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You are here: Home / 2018 / Archives for March 2018

Archives for March 2018

Seattle’s Next Police Chief

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Few issues are more important than public safety and keeping families in our City safe. The next police chief must be committed to continuing to build an accountable, diverse police department focused on meaningful and lasting reforms and building trust in the community they serve. Our efforts will be developed and implemented with input and leadership from Seattle neighborhoods and communities.

The Search Process

Mayor Durkan launched a national search process to find the best candidate for the permanent police chief.

In December, Mayor Durkan announced the 25 members of her Search Committee. Led by four co-chairs, the diverse Search Committee will host a series of community meetings to collect community input and create the Chief’s job description in late January and February 2018. Following this series of community engagement, the Search Committee will work with a national search firm to gather and screen applications in the Spring of 2018.

In May 2018, a list of names will be submitted to Mayor Durkan, who will select from the list by June 2018.

Community Meetings & Community Input Survey

During early 2018, an extensive community outreach process will launch to allow Seattle residents to share their thoughts on the personal characteristics and professional experience that are most important for the individual leading our police.

Our community members have a critical role to play in helping to recruit the next Chief of Police. Throughout March, the City will be organizing a number of community meetings and woerkshops to make sure that all Seattle residents have an opportunity to share their thoughts about what characteristics and experience is needed in Seattle’s next police chief. A full list of workshops and community meetings is provided below.

In addition, residents can complete a quick online survey. Through this online survey, community input will be utilized to target recruitment efforts when evaluating applicant’s knowledge, skills, abilities and personal characteristics.  This information will also be used to develop interview questions.

Please take a moment to complete this survey by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/seattlepolicechief 

Thursday, March 15th
5:30pm-7:30pm
East – Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry St
Seattle, WA 98122
Friday, March 16th
5:30pm-7:30pm
Southeast – Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Tuesday, March 20th
6:00pm-8:00pm
West – Queen Anne Community Center
1901 1st Ave W
Seattle, WA 98119
Wednesday, March 21st 5:30pm-7:30pm North – Northgate Community Center
10510 5th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Friday March 23rd
5:30pm-7:30pm
North – Loyal Heights Community Center
2101 NW 77th St
Seattle, WA 98117
Wednesday, March 28th
5:30pm-7:30pm
West – Chinatown International District Community Center
719 8th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104
Thursday, March 29th
5:30pm-7:30pm
South – Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Friday, March 30th
5:30pm-7:30pm
North – Laurelhurst Community Center
4554 NE 41st St
Seattle, WA 98105

Community Meetings

Saturday March 3rd
12pm-3pm
Somali Community Center
8810 Renton Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Wednesday March 14th
5:30pm-7:30pm
Seattle Vocational College
2120 S Jackson St, 4th floor room 401
Seattle, WA 98144
Thursday March 22nd
6:00pm-7:30pm
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
105 14th Ave, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98122
Friday February 23rd
5:30pm-7:30pm
South Park Neighborhood Center
8201 10th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108

You can email any feedback to chiefsearchinfo@seattle.gov.

 

 

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics

King County creates an Immigrant and Refugee Commission to expand opportunity and help uphold the region’s promise as a welcoming community

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Executive Constantine today signed legislation to establish the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission, a permanent body that will serve as a hub for organizations that strengthen immigrant and refugee communities.

Executive Constantine and members of the County Council join with members of the immigrant and refugee community to celebrate the newly established King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission.
Executive Constantine and members of the County Council join with members of the immigrant and refugee community to celebrate the newly established King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission.

King County Executive Dow Constantine today signed legislation passed by the King County Council to create an Immigrant and Refugee Commission, a permanent body committed to upholding the commitment to being a welcoming county and to integrate, strengthen, and value immigrant and refugee communities.

The 13-member Commission will serve as a hub for organizations that connect immigrant and refugee communities, aligning their work with all levels of government to maximize their collective impact. The goal is to help the nearly 500,000 immigrants and refugees who live in King County successfully integrate culturally, economically, and civically while maintaining their own identities.

