They rallied for education reform. For better health care for all. To fight poverty. And to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
More than 1,400 people gathered at the Garfield High School gym on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 18, for the “Justice Now” rally, followed by a march in celebration of Dr. King.
I had the opportunity to attend both. In speaking with several people at both events, there was a real sense that the theme this year had to do with history, both personal and global.
The first person I spoke with was a gentleman named Tannie Tomlin. He said this day is “steeped in history” for him.
“Because of this day, I remember when I marched with Martin Luther King Jr. I also remember my mother and my grandmother, and what I’m here for. Every time I come here, it’s a remembrance of what went on 50 or 60 years ago,” he said.
The rally began with speakers and entertainment; all the while the gymnasium was continuing to fill up with people to the very top of the bleachers. Moderators and speakers kept lifting peoples’ spirits in anticipation of the celebratory march later in the afternoon.
I was seated behind Charles Mitchell and his sister during the program.
Charles said he still believes “We’re in debt to Martin Luther King Jr. It (Martin Luther King Day) is very meaningful to me.”
By this time, the intense vibration in the gym had been worked to a fever pitch and was literally palpable! Everyone was anticipating going outside and marching in memory of a man who had given his life 42 years ago.
There was a sense, sitting in the bleachers and listening to all the speakers and
trying to soak everything up, that everyone
had a little bit of the spirit of Dr. King
in him or her on this day, at this hour.
The anticipation of the march was
the icing on the cake, the very thing that
would make you feel like you really did
know what it was like to be there at one
of his marches.
I sat next to Synthia Franklin, who
said, “This is my first rally and march,
and I wanted to participate because we
now have a black President. Unification
of the community is a very important
thing. We are at a very important time
in community and life.”
Mayor Mike McGinn was the last
speaker before the march. The new mayor
made a final appeal to the crowd: “I need
your help. You need to keep making your
voices be known.”
It was a fitting way to go out onto the
streets to participate in a non-violent
march to remember one of the greatest
men in American history.
February is African American History Month
“I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but by the content
of their character.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata has served on the Seattle City Council since his election in 1998. He was recently appointed chair of the Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee. (He noted that previous reports had erroneously described it as exclusively a “housing committee.”)
The Voice asked Councilmember Licata to share some of his insights into housing in Seattle — where it is today, where it is heading, and what role the city can take in its future.
The Voice: You’ve been selected to chair a new Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee on the Seattle City Council. What is your vision for this committee?
Councilmember
Licata: My committee
will provide policy
oversight and deliberate
and make recommendations
on legislative
matters relating to
housing policies and
programs; human services,
homelessness,
child care, aging, and
disability services; local
and regional public health; and culture,
including arts activities, Seattle Community
Access Network (SCAN), and Nightlife
Advisory Board.
The Voice: What is the city’s role in
maintaining existing low-income housing in Seattle, and in creating new low-income
housing units?
Councilmember Licata: Seattle’s Office
of Housing funds affordable workforce
housing, both rental and ownership, as well
as supportive housing that helps vulnerable
people achieve stability and move along
a path toward self-sufficiency. Office of
Housing initiatives also help stimulate
housing development, allowing families to
thrive and neighborhoods to provide a full
range of housing choice and opportunity.
The mission of the Seattle Office of Housing
is to build strong healthy communities
and increase opportunities for people of all
income levels to live in our city.
The Voice: Around the country, “green”
has become the buzzword for new developments.
What can the city do to encourage
the creation of housing that is both sustainable
and affordable?
Councilmember Licata: Developers
seeking to build green buildings often come
to the city to ask for additional height over
what is permitted under the code so that with
more height their buildings can provide more
density through additional housing units or
jobs onsite. Greater density is usually considered
to be a green principle. The city has
a number of affordable housing incentive
programs that require developers receiving
this additional height to provide affordable
housing. Here are some examples:
1. The Residential Bonus Program: Extra
floor area above the base height limit may be
achieved for residential developments when
developers build affordable housing as part
of their development or, in certain zones,
make a contribution of approximately $19
per bonus square foot to the City to fund new
affordable housing. The affordable housing
is intended to primarily serve Seattle’s modest-
wage workers.
2. Commercial Bonus: This option enables
developers to achieve additional Floor
Area Ratio in exchange for housing and
childcare affordable to lower-wage workers.
The housing and/or childcare can be
provided by the developer or a contribution
of $18.75 per bonus square foot for housing
and $3.25 per bonus square foot for childcare
facilities may be made to the City for
those purposes.
3. Transferable Development Rights
(TDR): This option allows density to be
moved from one site to another. Owners
of certified TDR sites — ones with low-income
housing, major open space, landmark
buildings or major performing arts facilities — can sell excess development rights to
commercial developers and use the proceeds
for preservation of those priority uses.
The Voice: The City Council recently
approved a “living building” pilot program.
What is the purpose of this program?
