This month, as it did in 2006, Seattle Housing Authority will create a new waiting list for its Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) by means of a mail-only lottery.
The 2006 lottery produced a waiting list of 4,000 households chosen at random by a computer program.
All households on that list have been contacted, and so a new list is needed.
Asked why the agency is again conducting a lottery to create a waiting list for the popular program, Barbara Strayer, Section 8 program manager, said, “We feel it’s the fairest way. Nobody has to rush down to get first-come, first-served forms; everybody who mails in the form will have an equal chance.”
She pointed out that the actual “drawing” of names is done by a computer using a random selection procedure.
Printed lottery sign-up forms will be available beginning Tuesday, March 25 at these SHA offices and facilities:
Starting on Tuesday, March 25, the lottery sign-up form will also be available for downloading and printing from the SHA Web site, www.seattlehousing.org.
Sign-up forms will also be available beginning
Tuesday, March 25 at every Seattle
Public Library branch, Seattle Neighborhood
Service Center, Seattle Community
Center, and DSHS Community Service
Center located in Seattle city limits, and
at other locations to be determined.
SHA will post information on its Web
site about other places across Seattle that
will stock lottery sign-up forms.
Any person 18 years old or older (or an
emancipated minor) may sign up for the
lottery no matter where he or she lives.
Only one person per household may sign
up.
After the mail-in deadline, SHA will
send a postcard acknowledging receipt
to everybody who has sent in a sign-up
form.
Once all forms have been processed,
at least 4,000 names will be selected at
random. These will form the new Section
8 waiting list.
SHA will send a letter by May 9 telling
lottery winners that they won a position
on the lottery, and what that position is
(1/4,000, 150/4,000, etc.) and how, when,
and where to actually apply for housing.
For a household to be entered into the
waiting list lottery, its sign-up form must
be mailed to the post office box designated
on the form; to be entered into the lottery,
the envelope containing the sign-up form
must be postmarked no later than Tuesday,
April 8.
SHA will not accept faxed or e-mailed
sign-up forms, and sign-up forms may not
be dropped off at SHA offices; they must
be mailed. Photocopies of the sign-up form
are acceptable.
For updated information on the lottery,
call SHA’s recorded Waiting List Lottery
Hot Line, (206) 239-1674.
By SHA Staff
On Feb. 14, Scattered Sites resident Gina Owens, SHA Executive Director Tom Tierney, Deputy Director Andrew Lofton, Director of Housing Advocacy Lisa Cipollone-Wolters, KCHA Director of Policy Megan Hyla and some 500 other supporters of affordable housing journeyed to Olympia from all corners of the state to rally in support of affordable housing.
In her greeting to the group, Gov. Christine Gregoire pointed out that she and House Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown had publicly declared housing to be the top priority of the state government during the current legislative session.
“Thank you to each of you for being here to say that you will not stand by while the richest nation in the world allows homeless-ness to happen,” she said.
The first two bills the governor signed into law in 2008 were SB 6335, which allocates $6 million for the Washington Families Fund to create service-enriched housing for homeless families, and SB 6272, which provides $1.5 million toward financial literacy and counseling meant to help Washingtonians keep their homes.
Speakers reminded the rally participants that there is much to be done in the fight to ensure that affordable housing is available to everyone who needs it. They argued for a $100 million increase in the Housing Trust Fund — the House has since approved $90 million — and for a $10 million increase in the State’s Transitional Housing, Operating and Rent (THOR) program for homeless families.
About 10 residents from Wonderland Estates, which KCHA purchased last year, spoke with 5th District legislators about working to increase the Housing Trust Fund. They have a stake in the fund because it can help pay for preserving and maintaining manufactured housing like theirs.
Other legislative priorities of the advocates present at the rally included adding language to the state anti-discrimination laws that would protect renters who use housing vouchers or other financial assistance, protecting the rights of mobile home owners, and ensuring the passage of HB 1115, which would track the performance and outcomes of housing programs and enable housing and service providers to coordinate existing programs and funding sources.
After the rousing speeches and a lesson in effective advocacy, participants donned red plastic ponchos emblazoned with hearts and houses, and set off in the rain to the capitol building to meet with their senators and representatives.
Owens, a tenant of SHA, visited the offices of Jamie Pedersen (D, 43rd Legislative District) and Eric Pettigrew (D, 37th Legislative District) and left off materials supporting both affordable housing and affordable health care. She said that affordable health care advocates she’s been working with staged a mock wedding in the Capitol’s rotunda: Small Business, the “bride,” was married to Affordable Health Care, the “groom.”
“The legislators were in session, but when they heard about the ‘wedding’ they came out and watched the event from the balcony,” Owens said. “I think they were pretty impressed.”
