THE VOICE - November 2009
The Newspaper of Neighborhood House
Over 200 concerned transit riders, advocates, labor leaders and social service providers attended a King County Council Town Hall meeting, convened by Councilman Larry Gossett to discuss recent Metro bus changes in Southeast Seattle that coincided with the opening of Sound Transit’s light rail service.
The agenda also included a briefing on the current financial crisis in King County, and what the budget shortfall could mean for Metro service in 2010.
Most audience concerns were centered on the changes in bus service that started on Sept. 19. These changes include the rerouting of some bus lines, elimination of other bus lines, elimination of several bus stops and decreased service hours on other bus lines.
After a presentation by representatives of Sound Transit and King County Metro, public testimony took place, with 70 people signing up to speak.
Nearly all who spoke were bus riders in Southeast Seattle neighborhoods, including Rainier Beach, Beacon Hill and North Rainier Valley. The speakers represented the diversity of the area and included African Americans, Asian Americans, low-wage workers and a sizable proportion of elderly and disabled.
Most speakers said that the bus is their only method of transportation, a lifeline they use to go to work, school, medical appointments and social service agencies. Several noted they could not afford cars, so when they lose access to the bus, their lives are severely impacted.
Changes came with addition of light rail
When light rail opened, Metro changed many bus lines, most notably the #42 and #48, which operate on Martin Luther King Way South.
The #42 bus was initially going to be eliminated, but an organizing campaign that included the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), LELO and the Filipino Community Center rallied sizable crowds at earlier meetings to counter Metro claims that the light rail could replace the #42.
Social service providers noted that many of their agency’s clients are elderly and cannot walk the longer distance between ACRS and the light rail stations, which are spaced farther apart than bus stops.
Metro eventually decided to keep the #42; however, it now only operates hourly and ends at Columbia City instead of continuing to Rainier Beach. The #48 also was
shortened in this manner.
A large number of residents from Rainier
Beach, including members of the Rainier
Beach Empowerment Coalition note that
they depend heavily on the #42, #48 and
#7 buses.
Since the #48 and #42 no longer go to
Rainier Beach, there is now overcrowding
on the #7. Additionally, several bus stops
were eliminated in the area, so it takes
longer to get to the bus.
African-American residents reiterated
their history of frustration with Sound Transit,
dating back to the construction of light
rail. Several mentioned the lack of jobs and
contracts for minorities in the construction
that took place.
Others note that the light rail fare is more
expensive, and that Metro transfers don’t
work on Sound Transit’s systems unless
one pays an additional 25 cents.
Linda Averill, a bus driver, spoke on how
25 cents means a lot to the poor. She and
other bus drivers representing their labor
organizations expressed their support of
the riders.
Many who use the bus to get to work or
school spoke about how they now have to
transfer between different buses, meaning
they stand a greater chance of being late to
work and losing their job.
Elimination of the bus stops also concerned
many women who get home from
work or community college in the evening
and have to walk alone a longer distance,
creating a potential safety problem.
The recurrent theme seemed to be that
the light rail does not serve the needs of
southeast Seattle residents for basic transportation
to their workplaces.
Maureen Bo, President of the Puget
Sound Alliance of Retired Americans, testified
that the elimination of bus service and
stops would greatly harm the many seniors
who are transit-dependent.
Several SHA residents attended the
hearing. Jim Bush, a Center Park resident,
brought up many issues relating to new
difficulties for the disabled in using the
system, such as having to transfer more
often and finding more overcrowding on
the #7, already one of the most heavily used
buses on Metro.
“The #48 and #42 buses served residents
of at least five SHA communities (Barton
Place, Holly Court, NewHolly, Rainier
Vista and Center Park). … The new #8
route, which is supposed to replace the old
service, does not provide the same level of
service,” Bush said.
Others seemed to agree, noting that the
new bus did not come as often and was not
arriving on time.
Lynn Domingo, a community organizer
with LELO and coordinator of LELO’s
Save Our Buses campaign, closed the public
testimony with a presentation on the
results of a community surveying project
about transportation that LELO undertook
in southeast Seattle.
Two thousand residents and business
owners were contacted through outreach to
more than 30 community-based organizations
such as schools, churches and social
service agencies. The survey was printed
in six languages.
She said the survey results indicated
that bus transportation in Southeast Seattle
is essential to the residents and is a basic
necessity to the poor, disabled, elderly and
students.
She said the results also concluded that
southeast Seattle residents felt that light rail
didn’t stop enough to replace the buses and
that the fares are too expensive.
