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Guest Columns

Light Rail: Getting There (Part II)

October 1, 2009

in Guest Columns,News,Transportation

By Martin Duke, Seattle Transit Blog

mount_baker_tcIf you don’t live within walking distance of a light rail station and would like to try to use it to get around, you’re faced with the decision of how to get there. I’ll venture that most people who would access it downtown know how to get there, but here’s a quick guide to your options in the Rainier Valley and points south.

With the September 19, 2009 service change, the bus routes have changed substantially. Since our last update, we’ve also uncovered a number of parking lots. Details on how to get to the station are below.

Orientation

route_scheduleBeacon Hill Station is underground and lies at roughly the corner of Beacon Ave. and S. McClellan St.

Mt. Baker Station is elevated and is at intersection of Rainier Ave. S and MLK Jr. Way.

Columbia City Station is a surface station at the intersection of S. Alaska St. and MLK Jr. Way.

Othello Station, as the name implies, is a surface stop at the intersection of S. Othello St. and MLK Jr. Way.

Rainier Beach Station is a surface station at the intersection of MLK Jr. Way and S. Henderson St.

Tukwila Int’l Blvd Station is visible from SR 518 (the airport freeway) as it crosses SR99.

Driving

Famously, most Link stations don’t have free park-and-rides, due to a city policy that discourages driving and wants to save the land for transit-oriented development. However, the Tukwila International Blvd. station has a park and ride that may be convenient for those that live nearby, or south of I-405. Because it’s free, it tends to fill up pretty quickly. At other stations, there are less well-known parking options.

If you’re not parking between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm on business days, there’s generally street parking available in the surrounding neighborhoods, so that’s a good option for a ballgame or a night out on the town. If you’re trying to drive there during working hours, there are numerous private parking lots where parking is much cheaper than it is downtown or at the airport:

  • Othello: One block west of MLK on Othello St, the Safeway offers monthly parking for $30/month. Call 206-729-0590 for details.
  • Othello: Immediately east of the station, on Othello St., the Citadel is offering $5/day parking.
  • Columbia City: Just west of the intersection of Rainier Ave. and S. Edmunds St, or 3 blocks from the Columbia City station, there’s a $3/day private lot. This lot is closed Wednesdays for the Columbia City Farmer’s Market.
  • Columbia City: One block north of the station, the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club (206-436-1890) is offering monthly 24 hrs/day, 5 days/week parking for $50/month.
  • Mt. Baker: There’s a pay lot immediately west of the station (the old Grocery Outlet site) for $4/day.

We have many anecdotal reports that spaces are available in these lots throughout the day.

Each station also has plaza areas well-suited to pick-up and drop-off (“Kiss and Ride”).

Biking

There are extensive bike racks at each station. For those seeking a more secure solution, you can simply take your bike on the train (here’s ST’s bike policy [pdf]), or you can rent a bike locker for $50/year, subject to availability. Bike Lockers are only at Sodo, Beacon Hill, Mt. Baker, Rainier Beach, and Tukwila/Int’l Blvd stations.

The Bus

se_seattle_detailMetro has created a nice webpage that tells you which routes connect to which stations. You can also use Metro’s Trip Planner, but right now it’s doing a pretty poor job of incorporating light rail. For per-stop schedules and real-time bus arrival information, I recommend onebusaway.org. For a neighborhood-oriented listing, read on:

From the Central District/Little Saigon: To go downtown, the bus is much faster. To go South, routes 7, 8, 14, 36, 48, and 60 all interface with Light Rail at either the Beacon Hill or Mt. Baker stations, at all times of day. Although they have limited service hours, routes 7X, 9, 34, and 42 all connect at Mt. Baker Station.

From Georgetown: Route 60 connects to the Beacon Hill Station at all times of day.

From Beacon Hill: Route 36 runs along Beacon Ave. between Beacon Hill station and Othello Station. The 60 runs North up 15th to Beacon Hill station, and then on to the Jose Rizal Bridge. The 106 serves South Beacon Hill via Rainier Beach Station and SODO. Route 39 crosses Link at Columbia City station and then runs along Columbian Way, though not evenings. The 38 shuttles between Beacon Hill and Mt. Baker stations along McClellan St.

