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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 1h

By semi-popular request, here's the full hour and four minute audio of Mayor Bruce Harrell talking and taking friendly questions at the Washington Athletic Club yesterday. The emcee is Julius Caesar Robinson, The Great Debate founder and Harrell endorser. publicola.com/wp-content/u...

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 1h

I can post just the AI transcript, of course, but Otter is TERRIBLE at certain things, particularly names and proper nouns, and generally produces incomprehensible run-ons that I have to clean up by listening to the audio. If so, let me know and also DONATE, since I am working insane hours lately!

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 1h

A lot of people have been asking if there's a recording of this. I haven't found one online, but I have a (pretty low-quality, with keyboard sounds) recording from Otter. Would people be interested in hearing all or parts of it and/or seeing a cleaned-up transcript?

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

Downtown could have "like, a 10-foot wall" where people could talk to AI versions of historical figures. "How cool would this be if we had like, a 10 foot wall. It's interactive and it's historical. And you could talk to Martin Luther King."...

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 8h

He was in the front row filming the whole time. I don’t think he live streams. His whole thing is misleading edits.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 8h

Me too! I want both, not one OR the other.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 17h

begone troll

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

Ohhhh hey, didn't think I'd have to say this because I thought people had reading comprehension, but people who come in this thread about the Mayor of Seattle and whine that I'm taking away people's right to love sports by saying I wish our mayors also talked about arts are gonna get auto blocked. 😘

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

Way to not read what I said. Bye bye now!

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

"... and then [the video of MLK] stops off, and we can watch the mariners beat Toronto for the championship. That's where downtown is heading. And our think tanks—my think tank that I've convened—are coming up these kinds of ideas to make sure our downtown is vibrant and we get employees back."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

What was your day like today? What did you have for breakfast? And he comes back and he talks to you right now. How cool would that be if we have a series of historical figures that we all could agree on, that we respect..."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

"We want video activity. And I gave an example to someone—I said, Imagine how cool would this be if we had like, a 10 foot wall. It's interactive and it's historical. And you could talk to Martin Luther King, and you could say, Well, Dr, Martin Luther King, I've always wanted to meet you."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

"The reason why culture and art is so strong is they're going to see a heavy AI influence in it, number one, and number two, the barrier entry is a lot lower now. these YouTube sensations are coming out from all over. And so, the AI House is one example."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

"Experiential activities will define us. That is a dog park, that is a daycare downtown. That is a dog park. That is exercise, being around people. That is great restaurants, that's going to be music, that's going to be interactive video."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

"So experiential activity is going to be the key. So what do I mean by that? I'll just give you some examples. Why do people work from home? Because they like being around their dogs, their children. They like working in their underwear. (Laughs). Experiential activities."...

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

The comment I posted earlier, where Harrell said one "cool" idea would be a 10-foot wall with an AI version of MLK you could talk to, was part of a longer spiel about "art," meaning—as far as I could discern—AI art. I'm gonna post some of that quote below.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

I know it's hard to get people to care about stuff like the local arts, music, and literary scenes. (My book has sold much better, and got far more attention, outside Seattle than in it). But I do wonder when Harrell last went to a local art show or play, or read a book by a local author.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 18h

Harrell isn't the first mayor to celebrate every (male) sports team while all but ignoring local creatives, but the ratio of sports sports sports to, like, mural artists who help Harrell's mission of preventing graffiti is off the charts in this administration.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 19h

Just got an email from Bruce Harrell's campaign about the Mariners.
I know it's heresy to say right now, but imagine Seattle having a mayor that got fired up about the arts, or rallied to save longtime venues, or talked about a great show they saw at a club or theater, or celebrated a local author.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 21h

aw, it's the first person to call me a cunt on Bluesky! I block for much less and you should too

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

He's "had to deal with unfairness by many people who just want to be unfair when they say things and write things." Says he got a threatening phone call recently and has had other threats, but "I'm a person of faith and I want to serve you for four more years." Event ends with a standing ovation.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

Harrell just said he hopes I'm quoting him correctly. Look, I am a VERY fast typist, but I use live transcription and try to correct its errors in the moment when I'm posting; I'm not getting all these long quotes down verbatim myself!

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

"It has always been my intent to run for public office," Harrell says, talking about how he's wanted this job since he was 18. "I just said the city's been so good to me that I have to give back." He says he doesn't want to be a politician, he just wants "to serve."

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

Now Miles is talking about their frats at the UW. Trying to imagine what this would have been like if Katie Wilson HAD showed. Now everyone is applauding for Harrell.

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

Nate Miles, representing the Breakfast Group, now has the mic and is talking about his group and how supportive Harrell has been in showing up for the group, which is for young Black men. Applause for this mid-debate pro-Harrell speech. This really is a Harrell rally!

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 23h

Pitching himself as the agent of "change" in this race, the 20-year politician says, "When you've been in a position of authority, people may be quick to say that's not change to them. And when I now have articulated my life story, do you think this job has been easy for me?"

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