Last week we talked briefly about SDOT’s Transit Master Plan, which included plans for a light rail that would connect Ballard and Fremont to downtown, amongst other neighborhoods.

Yesterday, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn took to his blog and challenged the Seattle City Council to “be bold” and consider funding such a project.

For the distances served — neighborhood to neighborhood — it looks like the right choice for a number of corridors in Seattle. That includes Ballard to downtown via Fremont, the University District to downtown via Eastlake, and linking those to Seattle’s two initial streetcar lines to South Lake Union, the International District/Chinatown and Capitol Hill. Other cities have already demonstrated the promise of this approach, like Portland with its MAX system.

McGinn went to say that, even if the council didn’t want to act on the initiative, he “will not stop working to fulfill my commitment to expand rail in Seattle.”

Currently, the city council is working on approving a $60 car tab fee that would help save many King County Metro bus routes as well as provide some much-needed maintenance to Seattle’s roadways. But if they want to think big, like Mayor McGinn would like them to, they might discuss much grander plans soon.

This week, the Seattle City Council made three moves that will change the future of nightlife, street food and marijuana availability in Fremont, let alone all of Seattle.

We start with the nightlife, where Mayor McGinn’s proposal to change and/or extend bar hours in order to stagger police coverage was officially backed by the Council. The resolution let cities set their own bar-closing times, which could mean staggered schedules that make life easier for law enforcement.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned rule changes to Seattle street food vendors got the blessing of the City Council as well. Now, don’t expect a free-for-all of taco trucks to swarm Fremont. There’s going to be a lot of regulations and fees that street vendors will have to adhere to. Also, vendors will be forbidden from parking within 50 feet of food businesses, schools and building entrances. That said, expect to see a lot more street food vendors in town when the remaining questions are answered and the trucks start rolling in.

Finally, the City Council voted Monday to approve a series of regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. While still illegal on a federal level, the medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to operate locally, given that they comply with new regulations.

That’ll do, City Council. That’ll do.

Combine your love for picnics and politics with the “Politics Not As Usual” Candidate’s Forum on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 between noon and 1:30 p.m. in the Gasworks Park Picnic Area.

The Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood and Wallingford Chambers along with the North Seattle Industrial Association & Aurora Merchants Association are inviting six City Council candidates who will be present to chat with you about the issues while you chow down.

The meeting will combine presentation and discussion formats, with candidates introducing themselves and answering North End-related questions before coming over to each table to talk with folks on an intimate level.

The event costs $25 to attend. You can register and learn more information here.

Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata has launched Seattle Art Walks, a neighborhood resource web page highlighting 13 art walks throughout Seattle.

The web site includes a map of Seattle surrounded with links to neighborhood-sponsored art walks. Fremont First Fridays are among the 13 art walks. The others include: Ballard, Upper Queen Anne, Belltown, Pioneer Square, West Seattle, Greenwood-Phinney, Wallingford, Madison Valley, Capitol Hill, Central District, Chinatown-International District and Georgetown.

Licata, long time chair of the Seattle City Council committee overseeing arts, highlighted the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs’ Creative Vitality Index. This 2007 data ranked Seattle’s overall creative vitality at roughly six times the national average.