Commissioner Tim Reid elevated to board clerk; both elected to serve in roles until 2020

Metro Parks Board of Commissioners chose Aaron Pointer to serve as president for the coming year. He succeeds Andrea Smith, who held the role in 2017 and 2018.

“Parks and recreation are a positive influence on this community,” Pointer said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to lead the Park Board again. There are a lot of good things in store for the district in 2019, including park improvement projects and the growth of innovative programs that serve our community.”

Pointer, a retired parks supervisor and former professional baseball player and NFL referee, has served on the Park Board since 2001 and previously served as board president in 2012.

While serving in that role, he surprised and delighted the Japanese consulate general when Pointer addressed him in his native language while accepting a gift of flowering cherry blossom trees for Point Defiance Park. Pointer became fluent in the language while playing in Fukuoka, Japan, for the Nishitetsu Lions.

Also Monday, Commissioner Tim Reid was chosen as board clerk, the No. 2 position and a role Pointer most recently held in 2017 and 2018. Reid, who has served on the Park Board since 1995, has served as president and clerk before.

“We’re all looking forward to 2019,” Reid said. “There are so many good things happening in the district – and the Park Board is here to make sure the right things are done the right way, as far as the community is concerned.”

The Board of Park Commissioners sets policy for Metro Parks Tacoma. Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms and are elected by voters in Tacoma and parts of unincorporated Browns Point and Dash Point. The other commissioners are Erik Hanberg and Jessie K. Baines Jr.

Applications now open for our new Transportation Equity Workgroup!

A key part of our work at SDOT is to make sure people have access to affordable transportation options.  In Seattle, transportation is the second highest household cost after housing, and we know communities at risk of displacement bear the brunt of transportation inequities. That’s why, in alignment with the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative goals, we established our Transportation Equity Program in 2017 and are focused on leading with a racial equity framework.

Defining transportation equity…with you! 

Well, we can’t (and shouldn’t) do it alone. We need to develop a shared definition, created hand-in-hand with the communities impacted most by transportation disparities. To do that, we’re establishing the City’s first Transportation Equity Workgroup (drumroll for our latest acronym…TEW), and applications are now open!

We’re seeking workgroup members to provide input on a set of recommendations to be considered in the development of a Transportation Equity Agenda, a framework for transportation equity goals and priorities.

Through the formation of the workgroup, we’re looking to bring together a diverse group of individuals affiliated with community-based organizations, coalitions or networks from Seattle’s racial and ethnic communities. The workgroup will foster community among participants through facilitated engagement and workgroup members will collaborate for one-year to provide community-guided suggestions to inform SDOT’s Transportation Equity Agenda.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for applicants with personal or professional expertise, and are affiliated with Seattle-King County located community-based organizations, coalitions, and networks from/or serving the following communities:

• People of color
• People with low-income
• Immigrant and refugee populations
• Native populations
• People living with disabilities
• People experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity
• LGBTQ+ people
• Individuals who identify as girls and women
• Youth
• Older adults
• Individuals who were formerly incarcerated
• High-risk displacement neighborhoods
• Racial justice, environmental justice, and/or transportation justice-based organizations
• Underrepresented and under-resourced human service providers and community-based organizations

We’re also looking for applicants with personal or professional experience with transportation programs, including knowledge of challenges and successes of transportation access in the community. In addition, applicants should understand the impacts of institutionalized racism and race-based disparities on communities of color and have an interest in working to eliminate these disparities. If you have additional questions about the application process, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

How to apply + where to learn more.

If you’re interested in applying or looking for more info, head to our Transportation Equity Workgroup page. You can apply now through February 22, 5:30 PM. Application materials to submit include a nomination form from your affiliated community-based organization or agency, and the nominee’s responses to six application questions. If you have any other questions, connect with the program lead Annya Pintak at transportationequity@seattle.gov or (206) 684-5142.

Join us in person on Jan 31.

We also invite applicants to attend an upcoming event to learn more:

What:  Transportation Equity Workgroup learning session

When:  Thursday, January 31, 1 – 3 PM

Where:  Rainier Beach Library (9125 Rainier Ave S)

Transportation Equity Program staff will be on hand to answer questions about the application and workgroup process. We’re looking forward to getting this workgroup started and kicking off 2019 with a commitment to community engagement!