades, from the 1950s to Y2K, and learning the history behind them. Article content 'There's a surplus of garments that are just being thrown in the landfill,' she said. 'It's so absurd that people are still shopping on Amazon when you can pretty much get whatever you need second-hand.' Article content Mcleod has been warmly welcomed by her neighbours on York Street. Next door in the yellow building is FrouFrou by Pat, a boutique specializing in original women's fashion, with a newly added consignment section on the second floor. It's owned by Pat Pythian, a curly-haired dynamo who's a bit of a legend in the Market because she's worked in the area for more than 30 years, first as the manager of the old Sassy Bead shop. Article content Article content Pythian added the consignment business to her shop after the pandemic, largely because many long-time customers had changed their style. Article content 'COVID really did it because it changed everybody's personality. They all changed lifestyles and wanted to clear out their closets,' Pythian explained. 'Women were coming in saying, 'I just can't buy another dress or another pair of pants because I've got too many.' I said, 'Well, bring them here. I'll sell them and give you 50 per cent.'' Article content Today, the younger customers head straight up the rickety stairs to see what's come in on consignment. Part of the appeal is the affordable pricing, although social media has also fuelled Gen Z's desire to stand out. Article content 'They're getting more and more adventurous, and wearing the crazy stuff to show it on Instagram,' Mcleod said. 'They're having fun with their fashion and using it as a form of expression.' Article content Also on York Street is Adorit, where owner Emma Inns has been specializing in ethical, slow fashion for 17 years, featuring Canadian designers and fair-trade products from India, Tibet and Nepal. There's also a thrift section at the back of the store, where she showcases vintage 90s pieces that are all the rage with students.