Councilmember Licata: The Living
Building Pilot Program will allow for
entirely self-sustaining green buildings in
Seattle while enhancing building design, affordability,
construction type, landscaping
and environmental standards in the areas
of Seattle zoned for mid-rise or high-rise
development, including properties in the
First Hill, Queen Anne, Alki, Ballard, University
District, Northgate and Lake City
neighborhoods.
The Voice: Voters have again renewed
the Seattle housing levy. How would you
like to see levy funds allocated in the future?
Councilmember Licata: Close to 1,700
homes will be built through rental housing
production or preservation of existing buildings
with housing that will serve low- to
moderate-income individuals and families,
from seniors and disabled, to formerly
homeless individuals and families who need
supportive services. This is the largest focus
of the housing levy. Because levy-funded
housing provides affordable rents and services
for at least 50 years, these units will
serve thousands of individuals and families
over the years.
The City Council required that at least 60
percent of program funding in this category
be used for housing at or below 30 percent
of median income. 30 percent of program
funding can be used for housing serving 60
percent of median income and no more than
10 percent of program funding for housing
serving 80 percent of median income.
In the area of rent assistance, the housing
levy will help 3,025 low-income families
and individuals at risk of homelessness
who need help due to a family crisis such
as job loss, illness, divorce or a death in the
family. It is also used for “rapid rehousing”
when families or individuals already have
lost their homes.
The levy will also help 180 families purchase
homes through a program to provide
loans for low- to moderate-income first-time
homebuyers. The deferred loans are repaid
when the owner sells or refinances the home,
and funds revolve to assist more buyers.
Through financial counseling and conventional
mortgages, the program ensures
households don’t buy more than they can
afford. Even in these tough economic times,
there have been no foreclosures among
families purchasing with levy loans.
The Voice: The Seattle Senior Housing
Program was created in 1981 through
voter-approved funding and a partnership
between the Seattle Housing Authority and
the City of Seattle. In what ways can the
city partner with Seattle Housing Authority
now and in the future?
Councilmember Licata: Currently, the
City of Seattle is providing gap funding to
fully fund SHA’s plan to rehabilitate two
Seattle Senior Housing buildings, Willis
House and Reunion House. This project
will provide needed repairs to two SHA
senior housing facilities to enhance energy
efficiency of the building and extend the life
of the facility for the benefit of current and
future low-income senior residents. Additionally,
my committee will be working
in the future with SHA on issues related to
the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace. I am
committed to involving residents, housing
advocates, and other stakeholders in this
process.
By Lynn Sereda
Section 8 Tenant
With the new year, bus riders are still
trying to get used to changes in how fares
are paid, with the advent of light rail and
the new ORCA regional fare cards. Not
only that, but seniors and disabled riders
found the price of their monthly bus passes
doubling from $9 to $18 dollars.
This is the second big increase in just
one year; last January the monthly bus pass
went from $5.50 to $9. Single ride fares for
seniors/disabled also increased 25 cents.
Fares for adult off-peak trips also increased
25 cents, to $2.
“Metro officials should climb the difficult
steps of their buses and take a look
at their elderly customers; most are people
without other transportation options, and
who don’t even have an extra nine cents a
month, let alone nine dollars,” said Will
Parry, editor of The Senior Advocate, and
previous President of the Puget Sound Alliance
for Retired Americans.
When January came, many elderly and
disabled bus riders were surprised at the
increase. Some felt that it wasn’t widely
advertised or that the fare alert signs on
the buses were confusing, leading some
to believe that just the single ride fare was
going up and not the monthly pass.
“It wasn’t clear … they could have done
better outreach,” Cinda Lium of Denny
Terrace said.
Jim Bush said that the price hike was
“out of line” and noted that Robert Jones,
the Vice President of the Resident Action
Council brought it up at a RAC meeting
and contacted Metro officials to express
concern about the issue.
According to Bush, the answer given was that the increase was necessary because
of the increased costs of fuel and labor.
As reported in Real Change News, Metro
Spokesperson Linda Thielke admitted that
it is probably a shock for riders to see the
pass double in price, but was quoted as saying
that the senior/disabled bus pass was
still a “bargain” compared to what regular
adults pay.
The new bus fare is one of only many
difficult obstacles senior and disabled bus
riders, as well as low-income bus riders are
encountering as Metro is changing to the
ORCA system which began when Sound
Transit opened light rail.
Starting in July, the reduced fare monthly
strips will no longer be sold at Bartell and
QFC stores. Regular monthly passes and
Metro ticket books are no longer sold at the
chain stores, either.
All riders will have to replace their regional
discount passes with ORCA passes.
Now senior/disabled riders are enduring
lines with waits of up to an hour at Metro’s
Jackson Street office to get their new ORCA
pass.
ORCA cards may be ordered online, but
senior and disabled riders are required to
visit a Metro transit office with proof of
eligibility to obtain a card.