SHA’s Cipollone-Wolters said, “It was inspiring to be a part of the 500 people who turned out for Housing Advocacy Day. It was an opportunity for many to learn first-hand the importance of educating elected officials on the need for solutions to our affordable housing crisis.”
Organizer Ben Gitenstein, executive director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, said he guessed that this year’s was the largest crowd in 14 years of Housing Advocacy Days.
Housing Advocacy Day is sponsored by the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless. To learn more about these organizations, including the issues addressed by their respective agendas, visit www.wliha.org and www. endhomelessnesswa.org.
King County Housing Authority contributed to this report.
By Voice Staff
Low-income working individuals and their families may be eligible to receive a tax refund between $428 and $4,716 if they apply for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Congress originally approved the tax credit in 1975 as a way to offset the burden of social security taxes on low-income people and to provide an incentive to work.
When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes a person owes, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.
To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.
United Way of King County and the King County EITC Campaign will help people claim the credit by providing free tax preparation services at sites across King County until April 15.
Taxes will be prepared by IRS-trained and certified volunteers and electronically filed for a rapid refund. Multilingual tax preparers will be available at several sites to serve customers who do not speak English.
For more information on the free tax preparation sites, see last month’s issue of The Voice or go to www.uwkc.org/ourcommunity/endinghomelessness/eitc/where. asp.
The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.
You may be eligible for the EITC if you earned income in 2007, if you have children and earned less than $37,783 (or $39,783 if married and filing a joint return) in 2007, if you do not have children and earned less than $12,590 (or $14,590 if married and filing a joint return) in 2007, if you get less than $2,900 a year from interest and investments and if you have a valid social security number for the purposes of work.
If you are filing a joint return, your spouse must also have a valid social security number and all qualifying children you use to claim the EITC must also have a valid social security number.
In order to qualify, you cannot file your taxes under the “married filing separately” status.
By Pam McGaffin
Special to The Voice
Support from family and friends is
critical to cancer patients going through
treatment, but what should that support
look like? Many of us worry we won’t
know what to say or do, or worse, that
we’ll do the wrong thing.
A survey by Cancer Treatment Centers
of America found that friends and
family offer primary support for people
diagnosed with cancer. According to the
2003 survey, only 1 percent of male and
4 percent of female cancer patients turned
to organized support groups as their main
source of support.
“When people are diagnosed with
cancer, support from friends and family
is often the key to helping them endure
the rigorous medical treatments and emotional
stress that may accompany their
diagnosis,” says Robin Adler, director
of mind-body medicine at Seattle Cancer
Treatment and Wellness Center. “Most
people want to offer that support, but
they’re at a loss for exactly what to do or
where to begin.”
At the clinic, Adler counsels patients
and their families, leads support and
relaxation groups, provides community education
workshops and links patients
to needed resources in the community.
She says friends and family can help by
keeping lines of communication open
and being a stable and reliable source of
support in the midst of change.
Here are her tips for friends and family
who want to help but aren’t sure how:
• Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to do
or say “the right” things, just be sincere
in your desire to lend a hand.
• Listen. Sometimes it’s better to be
patient and listen than to start a conversation.
Remember to talk about all
the things you used to talk about before
cancer.
• Honestly share your feelings of fear,
anger or sadness, but try not to overburden
your friend or loved one. If you need
to, take time for yourself.
• Provide stability. Help your friend
with cancer adjust to new routines while continuing as many regular activities as
possible to maintain a sense of normalcy.
Assure your friend that he or she can
depend on you.
• Adapt to changing roles. While it’s
important for a person with cancer to
keep a routine, understand that family
dynamics might change. For example,
one parent might have to take on more
childcare duty. Respond with practical
solutions, like organizing help from
friends.
• If a friend has cancer, ask him or her
for suggestions on how to help. If your
friend is getting many such requests,
offer to coordinate efforts. Be alert to
your friend’s needs – be it childcare or
house cleaning – and remember that some
people have a hard time asking for help.
• Be prepared to communicate with
health care professionals. Dealing with
the health care system can be confusing,
intimidating and time-consuming. Your
loved one may appreciate your stepping
up. Begin by educating yourself about
the patient’s condition. When you meet
with health practitioners, bring a list of
questions, ask for clarification and be
appropriately assertive.
• Help a cancer patient feel in control.
Let them decide for themselves if they’re
too weak to clean the house, cook dinner
or go out.
• Spend time with your friend. Just having
you there can be comfort enough.
• Remember to take care of yourself.
Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise and
take part in enjoyable activities. Find your
own emotional support from friends, coworkers,
your church, support groups or
a professional counselor.
Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness
Center is the only place in the Pacific
Northwest where medical oncologists
work side by side with natural medicine
practitioners.