Along MLK: The 8 runs from Rainier Beach to the Central District and serves all stations along MLK. North of Alaska, you can also try the 42 during business hours.

Along Rainier Ave: The 7 connects with Link at Mt. Baker, and passes within about 5 blocks of all the other Rainier Valley stations via Rainier Ave., and runs very frequently in all but the early morning hours. The 7X and 9 are faster, but don’t run as often.

Columbia City: Many of you will be able to walk, but you have the 7 going North on Rainier to Mt. Baker all the time. There’s also the 39 going west on Genessee to Columbia City station all but the evenings; the 42 also going there from Rainier Park during business housrs; and the 34, 7X, and 9 to Mt. Baker via Rainier, but with much more restricted hours.

Seward Park: The 39 can take you from the Seward Park/Genesee areas to either Columbia City or Othello Station. It runs every day till the early evening, in both directions. The 34 starts in the same place and passes by Mt. Baker Station, but only during rush hour.

Rainier Beach: If you’re near Rainier & Henderson, you’re spoiled for choice. The 8, 106, and 107 take you right to Rainier Beach station, and run frequently, all the time. The 9 runs less often but accomplishes the same thing.

Dunlap/Skyway/Renton: The 106 travels north on Renton Avenue and delivers you to Rainier Beach station. If you’re near the end of the old 42/42X, or the Lakeridge area, the 107 gets you to Rainier Beach. From Prentice St., the 7 and 7X are about 5 blocks east of the line till they meet at Mt. Baker Station.

Tukwila/Seatac: North of 154th St on SR 99, take the 124 south to get to Tukwila/International Blvd. Station. South of 154th, take the 174 going North to do the same thing. The 129 also provides limited service to Riverton Heights. By February, the opening of Airport Station and the cancellation of the 194 will allow many new bus connections to Link.

Top right photo courtesy of King County Metro.

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Sable Interviews Joe Mallahan

September 6, 2009

in Guest Columns,Opinion,Politics

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By Sable Verity

Joe Mallahan has emerged as a top contender for Mayor of Seattle after entering the race some 15 weeks ago as an unknown with a last name no one could remember.  Seattle-ites relish familiarity- sometimes to a nauseating degree- yet overwhelmingly voted for Mallahan or his opponent Mike McGinn* (who is ahead in the results) because they were fed up with the policies, ignorance and management style of soon-to-be-outgoing Mayor Nickels.

With about nine weeks to go until election night, Mallahan makes the case for why he is best qualified to lead Seattle in a direction that is progressive, responsible and equitable. Hear the interview.

Photo/Sable Verity

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Why We Should Care About Health Care Reform: Behind the Rhetoric & Misinformation

September 5, 2009

in Guest Columns,Health & Wellness,Opinion

By Rebecca Kavoussi

Are you finding it hard to separate fact from fiction as the debate about health care reform rages? The vast majority of Americans are hungry for more information about how it will affect their families and their communities. A constructive dialogue is critical because without health care reform, costs will continue to climb, benefits will erode, and many of us will become the next uninsured statistic.

Health care is too expensive and uncertain—costs are increasing by at least 6 percent per year.   If you fall ill, lose your job, or just grow older, you could be priced out of coverage or lose it altogether. The only thing guaranteed about health care today is that it will cost more tomorrow. And you’re not the only one wondering how you’ll pay. Washington State and major employers are also scrambling.

Starbucks spends more on health care costs than coffee beans.  The Big Three U.S. automakers each spend more on health care costs than steel.  A recent Rand study showed that 15 major industries in the U.S. will suffer job losses and output if health care costs continue to rise.  These statistics paint a disturbing prediction: if your company covers your insurance today, there is zero guarantee that it will next year.

Prospects are no less grim for the State. Health care spending—for state employees and the publicly insured—eats up more and more of our state budget each year, crowding out other important priorities like education and the environment. The state’s budget deficit is up another $450 million since the Legislature left in April. And Tim Eyman’s latest Initiative (I-1033) threatens to virtually freeze future state budgets at the current recession level.

