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Olympia renters rally against unfair evictions; push for city renter protection policies

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As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable in the Puget Sound, and renters feel growing instability in their homes, Olympia renters are rallying Tuesday at City Hall to push their city council to enact renter protections.

Olympia is one of the most rent-burdened areas in the state with 53.7% of renters devoting more than 30% of our income toward rent. Further, people of color, seniors, single-parent households, and individuals or households with disabilities are the most likely to be rent-burdened. The price of rent is only one of the obstacles renters in the city face when trying to ensure stability for their families.

That’s why renters are gathering outside Olympia City Hall Tuesday at 6 pm to demand their City Councilmembers pass a slate of tenant protection policies including move-in payment plans.

What: Renter Rally & Public Comment

When: Tuesday, October 8 at 6pm

Where: Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA

The Washington Fairness Campaign host former Governor Gary Locke, Larry Gossett and Hyeok Kim to learn more about the I-1000

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The Washington Fairness Campaign to approve Initiative 1000 will host an event for the public to gather and learn more about the Initiative 1000 with featured Washington state leaders.

The Washington Fairness Campaign, a broad coalition representing hundreds of organizations, unions and businesses in support of Initiative 1000 held an event to discuss the Approve 1000 campaign 

Gary Locke, former Governor, Secretary of Commerce, King County Council member Larry Gossett and former Ambassador to China and Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at UW will be featured at this event to speak with community members to discuss Initiative 1000. Initiative 1000 will be featured on ballots in November under “Referendum 88”.

The goal of this event is to provide a platform for the public to come and speak about the Initiative with the featured leaders in Washington state, Gary Locke and Ed Lazowska. This will be an opportunity for the public to come and foster conversation around the Initiative.

I-1000 celebrates our state’s diversity and is the right action to ensure fairness and opportunity for all our citizens. Creating a level playing field ensures we all succeed. Vote to approve I-1000 via Referendum 88 to help every Washingtonian get the opportunities we all deserve. – Gov Locke.

Next year is going to be a game-changing year for the Black community

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National Voter Registration Day, so there’s no better time to ensure you’re registered to vote and mobilize your networks to do the same. We all have the power to make a difference in 2020, but the work has to begin now.

Next year is going to be a game-changing year for the Black community and we are shaping a new culture of voting by bringing the Black community together as a potent political force. Hundreds of elected officials, activists, and public figures have already joined our campaign, including Actor, Director and Activist, Larenz Tate.

Supporters like you are critical to helping us maintain our momentum on the ground. We’re asking you to use your power to mobilize at least five African Americans to vote and participate in the Census in 2020.

List your five here.

We’re counting on you to be an advocate for democracy and social change. You have the power, claim it! Visit our website to mobilize your five people today.

Fighting forward,

Metro Parks Tacoma wins National Gold Medal Award

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Metro Parks Tacoma has won the prestigious 2019 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the top achievement in the industry.

The announcement was made Tuesday, Sept. 24 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) at the opening session of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) annual conference.

Metro Parks also learned at the conference that it has earned accreditation for a second time, meaning it remains in an elite group of agencies that meet 151 rigorous standards for managing lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. Only three agencies in Washington State have earned accreditation.

“Our staff, our volunteers, our program partners, and our community members rise to the challenge every day to help Metro Parks be among the best in the industry,” said Aaron Pointer, President of the Metro Parks Board of Commissioners. “The past few years have been extraordinary, as we’ve built new parks and facilities, added or enhanced programs, and developed new partnerships to expand our reach. Earning the National Gold Medal Award and accreditation at the same time is an incredible honor for everyone who contributes to our mission of creating healthy places to play, learn and grow.”

The National Gold Medal Awardprogram honors communities that demonstrate excellence through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. This is the third time Metro Parks has won it. The park district won the National Gold Medal in 1985 and 1992, and it was a finalist in 2017.

Metro Parks highlighted a variety of accomplishments in its application and video, including:

·         Opening the Pacific Seas Aquarium and Eastside Community Center in 2018.

·         Transforming a contaminated Superfund site into Dune Peninsula and the Wilson Way pedestrian bridge, which opened in July.

·         Creating the Elementary Sports Program and Whole Child Access Pass to reduce geographic and economic barriers that make it harder for children to participate in recreational opportunities.

·         Expanding environmental and conservation education from pre-school through high school, and implementing programs such as the Ocean-Friendly Restaurant campaign to reduce single-use plastics.

The other National Gold Medal finalists in the population category of 150,000 to 400,000 people were agencies serving Tampa, Fla; Norfolk, Va.; and Greensboro, N.C. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission was among four finalists in the state parks category, which was won by Florida.

