• The Stranger loved El Mestizo (not too much of a surprise though they place it on First Hill)
• Publicola’s Angela Garbes talks up Ras Dashen and Dur Dur Cafe 
• An interview with Pony barkeep/DJ Taylor Fimbrez
• Did you know about the ping pong at Watertown Coffee?
• Molly Moon’s will begin running an ice cream truck – to service neighborhoods (like the CD) that do not have a fixed location
• Seattle Weekly interviewed Assimba’s Messeret Habeti – who claims to have the oldest Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle

Eric Liu has announced that he will not be a candidate for State Senate from the 37th Legislative District.  He will not be opposing incumbent Adam Kline.

Update by scott:  Here’s a statement released by Liu on his website:

Eric Liu has decided to withdraw from the LD 37 State Senate race, issuing the following statement on his website: www.ericliu.com I’ve got some news to share. Our campaign has been going very well these first two months: great energy, robust fundraising, broad and deep endorsements and community support. 

But there’s one way it has been a failure. I have been unable to be both the candidate I want to be and the father I want to be. At every turn so far, I have been choosing to sacrifice time with my daughter and my family so I can squeeze in one more campaign activity. A profound imbalance has resulted, even this early in the campaign, and it does not feel right. In fact, it has hurt. I’ve been on the trail speaking about taking care of the next generation, but I’m not sure I’ve been doing that to the best of my ability in my own house. 

So after much reflection and discussion, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for State Senate. As I do so, I want to express deep gratitude to all those who’ve come out in support of our campaign. It has been very humbling to know that so many people are so willing to give so much to this cause. The 37th District is a place of so much opportunity and hope and diversity, and it’s been so exciting to give voice to that as a candidate. I know that I will be disappointing many people. But as hard as this decision was, it was also very clear. I hope for your understanding and support.

There’s no question that the appetite for creativity and change in political life is great and growing greater. Though I won’t be a candidate for office anymore, I’ll continue to pour my energies into making a positive difference in our community. And I hope we get to do that together. On behalf of Olivia, Jena, and Zoey, I thank you. 

Yoseb Lee, a survivor of Rey Davis-Bell’s deadly shooting spree at Philadelphia Cheese Steak two years ago, has filed a $2M law suit against the Washington State Department of Corrections for negligent supervision of Davis-Bell.  Yoseb Lee states that he has been unable to continue his painting business, as a result of injuries he suffered attempting to buy sandwiches on that fateful day in January 2008.  Last month, Davis-Bill was convicted of one count of first-degree murder for his murder of Degene Berecha, Philadelphia Cheese Steak’s owner, who had confronted and expelled Davis-Bell for selling drugs in his store.  Davis-Bell was also found guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

We got a note yesterday from a CDNews reader CL who says that a boy who has been mentioned by Patty Murray as an example of why we need health reform is a Central District resident:

I found out [Marcela Owens] lives in the Central District (not Capitol Hill, darn) on 20th and Union.He is your golden boy that might tip the legislative vote for the health reform bill.

Most famous indeed. Hope you can do a story on him.Only 25 people from 20 states are going to the Congressional hearings and he is the only kid.If he testifies last, it is believed his words ringing in their ears will help pass the health reform bill.

Here’s a snippet from Senator Patty Murray’s speech on the senate floor:

“Today, I am here to tell my colleagues the story of a little boy named Marcelas Owens whose mom got sick.

“I met Marcelas in June at a health care rally in Seattle.   He’s just ten years old, but he and his two younger siblings have already been through a lot.

“Two years ago, their mother, Tifanny, lost her life because she was uninsured.  She was only 27 years old.

Mr. President, Tifanny was a single mom who felt strongly about working to support her family.

“She worked as an assistant manager at a fast food restaurant.  She had health care coverage through her job.  But in September 2006, she got sick.  During this time, Tifanny missed a lot of work. 

“Her employer gave her an ultimatum:  Make up the lost time, or lose your job. Well, because she was so sick, she physically couldn’t make up the time and Tifanny did lose her job.

“When she lost her job, she lost her insurance.   And without coverage and the care she needed, in June of 2007, Tifanny lost her life.  And Marcelas and his two siblings lost their mom.

“Mr. President, our health care system is broken.   It’s broken for moms like Tifanny who work to provide for their families and are charged nearly 50 percent more than men for health care in the individual market.

“It’s broken for women who are denied coverage or charged more for ‘Pre-Existing Conditions’ like pregnancy, C-sections, or domestic violence.

“And it’s broken for their families and for little boys like Marcelas who can never get back what they have lost.

 

if you have a dog PLEASE please PLEASE make sure they don’t spend an insane amount of the day barking their heads off. things in this area are audible for many blocks’ radius and it can be just unbearable hearing the same dogs, every day, multiple times per day. it’s entirely ridiculous. muzzle them, or train them.

23rd Avenue will remain a bumpy ride even if it slims down a bit in 2012. According to the latest documents published on the SDOT website (pdf attached at left), the Central District’s major roadway isn’t scheduled to have its rough pavement repaired until 2015.

Stretching from Madison to Jackson Street, the project calls for the two center lanes to be ground down and repaved with asphalt, and the two outer lanes to be completely rebuilt from the ground up with new concrete. 

A 2004 study of paving needs around the city identified 23rd as among the city arterials most in need of attention, receiving a score of Poor and total project cost of $868,396. Only 5.5% of streets at that time had a worse rating.

We made several requests to SDOT for more information what has driven the prioritization of the 23rd Avenue project, but have not yet received a response. We’ll give you an update if we do.

