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C200: This Is What A City Makes Possible

2011 April 5
by Mike McGinn

Sarah Palin and other figures on the right like to talk about “small town values” as being “the real America.” We know better. These are our values:

Pike Place Market
We have great urban places, where people can live and shop in the same building. And we protect them.

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Lifting Pilothouse No. 2
We’re proud of what we build…

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Fresh fish
What we catch…

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IMG_0012
What we brew…

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Environmental Innovation Challenge 2009
and what we cook up.

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Seattleites create and use urban spaces – their way. From the bottom up. Because tennis courts aren’t just for tennis.

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cafe vita
We support local business.

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Skillet
We like to use the walk-up window.

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Met new Obama supporters at Marra Farms
We take care of each other – and we feed each other.

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Election Day
No car? We want to give you a safe, affordable ride.

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No yard? We’ve got a place for you to play. And organizations like Solid Ground help ensure everyone can enjoy it.

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Exit to nowhere
Hey Olympia! We don’t like these…

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A northbound train pulling in to the Columbia City light rail station
…but we love these.

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Molly Moon's ice cream chalkboard menu
We’re not scared of new ideas.

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Editing in Room 12 a
We think idealism is a virtue.

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Storm vs Sparks - 25
Here in Seattle, we play hard – and we play to win.

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Parkour in Seattle
We play like it matters, because it does.

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Real Change
We stand up for each other.

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Morningsong
We believe everybody deserves a chance to learn…

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…or a chance to learn a new skill.1

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If you work hard and you play by the rules, you’re a real American.

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Roberto Maestas
And sometimes, it’s American to break the rules. Rest in peace, Roberto Maestas.

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Macklemore
We share our cultures with each other. And the music, the art, the food…is astounding.

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Children's Day 02
Hey, Glenn Beck. We love race and social justice.

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We expect our youth to achieve.

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Park(ing) Day 2009
President Barack Obama called on America to win the future. Mr. President, the people of Seattle are ready.

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Click on each image to view photo credit.
1Photo by Jennifer Richard for Seattle Jobs Initiative

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Mike McGinn is the mayor of Seattle.