Lium said “the Metro office is harder”
for her to get to. While she enjoyed her
first ride on the light rail, she said she didn’t
know how to pay for the ride and said that
the ORCA pass “is not easy to use.”
Bush conceded that it is likely that
not much can be done about the price increase.
Dorene Cornwell of Center Park added
“Do I like the monthly bus fare quadrupling
in less than two years? No.”
While she found it less a problem for her
than others, she said that it was still an “issue
we need to be watching.”
She also suggested that there are a couple
of advisory boards that bus riders can look
into joining.
Metro has a transit advisory committee
and an accessible services advisory committee.
Sound Transit also has a Citizen’s
Accessibility Advisory Committee.
To find out about these advisory committees,
go to the King County government
home page (www.kingcounty.gov) and navigate
to the transportation section.
Cornwell also suggested that it would be
wise to attend various King County budget
hearings, especially when transit issues are
on the agenda. There is always the option
of going to www.metro.kingcounty.gov
and clicking on the customer service link
where you can make a complaint and ask
for a response.
Get going today to prevent serious falls tomorrow
By Pam McGaffin
Special to The Voice
Falling is a common and serious problem
among older adults, but it isn’t an
inevitable part of aging.
Simple steps taken now to improve your
health, strength and balance will help you
avoid falls now and into the future, according
to the Healthy Aging Partnership
(HAP), a coalition of 40 Puget Sound-area
organizations dedicated to the health and
well-being of older adults.
As one HAP organization put it: “The
more you do today, the more you can
continue to do tomorrow.”
You’re also less likely to become a fall
statistic. One out of the three people aged
65 and older falls each year, and approximately
one in 10 of those falls results in a
serious injury such as hip fracture.
In 2003, more than 13,700 older adults
nationally died from falls, making them
the leading cause of injury deaths among
people 65 and older.
That same year, 1.8 million seniors
were treated in emergency departments
for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more
than 460,000 were hospitalized.
Fall prevention begins with awareness.
Know the risks and how they might apply
to you, then take action to reduce or
eliminate them, HAP advises.
The most common risk factors include:
muscle weakness and poor coordination;
multiple medications; vision and
hearing problems; foot problems; certain
diseases and conditions; alcohol or drug
abuse; mental confusion; and hazards in
the home.
Ironically, a fear of falling can also increase
your risk. It’s okay to be careful, but
fear can lead to physical inactivity, which
can lead to weakness, balance problems
and other health issues.
On the flip side, sedentary older adults
can see surprising improvements in
strength, cardiovascular conditioning,
flexibility and balance when they start
and maintain a regular, moderate exercise
regimen, such as walking 30 minutes
each day.
Staying physically active also helps
keep your brain healthy, reduces depression
and builds self-confidence and a sense
of well-being.
Here are some other tips from HAP to
help you prevent falls and stay independent
as you age:
• Have your vision and hearing checked
regularly by a professional and wear
glasses and use hearing aids if needed.
• Talk to your doctor about adjusting
medications to avoid dizziness and other
side effects. Older adults who take four
or more medications or take psychoactive
drugs, such as tranquilizers and sleep aids,
are more likely to fall.
• Eat regular, nutritious meals to keep
up your strength and energy. Make sure
your diet includes plenty of colorful fruits
and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins
and low-fat dairy.
• Join a fitness class. Yoga, Pilates,
weight training, tai chi and dance all
improve balance. (Be sure to check with
your physician before beginning any fitness
program.)
• Remove hazards around the home.
Pick up clutter from floors, use non-slip
mats in the bathtub and shower, remove
or secure loose rugs, improve lighting
and install grab bars in the bathroom and
handrails next to stairways.
• Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes
that fit snugly, but aren’t too tight. Avoid
high heels, slip-ons and shoes with slick
soles.
• If you live alone, prepare for the possibility
of a serious fall. Consider getting an
electronic device or portable help button
that alerts a response center in the event
of an emergency.
• Take your time. Get up slowly after
eating or lying down, be aware of your
surroundings and use handrails.
For more information about fall prevention
and other issues related to life
as an older adult, call 1-888-4ELDERS
(1-888-435-3377). To learn more about
HAP and its partner agencies, visit the
Web site at www.4elders.org.
By Jim Bush
SHA Resident
The Washington State Legislature convened
Jan. 11 to start the process of conducting
the state’s business.
This year, the session will last 60 days
(in odd-numbered years, the Legislature’s in
session for 105 days, to allow for the adoption
of the state’s two-year budget).
The bulk of the session, it is safe to assume,
will be devoted to how to patch up a
rather large gap in the state’s budget, which
is estimated at more than $2 billion.
The Governor submitted her proposed
budget in December, in compliance with
the State Constitution’s requirements,
which stipulate that a balanced budget
must be submitted to the Legislature before
it convenes.
The budget has a number of substantial
cuts to many programs people rely on in
this state — and our governor did not want
to make those cuts, as she indicated in her
Jan. 12 “State of the State” address.