This integrated approach to cancer
care combines innovative medical treatment
with naturopathy, mind-body medicine,
acupuncture, Chinese medicine and
other complementary therapies.
For more
information, visit the web site at www.seattlecancerwellness.com.
Simple products work best, are better for the environment
By Virginia Felton
Seattle Housing Authority
There are several commonplace natural substances that work really well for
housecleaning. As an added bonus, these
materials are very inexpensive.
Baking soda and vinegar work extremely
well for many household uses, are better
for the environment than many commercial
cleaning products, and are much less expensive
than most commercial products.
Baking soda is, chemically speaking, a
weak alkaline. As such, it acts to neutralize
acids and break down proteins. This quality
accounts for its usefulness in cutting grease
and dissolving dirt and stains.
Vinegar, the other superstar of natural
cleaning products, is slightly acidic. This
chemical property also helps vinegar to
dissolve grease and clean dirt off windows
and other surfaces.
Here are some simple recipes for cleaning
products that you can make yourself
using these ingredients:
Bathroom cleanser — What you need:
baking soda, soap, sponge
Use baking soda in place of scouring
powder. Sprinkle it on sinks or other porcelain
fixtures and rub with a wet sponge.
Add a little soap to the sponge for more
cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving
a hazy film.
Window cleaner — What you need:
vinegar, liquid soap, water
Mix a half cup of vinegar with a few
drops of ingredients in a spray bottle and
use on glass surfaces. Rub with a lint-free
cloth or newspaper to prevent streaks.
Oven Cleaner — What you need: baking
soda, water, copper scouring pad
Make a thick paste of baking soda and
water, apply it to oven surfaces, then let it
stand a little while. Scrub with the copper
scouring pad. A single-edged razor blade
can be useful to get under large food deposits.
All-purpose spray cleaner — What you
need: baking soda, vinegar, water, spray bottle
To a quart (four cups) of water, add
four teaspoons of baking soda and a half
cup of vinegar. Put this into a spray bottle
and use it to clean counter tops, floors, etc.
(This is also a great way to recycle spray
bottles purchased originally for those more
expensive cleaning products.)
Odor remover — What you need: baking
soda
By itself, baking soda is a great odor
remover. Sprinkle it on carpets, and rub it
in with a broom, then sweep or vacuum.
Sprinkle it on pet bedding. Keep an open
box in your refrigerator to absorb odors
there. Put it in the bottom of your dresser
drawers, put a paper liner over it, and it will
absorb clothing odors.
Drain cleaner — What you need: baking
soda, vinegar, kettle of boiling water
This combination will free minor clogs
and is a great preventative measure. Pour
a half cup of baking soda into the drain
first. Then add a half cup of vinegar. Let
it bubble for a few minutes, then carefully
pour down a kettle full of boiling water.
(Be careful carrying the water!)
A large box of baking soda can be
purchased for less than $2. A gallon of
vinegar (simple white vinegar is best) sells
for about $3.
Another inexpensive product that is also
useful is chlorine bleach (also known as
Clorox). It can make a great disinfectant
when mixed with water and put in a spray
bottle. (About a half cup to a quart or more
of water is plenty.)
Chlorine bleach is not as safe as either
vinegar or baking soda, but it is a powerful
germ killer and is good to use to keep away
mold and mildew. Just be careful to store
it away from children.
To learn more
Here are some Web sites that provide
more information about inexpensive
and natural cleaning products:
www.bakingsodabook.co.uk/
www.familyshoppingbag.com/
natural_cleaning.htm
www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html
www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/
www.epa.gov/kidshometour/
MS Walk to take place in April
The MS LifeLines Walk MS, presented
by Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky,
takes place Sunday, April 13, in Seattle
and Saturday, April 12, in Tacoma,
Snohomish County, Olympia, Bellingham,
Bainbridge Island, Kennewick
and Silverdale.
Proceeds support local services and
programs for people living with MS
and their families, as well as research
into new treatments and a cure.
For more information, call the
National MS Society, Greater Washington
Chapter, at 1-800-344-4867, or
visit www.MSwashington.org and
click on the Walk MS logo.
Michael Lewis has lived in Beacon Tower for 14 years. His tidy one-bedroom apartment on the third floor is well stocked with books. He has a personal computer and an 8-inch telescope.
The windows in his living room bring in territorial views to the north and west. But on one recent day, Lewis had his eye on both much larger and much smaller views: He uses equations and formulas and theory to focus on the universe itself, on galaxies and stars, on the one hand; and on tiny subatomic particles on the other. Lewis is a physicist, and something of a poet.
Lewis was born in Seattle and moved as a child with his family to Arkansas, then Alaska, then back to Seattle, and finally to Richland, where his father worked as an electrical contractor at the
nearby Hanford Nuclear Site.