“The commission will maximize the work we do with community partners to help immigrants and refugees thrive in their new home,” said Executive Constantine. “Together, we will ensure that all people who come here to build a better life can contribute to the prosperity of our region, just as many of our ancestors did generations ago.”

As a hub for collective action, the Commission will bring together community organizations, governments, and service providers to achieve greater impacts in areas of biggest concern for immigrants and refugees, such as jobs and economic development, housing, transportation and health. By uniting efforts throughout all 39 cities and the unincorporated communities in King County, it will help guide a regional approach to helping refugees and immigrants thrive as residents.

Graphic with text from the Immigrant and Refugee Commission.“It is in the public interest that an immigrant and refugee commission be formed to enhance the integration of immigrants and refugees culturally, economically and civically, in order to strengthen the communities where they live and to support them to become part of the fabric of society, by having the tools they need to thrive and succeed while maintaining their own identities.”

“The formation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Immigrant and Refugee Commission continues our work to ensure that our government and region is at the forefront in addressing the needs and concerns of these communities,” said County Councilmember Larry Gossett. “Together with the legislation passed by the Council this week and the formation of this commission, we will continue to build Dr. King’s Beloved Community and to make King County a welcoming and safe community for all.”

“Today, by establishing an immigrant and refugee commission, we acknowledge that unique challenges and opportunities are faced by certain communities,” said Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski. “We demonstrate we are leading with racial justice by addressing that disproportionate barriers exist and create difficulties for some of our immigrants and refugees from reaching their full potential. Our commission members with lived experience of these barriers, will help guide us as a government to do our best by these communities.”

“The Immigrant and Refugee Commission makes our collective commitment to equity, fairness, and representation a reality,” said Council Chair Joe McDermott, “For too long, the voice of these communities has been silenced and ignored, and this Commission will provide an opportunity for greater collaboration between these communities and local governments, so we can advance our collective prosperity.”

Promoting civic participation and government representation

The framework of the Commission is based on recommendations made by the King County Immigrant and Refugee Task Force, created by Executive Constantine and the County Council in 2015.

Examples of the work the Commission will do includes:

  • Assist and advise the County Executive, County Council, offices of the Assessor, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, and Elections and all other departments on issues, programs, policies, and legislation that impacts immigrant and refugee communities.
  • Promote civic participation and government representation by refugee and immigrant community members.
  • Collaborate with all levels of government to ensure effective outreach and engagement with immigrant and refugee communities.
  • Assist with the development and implementation of King County policies and regulations protecting and impacting refugee and immigrant communities.
  • Evaluate county programs and services from the perspective of immigrant and refugee communities.
  • Increase public awareness of immigrants and refugees and their contributions to the community.

A Commission that reflects the diversity of King County’s immigrant and refugee communities

The Commission will reflect King County’s increasingly diverse population with members from a wide range of life experiences, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and professional backgrounds. It also will reflect each of the county’s geographic regions with at least six members representing unincorporated communities and cities other than Seattle.

There will be members who represent organizations that meet the specific needs of immigrants as well as members who represent organizations that meet the specific to refugees. Small, local organizations will be represented along with larger ones.

The task force recommended that half of the members should be women. It also called for including members who earn a lower income to reflect the life experiences of many immigrants and refugees.

Immigrants now account for nearly 23 percent of King County’s population

Of King County’s 2.15 million residents, an estimated 488,000 – nearly 23 percent – were born in a different country. That is up from 20 percent in 2010.

More than half of King County’s immigrant population is from Asia, with smaller shares from Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

King County’s total population has increased by 212,000 over the past six years. About 44 percent of that growth is from residents who already live here having children. Another 44 percent is from people who were born in other countries. About 12 percent is from people who moved from other states, notably California, Oregon, and Texas.

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics

King County sues federal government to restore funding for science-based teen pregnancy prevention

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

King County is challenging a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services decision to cancel federal teen pregnancy prevention grants that fund sexual health education developed by Public Health—Seattle & King County. The lawsuit is part of a national effort to push back against the politicization of public health initiatives.