LELO also distributed cards indicating
opposition to the elimination of bus stops
and opposing the reduction of service on
buses #42 and #48. According to LELO,
about 1,300 of these cards were signed and
returned.
Domingo presented the cards to Councilman
Gossett, while others in the audience
raised banners and placards that read “Save
our Buses.” A Rainier Beach resident also
invited the county politicians to visit South
Seattle and ride the buses with the residents,
so they can see for themselves the challenges
low-income people are facing.
The crowd erupted in applause at that
comment. At nearly 10 p.m. the meeting
closed.
What’s in the future
Most agree that this is not the end of the
transportation crisis in Seattle and King
County. Bus riders, drivers and politicians
all noted that unless there is more sustainable
funding in the future, more bus service
cuts may be unavoidable.
For now, Metro will be cutting back in
other areas, by eliminating some administrative
jobs, deferring maintenance and
cleaning of the buses, and not purchasing
new buses. Bus fares will also increase
next year.
Dorene Cornwell of Center Park notes
that now is the time for “everyone to lobby
the state Legislature to give us more options
to finance public transportation. … Washington
really needs broader tax reform, but
the single best thing to do right now is to
let elected representatives know that more
options for financing transit are needed.”
Lynn Sereda is a Section 8 voucher
holder who is a frequent rider on all the
bus-lines serving Southeast Seattle.
Proposed 2010 King County budget includes deep cuts to health and human services
Budget addresses $56.4 million shortfall
By Voice Staff
King County Executive Kurt Triplett’s
proposed 2010 budget paints a bleak picture
for county services in the next year and
beyond.
Triplett has proposed deep cuts to human
services to shore up a projected $56.4 million
shortfall in the county’s $621 million 2010
General Fund. That includes eliminating all
General Fund support for human services,
though some of those funds will be replaced
through other means, according to Triplett.
The projected shortfall comes on top of
$93 million in cuts made in 2009.
“There is no right or painless way to make
cuts of the magnitude we have these last two years,” Triplett said in a press release. “My budget
places the highest budget priority on criminal justice
and Public Health to ensure the safety and well-being
of our residents.”
But the worst could be yet to come, with a $54.2
million deficit projected for 2011, and a gap of $88.2
million in 2012.
According to Triplett, a recession-related drop in
tax revenue and constraints at the state level on how
counties raise revenue contributed to the shortfall.
The budget cuts mean 367 county jobs will be
eliminated across all departments. Of those, 191 are
vacant positions.
The budget prioritized shielding criminal justice
and public health services from cuts. The criminal
justice budget will see a one percent reduction from
the 2009 budget.
By cutting human services out of the General Fund
budget, King County was able to save $11.4 million.
However, $4.9 million will be allocated to save many
mental health and substance abuse programs by drawing
funds from the county’s Mental Illness and Drug
Dependency tax. An additional $2.8 million will go to
human services from non-General Fund sources.
Public Health will be cut by $3.5 million to whittle
its 2010 budget figure down to $26.5 million.
Cuts to the offices of the Executive, budget, strategic
planning and information services will total 12
percent, a savings of $2.6 million. Internal services
such as human resources, finances, facilities and
payroll were also slashed, resulting in $19 million in
savings.
The budget does leave the county’s $30.9 million
emergency reserve and its $15 million Rainy Day
Fund unscathed.
The King County Council is expected to review
the budget proposal and present a final budget later
this month.
Saluting you on Veterans Day, Nov. 11
The Voice wishes to honor the men and women who have served our country.
Election Day is Nov. 3
King County voters are encouraged to cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 general election.
King County residents continue to
enjoy generally improved health in many
areas with long life expectancies and low
mortality from injuries and some chronic
diseases. However, some trends are worsening
or not improving, and health gains
are not being experienced equally by all
communities.
These and other health trends can be
found in the completely-updated Community
Health Indicators, a project that
provides comprehensive data and health
trends in accessible formats to members
of the community, organizations and
researchers. Visit: www.kingcounty.gov/health/indicators for more information.
“A key strategy in creating healthier
communities is to identify and measure
areas of work and for improvement,” said
Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health
Officer for Public Health Seattle & King
County. “The Community Health Indicators
provide us and our residents with
user-friendly information that can lead
to actions.”
Community Health Indicators provides
information on a range of health indicators
including life expectancy, causes of death,
maternal and child health, chronic diseases,
communicable diseases, access to care,
and risk factors such as obesity, physical
activity and smoking. Data, graphs and
maps show how these indicators vary by
age, race/ethnicity, poverty, gender and
geography in the county.