He graduated from Columbia High
School, where he studied physics, chemistry,
mathematics and Russian, among
other subjects, and where he was a member
of the Sputnik-inspired rocket club.
He joined the Navy while still in high
school.
The Navy sent him to Treasure Island,
in San Francisco Bay, and trained him to
be an electronics technician and radar
operator.
Lewis was in the Navy three years, two
of them aboard the USS Kearsage, the
aircraft carrier that recovered two early
Project Mercury astronauts, Walter Schirra
and Gordon Cooper, and their space
capsules, from the Pacific Ocean.
Together with about 20 other crew
members, Lewis maintained the ship’s
radars and radios. A skill he learned as
a radar operator was to distinguish information
from noise in electromagnetic
fields — a skill that helped him when,
much later in his life, he turned his attention
to light from galaxies and star
formations.
And he learned about transistors and
solid state physics, then new subjects for
study.
After his discharge from the Navy,
Lewis attended Reed College, in Portland,
where his main focus of study was
physics and where he became interested
in spectroscopy. After graduating Reed
in 1967 with a degree in physics, Lewis
went to work for the Xerox Corporation
near Rochester, New York, as an associate
physicist.
At Xerox, Lewis was introduced to
computers and computer programming;
he pursued his interest in computer science
during a year of graduate work at
the University of Washington.
For various reasons, Lewis didn’t complete
the work he’d have needed to do to
get a Ph.D., but he never lost his interest
in mathematics and physics.
Now he’s an independent scholar andthe author of a number of papers that seek
to pursue solutions to nettlesome problems
in mathematics and physics.
One of his papers challenges the received
wisdom about the nature of the
universe — the Expanding Universe
theory, which states that the galaxies are
moving apart and that the more distant
they are, the more rapidly they’re moving.
Lewis instead suggests that light
waves slowly decay as they travel great
distances; he finds evidence of this in
shifts in the patterns of lines observed in
a spectroscope trained on a faraway light
source. He calls this the Photon Decay
theory. (Read about it at www.eskimo.
com/~mikel137/index.htm#home.)
Lewis says, “I took up the problem in
1957, when Sputnik was put in orbit and
the problem was described in physics
class. It wasn’t until 1980 that I realized
I had the time and liberty to work on it
and so bought a small telescope and other
things. One night, looking for a long time
at Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, I
said to myself, in a voice I did not know
I had, ‘I can do it!’
“The following week was spent in
some rapture working it out, and since
then I’ve slowly developed the Web page.
It was the security of good housing here
that made it possible to complete the
document, which exists only on the Internet,
and obtain copyrights on it.”
Can a mathematician and physicist
be a poet? To meet Lewis is to know the
answer.
In writing about his interest in light
and what it may reveal about the origins
of the universe, and of ourselves, Lewis
wrote, “Light as quanta is very soft,
gentle, and does not discriminate since
every single wavelet, no matter what the
color, consists of the same amount of
action. That shows up in faint light, such
as at night, particularly in rain or snow,
which…average out the colors. Properly
interpreted, white light has and should
have about the same effect as the quality
of mercy.”
Forget the mechanic for car trouble — visit the Seattle Public Library
Having car trouble that you can’t
figure out?
Try The Seattle Public Library.
The Library now subscribes to ChiltonLibrary.com, a popular automotive
repair database that patrons can access
from home or Library computers 24-
hours a day.
To use ChiltonLibrary.com, visit www.spl.org and select Databases & Web Sites.
From there, click on Automotive & Transportation
and then ChiltonLibrary.com. Patrons who access the database from
non-Library computers will need to enter
their Library card numbers and personal
identification numbers (PINs).
ChiltonLibrary.com offers auto repair
information geared toward home mechanics.
It can help patrons with questions
about car maintenance, specifications,
troubleshooting, costs of maintenance
and parts, and manufacturer recalls. It
has photographs, illustrations and step-by-step repair procedures. The database
is updated regularly.
For more information, call the Central
Library at 206-386-4636.
One to grow on
Garden tips for community gardeners
Springtime, growing season on the horizon
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
All the springtime leafy green vegetables do appreciate a good source of
The days are dramatically lengthening nitrogen. Besides adding compost, you now and the plants are putting out new may use an organic fertilizer that lists a growth. Ah, springtime. larger percentage of the first listed number,
We all know that plants get their energy such as 5-1-1 in fish fertilizer or 12-2-1 in from sunlight through photosynthesis and blood meal. Do not over apply the nitrogen they also have all the water they need with sources of fertilizer because they are so our spring rains. However, they won’t get water soluble and will just be washed away the warm temperatures yet. So let us con-through the rain and irrigation. sider the plants that enjoy longer days and Besides being a waste of money, this pol-cooler temperatures. lutes those downstream in our watershed.
