With King County Proposition 1 approval gaining ground in the most recent counts, King County sent a press release thanking voters for passing the issue to fund a rebuild and redevelopment of the Youth Services Center at 12th and Alder.

The tally to approve the measure grew to 53.41 percent, paving the way for a new detention and justice center by 2019. UPDATE: As of 5:45 p.m. Thursday, the count had widened further to 54.29% YES, 45.81% NO.

From King County:

King County leaders this afternoon thanked the voters of King County for approving King County Proposition 1, the Children and Family Justice Center levy, which in the latest tally had a 53.41 percent yes vote. 

“This is for the children and families of King County,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “In times of crisis they need and deserve safety, dignity, and an opportunity for redemption. This center will finally help make that possible. This vote creates a better future that provides hope to at-risk youth and families in crisis and fair, efficient, and equitable justice for all.

“I will be working closely with the County Council, the judges, youth and justice advocates, the 12th Avenue neighborhood, and the broader community to design and build a Children and Family Justice Center that advances our highest values as a community,” added Constantine.

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, prime sponsor of placing King County Proposition No. 1 on the ballot, said, “I am grateful to the people of King County for their commitment to justice and our region’s youth. Voters recognized the importance of providing critical infrastructure for our children and families facing crisis.

”With the success of Proposition 1, we can move forward with a new Children and Family Services Center that serves families better, promotes public safety, and reflects our community’s commitment to a fair and accessible justice system for everyone,” added Ferguson.

“After many years of hard work and planning for what the future should be for children and families in crisis in King County, we will now have a building that will be responsive to the needs in our community to help people get their lives back together,” said King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee.  “I’m particularly happy about the increased security and the opportunity for citizens and their attorneys to have private conversations as they work through these personal family traumas.  I thank our citizenry for making this available to meet today’s needs and those of our next generation.”   

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said, “The voters have shown vision and compassion to the thousands of families in crisis in King County each year, where a child has been charged with a crime, or run away from home, or where parents are in danger of losing their rights due to allegations of neglect. The new center will vastly improve our ability to help these families, protect children, and improve public safety.”

King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard McDermott said, “It is enormously gratifying to see, in these recessionary times, that the citizens of King County have voted to approve Proposition 1. By approving this new property tax, they have confirmed the importance of assisting our children and families in need.  The King County Superior Court thanks you for your support and promises to work closely with the other branches of government to construct a Children and Family Justice Center where justice can truly flourish.”

Jackson Commons, a citizen group headed by Knox Gardner to promote activity and business on Jackson Street, has been profiling businesses on its blog. They recently chatted with Susan Smith from Two Big Blondes about what makes Jackson a good place for a business, and what challenges the street faces.

From Jackson Commons:

Susan Smith, Owner
Two Big Blondes
http://www.twobigblondes.com/
 2501 S. Jackson Street

Two Big Blondes is a plus-size consignment store for the ladies. They have a steady stream of shoppers, helpful staff, and though unassuming from the street, it’s vast! We were curious about their long-term success on Jackson and came to realize that part of that success is that they’re a destination not only for women in the city, but even ladies who live out of town. They are also affiliated with the Seattle Women’s Assistance Fund, meaning you can drop of charitable donations there!

When we’ve thought about the blend of retail that should be on Jackson, having this type of business that can draw a wide range of people from outside our own neighborhood is critical to the success of the entire street and more neighborhood-centric services.

We had a chance earlier to chat with Susan about running her business on Jackson and the challenges she has.

Read more…

Neighbors all around the CD took the opportunity to close their residential streets to cars and open them to picnic tables, music, kids on bikes and even a dinosaur-shaped bouncy castle.

Most importantly, National Night Out is a chance for longtime neighbors to spend some time together and for new neighbors to put a face to the homes a few doors down.

I took a stroll to a handful of the many block parties:

Fisher from Popcycles and Alleycat Acres was out touring CD block parties as well, hauling free homemade popsicles in his bike trailer. Here he is with Jean Tinnea.

Night Out is organized by the police department, and SPD officers were out and about visiting various block parties.

22nd Ave pretty much won Night Out with their dinosaur bouncy castle (it’s a competition, right?). When other blocks were calling it quits, it was still kid mayhem on 22nd.