The process for accreditation included a lengthy assessment of 151 standards, hundreds of supporting documents submitted as evidence, a four-day site visit by a team of trained park professionals, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Metro Parks was first accredited in 2014, and this was the district’s first time being reaccredited.

“I’m excited for our staff and everyone associated with Metro Parks to receive such distinguished recognition. It’s a credit to their passion, energy and innovative thinking,” said Metro Parks Executive Director Shon Sylvia. “This isn’t a one-time accomplishment. Being reaccredited shows we are doing our best to live these standards every day.”

Of the thousands of park and recreation agencies in the nation, only 178 are accredited, according to NRPA. The park departments in Bellevue and Shoreline are the only other accredited agencies in the state of Washington.

The NRPA is a nonprofit dedicated to helping its 60,000 members provide everyone with access to parks and recreation services for health, conservation and social equity. The AAPRA is focused on the administration of recreation and parks.

New Fare Share Plan to Invest in Workers, Housing, and Transportation

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We’re living in the most disruptive time for our workers since the Industrial Revolution. Our economy is changing, and long-term jobs are giving way to gig work. In this rapidly changing economy, we need to make sure our hard-fought worker protections are available for gig workers. That includes Uber and Lyft drivers, who work long hours to help all of us get where we need to go.

As Seattle grows, we also need to make sure our communities can afford to live near where they work, and everyone, regardless of income or ability level, has access to high-quality transit.

That’s why earlier today I announced my “Fare Share” plan to invest in workers, housing near transit, and transit and transportation projects.

Our Fare Share plan will:

  • Mandate Seattle’s minimum wage, plus benefits and expenses, for Uber and Lyft drivers, beginning July 1, 2020;
  • Invest in landmark worker protections, including a first-in-the-nation Driver Resolution Center;
  • Invest in transit and fully fund the Center City Connector streetcar; and
  • Support more than 500 new affordable homes near transit for people earning between $15 and $25 per hour.

 

The City of Seattle wants to create a model to ensure we’re appropriately compensating drivers for the hours they truly work, the expenses they are shouldering, and the benefits they deserve, even if they are currently classified as independent contractors.

Seattle is a national leader in ensuring our workers are treated fairly and can build a better life for themselves and their loved ones. From the Fight for $15 to our Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, we’ve always been the city that puts our workers before any company’s bottom line.

We also know that more and more workers like Seattle’s nurse assistants, construction workers, and preschool teachers can’t afford to live close to their jobs. And that’s why we need to continue to invest in more affordable housing as quickly as possible across Seattle.

There’s no doubt that the explosive growth of companies like Lyft and Uber has helped many people, and has helped create opportunity for many communities throughout our region.

But the fact remains that some Uber and Lyft drivers are not making minimum wage, while billion dollar companies are profiting off of using the City’s public resources, like the right of way and curb space. Last year alone, there were more than 24 million Uber and Lyft rides in our City, half of which started or ended downtown. That has had an impact on congestion, and has crowded our buses and curbs.

That’s why we need to think big and make important investments in transit like this one to ensure we keep transit moving in downtown Seattle, manage traffic, and achieve our climate goals.

This overall plan is about ensuring Seattle builds off our legacy of fighting for working families. And it’s about growing into the city we want to be.

Your feedback is critical to the success of this project. As always, please continue to write me at Jenny.Durkan@seattle.gov, reach out via Twitter and Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we’re doing for the people of Seattle on my blog.

Mayor Jenny Durkan is releasing her 2020 Proposed Budget

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Mayor Jenny Durkan is releasing her 2020 Proposed Budget.  In the second year of the two-year budget biennium, this budget maintains core services while at the same time increasing investments in priorities like public safety, housing and homelessness, transit and transportation, and opportunity and jobs for Seattle’s young people.

The 2020 Proposed Budget maintains resources and staff to support the ongoing work of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA).  We will continue to provide:

  • Naturalization assistance through our New Citizen Campaign and New Citizen Program;
  • The Immigrant Family Institute including the evidence-based Strengthening Families Program curriculum;
  • The Ready to Work program in three Seattle locations;
  • Removal defense via the Seattle/King County Expanded Legal Defense Network (ELDN); and
  • Citywide Language Access and Ethnic Media programs.

For those of you who watch the numbers closely, you’ll see that the total annual budget for OIRA looks lower (about $4M rather than $5M).  This is a result of technical changes in the way we reflect our grant funding and the ELDN partnership with King County.  Current recurring OIRA grants will now be added to the budget when each annual contract is signed, rather than assumed in OIRA’s base budget.  And because King County (rather than OIRA) is administering the contracts for ELDN, the King County investment of $810,000 for 2020 is not included in OIRA’s budget.  OIRA’s program delivery will not be affected.