Congress is working on a plan that aims to bring stability and security to a health care system that today leaves 45 million people uninsured and provides little predictability for those who are insured. Current federal proposals contain several important elements that will benefit Washington families of all incomes, help employers and our state develop sustainable budgets, and ultimately result in healthier, more livable communities for all of us.

First, Congress would require insurers to accept everyone—if you get sick you wouldn’t be denied care, lose coverage or pay more for health care. In addition, everyone would be required to have insurance. The government, employers and individuals would all share responsibility for contributing toward the cost of coverage.

Second, Congress wants to expand the successful Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which cover low-income children, mothers and the disabled, with the cost shared by the state and federal governments. Health care reform legislation proposes to cover all adults in families making less than $29,300 (family of four) through Medicaid. Children in families up to $60,000 (for a family of four) would have the option of reduced-cost coverage under CHIP.

Third, Congress has proposed allowing those without employer coverage to purchase it through a state or national “Exchange”. In addition to ensuring that all plans meet minimum standards, the Exchange would maintain an online portal where individuals could compare the costs, benefits and providers of available insurance plans. Individuals making less than $43,000 per year would qualify for a sliding scale subsidy.  The much-debated public plan would be one choice among many other private plans offered to consumers in the Exchange.

Together, these reforms mean everyone would have the security of affordable coverage, even if you lost your job and your income dropped. Those who purchased through the Exchange would have a broad choice of health plans and providers. Hundreds of thousands of currently uninsured Washingtonians would have access to affordable coverage. Covering everyone would put an end to the cost shifting that drives up the price of the average family insurance premium by $2000 each year.

Health insurance and access to timely care for Washington families should not be held hostage to politics and misinformation campaigns. The current recession has shown us that we are all just one job away from losing health insurance and access to care.

Rebecca Kavoussi is a Beacon Hill resident and parent. She is also the Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs at the Community Health Network of Washington (www.chnwa.org).

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From the Heart of Rainier Valley: A Gray Day in August, White Buckets, the Red Button

August 29, 2009

in Arts/Living,Guest Columns

Plain-White-Bucket-LR2By Tristin Pagenkopf

Summer is as busy and slow as only summer can be. The days are long, sunny and dry. The grass turns yellow, then brown. Even the dandelions give up their march for a few weeks.  Neighbors come out and visit. The sky turns a fantastic shade of pink and then purple at twilight, even as everything is lit up with a yellow glow. Even on days that are gray and quiet, there are moments in the early evening so magical that I wish they would last forever.

I try to keep our shrubs from withering by marching my 5-gallon buckets around the yard with the hose, even as I spy Ralph itching to come over and show me how to use a sprinkler.  For those who wonder about the white buckets, my mother (an experienced and occasionally bossy master gardener) taught me that a 5-gallon bucket with a few 1/8” diameter holes in the bottom, filled up once or twice a week for the first three summers make those new plants “root ready” to be drought tolerant.

Of course, it’s wise to choose plants that aren’t water hogs to begin with. She helps me with that too, sliding in a regular lecture about the hydrangea. As in “it’s got ‘hydro” right in the name – what did you expect!? Of course it’s a water hog…” But some things are worth the work.

Our musician neighbors practice early on weekdays for their weekend gigs. Anything from Alice Cooper and Dire Straits, to open jazz and blues sessions. Towards evening, the amplifier is disconnected but the guitars continue to play. Snippets of conversation drift across the driveway. Between them and the Tuesday evening church services, I feel we’re surrounded by music and song.  People making music are powerful.

Mrs. Folino calls a couple a times a day. My husband refuses to answer the phone anymore. She’s working on getting the curb in front of her house designated a blue handicapped-only parking space so that her neighbor will stop parking in front of her house. I remind her that it’s a public street, but it’s a small battle she’s determined to win. To do it, even though she doesn’t know how to drive, she’s working on getting her blue ADA sticker from the state. This has been going on for weeks.  I have no doubt that she’ll succeed.

My family rode the light rail to a house-warming party last Saturday from Othello to the Beacon Hill station.  The train was pretty full, and so we attempted to flip down one of the wheelchair seats. That red button next to the lever – it had to do something with the seat, right?