It is expected that there will be a considerable
amount of discussion about the recent
killings of law-enforcement personnel in
Washington state, and how to ensure such
things don’t happen again.
In three high-profile attacks on law enforcement
late last year, Christopher
Monfort is accused of killing Seattle Police
Officer Timothy Brenton and wounding a
second officer in an attack Oct. 31; four
Lakewood police officers were shot and
killed Nov. 29 by Maurice Clemmons, who
was later killed in a confrontation with another
officer; and two Pierce County Sheriff’s
Deputies were wounded, one fatally, in
a shootout while investigating a domestic
disturbance call in a home near Eatonville
Dec. 21. The gunman, David Crable, was
killed in the shootout; Deputy Kent Mundell
died from his wounds a week later.
You can take part in the legislative
process, either by going down to Olympia
as part of any number of groups planning
advocacy days during the session, where
people can meet with their elected representatives
and provide input on issues they
may have and what legislative priorities are
important to them, or by calling or writing
your elected representatives to provide
feedback.
Getting in contact with your elected
representatives is fairly easy. First of all,
there’s the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (TTD users: call 1-800-635-9993),
which is staffed throughout the year.
Callers can learn where a particular bill
is in the legislative process, get copies of
pending bills, provide input on a specific
bill or issue being considered by the Legislature
and provide input on the overall
functioning of our state’s government.
Another way to get in contact with your
elected legislators is directly by phone or
via e-mail. To send an e-mail, just the following
format for email addresses — [last
name].[first name]@leg.wa.gov. In other
words, to send an e-mail to House Speaker
Frank Chopp, you would address it to “chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov.”
Who is your representative?
Each legislative district (there are 49 of
them) has three delegates — one senator
and two representatives.
A full listing of who’s in the House and
Senate, which district they represent, and
their contact information, can be found
on the legislature’s Web site at www.leg.wa.gov.
You can also find your legislative district
by clicking the “Find Your District” tab
on that page, then inputting your address.
Information about your district, including
your state senator and representatives, will
pop up.
You can also get this information without
a computer by contacting the League
of Women Voters and requesting a copy
of “They Represent You.” Call 206-329-4848 or visit their office at 1620 18th Ave.
in Seattle. You can also request a copy by
e-mailing info@seattlelwv.org or visiting
www.seattlelwv.org.
By Seattle 2010 Complete Count Committee
When the 2010 Census form arrives for
your household in March 2010, you may
wonder why the U.S. Census Bureau counts
the number of people in our nation every
decade. The answers might surprise you.
First and foremost, the Constitution
of the United States mandates that every
person living in the United States and its
territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa and the American Virgin
Islands must be counted every 10 years.
This includes people of all ages, races and
ethnic groups — citizens and noncitizens.
The purpose of the census is primarily to
reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives
based on population, but census data
also are used to determine boundaries for
state and local legislative districts.
Did you know that every year, the federal
government distributes more than $400 billion
to state, local and tribal governments
based on census data? Federal funds that
are used for vital community services such
as medical and health care programs, educational
programs, school lunch programs,
senior centers, job training centers, assisted
housing, and emergency services. The locations
of highways, schools hospitals and
other public works are also determined by
census data. Having an accurate count of
everyone can result in significant improvements
in the quality of life in communities
all across the country.
The Census Bureau is also looking
for job applicants to work for the 2010
Census. Hiring will last through the end
of May 2010 for temporary assignments,
most lasting five to 10 weeks. The census
jobs, which offer competitive wages and
flexible schedules, also allow people to
work in their neighborhoods and for their
neighborhoods. Most positions require U.S.
citizenship, a driver’s license and use of a
vehicle, and each applicant will undergo a
background check
Completing the census form is easy, important
and safe, and everyone’s participation
is vital. The 2010 Census is the shortest
census in history. Only 10 questions and it
should only take 10 minutes to complete.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share
your answers with anyone, including other
federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
All Census Bureau employees take an
oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life
to protect the confidentiality of the data.
The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a
fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of
up to five years, or both.
To apply for a census job, call toll-free1-866-861-2010.
By Seattle Neighborhood Group
“I was awakened at night by loud music
from cars parked on our street,” said a
resident of a senior residence in Seattle’s
High Point neighborhood. “I called 9-1-1 to report the disturbance.
Then the same noise happened the next
night, and that really frustrated me.
“What should we do? Living next to the
park, loud late night music is a chronic
problem.”
Seattle Police Department Community
Police Team (CPT) Officers are a unique
resource that works with neighborhood
residents and businesses to solve ongoing
safety and nuisance problems.
Community Police Officers are assigned
by Seattle Police Precincts to
specific areas. It is their job to meet and
know the residents and businesses in their
area.
They know residents in troubled apartments.
They recognize by sight the “regulars”
who gather in public areas.