Mrs. Wyatt’s pound cake was a huge hit.

Do you have any photos or tales from Night Out? Add them to the comments below or email [email protected].

An indy production is currently filming at Garfield and several other Seattle locations.

We swung by and chatted with some of the folks on set, and they asked us super nicely not to publish the details of the film until they are out of the area (I know what you’re thinking, and no, Robert Patterson is not involved with the production).

They will likely be around Garfield a few more days, so if you see their tents and trailers, that’s why. Stay tuned for more details.

The widow of the demolished warehouse at 10th and Union remarried Saturday, this time to the Yesler Terrace neighborhood.

Babylonia Aivaz interrupted a City Council meeting in early July to announce her engagement. She is protesting the proposed large-scale redevelopment of Yesler Terrace, which is currently awaiting City Council approval.

In order to fund the creation of new subsidized housing units, the Seattle Housing Authority intends to sell some of the land it owns in the neighborhood to private developers. The full redevelopment is anticipated to take 10-20 years.

The plan includes 661 “extremely” low-income units to replace the 561 currently in the neighborhood as well as 290 “very” low-income units and 850 “workforce” units. In addition, the plan calls for 3,199 market-rate units, mostly in high-rise condo and apartment buildings.

Here’s a press release about Babylonia’s wedding sent to various city media:

On Saturday August 4th at 2 pm Babylonia Aivaz, widow of the 10th and Union Warehouse, married the Yesler Terrace Neighborhood. The wedding took place at the scenic Yesler Terrace Farm. The farm which will also be demolished during the re-development empowers many youth from the  neighborhood, delivers organic produce to the community, and serves as an eagle sanctuary.

King County Council Member Larry Gossett was there to show his support for the union between Babylonia Aivaz and Yesler Terrace. Furthermore, his brother Glenn Gossett who was also at the wedding lives in Yesler Terrace  and will be one of 1200 residents forced to re-locate under this re-development plan.

While some have asked if Babylonia is here on the rebound from her brief marriage to the late 10th & Union warehouse, Yesler Terrace was her first love.

Yesler Terrace, Babylonia’s beloved, is under threat through redevelopment.  Although the Seattle Housing Authority and the City of Seattle have promised to provide housing for each family, and to help each family return, the time frame is up to 20 years. In addition, they will sell much of the public land to create upscale apartment buildings, and will change the zoning of the adjacent business area so that developers will build new businesses and more condos for new,wealthier businesspeople and wealthier customers.  This process of gentrification will make it much harder for the same spirit of community to prevail.

The minister asked Babylonia: Do you Babylonia take Yesler Terrace to be your evidence that building community is the only way to shape a healthier future for our country? to be your reminder that loving people is the best way to spend the day? and to ensure that people who do not have a lot of money should have the same rights as those with money?

The Minister then asked the children who were representing Yesler Terrace as the neighborhood is made up of 40% children: Yesler Terrace do you take Babylonia to be your bride and to be your reminder that when an injustice occurs you must stand up for yourselves? The children then released balloons into the air as a sign of their acceptance and proclaimed, “we do!”

This Loraxian matrimony advocates this project not move forward until there is a more efficient and timely return for the residents; that no units can be demolished until there are replacement units built ON SITE. This will significantly decrease the amount of time residents will spend away from their beloved community and their neighborhood.

In the current version of the re-development plan, many residents will have to wait 15-20 years before they can move back to their neighborhood. Who would return on such a timeline?

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better its not”. Residents from Yesler Terrace will be marching to the last public hearing at City Hall regarding the re-development on August 8th @ 5:30 pm. City Hall lifted Babylonia’s year long ban for this particular day, so she will be able to attend as well.

Former mayor Norm Rice and Seattle University President Stephen Sundborg also weighed in on the plans for Yesler Terrace recently. They co-wrote a Seattle Times op-ed that did not call for the halting of redevelopment plans. But they did urge the city and SHA to adhere to these community-created guiding principles:

• First, the housing at Yesler Terrace must be replaced. It is no longer healthful housing for the present residents and will most certainly not stand to serve future generations who will need affordable housing. Social justice — not to mention common sense — requires that the 561 worn-out units be replaced. It’s no longer practical to fix up and patch together solutions to overused housing, water and sewer systems.