Starting in mid-March we can trans-I prefer to wait and see if the plants need plant out into the garden many cold-tol-more nitrogen by watching their color. erant crops. These starter plants can be The leaves will show yellow tinge if they purchased at reliable nurseries or started are lacking nitrogen. If the new growth is from seeds at home under grow lights. We yellowing, that is a more serious nutrient especially enjoy broccoli, spinach, bok deficiency. choy, romaine, kohlrabi and onions. Soil testing is a viable, but costly, option.
Remember to harden off the transplants Accurate sampling is the key. Test kits are before you actually plant them in the gar-messy, less reliable and need to be replaced den by leaving them in the pots outside annually. Soil test labs are very effective if during the day and bringing in at night you can understand their results. for several days, then leaving outside full UMass soil tests have been highly time for several days before finally planting recommended. For ordering call 413-545them in the garden. 2311 or check the web site at www.umass.
Begin direct seeding into your garden edu/plsoils/soiltest. the radishes, lettuces, carrots, turnips, With these longer days, you may have mustard and cilantro later this month, more time after work or school to go out depending on soil temperatures. You may and visit your garden. Involve children have a microclimate that can get these with gardening activities as much as you germinated and growing as the equinox can. Many people, young and old, think of approaches. their food coming from the store, and don’t
There are several ways to warm your soil actually know about growing food. for earlier planting: use raised beds; build Use a child’s natural curiosity about a plastic or glass tent over the bed, making growing plants to draw him or her to enjoy a mini-greenhouse (also called a cloche); eating lots of fresh vegetables. I was sur-use a row cover (like Remay) and anchor it prised that my children would graze in the down with rocks, boards, or soil pins. garden when they came home from school,
The row cover will also act as a pest bar-chewing raw broccoli and pea vines, snow rier for the root maggots that attack carrots, peas, sorrel and parsley. Later in life they radishes, turnips and broccoli. will continue to eat these healthy greens.
If you are starting a new garden or Childrenaremorelikelytohaveadietof haven’t limed in the past couple of years, 5-9 servings of vegetables and fruits if they add some dolomite (horticultural) lime learn to love them early in life. And with to the soil. Mix well and be generous. It your own food garden, you will too! breaks down very slowly, so it won’t “burn” Everyone knows you can’t beat the taste your plants. of a freshly picked pea or carrot or bean
Lime raises the pH of soil and allows the or tomatoes or anything from the garden. plants to more readily take up nutrients. Your whole family will benefit from the I now have a pH meter, because I had so easy access of homegrown fresh organic much trouble with our acidic soil. Our produce to improve their diets. plants were struggling, and I thought they needed more nutrients. Lo and behold, Anza Muenchow is a farmer and a volit was the pH not the N-P-K. These are unteer with P-Patch. You can reach her by the primary nutritional needs of plants: e-mail at anzam@whidbey.net, or online at nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potas-www.mahafarm.com.
On Feb. 9, people throughout the state of Washington turned out in record numbers to participate in the state’s caucus. After all delegates were tallied, Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Arizona senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain won their respective caucuses. Both candidates later prevailed in Washington’s primary election Feb. 19.
The Voice asked a few people to share their experiences about participating in the state’s caucuses. Their stories continue below. The opinions expressed are those of the writers alone.
Caucus time in Seattle
By Robert Canamar
SHA Resident
Ever since I came back from Vietnam, I have prided myself on voting in every election. It feels good to go into the polling booth to vote for my candidate of choice. It makes sense.
This year I found out my votes all those years did not mean a thing. Candidates are chosen by caucus in this state, so I went to my precinct caucus and wound up as a primary delegate for my candidate for the next caucus, and then only because I speak well.
With all of the hype about the importance of attending the caucus, I was disappointed that there were not more people there. Then I found out that we had five times more than last time.
We are a caucus state, and that means that the delegates that put our candidate on the ballot are determined at the caucus.
Who we put on the ballot determines what will happen with our country in the future, and yet more people head to the polls than to a caucus. Why can’t we have a system like the Republicans, where half of the delegates are chosen from the Primary, and half from the caucus?
As a politically active citizen of this country, I feel that everyone should have a voice, and what we have does not give every one that voice.
At the caucus, I, and others like me were given one minute to speak, and try to convince others why our choice made the best sense. One minute is not enough time to get across any idea, much less the several that are needed.
Yes, I am excited about being a delegate, and going to the next round of caucuses, and this time I am planning what I am going to say and do at the caucus.
I am out stumping for my candidate, and hope my candidate will win. I do feel that if you want change, you have to work for it, so I will work my tail off and see about realistic change.