They understand the continuing problems
and concerns of neighbors and businesses.
They check and re-check known“hot spots,” places which are often unsafe
and dangerous. They work to prevent
crime.
In short, Community Police Officers
make a difference.
Community Police Officers are accessible by telephone and e-mail. Call your Seattle Police Precinct, found in the Local Government pages of your telephone directory, and ask for the name and contact of your assigned Community Police Officer. Or browse the City of Seattle Web site at www.seattle.gov and click on “Public Safety.”
Allan Davis (323-7094) and Kelly Mc Kinney (323-7084) are Community Educators for Seattle Neighborhood Group. Call them for crime prevention information and assistance.
By Express Credit Union
Express Advantage, the nonprofit affiliate
of Express Credit Union (ECU), is
offering a new vehicle ownership program
to assist families in acquiring affordable
transportation. The Vehicle Ownership
Program will support low-income individuals
and families who are members of
ECU and who are saving to purchase a car,
by matching their savings up to $500.
Those in the program will also participate
in a financial education class designed
specifically to prepare them to buy and
own a car. Once they have finished saving,
they will be eligible to apply for a competitive
rate loan from Express Credit Union
to buy the car that they want.
“Reliable transportation is essential to
many people in our community so that
they can get to their jobs and take their
kids to school and childcare,” said Brenda
Kurz, CEO of Express Credit Union and
Express Advantage. “The Vehicle Ownership
Program is one way that our two
organizations can work together to make
a meaningful contribution to our members
and strengthen our credit union at the
same time.”
The documentary Pursuit of the Dream:
Cars & Jobs in America, produced by the
Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2008, illustrates
the important role that affordable,
reliable transportation plays in increasing
the economic success of low-income
families.
The Foundation found that “In order
to attain self-sufficiency, stabilize their
finances, and move up the economic ladder,
low-income workers must be able
to connect to good jobs and meet family
obligations. A car is often a necessity.
However, common obstacles can make it
difficult for low-wage workers to improve
their lives through car ownership.”
Some of those obstacles include poor
credit or no credit, lack of understanding
about the unique dynamics of car buying,
and high pressure tactics employed by
dealers and lenders to entice people to buy
an unreliable vehicle or extend themselves
beyond their ability to pay.
The Seattle Times reported in November
of 2008 that uninformed buyers are
being taken advantage of in the used vehicle
market. Because many people focus
primarily on getting a monthly payment
they can afford they pay less attention to
the value of the vehicle and the other terms
of the loan — in some cases paying interest
rates as high as 39% APR!
The Express Advantage Vehicle Ownership
Program will provide a much more
affordable option for car buyers that will
help them acquire a reliable car at a total
price they can afford and with an interest
rate that is competitive in the car financing
market. During an initial pilot of the
Vehicle Ownership Program, the first 100
participants will be eligible for the match
to their down payment of up to $500
toward the purchase of vehicles priced at
$10,000 or less.
“Our goal is for our members to become
better informed about the car buying
process and the true cost of owning and
maintaining a vehicle. We want them to
be equipped with the tools that will give
them an opportunity to buy a vehicle at
a fair price and then to be successful in
owning a vehicle that they can afford and
enjoy,” said Dave Sieminski, Managing
Director of Express Advantage.
The Vehicle Ownership Program began
in January and will be offered to the first
100 applicants as part of a program pilot.
Qualified applicants must have individual
incomes of less than $28,095 per year or
family income below $60,500 per year,
and are required attend an approved financial
education course and meet other
eligibility requirements.
Interested applicants may call 206-622-1973 or e-mail expressadvantage@expresscu.org to make an appointment
to sign up for the program. Additional
information may be found at www.expresscu.org.
Garden tips for community gardeners
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
Ah, almost time to start planting. Finally,
and so many lovely seeds to try this year.
I am especially excited to plant a fava
bean crop in February. It has been so warm
this January; I am tempted to plant sooner
than the late February suggested time. But
a serious freeze is still possible.
Fava beans, also known as broad beans,
are a simple crop to grow and don’t require a
well prepared area. They tolerate heavy soils — in fact, they improve your heavy soils.
I have struggled with planting them in
late fall, though it is suggested to plant them
as a cover crop over the winter. Mine usually
froze out or were eaten by rabbits or deer or
other mammal pests. Very poor results from
the labor of planting.
Last year, we planted in late February and
got a delicious, lovely crop in June. Yum.
I was surprised at how well they did
with so little attention. Granted, they were
a large, tough plant that produced just a half
dozen pods per plant, but they were a real
delicacy for us.
Favas are not technically a bean, but a
vetch plant. The pods are very thick-walled,
and shelling them takes time. After blanching
the bean seeds, we peeled each seed
coat off in order to eat the remaining seed
part. But they were so beautiful and green
and fresh tasting, as well as meaty, and they
absorbed flavors of any soup, salad or stirfry
I prepared.