• Second, as these obsolete structures are demolished, all must be replaced on the existing site or within a few blocks, and all residents currently living at Yesler Terrace must be given firm rights to return. Seattle Housing has made these promises, and is working in partnership with the city of Seattle to institutionalize them into a binding agreement.

• Third, and of immense importance, Yesler Terrace redevelopment needs to be about more than building new housing — it must be about building a great neighborhood for people of all incomes and backgrounds. The goal is to create a place where the racial and income-based inequities of poverty are eased and people have an opportunity to participate in pathways to education and economic opportunity.

National Night Out is a great chance to spend some time getting to know the people who live on your street and to take advantage of sanctioning your road-closing party.

If your block is throwing a part, be sure to also add it to the city’s map and to let us know the details in the comments below (we will update this map periodically, so if you add your event to city’s map, it will show up here eventually):

If your block hasn’t registered yet, it appears SPD’s Night Out website is still accepting new registrations.

Also, the city says Councilmember Sally Clark will be around to some of the Madrona-area block parties, and folks from SPD and the Fire Department typically show up to some as well. Lucky blocks might even get a fire engine visit, and they even let kids climb on it (which, as a former little kid, is basically the coolest thing ever).

UPDATE: SPD says you have until noon Tuesday to register your block party.

UPDATE 8/7: Registration is now closed. The map above is almost certainly not a complete list of block parties in the neighborhood. So you’re gonna have to go outside and see for yourself is there’s a block party there (or let us know the details below)! See you on the streets!

Who can guess the word under the white bag in this message scrawled next to the door of 25th and Union’s Cortona Cafe? (It’s probably not “I love”)

I am a little bit confused by this message. Cortona Cafe (Full disclosure, the cafe was a CDNews advertiser at one time) is a non-profit shop that, aside from selling coffee and cafe food, focuses on providing community space for meetings of all kinds and on job training for youth (see our 2011 story about their changes). The despicable racial gap in employment rates among youth is often cited as a cause of youth violence.

On the other hand, Cortona offers their upstairs space to just about any community group that needs a space. Did this person target them for providing free meeting space?

Cortona has a diverse staff, diverse management and a mission that is specifically tailored to addressing problems in the Central District. In fact, gentrification is exactly one of the problems Director Jason Davison attempts to address. From our 2011 story:

There are a lot of issues affecting teens in the CD, like gentrification, said Jason.  “We want to work with youth that are caught, sort of lost in this phase of transition that the neighborhood is going through right now.” Little and the Davisons also see a lack of positive activities and job opportunities for young people in the Central District. These holes in youth services and outreach led them to want to develop a job training and placement program. With that in mind Cortona Cafe piloted this program last year by hiring two teens to work in the cafe. The teens learned barista and other food service skills and both completed the program and have moved on to other employment opportunities with solid training under their belts.

If people (or at least one person) thinks Cortona is part of the problem, that points out all the more the need for a deeper community discussion about gentrification. We’re clearly not all on the same page about what it is or how to address it. Seriously, someone should organize one. I know of a non-profit cafe on Union that has some space we could probably use.

Transmission will take over Washington Hall Friday and Saturday with performances, food, art and a dance party. The event, which starts at 9 p.m. each night, is presented by the Queer Social Club.

Get your tickets online.

More details:

This incredible event will consist of two unique shows, featuring the art, voices, films, words, movement, performances, debauchery, hilarity, and incredibly diverse talents of over 30 artists from the transgender and genderqueer community of the Pacific Northwest. Featuring Cherdonna and Lou, Neon and Leon Beige, Paris Original, Jack Stocklynn, Athens Boys’ Choir, the Seattle Premiere of Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow and much, much more!

Queer Social Club is also excited to be partnering with the Kitchen Sink Project, a queer owned operation that bills itself as “one urbanite’s mission to cultivate art, music, culture and education through food.”  Kitchen Sink Project is creating a unique menu of small bites, tastes and cocktails; each designed to represent one of the acts or artists in the show, giving audience members the chance to enhance their viewing with a concessions pack and adding yet another sensational dimension to our project.  The concessions pack will allow you to taste a culinary interpretation of each piece you watch on stage, and will make your evening that much more memorable and mouthwatering.

And after the performance is done, we ALL dance!  (unless you don’t want to, no one’s forcing anything here.  Consensual dancing only)

This show is 18 and over!  