King County residents are doing relatively
well compared to U.S. statistics
and similar counties nationwide, but the
county is not meeting many of the national
Healthy People 2010 goals.
Community Health Indicators reports:
• In 2007, King County residents overall
had a life expectancy at birth of 81.5 years,
but African Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives on average had lower
life expectancies.
• Cancer and heart disease are the
leading causes of death in King County.
Unintentional injuries are the leading
cause of death for residents between the
ages of 1 and 44.
• Health gains are not being experienced
equally. Large racial, income and
geographic inequities continue.
Health improvements:
• Injuries: Deaths from homicide, suicide,
and motor vehicle accidents continue
to decline.
• Chronic diseases: Deaths from breast
cancer, colorectal cancer, heart disease
and stroke continue to decline.
• Smoking continues to decline among
King County adults.
Health concerns:
• 12.5 percent, or about 153,000 King
County adults age 18-64, reported no
health insurance coverage in 2008.
• The adolescent birth rate is no longer
continuing a decade-long decline and is
rising in portions of the county.
• Increasing percentages of mothers/
infants received either no prenatal care
during pregnancy or began prenatal care
late, in the third trimester. Late or no
prenatal care can lead to worse pregnancy
outcomes.
• Both obesity and deaths related to
diabetes continue to increase.
• Almost 70 percent of King County
residents met physical activity recommendations
in 2007, and 85 percent reported
at least some physical activity in the last
month. However, 20-30 percent of the
people of color, low income individuals
and south county residents did not participate
in any physical activity.
"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love." -- Martin Luther King Jr.
For those whose view of the holiday seasons
can be summed up in the phrase, “Oh
dear, not again,” there’s an easy way to help
get through all the fuss: Volunteer your time
and skills for a
project or cause
you believe in.
United Way
of King County
is just one clearinghouse for volunteer activities.
800 agencies list
their needs on the United Way Web site. To
find out what skills are needed and where and
when, call United Way’s Volunteer Center at
206-461-6906, Monday through Friday from
8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or e-mail volunteers@uwkc.org.
You may also visit its office at 720 Second
Avenue, during the same office hours.
Even better, if you have access to the
Internet, you can visit United Way’s Web
site, www.unitedwayofkingcounty.org, to
find out how United Way can:
• Connect you to nearly 800 qualified
agencies that are looking for volunteers.
Search by keyword, ZIP code or your specific
skills and interests to find the right
opportunity. You can also create a olunteer
profile that lets you save your search results
for future use.
• Provide training opportunities to enhance
the knowledge of current and potential
nonprofit board members and staff.
• Help youth and their parents by encouraging
adults to volunteer as mentors and
tutors and matching volunteers and young
people.
The Volunteer Center also connects visitors
to Project LEAD, a leadership program
for people of color that provides skills for
effective membership on nonprofit boards
and connects graduates with local community
organizations. For more information,
contact The Volunteer Center.
There are many categories available
to volunteers are many. They include Accounting & Financing, Advocacy, Animal
Services, Arts & Culture, Caregiving,
Child Care, Companionship, Construction
& Maintenance, Counseling, Dancing &
Drama, English Language Instruction, Errand
Running & Shopping, First Aid & CPR,
Food Preparation & Delivery, General Office & Administration, Graphic Design, Health
Care, Environmental Restoration, Language
Translation & Interpretation, Meal Preparation & Servicing, Mentoring, Photography,
Reading, Recreational Activities & Sports,
Transportation and Tutoring.
Another useful resource is provided by
the City of Seattle. The City has a Web site
of its own — www.seattle.gov/html/citizen/volunteer.htm — that provides contacts and
information about volunteer opportunities of
all kinds, from “Adopt-A-Drain” (a partnership
between the City of Seattle and citizens
to care for storm drains) and the Seattle
Aquarium, Creek Restoration & Stewardship,
Graffiti Cleanup, the Municipal Court,
the Seattle Public Library and Seniors and
Others in Service to Seattle to Youth Tutoring,
among many others.
Some volunteers work outdoors, some
inside. Some work from home or at locations
in their neighborhoods. Most speak English
but some do not. To spend time on these sites
is to realize that there are opportunities for
every one of us, regardless of our skills or
background, to help make the world a better
place for our neighbors, our children and
ourselves.
Volunteering can also be a good way
to get through the holidays with reduced
stress: By focusing on what we can do for
others, for our environment and for young
people, we can substitute pride and pleasure
in having made real contributions for the
season’s increasingly harsh focus on getting
and spending.