NEXT STEPS AND COMMUNICATION ABOUT BUDGET
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s the proposed budget. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Monday, November 25. More information about details in the budget can be found at www.seattle.gov/budget, and you can also direct any questions to jenny.durkan@seattle.gov.

“Conversation With The Streets”

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“Conversation With The Streets” | IS A MOVEMENT

With the “Conversation With The Streets” movement,
we believe in an unconventional way of reaching out, healing, and educating!

SEPTEMBER 2019 PANEL RELEASED | DINNER WILL BE SERVED

Wed, September 25, 2019 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Seattle City Hall (Main Level)   600 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98104

BLACK LEADERS UNITE

  • Andre’ L. Taylor, Activist and Motivational Speaker
  • Jay Morrison, CEO, Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Expert
  • Nuri Muhammad, Nation of Islam, Student Minister, Indianapolis, Indiana

This event is sponsored by the organization, NOT THIS TIME, with support from the Mayor’s Office of Seattle, Seattle Neighborhoods, Seattle Foundation, The McCaney Project, and Savren Marketing.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

YOUR COMMUNITY IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY … www.nwfacts.com

King County Elections Partnership To Drive Voter Registration And Voter Turnout

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King County Director of Elections Julie Wise “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seahawks and CenturyLink Field to spread the word far and wide about the importance and ease of voting, as well as offering tangible opportunities for Seahawks fans to get registered and cast a ballot right there at the stadium. Voting is the very foundation of our democracy and CenturyLink and the Seahawks are helping us to strengthen that foundation with every voter registration and every ballot cast because of this partnership. Go Hawks!”

With CenturyLink Field turning 18 years old – old enough to vote – this season, the Seattle Seahawks, CenturyLink Field, and King County Elections are have joined forces to engage Seahawks fans and voters across the region. The Seahawks and CenturyLink Field have partnered with King County Elections to promote the importance of voting and voter registration throughout the season.

“Voting is paramount to building a strong community. The Seahawks and CenturyLink Field are proud to be able work with King County Elections to ensure that every fan and every resident can make their voices heard,” said David Young, Seahawks Senior Vice President of Business Operations and General Manager, CenturyLink Field.

On Sunday, September 22, King County Elections will host a voter registration drive at CenturyLink Field before the Seahawks vs. Saints game kicks off at 1:25 p.m. They will be located at both Touchdown City and in the north end of the stadium at Muckleshoot Plaza. In addition to voter registration, fans can stop by for giveaways and games.

At the Seahawks vs. Ravens game on Sunday, October 20, fans will be able to bring their voter ballot with them and drop it in a secure voter ballot drop box. Secure ballot drop boxes will be located just outside the North entry gates, adjacent to the main parking lot, as well as in Touchdown City. Fans who drop their ballot on-site will receive a discount coupon for the CenturyLink Field Pro Shop.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seahawks and CenturyLink Field to spread the word far and wide about the importance and ease of voting, as well as offering tangible opportunities for Seahawks fans to get registered and cast a ballot right there at the stadium,” King County Director of Elections Julie Wise stated. “Voting is the very foundation of our democracy and the Seahawks and CenturyLink Field are helping us to strengthen that foundation with every voter registration and every ballot cast because of this partnership. Go Hawks!”

Photo By:  Julie Meier – NW FACTS

“Voting is paramount to building a strong community. The Seattle Seahawks and CenturyLink Field are proud to be able to work with King County Elections to ensure that every fan and every resident can make their voices heard,”

David Young, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Seattle Seahawks and General Manager of CenturyLink Field.

Treehouse’s 5th Annual African American Community Conversation

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Treehouse’s 5th Annual African American Community Conversation is on Wednesday, October 23rd  at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in Seattle, and I hope you’ll join us! This year’s conversation is titled “Black Excellence: Celebrating our success and preparing for the future.” We need each of you to join the conversation, as Treehouse seeks to close the academic/opportunity gap for African American youth that have experienced foster care. We encourage youth to attend the event and participate in the discourse as well.

 

The exhibits at NAAM are open to those attending the conversation. We encourage you to show up at 5:30 p.m. and explore the museum before our discussion.

 

See event details attached, and register at https://engage.treehouseforkids.org/AACC19. Feel free to bring a friend and spread the word.

Are Washington students are missing out on basic life skills ?

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Math, science and language arts are standard classes that Washington students will be learning when they head back to school, but it is the class that is not on their schedule this year that can affect them the most. Personal finance is a lifelong beneficial subject for children to learn in school, yet a recent study analyzed 11,000 high school course catalogues and concluded only 1 in 6 high schoolers is currently required to take a personal finance course to graduate. Washington currently does not have a law that requires students to take a standalone personal finance class. Without these classes, students are missing out on critical life skills that help everyday adults avoid money problems such as budgeting, saving, investing and even how to do their taxes.