Accessibility info:

Washington Hall is located 153 14th Ave Seattle, WA 98122

The closest bus lines are: #3, 4 and 27

The show and event will take place in the Washington Hall main stage, located on the second floor.  There is no ramp or elevator to this level.  QSC is committed to finding solutions and offering assistance to overcome impediments this may cause for any and all individuals interested in seeing this show.  If you think you will require assistance please contact the producers at [email protected] as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. 

What is up at the Times?  Today they put Cappy’s Gym in Capitol Hill.  Yesterday the new halfway house in Jackson Place was said to be in Chinatown.  Do you get the feeling that they don’t know much about our neighborhoods?

Umojafest 2012 starts tonight in Judkins Park and will run through Sunday, filling the park with music, food, a basketball tournament and more.

The festival kicks off with Children’s Day activities from 11-4 Friday, followed by the SHINE Talent Competition at 5.

The annual parade starts Saturday at 23rd and Union and marches down 23rd Avenue to Judkins Park. Staging starts at 11 a.m., the parade starts at 1.

From Umojafest:

“Umoja” is a Swahili word meaning “unity”, and is the main theme of the festival.  As our community and city has experienced a number of tragedies from gun violence, we value the Umoja Fest as a platform to promote peace and community building.  This year will feature several events addressing the toll that gun violence has had on our community and launching the 206-4-PEACE campaign.

206-4-PEACE is a grassroots campaign powered by several of Seattle’s positive young leaders.  The mission is to build a movement that speaks out on gun violence, positive alternatives, education, respecting others, healing and community building.

The campaign will launch on Saturday, August 4th at the Umoja Fest featuring several activities focused on promoting and end to gun violence in our communities and highlighting positive alternatives. The campaign  seeks to leverage celebrity guest speakers, live performances and free giveaways that promote employment opportunities, outreach programs and support systems. Activities include:

PEACE is Possible Parade Entry

Join the entry for peace in the Umoja Fest Parade.  Wear orange to show your unity. We are seeking to have as many people from the community as possible march in the parade in memorial to the lives that we have lost to violence and commit to working together for positive change. 

Here are some highlights from the schedule:

Children’s Day & Activities Friday (11am -4pm)

SHINE! Talent Competition (Friday, 5pm)

UNCF Walk For Education (Saturday, 9am)

Umoja Fest African Heritage Parade (Sat. Aug 4th, 1pm)

Umoja Soul of The City Stage (Saturday & Sunday)

UNCF Celebrity Cook-Off For Education (Saturday, 11am-4:30pm)

Hip Hop 4 PEACE Stage (Saturday & Sunday)

Heal The Hood Basketball Tournament (Saturday, All day)

Raise The Bar Community Fitness Challenge (Saturday, 3pm)

Gospel Fest (Sunday 1pm-4pm)

Vendor Marketplace (All Weekend)

Voter Registration Drive (Saturday & Sunday)

 

CHILDREN’S DAY

Friday, August 3rd, 11am-4pm

Art In the Park African Drum & Dance with Adefua

Adefua Cultural Education Workshop brings another spectacular year of West African Drumming, Dance and Song to the Othello Park Community. Youth will perform a Traditional Welcome Dance, with live music, and song, Kutt N UP’s Hip Hop Dance, and orchestrated selections of sounds of West African cultures.

Fitness Passport Station with the Austin Foundation

Fitness Passport is a fun way to engage youth and family of all ages in exercise and nutrition education. The activity features fitness and obstacle stations. As youth go through the different stations they receive a stamp/sticker on their passport showing they have accomplished the activity at that station.  Small prizes are awarded to participants who reach certain goals for individual obstacle and fitness stations.

Futsal clinic with Puget Sound Futsal

Founded in 2006 Puget Sound Futsal aims to be at the forefront of ushering organized Street Soccer/Futsal to the Central Area of Seattle. PSF made History on May 10, 2012 as the1rst organization of its kind to be awarded an 18th month pilot project at the Judkins Park Tennis courts. PSF’s vision is to provide a year round free open space for Steet Soccer/Futsal recreational pick up games, 4 season leagues, Tournaments, Futsal Clinics, Training sessions, Futsal Cups and freestyle soccer all ages.