By Department of Labor and Industries
Washington’s minimum wage will
not increase in 2010 and will remain at
$8.55 an hour because the Consumer
Price Index for the past 12 months did
not increase.
The Department of Labor & Industries
(L&I) recalculates the state’s minimum
wage each year in September as required
by Initiative 688, which was approved by
Washington voters in 1998.
The law requires that the state minimum
wage be increased for inflation
each year according to the change in the
federal Consumer Price Index for Urban
Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(CPI-W) during the 12 months ending
each Aug. 31.
The CPI-W is a national index covering
the cost of goods and services needed
for day-to-day living. It decreased 1.9
percent during the 12-month period ending
in August, compared to a 5.9 percent
increase during the same period in 2008.
That 2008 increase led to a 48-cents-an-hour
boost in the 2009 minimum wage.
This is the first time since I-688 passed
that there will be no increase in the state’s
minimum wage.
Washington’s minimum wage applies
to workers in both agricultural and
non-agricultural jobs, although 14- and
15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of
the adult minimum wage, or $7.27.
Washington is one of ten states, with
Oregon, Vermont, Ohio, Nevada, Montana,
Missouri, Florida, Colorado and
Arizona, that adjusts the minimum wage
based on inflation.
More information on Washington’s
minimum wage is available at Wages.Lni.wa.gov, or by calling 360-902-5316
or 1-866-219-7321.
By King County Civil Rights Commission
The King County Civil Rights Commission
is sponsoring its 11th Annual Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Essay
Contest open to all eighth grade students
attending public and private schools in King
County. The purpose of the essay contest is
to encourage middle and junior high school
students to think critically about Dr. King’s
legacy of peace and justice.
The essay theme is: “The Dream Marches
On!”
Rules
1. The essay must be between 750 and
1,000 words and must be typed and doubled
spaced on white 8.5” by 11” paper.
2. Contestants must submit one typed
original and one typed copy of the essay,
by mail.
3. The name, address, home phone number, e-mail address, school, grade and age of student author must be submitted on a cover page, accompanying the essay. Do not place your name on any other page.
4. All essays must be in English and include a bibliography, utilizing at least one book source, but no more than one Web site source.
5. All essays will be judged on the author’s: knowledge of Dr. King and his work in the Civil Rights Movement, originality of ideas, development of point of view, insight into the essay theme, clarity of expression, organization, and grammar.
6. All essays submitted become the property of the Commission and may be displayed on County web pages, in County publications, in local publications, and in the King County Tunnel. Submitted essays will not be returned.
Prizes
First Prize: $100, Second Prize: $75, Third Prize: $50.
Deadline
All essays must be postmarked by Friday, Nov. 27 and mailed to: King County Civil Rights Commission, 400 Yesler Way, Room 260, Seattle, WA 98104. Essays postmarked after that date will not considered, nor returned.
Notification of winners
Winners will be notified by mail. Awards will be presented to the winners at the 23rd Annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Jan. 14, 2010, held in downtown Seattle.
By Tyler Roush
The Voice Editor
True to its namesake, The Voice newspaper
will continue to feature articles
written by residents.
In a little more than two years as editor,
I have overseen a steady increase in
contributions to The Voice by resident reporters.
These contributions often present
The Voice at its very best — representing
the issues that matter to the community,
as reported by community members.
Last month, The Voice featured seven
articles written by six different residents.
In this issue, five residents have contributed
an article or photo.
To help foster greater resident involvement,
The Voice will soon be organizing a
writing workshop for current and aspiring
Voice reporters.
Details for the workshop are still being
settled, and no schedule has been set; content
will include journalism and writing
basics. All attendees will be expected to
apply what they’ve learned to produce at
least one article for The Voice.
If you would like more information,
please contact me at 206-461-8430, Ext.
227, or tylerr@nhwa.org.
The workshops are just one way that
The Voice engages its audience.
At meetings of the Voice Resident
Advisory Committee (VRAC), residents,
SHA community building staff and I
gather to discuss the storyboard for the
upcoming issue of The Voice.
The storyboard is a draft outline of the
articles that will appear in The Voice. Attending
a VRAC meeting is a great way
to get involved in The Voice and learn
more about reporting opportunities with
the paper.
The VRAC meets at 2 p.m. on the first
Wednesday of each month at the Epstein
building, 905 Spruce St., in Yesler Terrace.
To learn more about the VRAC,
e-mail tylerr@nhwa.org or call 206-461-
8430, ext. 227.
