There are more Central District holiday celebrations tonight, including the Festival of Lights at Judkins Park and the Green Dolphin Street Lounge Holiday Jam at 30th and King (Central Area Senior Center).
Both events kick off at 6 p.m. Music, handmade lanterns, joy, community…
Details: Continue reading
Screenshot from Seattle Mag website
More than I thought, apparently.
For one, all three were named as Neighborhood Heroes, according to Seattle Magazine readers—along with many other non-costumed writers, business owners and community organizers. And to think, I don’t even own a can of pepper spray (though CHS’s Justin Carter (sic) has challenged me to mutual combat more times that I can count).
Thanks to everyone who voted for CDNews! I was not even aware there was a vote going, so it’s quite a surprise.
Also, if you pick up the issue, you’ll see lots of other CD folks featured, including the Best New Kids’ Shop Magpie (see our feature on Magpie here). Magpie is run by my landlord, so our little address in the CD represented pretty well in Seattle Mag this year.
However, you win some, and you lose some. Venerable anarchist newspaper Tides of Flame—whose uplifting imagery of the world exploding into flames inspired a generation—has printed its last issue (#25). Though there’s no mention of what CDNews did to curry the favor of the all-knowing editorial staff—an interesting story elsewhere in the issue actually mentions that we stopped by the “Jelly Squat” for regular updates—we were honored with a mention in their prestigious Fuck You goodbye list, nonetheless.
Farewell, Tides of Flame. You’re welcome for the free photographs. Continue reading
King 5 was at 23rd and Union for a rally against police brutality Saturday. Organized by the Seattle King County NAACP and the No New Jim Crow Coalition, the rally was prompted by the recent release of video showing a controversial arrest of Leo Etherly in the liquor store parking lot in October.
“We need to protect our good officers by firing those who violate civil rights,” said James Bible of the Seattle King County NAACP.
While the Office of Professional Accountability has launched an investigation into the behavior of Officer Eric Faust, no charges or decision have yet been made. Police officials defended the officer’s behavior during a press event in late November, saying Etherly resisted arrest and spit on officers. Etherly and his lawyer disagree.
Kids could get their photos taken with Santa at the Reel Grrls studio (complete with magic green screen X-Mas scene)
The CD Holiday Party packed the house at Central Cinema Sunday evening.
Residents had the chance to get their photos taken with Santa (hosted by Central Cinema neighbor Reel Grrls) and watch a series of youth performances.
Neighborhood break dancing students from Coyote Central wowed the crowd, and Meter Music School students kept the tunes coming.
Central Cinema also held a little get-together cocktail hour before the party to celebrate the up-and-down roller coaster of a year for the neighborhood theater. 2012 kicked off with a threat from the Washington Liquor Control Board, which told them rule changes may have made Central Cinema’s family-friendly business model illegal. Neighbors and city leaders united to urge a rule change to allow the theater to continue to operate.
Below are some videos from the CD Holiday Party (starring the Coyote Central advanced break dancing class and the Meter Music School guitar band). If you have any photos, email them to [email protected] or add them to the Central District Flickr pool. Continue reading
One way Yesler Terrace could look after redevelopment.
The Seattle Housing Authority announced Thursday that it has received a $19.73 million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to jump start construction of replacement low-income housing in Yesler Terrace.
The grant comes on the heels of a $10 million HUD grant SHA received in 2011 to start Phase I of the redevelopment, which included 118 replacement homes and improvements to Horiuchi Park. Phase I also aims to connect Little Saigon with Yesler Terrace via a 10th Ave hillclimb path.
Phase II will build “more replacement housing for extremely low-income households, increased services and additional community improvements,” according to the press release from SHA. Phase II will build another 164 replacement homes, bringing low-income housing levels to 38 percent of the total SHA housing replacements (212 of 516) planned in the large-scale redevelopment of the neighborhood into a high-density, mixed-income area.
During deliberations over the plans, many people expressed concerns that the redevelopment plans would not work out, leaving SHA without enough money to replace all the units destroyed to make way for the new market-rate highrise office and housing towers. These grants give the plans a big head start, but replacing many of the remaining units will require proceeds from land sales to big developers. The SHA is narrowing in on choosing a redevelopment partner, with Paul Allen’s Vulcan and a Cleveland firm on the short list of potential firms.
