Community News, July 2010

Because we will not be publishing a Demogram for July, we've posted the Community News article here on the blog.

Community News

J Peter Shapiro
outreach@46dems.com

Maple Leaf honored by Audubon Society

From the Maple Leaf Community Council: "The Seattle Audubon Society presented their 2010 Conservation Award to the Maple Leaf Community Council and Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder for their role in permanently preserving Waldo Woods. Seattle Audubon's annual Conservation Award is given to the individual or group in the greater Seattle community who has made a unique and significant contribution to the protection of birds and wildlife habitat, using creative means for engaging and inspiring the public. Founded in 1916, Seattle Audubon members and volunteers have continually worked for the protection, restoration and preservation of natural habitat for birds and other wildlife." Seattle Audubon makes its headquarters in the 46th District, on 35th Ave NE in the Wedgwood neighborhood.

"NEST" in the news

The Seattle Times recently published a lengthy story about one of the District’s new grass-roots community groups, North East Seattle Together (NEST), whose mission if to help our elderly neighbors stay in their homes. As described by the paper, "the group is attempting to build a 'virtual village' and serve as a stand-in for family members or friends who can't be there to help all the time with the little things. It would be the first such program in the state, modeled after similar villages on the East Coast." For more information visit www.nestseattle.org, which you can also find via our website’s "Advocacy and Action" links at www.46dems.com.

Welcome Alleycat Acres . . .

. . . as our latest link to our many community Action and Advocacy groups ("Farming and Local Food"). Alleycat Acres defines it mission as an "urban farming collective that transforms vacant spaces to create a network of sustainable urban farms that reconnect people to food while helping to increase food security on a community level." You can find them on our website, or directly at http://www.alleycatacres.com. Currently, their urban farms are located south of the Montlake Cut, but we’re hoping they’ll soon make connection with like-minded groups and individuals here in the Fightin’ 46th. They write, "By farming on plots within the city, we seek to strengthen communities and rebuild the connection that has been lost between people and food. To accomplish our goals, we partner with landowners to secure farmland and aim to connect with community organizations to find local residents to help maintain and design the farms and plan for distribution." Oh, and they explain their name on their website.

Progress in the "swamp"

Laurelhurst neighbors celebrated their progress in developing the Yesler Swamp Trail by hosting Father’s Day walks starting at the nearby Center for Urban Horticulture on Surber Drive. The tours gave visitors a chance to see Seattle’s only swamp up close, thanks to almost a quarter of a mile of trails that intrepid volunteers had installed in the area in the preceding two and a half months. The walks meandered through 70-foot high poplars. With luck, eagles were overhead as the hikers perambulated. The site of the swamp, before the Montlake Cut lowered Lake Washington, was a holding area for logs destined for Henry Yesler’s saw mill on Elliott Bay. For more information about this project and history of the area visit the Friends of the Yesler Swamp Trail website, which you can also find via our "Advocacy and Action" links.

Futurewise honored by Laurelhurst Elementary

From Angela Uhl, Co-Director of Futurewise: "The students of Laurelhurst Elementary School selected Futurewise to receive funding from their Penny Harvest program at their year end assembly. Grade School children collected pennies to distribute to local area non-profits throughout the year. As part of the program the children researched, interviewed and selected the recipients. Futurewise is honored to have received this award from such a thoughtful, enthusiastic group of young philanthropists. Thank you Laurelhurst Students!" Where can you learn more about this environmental advocacy organization? Via the "Advocacy and Action" links on our website, of course!

File for PCO!

The Primary Election in August is where the Democratic Party elects our Precinct Committee Officers. These are the leaders who cast critical votes during our reorganization meetings, nominate official candidates for partisan positions and fill those positions when a vacancy occurs. They also convene the Precinct Caucuses during Presidential years.

We need someone in every precinct. Please check our PCO list. If you live in a precinct with an established PCO, please remind them to file! (Contact our Chair if you would like their contact information.) If you live in a precinct without a PCO, please file for the position yourself!