I also regularly attend meetings of the
Resident Action Council (RAC), both to
stay caught up on RAC business and to
promote writing opportunities with The
Voice. To stay caught up on RAC business,
SHA residents may consult our
regular RAC article, which runs monthly
in the SHA News section.
Lastly, The Voice welcomes resident
feedback. Anyone who is interested in
writing a letter to the editor is encouraged
to e-mail their letter to tylerr@nhwa.org
or mail to Neighborhood House, Attn:
Tyler Roush, 905 Spruce St., #200, Seattle,
WA 98126.
Please limit letters to 300 words or
less. Letters will be edited for length but
NOT for grammar or spelling, so please
proofread letters carefully.
By Seattle Neighborhood Group
Most people have the talent and personal
assets to create a better place to live, a
place that is safe, healthy and fulfilling.
In other words, most folks have the
capacity to be a “Community Builder.”
Here are a few simple community
building ideas and examples from Seattle
Housing Authority properties.
Greet your neighbor. Know their
name.
A good example is the resident member
of an SHA highrise safety committee who
greeted residents in his building lobby for
an hour a day. After awhile, the safety
committee member knew many of the
residents of his building. He became the “eyes and ears” of the lobby. He could
assist residents with information and also
report problems and unsafe situations.
Pick up litter.
In neighborhoods and residential buildings
that look like they are maintained and
cared for, folks often pick up litter and
keep public areas clean. They organize
Spring Clean. They report graffiti, missing
signs, lights that are burned out and
areas of the building that are unsafe.
Imperial House management in the
International District took another step
and asked for a free safety audit called
Crime Prevention Through Environmental
Design (CPTED), provided by Seattle
Neighborhood Group.
Share your skills.
One building resident maintains the
community calendar, keeping neighbors
informed of activities and services. Others
volunteer to staff the computer learning
center, giving residents access to free
computers and e-mail during the day.
Another distributes free pet food to
eligible pet owners. Still another organizes
a Welcome Basket for new residents, providing
a few basic living supplies as well
as bus schedules, safety and emergency
information.
Some of the most popular activities
contributed by residents are game, movie
and bingo nights. And, of course, an invaluable
skill and key to any community
activity is the art of food preparation.
Be a buddy.
Seniors often exchange help with their
neighbors— checking in, walking pets,
sharing trips to the grocery, simply being
there for a neighbor when support is
needed. The buddy system works two
ways: Ask for help when you need it, give
support when asked.
Participate in the community.
Getting involved works on many levels.
Residents of Elizabeth House in High
Point raise flowers and vegetables and
share a common activity with residents
who speak different languages.
Telling life stories to other residents,
and especially youth, during a community
gathering enriches life experience.
Supporting organized resident councils
gives voice to resident views and calls
for action.
Recognize folks who make a
difference.
Honor people who make a difference in
your life and in the life of the community.
It may be an informal thank you or an
organized event. One version practiced
in some residential buildings is to host
an “Apple Award,” a time for residents to
thank residents and share a meal.
Allan Davis (323-7094) and Kelly McKinney
(323-7084) are Community Educators
for Seattle Neighborhood Group.
One to grow on
Garden tips for community gardeners
Composting during damp fall can benefit your garden in the spring
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
I love hiking during this time of year.
So much is happening in the forest under
growth and in the soil.
All the new moisture, especially after
such a dry summer, brings volumes of new
life to farms and forests. Soil microbes and
worms are actively feeding, digesting and
excreting nutrients into your soil. This fertility
buildup helps gardeners and farmers
as they plant their crops next spring.
You can also increase fertility by covering
your soil with green manures or rotting
leaves. Don’t allow the rains to beat on your
bare soil this winter, compacting and washing
away nutrients.
In our area, we can plant green manures
like clover, rye or vetch in September or
early October.
However in November, I recommend
piling on straw or fallen leaves and perhaps
covering them with burlap sacks. As the
leaves and straw decompose, they will attract
tons of worms.
The burlap sacks will keep the leaves
from blowing away but will allow the rain to
filter down through the leaves and encourage
their decomposition.
In the spring, the burlap can be removed
and reused or composted if they are too old
to hold their shape. Burlap bags can be obtained
usually for free from coffee roasters
in the community.
November is a great time to finish planting
all your bulbs. Get all your garlic cloves
planted this month. Be sure to plant them
in a bed where there have been no Allium
family plants in the last three years.
To grow the largest bulbs, select the biggest
cloves to plant and just use the smaller
cloves in your cooking this winter. Garlic
plants would also appreciate a nice straw
cover. It protects the soil and delays the
need for weeding.