The Phase II money will also help finish the hillclimb and fund some work on the green street loop through the neighborhood. Some money will also assist with health, scholarship and job-finding programs. The grant will also provide financial assistance to Historic Seattle’s renovation of Washington Hall at 14th and Fir.
“In 2013, we will begin to see the actual physical transformation of Yesler Terrace into the neighborhood of the future envisioned by residents and stakeholders as the construction of homes, parks, and the Hillclimb gets underway,” said SHA Executive Director Andrew Lofton in the press release. “We are looking forward to making our first new homes for low-income residents available by the end of 2013.”
Video posted on Rick’s Toys for Kids’ Facebook page
Folks turned out big time to help the YWCA after some very mean person stole over $6,000 worth of donated toys from their 28th and Cherry building.
Neighbors and organizations pulled through to donate toys to the group, and Rick’s Toys for Kids—which bought the toys originally—dug into their reserves to replace them. That’s a pretty solid move by Rick’s, so help them regain their reserves by donating online.
More details from the Times: Continue reading
Image from Mayor McGinn via Instagram
Casa Latina opened its new campus extension today at 17th and Jackson. The mayor and King County Councilmember Larry Gossett were among attendees at the opening celebration. More details on the project from a previous story:
Just two years after moving to the neighborhood, the organization has already far outgrown its space. With to goal of empowering Latino immigrants through education and job opportunities, Casa Latina needs more space for day-to-day work center operations and education offerings, such as English classes. The expansion will also make it easier for people with children to access the organization’s services. Currently, there is no space for any kind of day care for parents who want to attend workshops and trainings, but they hope to be able to provide that once the building is completed.
“That will be a big help in terms of family support for the folks who are coming,” said Rose.
There will also be a portable computer lab to help workers look for jobs and keep up on the news.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced this week that the Garfield High School grad Quincy Jones will be inducted in 2013.
Jones lived on 22nd Ave near Garfield for a time, and his alma mater’s Performing Arts Center now bears his name.
In 2011, President Obama awarded Jones the National Medal of Arts. In the Hall of Fame, he will officially join many of the artists he worked with, including Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Miles Davis.
When asked for his thoughts on being inducted, the 79-year-old told the Associated Press, “Well, it’s about time, man.”
Details from Seattle Parks:
There is still time to sign up for the Teen and Adult Wheelchair Basketball League at Miller Community Center on Tuesday evenings. Anyone who uses a wheelchair and enjoys playing hoops is welcome to the league.
3 on 3 Wheelchair Basketball League for Teens and Adults (combined) NEW!
This awesome league is for our wheelchair population, combining teens 15 and older with adult players. Beginner and novice players have the opportunity to play in a competitive but friendly environment. All participants must be able to follow a sequence of instruction and have adequate upper body control to maneuver a manual wheelchair.There are 8 games (three matches to 15 per game) guaranteed plus play-offs. Game start times vary from 6 – 8:45 p.m., and take place at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E., Seattle. League play begins December 4.
Cost: $108 per team, $27 per player
Location: Miller Community Center, 330 195h Ave. E
Days: Tuesdays
Start times: 6 – 8:45 p.m.
Dates: December 4, 2012 – February 12, 2013 (no games Dec 25 or Jan 1)
Here’s a look at some recent crime incidents in the neighborhood in recent weeks. Most information is from Seattle Police Department reports.
ATM robbery: A man reported he was the victim of an armed robbery around 3:30 Tuesday morning near at an ATM near the Seattle U campus. According to a security bulletin released on the incident, police were called to 14th and Spring about 90 minutes after the reported robbery. There were no details on what type of weapon was used in the crime. The victim described the suspect as a black male in his 40s, 6′, slim build and wearing a white hoodie with a dark jacket at the time of the mugging.
Road rage with a gun: What started as an apparent road rage incident over a parking space near 14th and Spring almost got much worse around 11:30 p.m. December 1. An angry man pulled a gun when a passer-by got involved in the argument before speeding away.