This year, I’ll plant in beds where I’ve
added a little manure or compost. The
rows should be about eight to 10 inches
apart, planting one seed every two or three
inches.
I’ll add some vetch type inoculants to
make sure the right bacteria colonize the
roots as soon as possible.
Check the local garden store for a small
package of inoculant, because it is a live
product and can’t be saved from last year’s
planting. Plants should emerge in a couple
weeks, sooner if it stays warm. Their extensive root system breaks up
soil to two feet deep, and brings up soluble
nutrients from 10 feet deep. They don’t need
trellising and the stalks are firm.
The flowers appear in May and are great
bee food. The only pests of concern are
aphids that could appear if we have a dry
spell in May and June. These I usually can
just wash off, so some overhead watering
will help them after our rainy season ends.
Favas tolerate weeds if they get a head
start, so just help them out in the early spring
with a little weed removal. They will have a
short harvest period, so you’ll probably get
them all picked in just a few weeks.
Then, you’ll have room for planting a
later lettuce crop in August. Favas should
fit nicely in the rotations of a typical food
garden.
Favas also are helpful for rejuvenating
older garden sites. If you think we will have
a milder winter next year, you could plant
favas in October to improve soil, or perhaps
for an early spring harvest.
Especially if no irrigation or manure
is used, favas can reduce the symphylan
populations. Symphylans are small soil
arthropods, shaped like minute centipedes,
that feed on soil microorganisms and sometimes
roots. Although they’re harmless in
small numbers, their populations can build
up in organic gardens where lots of compost
and manure has been added to the soil. They
can cause nonspecific root damage.
This condition can be hard to diagnose
because it stresses plants but doesn’t kill
them, reducing your yield and the growth
of the plant. Including favas and also potatoes
in your rotations can help control
these pests.
As another natural bonus, overwintered
favas produce the best crop of nectar and
pollen at around February — right when our
bees need an early nutrition boost.
Anza Muenchow is a farmer and a volunteer
with P-Patch. You can reach her by
e-mail at anzam@whidbey.net, or online at
www.mahafarm.com.
Jan. 18, 2010. It’s People’s Summit Advocacy Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, and the weather is fine!
I leave Seattle at 6 a.m. on public transit and arrive in Olympia half an hour before registration for the event starts, and stop at the bakery near the transit center for coffee, then walk to the event site.
Hundreds of people. Babies. Kids. College students. Seniors — making signs, chatting, eating bagels and muffins.
We’re going to march and rally, then we are going to visit our senators and representatives. Nancy Amidei, who directs the Civic Engagement Project at the University of Washington, gives us a quick lesson on how to influence our legislators: Tell them you live in their district — they want your vote.
Keep it simple, stay on your subject and be brief — practice a 90 second speech! And, if you are there in person, leave a note. A phone call to the hotline — 1-800-562-6000 — is good. An e-mail or letter gets more attention, and an in-person visit gets most attention.
We march from downtown to the capitol steps in the winter sunshine, four blocks of marching, chanting activists — backed by a brass band.
At the rally people speak about their concerns with the programs the state may be cutting to balance the budget. There will be less child care help. No assistance for disabled people who haven’t been approved for Social Security Disability. No medical interpretation.
SHA tenant Gina Owens talks about health insurance cuts. Lots of things will be no more. Not enough money, and a tax system where the poorest people in the state pay a much higher percentage of income on state taxes than the richest pay. Lots of challenges, but lots of energy and lots of hope.
We go off in small groups to lunch, workshops and scheduled appointments with our legislators. Lunch and afternoon workshops are five blocks away. Because of the times my district’s appointments are scheduled, I skip the workshops and eat in the Legislative Cafeteria — good soup and sandwiches, good prices.
We visit our district’s legislators and give our 90 second talks. In the office of Representative Eric Pettigrew, Gina Owens’ 10-year-old grandson Marcellus, who is attending his third People’s Summit lobby day, points to the photos of legislators on the office wall.
“My picture is going to be there,” he says. He then shakes Rep. Pettigrew’s hand. “I don’t know that well what you’re doing. But my grandma says you’re good. I support you.”
Back to Seattle on the bus, I leave Olympia at 4:30 p.m., and am home a little before 6 p.m.
Access: All buildings and offices are (sort of) accessible — access is often through back or side doors and challenging to find. Some restrooms aren’t accessible.
Finding offices and facilities in the capitol complex is very difficult — start early to your appointment, and ask people who look as if they know where they are going — perhaps they do, and they may tell you how to find your destination.
Public Transit connections: Sound Transit Buses 592 or 594 going south on Second Ave. ($3/$1.50) at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. will connect to Pierce Transit buses 601 or 603 ($2.50/$1.25) at the Tacoma Dome or Lakewood and get you to the state capitol in a little more than an hour and 40 minutes, depending on traffic. (ST buses leave for Tacoma-Lakewood every 30 minutes; however, non-commute hour service from Tacoma to Olympia is infrequent and can cause long, long waits at the Park and Ride!)