How to file for PCO

First, check to see if your precinct has had someone file. You are still able to file, but if someone has filed in your precinct and you are willing to serve we need your help in a neighboring precinct. To see if someone has filed, you can go to this page hosted by the 41st LD. You can also check the list of precincts where no one has filed yet and look for yours. You will only be able to officially file for your own precinct. We will be able to make appointments of PCOs after the reorganization in January.

King County Elections has launched a web page so that PCO candidates may file electronically. Click here to go to file electronically from 9:00am Monday June 7th to 4:00pm Friday June 11th. Please click here for more information.

If you prefer to file in person, here is a link to the PCO Candidacy Form. Please fill this out and take it in person down to King County Elections before Friday, June 11th at 4pm.

Questions from the May 20th Candidate Forum

For the uncontested Judicial races:

Opening remarks introducing themselves: 3 minutes per candidate, answers 1.0 minute unless extended by the Chair.

For trial court judges only:

1. Please describe what you will do/currently do to make jurors feel they are a vital and respected part of our judicial system.

For all judges:

1. What is your view regarding openness of judicial records and regarding judicial discretion on sealing those records?
2. Judicial candidates may not directly solicit contributions, but are often aware of their contributors. What standards would you set for your self in regards to recusal on cases involving campaign contributors or conflicts of interest?
3. Do you believe in public financing of judicial campaigns; and, if so what will you do to promote reform?
4. Racial disparity dominates our judicial system. What will you do to reduce it?

For contested Judicial Races

The format for the forum for contested judicial positions is opening remarks 2 minutes each, answers 1.0 minute each, unless extended by the Chair

1. Do you believe that the public defender system is working in our state, in particular for three strikes or capital cases, and if not what would you do to improve the situation?
2. Judicial candidates may not directly solicit contributions, but are often aware of their contributors. What standards would you set for yourself in regards to recusal on cases involving campaign contributors or conflicts of interest?
3. Do you believe in public financing of judicial campaigns; and, if so what will you do to promote reform?
4. Should judges publicly discuss their judicial views and philosophy? (Yes/No)

LD Candidate Forum

No opening remarks, answers 1.0 minutes each unless extended by the Chair.

1. Name 2 or 3 things that you will work hard to accomplish during the next legislative session if you are elected.
2. The State faces another multi-billion budget deficit next year. How would you close that gap?
3. What other employment will you have when the legislature is not in session, and how will that influence your priorities as a legislator?
4. How should our school districts evaluate teachers to ensure that our kids get the best K-12 education possible?
5. What should the role be for the state legislature in requiring high density development around transit centers such as Northgate?
6. What are your most significant accomplishments in recent years that have advanced progressive values in our community?
7. Our state plan to reduce homelessness by 2015 cannot be successful without adequate support for mental health and substance abuse treatment funding, which have both been cut. Would you support increased funding for these services? How can we actually reduce homelessness to achieve our goal?
8. What will you do to protect the interests of our district in regards to the SR 520 Bridge, and do you believe that it should be built to carry light rail?

Yes/No Questions:

1. Have you contributed to, or endorsed, any candidate who did not describe themselves as a Democrat in a partisan race in the past five years?
2. Do you support allowing UW tuition to be set by the UW and not the Legislature?
3. Will you sponsor legislation applying the Public Records Disclosure and Open Government laws that apply to City and County Councils to the Legislature?
4. Will you sponsor public campaign financing for legislative races?
5. Will you co-sponsor global warming cap and trade or carbon tax in Washington to meet the goals already in state law?
6. Do you support enacting a five-year sunset on tax exemptions and annual performance reporting by businesses to keep their exemptions?
7. Would you support legislation to require state institutions such as hospitals and prisons to make a plan for discharge of their patients or inmates?
8. The 46th District is a relatively expensive place to live. Would you advocate for more low-income and working family housing within the 46th?
9. If you are the nominee tonight, do you support the right of other Democrats to continue their campaigns?