Below is email information sent by Metro:Metro to host public meetings in November about restructuring the transit system in your community

When Metro launches the new RapidRide C and D lines in September 2012, we will be changing existing bus service to improve the transit system and provide more connections to jobs, schools, and other destinations in Seattle, Shoreline, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Des Moines. Now is the time for community members to review Metro’s ideas and share their own.

In November, we will be sharing proposed changes to bus service and listening to public comments. We invite you to participate in this process by attending a meeting or information table and completing our online survey. The proposed changes are posted at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/haveasay

Public meetings – save the date!
Join us for an open house and stick around to share your feedback in a facilitated conversation.

Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 12:00-2:00 p.m.
 
Thursday, Nov. 3 – Adams Elementary School, 6110 28th Ave. NW, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
 
Monday, Nov. 7 – Catharine Blaine Elementary, 2550 34th Ave. W, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, Nov. 9 – Chief Sealth High School, 2600 SW Thistle St., 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Monday, Nov. 14 – Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N 85th St., 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Tuesday, Nov. 15 – South Park Neighborhood Center, 8201 10th Ave. S, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Thursday, Nov. 17 – Madison Middle School, 3429 45th Ave. SW, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Learn more and stay informed of opportunities to have a say at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/haveasay.

While the story is not pretty, no charges of unlawful actions are made.  I have little to add beyond the story and discussions offered on the Save Seattle School Blog.   It is their scoop.  Many who represent us in Olympia play a role in the story.

http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2011/10/scoop-state-a

EDITOR’S UPDATE: The decision does make a recommendation that the district “establish a process by which its employees can document an official recusal for themselves whenever the possibility of a conflict of interest arises, whether that conflict is in-fact or appearance.”

The audit found no evidence that Fred Stephens was involved in the decision-making process (see our previous post for background). Stephens, a member of First AME, had been accused of having a conflict of interest in the sale, but the auditor found he had recused himself from the deal. He did receive some emails about it, but only because he was on a larger email list, according to the audit report.

There was resistance to selling within the district and from some state legislators to the Bush School. In the end, it appeared that Ron English, the district’s Property Manager at the time, wanted to sell to the highest bidder. However, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, the superintendent at the time, said she wanted to sell to First AME. The Board then voted 5-2 to approve the sale.

Below is the full document if you want to get into all the gory details.

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Should I say, “Don’t forget.” or” Remember?”

See calendar and earlier post.

It is important that all attend  Kay Smith-Blum’s  first meeting of this school year this Saturday.  This is not just her chance to share her thoughts with us, but is also   our chance share thoughts with our School Board Representative and our community and to learn about the experiences of others in our community.    Remember that as you review the agenda items below such as capital planning , the next building cycles,  Lowell Elementary, and APP all have the potential to greatly impact the neighborhood assignment plan and the schools in the area, which in turn would affect our families and communities.

Her email announcement is below: Kay Smith-Blum, Seattle School Board, District 5

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEETING SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH, 10:00-11:30 A.M.

I will be holding my first community meeting of the 2011-12 school year this Saturday, August 27th at the Douglass-Truth Library, at 23rd and E. Yesler, Seattle, WA 98122

Topics for discussion will include (but not limited to):1. Update on Lowell Elementary current program; 2.Update on APP at Lincoln process; 3.Upcoming Board policy work around capital planning and Series 4000, including visitor policies, disciplinary policies, law enforcement interaction, etc.; 4.. Update on enrollment; 5.. Discussion on next building cycle and how it can effect the central region schools;6. Recap of Board workshop on technology, vision for 21st Century Classrooms.

Hope you’ve had a good summer! I look forward to our ongoing work together.

Kay Smith-BlumDirector, Position 5, Seattle School Board

Update: Councilmembers Hague and Lambert joined the five members of the County Council who already agreed to adopt the congestion relief charge providing  enough   to save metro for two years!   The organizers who came out to advocate for this funding invite all to join together  to see this exciting deal through!  Attend the Monday’s hearing.The hearing is on Monday August 15th from 1:30-3:00pm at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave.

From Metro:

Council supermajority agrees to vote for $20 charge to avert Metro service cuts

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced this morning that a supermajority of seven County Council members have agreed to support the proposed $20 congestion reduction charge to help fund Metro for two years.

They are supporting the charge in combination with additional actions to increase the transit system’s efficiency.

Approval of their agreed-upon legislative package would avert a 17 percent cut of Metro bus service. The Council is scheduled to take action next Monday, Aug. 15.

Read the County Executive’s news release»

The agreement announced today would do the following:

• Develop a new transit incentive program that will offer bus tickets to people when they renew their car tabs.
  People can either use the tickets to try transit or donate the ticket value to a pool that human service agencies will use to provide mobility for people in need.

• Phase out the downtown Seattle Ride Free Area (RFA) in October 2012.
  The City of Seattle pays Metro $400,000 a year to support the RFA, but that covers only about 18 percent of Metro’s $2.2 million annual cost to operate the RFA. Phasing out the RFA will increase fare revenue for Metro. Other advantages:- The transit system will be simpler—riders will always pay when they board.- Passengers heading away from downtown will get off the bus at any door, making deboarding easier and faster.- Metro expects a decrease in the number of people who board downtown and don’t pay when they reach their destination.