Other activities include:

Arts n Crafts Station, Candy Necklace Making/Popcorn Bracelets/Fruit Loops, Umoja Mural, Face Painting, African Mask Making, Bubble Pictures, Coloring Pages, Crown Making, Popsicle stick crafts, Movin it Station, Dress up, African Clothing for boys and girls, Drumming, Musical Chairs to live drumming, Rythm and Sounds, Relay Race, Eggs on a Spoon, Math Games, Flag Football, Nature Station, Plant a Seed, Find a Fern Nature Hunt, Literacy Lounge, Library Representatives, African Storytelling

Stage:

DJ demonstration, Dance Off, Talent Showcase, Modern Dance, Rythm and Dance

The activities continue on Saturday with the always anticipated parade at 1pm.  After the parade there will be lots of fun with  Carnival Time Fun Village  There will also be arts and crafts and the fitness challenge for children and families to participate in.

For more information contact Angel Mitchell at 425.390.4826 or email [email protected]

 

UNCF Walk & Cook-off for Education

Saturday Aug. 4th, 9am-4pm

 

“PEACE is Possible” Parade Entry

Join the entry for peace in the Umoja Fest Parade.  Wear orange to show your unity. We are seeking to have as many people from the community as possible march in the parade in memorial to the lives that we have lost to violence and raise the alarm on this state of emergency.  The purpose is to mobilize community to do the necessary work to change this situation.

 

COMMUNITY FITNESS CHALLENGE

Saturday Aug. 4th

Austin Foundation Fitness Challenge

Zummba in The Park

Capoeira Angola w/ Seattle Capoeira Center

 

Soul of The City Stage

Saturday

Global Heat

Zumba in the Park

Poetry In The Park feat.

Matthew Pollock

Nikkita Oliver

Monique Franklin

Lance Israel

Brother Kwame

UPC All Stars feat.

Kenyatto Amen & KHMET

Angel Mitchell

E-Rich

Shelton Bolter

Empty Vessels Afro Carribean All Stars

Pam & Joe Duo

Kevin Gardner & Redwine

The Descendants

88mm Films presents Chris Anderson Experience

Closing Remarks & Announcements

Sunday

Opening Announcements & Remarks

Committed Praise

New Hope Psalmist

New Bethel Choir

ONE (Eric & Megan Chaffer)

Kenisha Blackman

Moneya Woods

V.O.N.L

Tabernacle Youth Choir

Angie Shields

Greg Collins

Poetry Plus Motion

Caffeine Jazz Trio

Poetry in the Park feat.

Nick Spears

Chris C’Dubb Washington

Gina “Beans” Adams

Yolo

Bobby “Retrospective” McShan

Lady Logik

Dee.ale Poetry

88mm Film presents Chris Anderson Experience

Closing Remarks

 

HIP-HOP 4 PEACE STAGE

SATURDAY

Heal The Hood Basketball Tournament

Join the Starbucks Black Partner Network and come hoop for a cause.

Doing It In The Park B-Boy/B-Girl Battle 4 PEACE

“Doing it in the Park” will bring hip hop back to its roots of park jams and a alternative to violence, in order to bring the community together and build strong friendship and communion across the city/region. This competition will celebrate over 40 years of bboying, featuring some of the top Northwest crews. It will be a celebration of urban culture and will demonstrate how the original New York City Breakers turned their negative environment into a positive global phenomenon.

Watch the Promo Video here:

Sponsored by the UW Hip Hop Association

2v2 BBoy

1.) Styles For Miles

2.) F2 Si

3.) KOS

4.) Aristocats

5.) No Roots

6.) The Goons

7.) Certified Motion

8.) Record Junkies

9.) Battle Reflex

10.) ThisGuyDidSteps

11.) Parks and Wreck-reation

12.) Yo Yes Squad

13.) 1312 UNL

14.) Young Gunz

SHINE Talent Competition Finals

Perilini

Alex Gonzales

Kalieb Nash

SUNDAY

Suntonio Bandanaz

Metal Chocolates

M.Famous

J. Bre

Vic Hashim

Jah Jigga

King Dro

Lady Tasz

Ditta Mac

XKid

SK Studio

206 Classics

M.I.H. Studios

Si Young

Silver Shadow

Korvus