Why I did not caucus
By Harry Ohman
SHA Resident
I heard it often last month: “Harry! Come with me to caucus on Saturday. It is an excellent opportunity for us to express our political views and support our candidates.”
I would love to have participated, but I couldn’t. I am an independent voter, and as such, the rules do not allow me to caucus. In Washington you must declare a political party in order to caucus. Then, if you want to vote in the primary you must sign an oath not to change from that party.
If you only vote in the primary you still must declare a political party — otherwise your vote will not count! These rules effectively deny independent voters like me an opportunity to participate in this process.
I first voted in 1972, and I have voted in every election since. I have voted for candidates from both major political parties, as well as independents. I value my freedom to vote for the candidate that I feel is the most qualified, no matter what his or her political affiliation.
In 1983 I was ordered to report for jury duty. They randomly choose people for this honor from the list of registered voters. I will never forget how enlightened I felt after my service was concluded. I felt that I had fulfilled my duty as a citizen in the most fundamental way possible. The other most fundamental way that a citizen can participate in the political process is to vote. To infringe on the ability of any voter to participate is wrong.
The rules that govern the Washington state caucuses and primaries do just that: they prohibit independent voters from participating.
These rules are archaic and punitive. They should be changed.
Choose to lead, or follow
By Jen Rosenbrook
Neighborhood House
After a busy morning of rushing through traffic, I arrived at Marshall School down the street to find a crush of people entering to try and make sense of what was going to happen in the next few hours.
It did seem like a bit of confusion, but if you are relatively smart on directions it was actually quite simple: find your precinct, sign in, listen, watch, and wait.
Others would disagree, I am sure.
I heard a number of anxious voices — no one was clear on if they had to stay for the entire caucus or if they could sign in and leave.
Our society has become accustomed to such rushing around — what happened to taking time to smell the roses? Especially when it comes to our future, our country, and our leaders?
The caucus is a strange, chaotic, arcane relic of machine politics — but a fun day to participate in!
Primaries are for the busier, hurried citizen. (Hmm, is that everyone at this point, or just the families with too much to do in one week?)
Where is our sense of community and being the friendly neighbor again? I met more great folks and neighbors than I have in the past three years at my caucus.
It is not only a “caucus” but a sense of coming together for common ground, a cause as a community to share ideas, recipes, and a few good laughs.
I was so beyond excited after my caucus that I started right then to devote my time to the Obama campaign.
Not only is he the hope to heal our nation and the world, but it isn’t just cheerleading words he speaks of, he walks the walk, and if you are in tune to anything these days you will feel the passion, too!
And if not…well, be prepared to follow the leaders.
On the campaign trail: New Web site tracks housing-related issues
By Donna Kimura
The presidential candidates have turned blue talking about how to end the Iraq War, revive a sagging economy, and provide health care, but do they have anything to say about affordable housing?
The issue is coming up more often than in past elections due to the subprime mortgage crisis and slumping housing market. Shining a light on what is being said by the candidates is the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).
It has launched a new Web site, www.housing2008. org, that tracks the latest housing news from the campaign trail.
It’s a nonpartisan forum for discussing housing issues this election year, said Sheila Crowley, NLIHC president.
As the Nov. 4, 2008, election approaches and the field of contenders winnows, the NLIHC plans to gather even more data on the candidates’ positions on affordable housing.
Many of the candidates’ Web sites fail to say anything specific about housing, but some early highlights from the leading candidates include:
Democrats
Hillary Clinton: Clinton’s economic action plan calls for a $30 billion Emergency Housing Crisis Fund to help states and cities combat foreclosures. States and cities could also use the funds to support efforts like anti-blight programs and help housing authorities buy vacant properties and rent them to working families. Clinton also wants to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including raising existing FHA mortgage limits in high-cost areas like New York and California. She’s also discussed creating incentives for lenders to identify troubled mortgages and proposed a 90-day moratorium on subprime foreclosures and an automatic rate freeze on subprime mortgages of at least five years.
Barack Obama: Obama’s plan to combat poverty includes increasing the supply of affordable housing by creating an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop affordable housing in mixed-income neighborhoods and fully funding the Community Development Block Grant program. He also pledges to create 20 “promise neighborhoods” in areas that have high levels of poverty. These neighborhoods will be provided a full range of services. Obama’s plan to stimulate the economy calls for providing $10 billion to help families avoid foreclosure and working with the FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac “to allow families facing foreclosure to responsibly refinance their mortgages or sell their homes.” He also wants to provide $10 billion in relief for state and local governments facing revenue shortfalls because of the housing crisis.