Consider planting some of the early
spring flowers (daffodils, tulips, hyacinth
or narcissus) for their spring beauty and for
an early source of bee food.
Speaking of bee food, this month would
be a good time to plant another early flowering
fruit tree. The temperature is hopefully
still warm enough that the trees will not be
stressed, and there is so much moisture and
humidity that the tree roots will recover
quickly.
A crab apple would be a good choice,
but there are some wonderful plum trees
that bloom early too. The European types
do well here and are sometimes listed as
Italian prune trees.
Though the days are short and the weather
is cloudy, stay outside long enough to
visit all areas of the garden regularly. Make
lists and maps for your spring plantings.
On mild days, tackle some of your worst
weeds, especially biennial and perennial
weeds that wish to become established in
your vegetable beds and paths. Clean and
re-establish your paths for easy access to
all your beds.
We like to use cardboard and woodchips
because they are such a pleasant surface
to walk and kneel on as the weather gets
wetter. Tree pruning companies will often
deliver truck loads of wood chips for a small
fee or even free.
With the days so short and temperatures
so cool, plants are growing very slowly. But
it is not unusual to have some hardy arugula
somewhere in the garden.
I recommend this favorite soup in November
and maybe throughout the winter
months. Cube several potatoes and boil
them in stock or water until they are soft.
Add lots of chopped arugula and/or mustard
greens and cook for three to five minutes.
Then add cubes of dry or stale bread,
drizzle with a fragrant olive oil and serve.
The bread gets quite soft and mushy in this
delicious and hardy soup. It’s a real comfort
food in our house.
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.
Local housing authorities receive ARRA stimulus grants
By Voice Staff
Both Seattle and King County housing
authorities stand to benefit from competitive
stimulus grants awarded through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA).
KCHA was awarded $16 million in
grants, which will be applied to 23 different
housing communities in King County.
Grant funds will be used in part to upgrade
at least 59 units in 17 properties to be fully accessible for disabled residents.
Additional funds will be applied to energy-saving
upgrades at four properties. Finally,
grant funds will help create 20 additional
low-income units at Greenbridge.
Grant funds are in addition to the $7.4
million the Housing Authority received
earlier this year.
The Seattle Housing Authority received
three ARRA competitive grants totaling
$28 million.
The money will be applied to new construction
at Rainier Vista and Lake City,
and to renovations at Denny Terrace.
Altogether, the investments will help
create 118 new low-income housing units
in the third phase of construction at Rainier
Vista, 86 new apartments at the Lake City
Village HOPE VI redevelopment, and provide
necessary energy- and water-saving
upgrades at Denny Terrace.
Grant funds are in addition to the $17
million SHA received in February.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
Voters in Seattle this year will be asked to elect a new mayor, while voters in King County will choose a new county executive.
Below, The Voice profiles the candidates for Seattle mayor and for King County Executive. Candidates in each race are listed in alphabetical order.
In addition to those two high-profile campaigns, voters will also weigh in on a number of county and city positions and two state measures. Consult the voter’s guide or go to www.kingcounty.gov/elections for more information.
Seattle Mayor
Candidates Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn are running for Seattle mayor, currently held by incumbent Greg Nickels.
Joe Mallahan
In his Voter’s Guide statement, Mallahan lists his priorities as transportation, seniors, public safety, growing Seattle’s economy and moving Seattle forward with infrastructure investments.
Mallahan supports the tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
He proposes support services to improve public safety, including public health interventions with at-risk new moms, school readiness and after-school programs for children, and job training, substance abuse counseling and housing placement for adults who are at risk of committing violent crimes, according to his campaign Web site.
He also proposes short-term actions to addressing violent crime by targeting high-crime areas with increased police presence.
He also wants to increase support for Seattle senior centers, improve city recreation opportunities for seniors and expand the city’s Age 55+ Employment Resource Center.
On housing, Mallahan lists choice, affordability and sustainability as the three elements necessary to achieve his vision.
He proposes zoning changes to promote moderate-density housing; oversight of levy programs to maximize unit production and cost effectiveness; targeted investments in infrastructure in under-built areas to encourage new construction; reduced SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) requirements in areas with plans for transportation and other infrastructure; and creating retrofit programs to reduce energy and water use and a focus on parks and on pedestrian safety and circulation.
On homelessness, Mallahan said he supports programs that create housing, reduce involvement in the criminal justice system, provide job training and opportunity and reduce emergency room visits. He supports mental health court, homeless court and drug court as an alternative to criminal court and supports the renewal of the housing levy.