The return trip, which will be during commute hour, is not a problem — but pick up bus schedules! It is also a good idea to take the free DASH bus down from the capitol campus to the Olympia Transit Center stop to catch the bus to Tacoma — all seats are often filled by the time the bus gets to the stop by the capitol.)
For dates and contact information for some February lobby days, see the accompanying sidebar. Most ask for some money (sometimes a lot, since the lobby day may also raise money for the organizations involved) to pay for transportation, workshops and lunch.
Most will probably offer a reduced rate to a low-income participant if they are asked. The Low Income Housing Institute — www.wliha.org, 206-442-9455 — as a longer list of lobby days for just about every issue you might imagine (and maybe some you might not).
February lobby days
Feb. 12
Feb. 15
Feb. 16
Feb. 18
By Kathy Lambert and Christie True
Special to The Voice
Supermarket shelves are teeming with products that beckon shoppers with the promise of ease and convenience, including a new product that’s become wildly popular in the past few years — disposable cleaning wipes.
According to a recent report in The Seattle Times, North American consumers bought nearly 83,000 tons of disposable wipes in 2004, which is enough to fill about 9,000 semi-truck trailers. MarketResearch.com reports that 60 percent of adults have used household cleaning wipes, and sales are expected to reach the $2 billion mark by 2010.
However, convenience has its price.
While some products boast the added convenience of being flushable and safe for sewers and septic systems, the people who maintain and operate our local and regional wastewater utilities disagree.
King County’s regional sewer utility provides wastewater treatment services for 34 local sewer agencies. The local agencies collect wastewater from homes and businesses and send it to the county’s regional system for treatment.
Sewer utility crews are increasingly being called out to do battle with great balls of “flushable” cleaning wipes, pads, facial tissues, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products that have become tangled in pumping equipment.
In a worst-case scenario, jammed up pumps can lead to raw sewage overflows that threaten public health and the environment. At best, these problems are making the treatment process more expensive for ratepayers.
The materials that do make it into one of King County’s regional treatment plants have to be screened out, removed and taken to a landfill for disposal, so “flushable” wipes often end up in the garbage anyway.
However, using the sewer system to transport trash is a very expensive and inefficient way to get it there, not to mention a waste of resources such as energy and water.
In 2008, King County spent more than $100,000 to haul and dispose of sewer system trash in a landfill. This doesn’t even include the additional operation and maintenance costs of removing these materials and responding to the problems they cause.
It’s important to clarify that King County has not conducted tests on any particular brand or type of disposable or flushable product. Neither does the county discourage people from buying and using cleaning wipes.
King County does urge consumers who choose these products to dispose of them in the trash instead of flushing them down the toilet.
In fact, like most sewer utilities, King County and its customer agencies recommend flushing only bodily waste and toilet paper — that’s it. Everything else should be appropriately put in the trash, composted or recycled. Not only does this protect the local and regional sewer systems, but it can help residents avoid their own pipe clogs and expensive plumbing repairs.
So, in the quest to reduce costs and keep things tidy, please don’t flush items that may cause trouble. Please help protect public health, the environment and water quality and put used cleaning wipes, pads, swabs, and anything else besides human waste and toilet paper in the trash, not in the toilet.
These items belong in the trash can!
The label might say "flushable" but disposable wipes and other products are clogging sewer lines and damaging pumps and other equipment.
Not only are these problems expensive to fix, they can also cause raw sewage overflows into homes, businesses, and local waterways. So, think trash, not toilets!
To learn more, including how to get rid of things you no longer want or need, visit us on the Web at http://www.kingcounty.gov/wtd or call the Wastewater Treatment Division at 206-684-1280 or 711 TTY.
Use the trash can, not the toilet!
Kathy Lambert is the King County Council member for District 3 and is a member of the Regional Water Quality Committee and the King County Board of Health. Christie True is the division director of King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division.
The students in Jen Rosenbrook’s Life Skills class come to the Southwest Boys & Girls Club in White Center twice a week after school.
There they find a safe place to gather and spend time with peers, dabble in art projects, or take a field trip to go see a movie or visit the zoo. With their instructor Rosenbrook, they also tackle challenging issues for teens, such as self-esteem, assertiveness, dealing with stress, drug and alcohol use, the dangers of smoking and healthy relationships.
Today they had a guest instructor, with apricot fur, great big paws and a wet nose. Snickers, an 8-year-old English mastiff belonging to Rosenbrook, was visiting the class.
The dog has been trained as a therapy animal and previously had worked with patients who were in hospice and in long- and short-term care facilities. Today, her work is as simple as accepting treats and friendly pats from the admiring students.
Many in the class have met Snickers before. For the few who haven’t, the dog’s size — she weighs in at 140 pounds and stands about three feet tall at the shoulder — can be intimidating at first.
