Autonomia, a non-profit radical social center at 24th and Lane, has closed after relations with some neighbors frayed and the city stepped in to shut down it’s allegedly unpermitted parties.

The collective behind Autonomia has not yet released a statement on the house’s closure, and we have contacted the house to learn more.

The Department of Planning and Development cited Autonomia in June for operating as a nightclub, which is not a permitted use for the space. It was only permitted to be a market or residential apartments. Jonah at Publicola reports that DPD never received requests for such permits after the space was cited for violations.

An anonymous story in Issue 6 of Tides of Flame, a self-described anarchist paper in Seattle, mourns the loss of the house and has some choice words for the neighbors of Autonomia (the full story has also been posted on the Puget Sound Anarchists website):

Thanks to its rich, whiny neighbors, the Autonomia Social Center at 600 24th Ave S. in the Central District is closing after only 9 months. Evidently this mighty little bastion of freedom was too much for these assholes, who could not abide a bit of street-life on an otherwise empty corner. A little music a few nights per week and a well-tended sidewalk garden? Not for these gentrifying scum-bags.

…

Anyway, thanks to these party-pooping shitheads, the Department of Planning and Development put a stop to the music, thus starving Autonomia of potential income. Neighbors like these are the types that regularly attend community meetings with police, slobbering on their handcuffs and offering tips on which neighborhood kids they think possibly maybe could be selling drugs on the corner based on their, you know, manner of dress and slang and stuff. They cringe at graffiti and all other signs of disorder. They use their money and their friendly relationships with cops to sanitize their surroundings. You know, “those” kind of people.

Kumani Gantt has resigned as Executive Director of CD Forum, the organization announced. The resignation comes just before the start of the 2011-12, which kicks off with an exhibition at MOHAI that opens September 29.

Gantt joined the organization in 2009, succeeding director and founder Stephanie Ellis-Smith. When she was hired, one of her goals was to reach out to local teens to get them involved with the Forum’s programs, she told CDN in 2009.

More on her departure, from CD Forum:

CD Forum Board President Mark Griffin noted that, though the organization and Gantt have decided to part ways, the departure is amicable and the board is tremendously grateful for Gantt’s generous efforts in sustaining and promoting CD Forum for the past two seasons.  Gantt will be pursuing her artistic goals in theater and the literary arts.

“We are very appreciative of Kumani’s hard work and service to CD Forum. She is a great ambassador for the arts and we wish her the best in her future pursuits,” said Griffin. “I have no doubt that Kumani will continue to make significant contributions to the arts community.”

Griffin also noted that the board is re-examining the organizational structure of CD Forum and may reconfigure the duties of the executive director before hiring Gantt’s replacement. The organization is expected to begin its executive director search this November and hope to hire a head by spring. Griffin and the rest of the board’s executive committee will provide oversight while the Board conducts a search for a new director. An Interim Operations Manager will also be brought in during the transition.

The Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas kicks off the season with a panel discussion about the 1961 Freedom Rides that were pivotal in the national Civil Rights Movement. The September 29 talk will be offered in conjunction with the traveling exhibit Freedom Riders that will be at MOHAI September 26 through October 24.

Here are some season highlights, from the CD Forum press release:

• Isabel Wilkerson, Sunday, October 9, 7 pm, Town Hall

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson reads from her award-winning masterwork, The Warmth of Other Suns, which chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.

• John Carlos, Thursday, November 3, 7 pm, Northwest African American Museum

Heroic, defiant and consequential, John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s iconic Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics podium sparked controversy and career fallout. Listen to John Carlos read from his new autobiography, The John Carlos Story.

• Hazelle Goodman, Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, 8 pm, Erickson Theatre

If anyone knows how to get funky, if not downright scandalous, it is Hazelle Goodman.  With feature films and an HBO Comedy Special under her belt, Hazelle packs a comedic punch as she bobs and weaves through some serious, but always hilarious commentary about our times.

• The CREATION PROJECT Showcase, Friday May 4 and Saturday, May 5, 8pm, Erickson Theatre

The CD Forum’s CREATION Project artists always push the boundaries of aesthetic form and content. This year’s showcase will feature our two selected artists, as well as a work directed by our project mentor, Valerie Curtis-Newton, artistic director of the Hansberry project.