Mallahan works as an executive for wireless company T-Mobile. He has not previously held an elected office. (Information for this profile was taken from the online version of the Seattle Voter’s Guide and Mallahan’s campaign Web site, www.joemallahan.com.)
Mike McGinn
McGinn’s priorities include transportation, education, jobs and the economy, according to his statement in the Voter’s Guide.
McGinn had said he would oppose the tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, but recently said he would not obstruct the project after the Seattle City Council recently voted to authorize the city to commit to the project.
He proposes new mass transit on dedicated rights of way to connect Seattle neighborhoods to light rail and changes to existing bus routes to improve efficiency.
To support Seattle schools, McGinn has pledged he will put all available resources into helping them succeed. If improvement isn’t shown in two years, he will move to have the city take control of the school system, according to his Web site. He said that will establish accountability for the success or failure of the system.
McGinn proposes that Seattle invest in the green economy to promote job growth in the city, including green job training partnerships and creating incentives for businesses.
On housing, McGinn supports an approach to afford-ability that considers the link between housing and transit costs. He said that public subsidies as well as incentives in the market to create below-market and market-rate units are necessary to increase the overall housing supply.
McGinn supports flexible zoning that allows multifamily housing in neighborhoods, particularly along transit corridors. He supports reducing building costs, including state sales tax exemptions for multifamily developments constructed by nonprofit builders, and advocates for the use of surplus public property for affordable housing.
On homelessness, McGinn supports increasing transitional and emergency shelter funding, expanding funding for daytime hygiene centers and community centers, building a multi-service center and expanding public health and nutrition services. He supports the renewal of the housing levy.
McGinn is an attorney and a volunteer with The Sierra Club. He has not previously held an elected office. (Information for this profile was taken from the online version of the Seattle Voter’s Guide and McGinn’s campaign Web site, mcginnformayor.com.)
King County Executive
Candidates Dow Constantine and Susan Hutchison are running for the position of King County Executive, currently held by Kurt Triplett. Triplett was appointed to the position after it was vacated earlier this year when then-Executive Ron Sims accepted a position with HUD.
Dow Constantine
Priorities listed in the King County Voter’s Guide include the county budget, jobs, transportation and protecting the environment.
He has called for the creation of a Recovery Act Coordinator to explore funding opportunities through federal stimulus funds, which he said could create about 23,000 jobs in King County, according to his campaign Web site.
He has helped oversee the light-rail project as a member of the Sound Transit board. He said the project will create an estimated 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He is also an advocate for community revitalization projects and for the expansion of home business opportunities in rural areas.
In addition to his work on light-rail, Constantine supports the tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. He also advocated for the inclusion of several King County projects in the 2007 Roads and Transit ballot issue, and supported the Transit Now proposal to expand bus service.
On the environment, Constantine helped implement the Critical Areas Ordinance, which applies protections to environmentally sensitive areas such as streams and wetlands.
His budget plan includes $75 million in cuts, with reductions to executive and council staff, streamlining or eliminating some county services while preserving human services, parks and public safety. In 2007, he proposed and passed legislation creating a system of performance audits for major capital projects.
Constantine is currently the chair of the King County Council. Previous elected offices held include terms as a state senator and state representative. He has also worked as an attorney. (Information for this profile was taken from the online version of the King County Voter's Guide and Constantine's campaign Web site, www.dowconstantine.com.)
Susan Hutchison
Priorities listed in the King County Voter’s Guide include the county budget, jobs, easing congestion and protecting the environment.
She proposes creating incentives for small businesses to create new jobs, while encouraging new businesses to locate to King County and keep existing businesses from leaving.
To ease congestion, Hutchison proposes creating a position to coordinate transportation policy in King County.
On the environment, she will work with environmental, labor and business groups to find solutions that benefit the community, according to her statement in the voter’s guide.
On the budget, Hutchison proposes reductions to the budgets of the county executive, the budgets of each county councilmember and the council administration budget. She also proposes a review of printing and mailing expenses across all King County offices.
She also proposes promoting annexation of existing unincorporated urban areas, and working with the legislature to promote tax incentives for cities that annex unincorporated areas.
She proposes sending a Human Services Levy to voters as a way to secure funding for human services. She also proposes exploring public-private partnerships with user groups such as swim teams, school districts, recreational sports leagues, local municipalities and regional leaders to keep parks open.
Hutchison is currently the Executive Director of the Charles Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Science. She previously worked as a television news anchor in Seattle. She has not previously held an elected office.