A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court requests an injunction to block the administration from terminating the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants two years early – and to restrain federal officials from applying an ideological bias to deny science-based projects that have been rigorously vetted and already funded by Congress.

The federal grants have traditionally supported science-based approaches to health and sex education, including a five-year, $5 million competitive award for King County’s FLASH sex education curriculum. FLASH research is underway in schools in the Midwest and rural South, testing the impact on students’ ability to delay sexual activity and to protect themselves from pregnancy and STD’s.

In July, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced it was immediately cancelling the program two years early, cutting $2 million from King County, and effectively gutting the research – and ignoring the mandate of Congress, which has continually funded the program for nearly a decade.

The abrupt and early end to the teen pregnancy prevention funding makes it impossible to complete a vital evaluation of FLASH. The evaluation would objectively confirm whether the curriculum increases the number of students who are delaying sex and increases the use of birth control and condoms for those who choose to be sexually active.

An evidence-based curriculum helps local school boards justify the use of FLASH when there is growing pressure in some areas to use unproven and harmful ideological-based curriculum.

“The Trump administration had no legal right to eliminate the teen pregnancy prevention grants and block us from completing our research,” said Executive Constantine. “King County created FLASH, one of the most respected sexual health education programs in the nation. Pulling back the funding completely disregards science and evidence in favor of right-wing ideology that is out of touch with reality. We are fighting back to protect women’s and young people’s health, and to continue effective programs that meet our common goals.”

Teen pregnancy rates in King County are among the lowest in the nation – thanks in part to the widespread use of the FLASH curriculum. The teen birth rate has fallen from 21.5 per 1,000 in 2008 to a remarkably low 8.0 in 2016 – a 63 percent decline.

“This is a huge blow to our project, to all of the other teen pregnancy evaluations, and to the evidence base for sex education nationwide,” said Public Health Director Patty Hayes. “Our goal with FLASH is to improve the quality of what happens in classrooms across the nation and to protect our most vulnerable youth.”

In August, King County filed an appeal of the decision to cut the grant with HHS. To date, King County has received no response from HHS.

King County is represented in this suit by the national non-profit legal organization Democracy Forward. Information about other TPPP legal actions can be found here.

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands also filed lawsuits today to preserve their teen pregnancy grants.

“This administration has a reckless disregard for science and data,” said Carole Miller, chief learning officer at Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands.

“By eliminating funding for evidence-based programming and redirecting funds to abstinence only programs, we are setting ourselves up for failure. TPPP is popular; it does good work, and it has helped millions of young people stay safe and healthy. We are going to fight this in the court every step of the way because more than a million people benefit from these tools and resources, often in places where there are no other programs that help young people and families make smart decisions about their future.”

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics

Participate in final Online Open House for Victor Steinbrueck Park improvement project

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) encourages the community to participate in the final Victor Steinbrueck Park Online Open House. Visit the Online Open House at http://vspark.participate.online/   from March 9 through March 30, 2018.

The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy allocated funding to improve Victor Steinbrueck Park. The project includes improving sight lines into the park, providing better connections and circulation, improving and expanding lighting, and upgrading seating and landscaping. The park sits atop a privately-owned parking garage. The membrane between the westerly portion of the park and the parking garage below is failing. Major repairs to, or complete replacement of the membrane, will be necessary as part of any improvements to the park. We are in the final design phase of this project and anticipate construction beginning in 2019.

SPR has been and will continue to be engaging organizations including the Chief Seattle Club, the Friends of Market, surrounding residents and businesses, as well as homeless advocates regarding the park.  We have hosted two public meetings, held an online Open House, conducted surveys in the park and on-line, and have presented to the Pike Place Market Historical Commission Design Review Committee throughout the design process.

For additional information, please contact David Graves at david.graves@seattle.gov or 206-684-7048 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/victor-steinbrueck-park

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Northwest, Politics

Pierce County communication leaders presenting at international expo

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

 

Pierce County Emergency Management and the Combined Communications Network (CCN) will be presenting How an Innovative Joint-Partnership Led to the Second Largest 700 TDMA System in the US on Tuesday, March 6, at the International Wireless Communication Expo in Orlando, Fla. 