• red, black, and GREEN: a blues, Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3, 8p , Seattle Center

Created by artist Mark Bamuthi Joseph, red, black, and GREEN: a blues is a full-length, multimedia performance designed to jumpstart a conversation about environmental justice, social ecology and collective responsibility in the climate change era.  Joseph last appeared in Seattle in 2009 with his critically-acclaimed work, the break/s.

King 5 ran a great story on “Mama Henrietta,” an iconic crossing guard at Leschi Elementary. She made such an impact on the school in the past 25 years that when SPD cut the crossing guard program, the community came together to pay her salary.

From King 5:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks, pjon27th, for the link. We summarized the story and embedded it in this post.

Join us for a WORK PARTY to restore the woods next to Peppi’s playground!

Initial work parties will focus on trail maintenance and removal of invasive plants.

Children accompanied by parents are welcome.

Tools and snacks will be provided!

Location: Corner of 32nd and Lake Dell Avenue—behind Leschi Elementary School

9:00 am—1:00 pm

The City of Seattle has offered $105,000 to throw out a $1 award in a case involving an officer who is the subject of a separate upcoming excessive force case stemming from a shooting at 20th and Jackson, according to the Seattle Times.

Demetrius James pleaded guilty to third degree assault after two mistrials and more than 400 days in jail after the July 2009 incident. James had been charged with second degree assault for attempting to strike two officers with a vehicle in the parking lot of Moonlight Cafe, then abandoning the car before it crashed into a separate police cruiser on Jackson.

Now, James has filed a lawsuit alleging that police, including Officer Chin, used excessive force during the incident and violated his rights. Police claim they made the stop because the car driven by James had mismatched plates. They suspected the car had been stolen, though that was later shown not to be true.

When James attempted to drive away, one officer, Gerard House, Tasered James through the car window. Officer Chin then pulled his gun and stood in front of the car. When it accelerated toward him and officer House, Chin fired several shots into the vehicle.

Much of the incident was captured on video from the police cruiser:

James claims he lost control of the vehicle when he was hit with the electric volt from the Taser. A professional piano player, James’ wrist was shattered by one of the shots, rendering it too stiff to play.

James is seeking at least $15 million in damages. The trial for the lawsuit is set to begin in January.

Meanwhile, the city is currently trying to get a $1 judgment thrown out after a jury decided Officer Chin did not use excessive force in a 2007 off-duty traffic stop that started on Capitol Hill and ended in West Seattle. However, the jury decided Chin held the suspects at gunpoint for longer than legally allowed, and awarded the plaintiff $1 and the ability to collect legal fees.

The city offered the plaintiff, Andrew Rutherford, $105,000 (attorney fees plus a $15,000 “bonus”) if he would sign a request to have the judgment thrown out. Rutherford’s attorneys turned down the offer.

City Attorney Pete Holmes told the Times the proposed Rutherford deal was not related to the James case, telling the Times it was “business, pure and simple.”

However, attorneys for James and Rutherford claim the deal was an attempt to throw out the judgment so it could not be used in the James lawsuit as evidence of Chin’s previous conduct problems.

Police are looking for three suspects after shots were fired near Garfield September 16 shortly before midnight. The SPD report says the incident happened on a concrete ledge “near the pool.”

From SPD:

On 9/16/2011, just shortly before midnight, officers responded to a report of shots fired near Cherry Street and 26th Ave.

According to the victims, they were sitting on a concrete ledge near the pool, when a group of three unknown males between the ages of 18 and 19 years old approached them. One of the suspects suddenly began shooting at the victims. Luckily no one was hit. The victims stated that there was no verbal argument or words exchanged before the gunfire broke out. The victims were not sure which of the two suspects fired the gun.

Initially, a witness identified a red Dodge Magnum seen leaving the area, as a possible suspect vehicle. Officers were able to locate the vehicle. However, it was determined that the occupant and the vehicle were not involved in the incident.

There is no current indication that any of the victims have gang affiliations.

One victim sustained minor scrapes and scratches from falling as he was running away from the shooting scene.

The suspects are described as :

1) B/M 18-19 years old, Black Ski Hat, Dark North Face Jacket

2) B/M 18-19 years old, Dark North Face Jacket

3) B/M 18-19 years old, Baggy Blue Flannel shirt.

The victims disagreed as to whether S1 or S2 fired the shots.