Republicans
John McCain: McCain’s campaign platform calls for tax cuts for middle-class families. He wants to repeal the alternative minimum tax. He has advocated for veterans and attended the opening of a transitional housing development for veterans last year. There were no housing policies posted on his Web site.
A good kind of chaos
By Claire McDaniel
Seattle Housing Authority
My first Democratic caucus experience can be described in one word – chaos. But in a good way! The lunch room at the Lawton School in Magnolia was packed with people, many of whom were first time “caucusers” like me. We were all trying to figure out what we were supposed to do. I saw grocery store checkers I recognized from my supermarket, fellow riders from my #24 bus and neighbors from my apartment building. There were 94 people at my precinct table and once the candidate selections were tallied, the results were six delegates for Obama and two for Clinton.
The six Obama delegates included a 25 year old white woman who recently moved to Seattle from Iowa and participated in caucuses there; a middle-age African American man who resented any suggestions that the Clinton campaign made that race was a reason that supporters back Obama; and a young, white man who spent 19 months in Iraq.
The passion shown by the participants in this caucus was palpable and the participation of young people was exciting.
Dalai Lama to visit Seattle – residents invited
By Virginia Felton
Seattle Housing Authority
In mid-April, Seattle will be the host city for a five-day conference entitled Seeds of Compassion. The conference is being sponsored by local leaders and will be built around the visit to Seattle of his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
The Dalai Lama is a recognized world leader and is known as a man of peace and compassion.
Tickets to the largest public event of the conference will be available at no charge for children and youth who live in Seattle Housing Authority communities, and their families.
The Dalai Lama is both the exiled head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. On Oct. 17, 2007 he received the Congressional Gold Medal.
PresidentBushandtheleadersofCongress bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor upon the Dalai Lama, calling the exiled Tibetan religious leader a “warrior for peace.” The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1989 for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.
He has consistently advocated for policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.
The five-day Seeds of Compassion workshop will take place April 11 – 15 in Seattle. It offers a rare opportunity for people in Seattle to hear from this peaceful world leader who refers to himself as “a simple Buddhist monk.”
The purpose of the event is to “nurture kindness and compassion in the world starting with children and all those who touch their lives.”
According to the Dalai Lama, “We should make every effort to make this century the century of dialogue. This must come from a compassionate heart. Infinite or unlimited compassion is in all of us. It is a seed that we all have from birth. I really feel that this conference can plant positive seeds for a happy future, a happy world, particularly for children. They, the younger generation, are the real basis for our hope.”
The largest public event to which youth and children are invited will take place at Qwest Field on Saturday afternoon, April 12. It is entitled “Compassion in Action” and will feature a talk by the Dalai Lama on the “heartbeat of humanity.”
Tickets will be available soon from many of the community organizations that work with children and youth in SHA’s communities. An article in The Voice next month will provide more specifics on where and how tickets are available.
The goals of the event include helping adults, teachers and all those who work with children better understand how to develop kinder and more compassionate local communities by building the foundations of learning and compassion in children and youth.
The Dalai Lama has traveled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.
Since 1959 the Dalai Lama has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. He has also authored more than 72 books.
Two training opportunities available to residents this month
Resident Leadership and Facilitation Training on March 22
The Nonprofit Assistance Center and Seattle Housing Authority will be holding a Resident Leadership and Facilitation Training on Saturday, March 22. The training is geared toward SHA residents who wish to develop their leadership skills. Important topics of focus will be the role of the facilitator, appreciative listening, dealing effectively with disagreements, and the three R’s — results, relationships, and resources.
The trainers, Jesus Ybarra Rodriguez and Vicki Asakura, themselves represent the diversity of Seattle’s residents and leaders.
Rodriguez was born in Mexico and currently manages the Leadership Development Program at the Nonprofit Assistance Center. In addition to coordinating leadership programs at NAC, he is one of the founders of Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
Asakura is a Japanese American from Seattle with extensive experience community building in low-income areas. She is currently the Executive Director of the Nonprofit Assistance Center.
The training will take place at Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. For more information, residents should contact their SHA community builder: Joy Bryngelson, NewHolly, 206-723-1725; Naomi Chang, Rainier Vista, 206-722-4010, ext. 2; Samantha Gotkin, High Point, 206937-3292, ext. 306; Brett Houghton, Yesler Terrace, 206-343-7484; Marcia Johnson, LIPH, 206-239-1530; Ellen Ziontz, LIPH, 206-239-1625.
Registration forms must be returned to community builders by March 14.
NTIC training this month
The National Training and Information Center will be holding a day-long training to familiarize residents with HUD regulations on Thursday, March 27. The aim of this training is to empower residents through knowledge of HUD to organize and negotiate more effectively.