CCN is a partnership between Pierce Transit and Pierce County. The two organizations own the components that make up the Single County Wide Communication System (SCWCS) and joined forces to create the CCN as the governing body to operate, maintain and sustain the system. The SCWCS is an integrated, seven-layered, next-generation interoperable network consisting of Public Safety Communications, intelligent transportation systems and Lahar warning systems which primarily support Pierce County’s 795,225 citizens. In addition, some technologies extend into Snohomish, King and Thurston counties.

SCWCS customers are primarily the citizens of Pierce County, public safety, public transportation, first responders, regional stakeholders (United States Geological Survey, Port of Tacoma, Washington State Patrol, Washington Department of Transportation, and others), and general government.

The 700MHz layer of the SCWCS is the largest 700MHz TDMA system in the Western United States and the third largest in the United States.

The International Wireless Communication Expo is the pre-eminent international conference on communications featuring the most comprehensive program in the communications technology industry. The five-day conference program runs March 5-9, 2018 and showcases new technologies and the latest industry changes attracting over 7,000 attendees from across the globe.

The team will be available in Pierce County later this week to discuss the project and information gathered at the Expo.

To learn more about the CCN visit www.co.pierce.wa.us/4355/Combined-Communications-Network-CCN.

Filed Under: Community News, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, Northwest, Politics

Latina activists Mónica Ramírez Speaks at University of Puget Sound

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Mónica Ramírez Speaks at University of Puget Sound 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20

Mónica Ramírez, one of the nation’s leading Latina activists, will give a free public talk at University of Puget Sound on Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel. Ramírez, who delivered the 2018 International Women’s Day keynote address at the United Nations, has titled her talk “SEEDING CHANGE: How Farmworker Women are Leading the Fight to End Workplace Sexual Violence from the Fields to Hollywood Studios.”
The co-founder and president of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (National Farmworker Women’s Alliance), Ramírez was the first U.S. attorney to specifically represent farmworker women in legal cases of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

She wrote Alianza’s open letter of support, “700,000 Female Farmworker Say They Stand with Hollywood Actors Against Sexual Assault,“ that was published inTIME and went viral. The letter helped to change the national conversation to be inclusive of all workers. Ramírez was at the Golden Globes as Laura Dern’s guest, appeared on NBC’s Today show with America Ferrara, and has been featured widely in the media.

Ramírez has a long history of promoting women’s leadership and political power. The daughter and granddaughter of migrant farmworkers, she was previously director of Latinas Represent, for the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, and deputy director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.  

Sponsored by Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound Lectures.

For more information contact: Serni Solidarios  ssolidarios@pugetsound.edu ; 253.879.3366

For directions and a map of the University of Puget Sound campus: pugetsound.edu/directions
For accessibility information please contact accessibility@pugetsound.edu or 253.879.3931, or visitpugetsound.edu/accessibility.

Filed Under: Community, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics

Workshops provide powerful tools to help support caregivers

March 11, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Many people don’t plan to take on the role of caregiver to a loved one. The responsibilities of providing medical assistance and everyday social care are not part of their reality — until they are. Research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives.

Pierce County’s Aging and Disability Resources is offering “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”, a free six-week educational series designed to provide unpaid caregivers the tools to take care of themselves while caring for others. Participants will receive a copy of “The Caregiver Handbook,’ developed specifically for the class.

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” consist of six sessions held Thursday afternoons from March 15 to April 19 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Pierce County Sound View Building, 3602 Pacific Ave., Suite 200, in Tacoma. Participants are asked to commit to attend all six sessions.