But when one of the students holds a treat out for Snickers, and her ears perk up in anticipation of the morsel, their reservations melt away.
Without words, the gentle giant has taught the youth about kindness, caring and compassion. Snickers loves the attention.
And the treats.
Haiti disaster relief could spawn scams
By KCHA Staff
Following the recent earthquake in Haiti, many across the country are looking to offer help.However,giversarebeingurgedtodosome research before committing to making a donation, because of the risk that scammers might try to exploit public sympathy for personal gain. Below are some things to help yourself avoid when looking to donate to the relief efforts.
E-mails — Nearly all of e-mails soliciting donations are bogus. Not only are these usually scams, the e-mail can also contain links that could infect your computer with a virus, according to the FBI. Unless you have previously made a donation to a specific charity and given your e-mail address, it is best to delete the e-mail.
Telephone solicitations — No personal or financial information should ever be given to an unsolicited caller. Legitimate charities may solicit by telephone but will always send paperwork upon request.
Web sites — Always type the Web site address of your designated charity yourself rather than relying on links provided through a keyword online search.
Mailings — The least likely to be scams, it is still important to be suspicious of mail from groups to which you have never previously donated. Do some online research on the charity from which you received the mailing before you commit to anything.
There are Web sites available to check out charities before donating. These include:
Any suspicious Web sites or e-mails should be reported to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, accessible online at www.ic3. gov/default.aspx.
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South Seattle Community College: We have a place for you!
South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 • (206) 764-5300 • www.southseattle.edu NewHolly Learning Center, 7058 32nd Ave S, 2nd Floor of NewHolly Learners Bldg., Seattle, WA 98118 • (206) 768-6642
WorkSource Provides
• Weekly Hiring Events
These services are FREE and open to the public.
Translation services are available upon request.
Visit our website: www.worksourceskc.org.
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Do you have a couch or other item you want to sell? Take advantage of the free person-to-person classified advertising in The Voice by filling out your 24-word ad below. Remember, write only one word per line and don’t forget to include your telephone number in your ad! Mail your ad before the 18th of the month and it will be included in the next month’s issue.
Name _______________________________ address _____________________________ City _______________________________ state __________________ Zip ___________ Telephone ______________________ e-mail ____________________________________
Write your ad here (one word per line)
Check the classification: ❑ items for sale ❑ autos for sale ❑ items wanted ❑ services
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TRANSLATIONS
Translated Articles from The Voice
Tirakoobka 2010 wuxuu bilaabmayaa bisha soo socota
Marka waraaqaha tiro-koobka 2010 ay yimaadaan gurigaaga waxaad is waydiin waxa ay waaxda tira-koobku tobankii sanoba mar u tirayaan dadka ku dhaqan dalkan. Qodob ka mid aha qaanuunka dawladda dhexe ayaa qaba qofkasta oo ku nool dalkan iyo meelaha kale ee hoos imaadaba in la tiriyo tobankii sano mar. Dadkaas oo ay ku jiraan da’ kasta, midab kasta iyo qowmiyad kasta-muwaadin iyo laaji intaba. U jeedada ugu wayn waa in markasta la qiimeeyo kuraasta wakiilada ka socda gobolada ee dawladda dhexe iyadoo loo eegayo tirade dadka. Sidoo kale waxay cadeyn ka bixisaa sida ay u yaalaan xudduudaha degmooyinka gobolada ee dhinaca wakiilo qaybinta.
Sidoo kale tiro-koobku wuxuu sahlaa sida ay dawladda dhexe ugu qoondayn lahayd deeqaha gobollada, magaalooyinka, deegaanada cali-baysteynka. Deeqahaani waxay wax weyn ka taraan adeegyada bulshada sida barnaamijyada caafimaadka, waxbarashada, cuntada dugsiyada, xarumaha waayeelka , goobaha tababarka shaqooyinka, guryeynta, iyo emergjensiga.
Buuxinta foomka tira-koobku waa mid sahlan xafidan muhiimna ah, ka qayb-qaadashada qofkastana waa muhiim.
Tirakoobka 2010 wuxuu ka kooban yahay 10 su’aalood oo qaadanaya 10 daqiiqo. Sharciyan, waaxda tirakoobku lama wadaagi karto qofna macluumaadka iyo jawaabaha muwaadiniitu bixisay, xataa lama ogola maan banana inay waaxyaha kale ee dawladda ay kala hadlaan tirakoobka macluumaadkiisa. Dhamaan shaqaalaha waaxda tiro-koobku waxay qaaday ballan, lana dhaariyey inay xafidaan macluumaadka tiro-koobka oo aysan cidna la wadaagin. Ciddii jabisa ama lagu helo inay macluumaad bixisay waxay muteysanayaan ganaax dhan $250,000 ama shan sano oo xarag ah ama labadaba.
Wixii war bxin intaa dheer, fadlan la booqo www.2010census.gov.