The workshop will begin with an overview of laws and regulations and how to find them. The most important regulations will be identified, with emphasis on regulation 964, the Resident Participation Regulation. After this, residents will learn how to use these regulations to affect decisions.
Sam Finkelstein, Director of Housing Justice Organizing at NTIC, will lead the 7-hour workshop. Finkelstein has worked on housing justice issues for more than 10 years in Seattle and California. He is also head of the National Housing Justice Campaign.
The training will take place at the Community Room of Green Lake Plaza, 505 N.E. 70th St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, residents should contact their SHA community builder.
CLASSIFIEDS
The Marketplace of The Voice
Items for Sale
Medium Cherry Video DVD Cabinet from Fingerhut. Never assembled. Everything you need is included. $50. Call Callie at 206-246-2515
Couch Love Seat and Sofa, Green with Burgendy Brown. $400 for both. Four Piece Italian Living Room Cabnitry set with Glass and Burgendy Wood. $700. Call 253-887-9320
Free Esperanto Language Lessons. Esperanto is four times easier than English. Speak with your neighbors from around the world. For information 206-600-1178 or seattleesperanto.org.
TRANSLATIONS
Translated Articles from The Voice
Learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit
Sjaqaalaha dakhliga yar qo9f ahaan iyo qoysaskoodiba waxaay u qalmaan inat helaan tax refund inta u dhexeysa $428 ito $4,716 haddii iyagu codsadaan federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Congreska wuxuu oggolaaday originally tax credit 1975 taas oo social security taxes oo dadka dakhligoodu yaryahay EITC taasooqofkuuqalmoinlooceliyolacag ;pp yaqaan canshuurta soo noqota.
Si add ugu qalanto qofka canshuurleyda ahi waa inuu ku sifoobaa inuusan lacah ku filan uusan samayn wuxuuna u qalmaayaa taasoo qasbaysa inuu celiyo canshuurta..
Waxaad noqon kartaa mid u qalma EITC haddii aad
urursatay dakhli 2007, hadii aad aruur leedahay aadna
urursatay lacag ka yar $37,783 (ama $39,783 haddii aad xaas leedahay aadna isla samaysaan xisaab celinta wadajir ahaan wax ka yar $12,590 (oama $14,590 haddii aad xaas
leedahay aadsna isla samewysaan lacag celinta sannadka
2007, haddii aad sameysaan lacah ka yar $2,900 saandka oo dhan aadna leedahaday social security oo sax ah laguu oggol yahay inaad shaqeyso aadna buuxisaan si
wadajir ah iyo caruurtaada , si aad u qalanto maha inaad
kala buuxsataan si kala gooni
HIỂU BIẾT VỀ TIỀN THUẾ BỒI HÒAN –EARNED
INCOME TAX CREDIT
Những cá nhân hay gia đình đi làm mà có lợi tức thấp có thể hội đủ điều kiện cho tiền thuế bồi hòan khỏan từ $428 đến $4716, nếu họ có khai thúê liên bang trong chưong trình Earned Income Tax Credit. Đầu tiên là vào năm 1975 Quốc Hội đã chấp thuận tín dụng thuế nhu là phương cách cân bằng gánh nặng thuế an sinh xã hội đánh vào người dân đi làm mà có lợi tức thấp như một cách thuế để khích lệ người dân đi làm. Khi mà mức tín dụng thuế cao hơn số tiền thuế mà người dân phải đóng, thì kết quả là có một số tiền bồi hòan được trả về cho người khai hợp lệ. Để được hợp lệ, người khai thuế phải hội đủ một vài điều kiện và phải nộp đơn khai thuế, cho dù họ không kiếm được nhiều tiền để buộc phải khai thuế.
Qúi vị có thể hội đủ điều kiện cho chương trình ETIC-bồi hòan tiền tín dụng thuế nếu trong năm 2007 qúi vị có kiếm tiền , nếu qúi vị có con mọn và kiếm được dưới mức $ 37,783 (hoặc $39,873 nếu là vợ chồng và khai thuế chung) trong năm 2007, nếu qúi vị là người không có con mọn và kiếm được dưới $12,590 (hoặc $14,590 nếu là vợ chồng khai chung, nếu qúi vị có nhận được dưới $2,900 từ các khỏan tiền lãi hay tiền lợi tức đầu tư và nếu qúi vị có số an sinh xã hội hợp lệ dùng để đi làm.
Nếu qúi vị là vợ chồng khai thuế chung, thì người vợ hay chồng phải có số an sinh xã hội hợp lệ và những đứa con trong nhà cũng phải có số an sinh xã hội hợp lệ để lãnh lại được tiền thuế bồi hòan. Để được hội đủ điều kiện thì qúi vị (nếu là vợ chồng) thì không thể khai thuế riêng được.