Back from the dead: Jim Diers assures friends he’s okay after his passing was mourned by Ed Murray

I’m getting inundated with messages asking if I am alive. Apparently, the mayor issued a press release mourning my death. I genuinely appreciate the mayor’s concern, but I want to assure you that I am very much alive. I returned from work in Ontario at 1:00 AM this morning, participated in a conference call at 6:00 AM, gave a talk in Tacoma, and am now preparing to teach my class at the UW tonight. I’m dead tired today, but otherwise, I’m feeling great! Thanks, everyone, for your concern, but I really don’t have any time for death.

— Former Seattle Neighborhoods Director Jim Diers, assuring his friends and family that he is alive and well. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s office put out a press release on Thursday afternoon mourning Diers after his staff got word that Diers had passed away. But they were misinformed. Yesterday, we lost in a good man in Joe Dear, formerly chief of staff to Gary Locke. Dear and Diers aren’t the same person.