Update: We just spoke to Richard Sheridan, spokesperson for SDOT, who explained that the 23rd Ave project is prioritized based on a number of factors, and that the current roadway condition is only one of those. They use a formula that takes into account geographic diversity, project cost, traffic volumes and uses, and opportunities to coordinate with utility work.

One factor going against 23rd is the size of the project. It requires a full rebuild of the roadway from the ground up, and will cost $8.6 million. That represents 100% of the paving budget for 2015, and 23rd is the only project scheduled for work during that year.

To take an example of another roadway, 85th NW in the north end is of similar size and quality as 23rd. However, it carries substantially more traffic at 25,000 vehicles per day, compared to 15,000 a day on 23rd. And it requires much less work, with only a grinding down of the pavement and application of new asphalt on top. Thus, is gets a higher priority and will be repaved in 2012.

Radio producer Jenny Asarnow and documentary photographer Inye Wokoma, who previously produced The Corner, received an $8500 grant from the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs to explore the significance of blacks spreading out from the Central District to other parts of Puget Sound.  

Here is Inye’s description of the project:

Over the past twenty years African Americans in Seattle have spread out from our roots in the Central District. Now we live all over King County. How does this decentralization affect our ability to create and maintain black community?

We are creating a series of short documentary videos and will screen them at a community forum this spring. Your contribution will help make the videos and the community forum richer.

This site has been set up as a space for you to share you stories and opinions while the project is in progress. MAKE SURE TO CALL THE COMMUNITY STORY LINE AT (253) 642-7672 BEFORE MARCH 17and your contribution may be shared here on the site.

So… how are you experiencing the black community now that African Americans are so spread out around the Puget Sound?

 

A sample conversation from the project’s Facebook page:

206 Black-The Diaspora Conversation Starter #4: How important do you think it is that black people live and work close to one another to maintain a sense of community? How are you maintaining your community ties when black people are so spread out around here?

David Daniels: I believe what the Black Community lacks is “a vision” for what the community could be. “Without a vision the people perish”. A “think tank” to lay out a plan for what the community might look like in the future would a place to start. Without this vision of the future, there is nothing for the community to work towards and it devolves into simply reacting to the today that someone esle designed yesterday. Community is not what it used to be. This forum is an example of how it has changed.

Last night the members of the 22nd Avenue Blockwatch sent us a new statement on the negotiations between them and Revered Jeffrey of New Hope Baptist Church regarding the pastor’s plans to set up transitional housing for felons on their block:

We, the members of the 22nd Avenue Block Watch and Community Group, an organization that has been meeting regularly for more than 35 years, recognize the importance of and need for housing in helping inmates transition back into our society.  We have supported other causes promoted by Reverend Jeffrey and Black Dollar Days Task Force over the years.  However, due to the lack of planning, the absence of prior community notification and input, and the numerous organizations supporting vulnerable populations in proximity to the proposed location (including housing for seniors, day care centers, and schools), we believe it is necessary to proceed in a measured and responsible manner.  As our talks with the Reverend and BDDTF continue, we urge him to address all of our concerns expressed in our letter of February 25, 2010, as well as any expressed by us or by other neighborhood organizations in the process of reaching a Good Neighbor Agreement. 

The referenced letter, which was read at a community meeting last Monday, is attached above.

Revered Jeffrey made it clear last Monday night that he’s looking for a quick negotiation on the Good Neighbor Agreement, which would put bounds around the operation of the residence and help protect the interest of the neighbors around it. However, the tone of the statement, such as the need to “proceed in a measured and responsible manner”, appears to indicate a desire of residents to move forward more cautiously.

The next meeting on the subject is scheduled for this Monday night at 7pm, where SPD Director John Hayes will mediate the next phase of discussion between the neighbors and the proponents of the transitional residence.

If we did not have other plans, you would find me at the Reel Grrls 2nd Annual Oscar Party at CD News sponsor Central Cinema.  Reel Grrls is a CD-based charity that believes in “empowering young women from diverse communities to realize their power, talent, and influence through media production.  Options for tickets are between $25 and $79 depending on the type of meal that you choose (note that $25 of each ticket benefits Reel Grrls and is tax deductible).  This year, they will be cheering on Best Director nominee Kathryn Bigelow to become the first woman to win Best Director – should she win for her film, The Hurt Locker.  Festivities begin at 4 pm.

Bottleneck Lounge announces that they will be serving up drinks inspired by Best Actorn nominees.  Join them for Oscar-viewing beginning at 5.

If you seek to avoid Oscar hype altogether, Hotel Sorrento’s Drinking Lessons may be for you.  Tomorrow, get acquainted with the green fairy at “Drinking Lessons: An Absinth Soiree” (note that the cost is only $20 – most in the Drinking Lessons series have averaged $55), hosted by Robert Hess.

There’s a new group in town – the Central Seattle Parent Resource. 

From their website: “We are a group of parents working to provide support and resources to parents and caregivers of children under the age of 5 in Central Seattle.”  They’re hoping to organize playgroups, provide access to list(s) of local resources, and to organize special events and lectures throughout the year.  This a community organization so they’ll also be looking for volunteer support to make the whole thing possible.

Their first member meeting is March 6th from 2:00 – 3:30 P.M.  The meeting is only open to members, but right now they’re having a special promotion with a free membership (usually $30.00) for 2010 if you join before April 1st.  There’s a simple online registration to complete.  If you’ve got kids under the age of 5, this might be just the resource for you!