Topics addressed include:

•      Taking care of yourself

•      Identifying and reducing personal stress

•      Communicating feelings, needs, and concerns

•      Communication in challenging situations

•      Learning from our emotions,

•      Mastering caregiving decisions

“Many of us help older, sick or disabled family member and friends every day,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Pierce County’s Aging & Disability Resources manager.  “We know we are helping, but we don’t think of ourselves as caregivers. We are glad to do this and feel rewarded by it, but if the demands are heavy, over time we can also become exhausted and stressed. Powerful Tools provides guidance and training to help caregivers with their number one task – self-care.”

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is a free series. Space is limited and advance reservations are required by calling 253-798-4423. For more information about the classes call 253-798-4600.

Filed Under: Community, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, Health, News

Ladies First, Celebrating Women’s Health and Wellness

March 9, 2018 by NWFacts 1 Comment

In celebration of Women’s Month, you are invited to showcase and sell your products and services at the Women In Business Expo Group’s fundraiser, Ladies First, Celebrating Women’s Health and Wellness, Saturday, March 31, 2018, 12pm-4pm.  The WIBEG event will be held at Rainer Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainer Avenue S, 98118.

You are invited to do one, two, or all three of the following:

VENDOR: The vendor fee is only $50 per table, which includes (1) 2ftx6ft table, covering (black cloth with red runner), and (2) chairs..

WIBEG is aggressively marketing our event to the public and our extensive email database.  Use the attached Vendor Application.

Event Benefits:
• Exposure to 100+ expected attendees which includes WIBEG members and new customers who live/work in various cities throughout Puget Sound.
• Acknowledgement during Ladies First
• Opportunities to build your customer database

DONATION FOR WIBEG’s SILENT AUCTION: These items and services will promote your business and must be of quality packaging/presentation for display. Items and their description MUST be delivered by March 23. Please contact DeWanda Evans at 253.307.9287 or Carmelle Bias at 206.331.5964.

LADIES FIRST PROGRAM AD
: If you want to place a business ad in the Ladies First Program, the cost is $20. Complete the applicable sections of the Vendor Application, check the “Ad” box, and indicate your method of payment.  Your application is due by March 12, 2018.

Volunteer positions are still available for this event.  If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please contact Evelyn Ray at 206.316.6597 / WIBEGvolunteer@yahoo.com or Patt Butler-Lathan at 206.778.7911 / WIBEG2@yahoo.com.

WIBEG Mission:  Support and empower small business owners and professional women by providing resources and opportunities that develop leadership skills and enhance personal and professional growth.

For additional information, please contact Carmelle Bias at 206.331.5964 or womeninbusinessexpogroup@yahoo.com.

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Entertainment, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, Health, LifeStyle, News, Northwest

Standing up for public records in the Legislature

March 9, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The Washington State House of Representatives convenes for floor debate, February 22nd, 2018.

You’ve probably heard a lot in the news about the Legislature’s recentproposed changes to the laws regarding open records. The bill, SB 6617, passed the Legislature last Friday.

I want you to know I voted against this bill. As someone who has been subject to the Public Records Act in other capacities, I know what it takes to operate under public scrutiny. While the legislature has not traditionally considered itself subject to public disclosure, last year I released my calendar to the news media that asked for it because I have nothing to hide. Until the Legislature sets a firm policy for all members, I will continue to voluntarily turn over records that are requested.

I will continue to fight for a transparent and open government that is accountable to you.

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest

Tackling homelessness in Federal Way

March 9, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The state needs a comprehensive plan to address homelessness. It’s affecting every town and city in our state. While I’ve heard a lot of possible solutions to the problem while serving on the Community Development, Housing, and Tribal Affairs committee, I know it’s going to take a combination of options, including public-private partnerships, and looking to our faith communities to help make sure all our neighbors have roofs over their heads.

In our district, I’ve fought for operating and capital budget increases to help get our neighbors off the streets and into housing. That includes:

  • $100,000 for Mary’s Place Women’s & Children’s Shelter
  • $500,000 for FUSION Boutique Transitional Housing
  • $1.2 million for foster kids to successfully transition out of the foster care system into safe housing
  • $250,000 for Habitat for Humanity Homeless Veterans Housing

Filed Under: Community, Community News, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics

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