• Increase the pool of funds that provides discounted bus tickets to human service and homeless programs.
  Metro sells human service agencies deeply discounted tickets worth nearly $2 million annually. Metro will either increase the current ticket allocation or further reduce the discount, while giving the public the option of donating their transit incentive tickets. Metro will seek the advice of human service agencies on how to best help those in need. This enhanced program will assist those who have relied on free service downtown–and give them the ability to travel outside of downtown with the tickets.

• Move ahead with “right-sizing” transit service, consistent with the aim of Metro’s strategic plan to build a more productive, cost-effective transit system. In communities where Metro’s fixed-route buses serve few riders, Metro will deploy lower-cost, more efficient Dial-a-Ride Transit (DART), community access transportation services, and vanpools. Metro will reach out to community organizations and local residents to help shape “right-size” transportation strategies.

• Consider routes that carry more riders due to the effects of highway tolling as candidates for added services.
  This is consistent with principles to enhance Metro’s productivity developed by the Regional Transit Task Force and adopted in Metro’s strategic plan.

While the temporary congestion reduction charge is in effect, the County would continue working with state and regional leaders on a long-term funding solution for transit. 

For updates and background information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/metro/future

We’ve got 4 days to save King County Metro.

Losing buses is unacceptable. We can’t afford more congestion, pollution, or inequity. And we must not leave people stranded.

Luckily, the King County Council can do something about it. On Monday, August 15, the council can adopt a $20  “congestion relief charge” to save our buses.

But we still –still– need one more councilmember to support saving Metro.

Tell your councilmember that you support saving Metro.

Call 206-296-1000

Leave a brief message with your name, where you live & work, and that you support the “congestion relief charge” to save Metro buses.

The facts are simple. Losing buses would hurt hundreds of businesses and hundreds of thousands of people.

That’s why so many businesses and people have spoken out.  More than 175 business, human service, labor and environmental leaders just signed a letter to the council. And more than 15,000 letters and petitions have been signed and sent.

With just 4 days left, you can do 3 more things to save Metro:

1.  
   • Call the County Council at 206-296-1000 and tell them you support saving Metro.
   • Attend a press conference this morning at 11am at the Convention Place Transit Station in downtown Seattle.We’ll be announcing the letters from the 175 businesses and the 30 elected officals who support saving King County Metro.
   • Attend the King County Council decision on Monday, August 15, at 1:30pm at the County Courthouse.

You’ve been great. Thank you for your support. Together we can save Metro.

Sincerely,

Brock Howell
Field Director
Transportation for Washington

P.S. Remember, when you call the County Council at 206-296-1000, be sure to say your name, where you live and work, and that you support the council adopting the “congestion relief charge” to save Metro.

P.S.S. If you haven’t yet written a letter to the King County Council, send one now.

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#SaveKCMetro @T4WA

Some have proposed splitting Seattle or slicing a piece off to create a minority majority congressional district.  The Central District would be affected. How do you feel about the shape of the current legislative districts?  See the current maps that are under consideration and comment.

You may also just observe.

League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Forum tonight

http://seattlelwv.org/node/1094

What questions are you going to ask at tonight’s forum?  We’ll open the floor to questions from the audience after we hear from pro & con sides on Seattle Referendum 1 & King County Proposition 1, and from candidates in Seattle City Council Positions 1 and 9 races 

7 to 9:30 PM,  Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, Seattle

Agenda

• 7:00 PM: King County Proposition No. 1
• 7:30 PM: Seattle Referendum No. 1
• 8:00 – 8:15: break
• 8:15 – 9:30: Seattle City Council Candidates in a forum regarding the viaduct replacement.

August Primary Issues Forum

Thursday, Aug. 4
Social Hour: 6:30 to 7:00 PM
Forum: 7:00 to 9:30 PM

Please join us for our Forum in anticipation of the Primary on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011. We have a rousing evening planned, with a brief discussion of the King County funding structure, why the Veteran’s Levy came about in 2005, and why the County is asking the voters to continue it for another six years in Proposition No. 1. Next we’ll have a rousing discussion of the “Viaduct Replacement Issue” appearing as Referendum 1 on Seattle voters’ ballots. We will cap off the evening with a discussion of Referendum 1 and surrounding issues with the candidates for the two Seattle races appearing on the ballot: Positions No. 1 and 9 on the City Council.

Agenda

• 7:00 PM: King County Proposition No. 1
• 7:30 PM: Seattle Referendum No. 1
• 8:00 – 8:15: break
• 8:15 – 9:30: Seattle City Council Candidates in a forum regarding the viaduct replacement.

The League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County

What questions are you going to ask at tonight’s forum?

We’ll open the floor to questions from the audience after we hear from pro & con sides on Seattle Referendum 1 & King County Proposition 1, and from candidates in Seattle City Council Positions 1 and 9 races.