The words "brown-bag" and "citizens" are now banned at Seattle City Hall

What could be the offense of using “brown bag” or “citizens,” especially having witness Mayor Mike McGinn’s special pleasure at the swearing in of new U.S. citizens at the Seattle Center on Independence Day.

“This issue came up in one of the departments and I thought I’d send it around as an fyi for your consideration.  We often use the expression ‘brown bag’ to designate a bring-your-own lunch time event.  We also use the word ‘citizens’ as a synonym for ‘residents.’

“Innocuous phrases, right?  Mm, not so much for. For some people, the phrase ‘brown bag’ calls up ugly associations with use of the expression ‘brown bag’ to determine if people’s skin color was light enough to allow admission to an event, a home, etc.

“‘Citizens’ is a different case:  We sometimes use it as another way of saying ‘members of the public’ — except for all the members of the public who aren’t actually citizens but who live and work here.”

Asked on Wednesday how the issue of ‘”brown bag” and “citizens” came up, Bronstein answered:  “Boy, I don’t remember who raised it.  It has come up now and again in the past.”

“The term ‘brown bag’ doesn’t bother everybody, but . . . there is a history behind use of it,” he added.  “It is something easy to correct because there are alternatives.”