The newly revitalized East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC, formerly EPCPC) formally launches with our inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 22nd, 6 PM, with Mayor Mike McGinn as our guest!  

Seattle University has graciously provided the use of Pigott Auditorium, on campus, at 1016 E. Marion St.  Free parking will be available in the Broadway and East Columbia campus-parking garage. 

Please come with your questions and concerns. We have dedicated most of the agenda for you to address your community needs.  Remember that it’s budget season, the Mayor will be making his recommendations soon on what will be cut and what will not.  We need your voice to insure that our public safety and quality of life are preserved. 

Please note that our regular EastPAC meetings will continue monthly on the fourth Thursday at a new location: Seattle University’s Chardin Hall, Room 142, at 1020 East Jefferson. This is a great central location in the East Precinct, easily accessible by bus and with free parking.

 A big shout out to Seattle University for their extraordinary support and partnership, we very much appreciate their collaboration!

 Look for more details on our brand new website: www.EastPAC.org.

Billy Chambers has pleaded guilty to attempted assault and hit-and-run after purposefully running a woman off the road near 23rd and Jackson in June. He could face up to 22 months in prison, according to Publicola.

Chambers, who was previously one of three people found guilty as a juvenile for the 2008 killing to Ed “Tuba Man” McMichael, ran his car into a female victim’s car June 23 after the woman filed a police report against him in reference to an earlier car prowl.

He apparently ran into the back of her car, then pulled up on the passenger side and ran her vehicle off the road where it hit a tree. He then fled.

Publicola reports that this is Chambers’ first strike under Washington’s three strikes law:

Until now, Chambers has managed to skirt Washington’s three strikes law. Chambers’ convictions as a juvenile—for robbery, possession of stolen property, and manslaughter in the Tuba Man case—don’t count as strikes, and his only adult convictions are for theft.

EDITOR’S UPDATE:

A DUI driver crashed into Flo Ware Park early September 16, apparently damaging the iconic public art entryway.

Initial reports from SPD and witnesses described the chase, which began at 24th and Jackson and ended four blocks later at the park with a loud crash. The park has tire tracks in the grassy areas leading all the way from Jackson to the basketball court on the far side of the park.

One of the posts of the entryway, which was created in 2003 by Coyote Central’s Hit the Streets project. The post does not appear to be beyond repair.

Original story (by Dorkey1):

Does anyone know what happened at Flo Ware Park last night around 1:30am?  We heard a big crash and several police sirens.  I saw the park was all torn up with tire tracks and pieces from headlights etc., this morning when I caught the bus.

Can’t find any info online about it this morning.

EDITOR’S UPDATE: Commenter Andrea posted the following in the comments. We are working to get an official statement from the police.

Police were chasing a black sedan up Jackson and the car ended up crashing in Flo Ware. It happened very quickly and the police carted of the suspect(s) without any incidence. There were no injuries becuase the fire department left the scene within a couple of minutes..never saw an aid car. The tow truck finally left with the car at about 3:00 am. Very anticlimactic for all the action going on those first couple of minutes!

UPDATE x2: SPD says the driver was under the influence:

On 9/16/11, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Gang Unit Detectives attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near 24th Av S and S. Jackson St. The vehicle refused to stop as officers followed with lights and sirens activated. The suspect’s vehicle managed to shear two light poles from its base in the 2400 block of S. Jackson and finally came to rest in the middle of “Flo Ware” park. (28 S. /S. Jackson St.). 

The suspect refused medical treatment at the scene from Seattle Fire Department Medics.  The 20-year-old suspect was transported to the East Precinct for DUI processing and eventually transported home, pending further investigation.    This incident was not gang related.

Have you been to the Garfield Community Center lately? If not, walk on over to try one of the great weekly classes offered at the community center. Drop in to select classes for only $2 if you are new to the class.  Hurry, because the Try It for $2 deal ends September 30th.

Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry St

The Try it for $2 deal features:

Evening Yoga (My Class!)
Tuesday & Thursday from  7:15-8:30pm

Capoeira
Saturday 11am-12:30pm
Monday & Wednesday 6:60-8:45pm

Northwest Karate
Saturday 10-11am
Tuesday & Thursday 5-6pm

Ballet (3yrs and 4-5yrs)
Tuesday & Thursday 5-5:50pm & 6-6:50pm