(Information for this profile was taken from the online version of the King County Voter’s Guide and Hutchison’s campaign Web site, susanhutchison.com.)
Remember to vote by mail
The Nov. 3 general election will be held entirely by mail. Registered voters should have already received their ballots in the mail.
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3.
For an alternative to voting by mail, the county has set up ballot drop boxes. For a no-cost way to vote, deliver your completed ballot to a drop box before 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
Drop boxes are located at the following county locations:
• Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S.
• Library Connection at Crossroads (Bellevue), 15600 NE 8th St., outside of Suite K-11
• Black Diamond Library, 24707 Roberts Dr.
• Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E.
• Des Moines Library, 21620 11th Avenue S.
• Earlington Business Center (Renton), 919 S.W. Grady Way
• Fall City Library, 33415 S.E. 42nd Pl.
• Federal Way Library, 848 S. 320th St.
• Kent Regional Library, 212 Second Ave. N.
• Lake Forest Park Library, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., near the lower level mall entrance
• King County Administration Building (Seattle), 500 Fourth Ave.
Drop boxes are also available at the following Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers:
SHA residents offer different takes on American holiday
Imagine: The fourth Thursday of November rolls around and you are without the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and, most assuredly, the football game between the Cowboys and whomever they are playing that year.
For some of us, it is pretty hard to imagine Thanksgiving Day without those things, isn’t it?
Well let me set up this dynamic for you — I got to talk with two fascinating people this week who did not grow up around those traditions, and shared some of their own with me. Sister Fatima, who comes from Egypt, has been in Seattle for almost four years and Beyene Ayenew, from Ethiopia, has been here for about five years.
Sister Fatima shared this with me about traditions around her religion and the holidays that Muslims celebrate.
“The Islamic religion celebrates two holidays: Eid ul-Fitr, following the fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, commemorating God’s ransom of Ibraheim’s son from sacrifice. Thanks to God is done daily in prayers, actions and remembrance. The holiday of Thanksgiving is not a part of the Islamic faith but some Muslims participate in the activities because they see it as another way to thank God,” Fatima said.
In talking with Sister Fatima I find this concept fascinating; to give thanks everyday instead of setting it aside for one day. It is an essential part of my personal health and well being every day!
I also sat down with my friend Beyene, and he told me he had no knowledge of Thanksgiving Day until he came to the United States five years ago. He said in his culture everyday at least one meal they ate as a whole family together, and on Thanksgiving, everyone eating together reminds him of his culture.
And so it goes. We may not all come from the same culture, but there are things that we all practice that we all hold close to our hearts. These special times with family and friends when we can truly focus on each other are of utmost importance. Hopefully our hearts and our tables are getting bigger and bigger for more family and friends each and every year.
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• Continuing Education (206) 764-5339
• Online/Distance Learning (206) 764-7930
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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
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Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Neighborhood House High Point Center on Saturday, Nov. 14!
Come out for music, refreshments, speakers and community entertainment from 1p.m. to 4 p.m.Tours of the center start at 1 p.m. Program and official opening start at 2 p.m.
For any questions about the Grand Opening, please contact Peter Wolf at (206) 461-8430 x224 or peterw@nhwa.org.
To place your ad in The Voice contact classmgr@nwlink.com today!
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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
U diyaar garo xaalad deg-deg ah (an emergency )
Qoys kastaa waa inuu isku duwdaa qalab ay isticmaalaan xiliga xaalad deg-deg ahi timaaddo, waayo goor kasta ayey iman kartaa bilaa digniin.
Ugu yaraan waa inaad haysataa waxyaabo aasaasi ah kuna jira shay aad si sahlan u qaadan karto. Kuna isticmaali karto guriga amaba qaadan karto lacalla aad ka baxdo guriga. Isku day inaad mid guriga dhigato, midnaa shaqada, midka kalena uu gaariga kuugu jiro. Liiskuna waa kan:
• Biyo-hal galaan qofkiiba/maalintiiba ( in kugu fillan saddex casho oo bannaanka ah, ama in kugu fillan todobaad guriga gudihiisa)
• Alaabta nadaafadda qofka
• Sawirrada kumiintiyada shaqsiyadeed ( magacyada daawooyinka, warbixinada caafimad, cadeymaha deganaanshaha cadeymaha kirada guriga, warqadda dhalashada, dal ku galka, waraaqaha caymiska.
Ka fakar baahida qoyska oo dhan, qof-qof ahaan. Halkaan waa sheyo dheeri ah oo kaa caawin kara baahidaas.