Oh no, we learned it has nothing to do with operating the seat, and everything to do with talking to the conductor. If you’re in trouble, push the red button and a disembodied voice will ask about your troubles. We spluttered our mistake and sat down red-faced. It was a quiet ride otherwise, ending with the elevator ride at Beacon Hill with the security guard escort. I was surprised at that, since there was no obvious security at Othello. North Beacon Hill seems closer to us now. I just wish the ride was cheaper!

“From the heart of Rainier Valley” is written by Tristin Pagenkopf, one of the last of the blue-light specials, born just off of Rainier Avenue back in 1968. She has a day job. Sometimes she teaches. She’s married to a foreigner. They live in a house in Hillman City that’s seen better days, and they count themselves lucky to live in a fascinating, beautiful neighborhood filled with interesting people and a rich history, which is what she shares with RVP readers on a semi-regular basis.

More From The Heart of Rainier Valley:

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From the Heart of Rainier Valley: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, Christmas Carols in July

July 9, 2009

in Arts/Living,Guest Columns

fences-0011

By Tristin Pagenkopf

I confess that I’ve been a very cranky person of late. My grandma would have come right out and called me a “picklepuss” and told me to straighten up. There’s no excuse for it. I’m beginning to think being under-employed is worse than being un-employed. At least you can say you don’t have a job. Anyhow, my biggest thorn is my neighbor.

Mr. Neighbor has been driving up our driveway to park in his front yard. He does this at high speed, barreling off the street like a maniac. He must think that if he goes fast enough no one will notice. And he probably thinks he’s entitled, since we have two driveways and he has none. Unfortunately, it already irritates me that people think this driveway is the turnaround for the neighborhood. (Public service message for all you drivers:  Just go around the block.)

Now you might be thinking, what’s the big deal? Until I owned such a popular driveway, I would have asked that question myself. For us, the issue is safety. Our toddler is a speedy little creature, and while we do our best to keep him within 10-feet of us, occasionally he makes a break for it. Luckily, most times he heads for the back of the house.

The funny thing is, we totally signed up to share a driveway when we bought this house. Just not this driveway. Our yard is a Rainier Valley classic, complete with a paved  backyard  and driveways on both sides of the house that connect in back. Slowly we’re excavating this urban hardscape to install raised garden beds, but it is heavy, expensive work to recycle asphalt.

Which brings me to Mr. Neighbor irritation No. 2.  I met with a fence company a couple of weeks ago, and this same gentleman decided that was the perfect time to come out and start instructing me (stupid woman) on how to put up a string-line so that he could “approve” a fence location – a perfectly reasonable request.

Except that we’d already done it, and Mr. Neighbor’s gardener had taken it upon himself to not only cut and remove the string-line in order to get his lawnmower from our driveway to my neighbor’s  yard, he went and pulled out the stakes and tossed them in the hedge. So despite our financial situation, we’re borrowing money to build a fence. And no, it won’t be chainlink.

Thankfully, it’s not all pesky irritations. Some days it’s downright silly. For instance, the other day you might have heard the ice cream truck playing “We wish you a Merry Christmas”, which made us giggle all through dinner. I could be wrong, but I picture a fresh-off-the-boat immigrant merrily playing Christmas carols in July, completely unaware that his mixed tape belongs to December. Either that or he’s trying to remind us of this past wretched winter. Which is also funny to think back on now that its summertime.

“From the heart of Rainier Valley” is written by Tristin Pagenkopf, one of the last of the blue-light specials, born just off of Rainier Avenue back in 1968. She has a day job. Sometimes she teaches. She’s married to a foreigner. They live in a house in Hillman City that’s seen better days, and they count themselves lucky to live in a fascinating, beautiful neighborhood filled with interesting people and a rich history, which is what she shares with RVP readers on a semi-regular basis.

More From The Heart of Rainier Valley:

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Light Rail: Getting There (Part I)

July 8, 2009

in Guest Columns,News,Transportation

By Martin Duke, Seattle Transit Blog

oct08-121If you don’t live within walking distance of a light rail station and would like to try to use it to get around, you’re faced with the decision of how to get there. Here’s a quick guide to your options in the Rainier Valley and points south.

Note that the bus service discussed in this post will change significantly on September 19, 2009, when I’ll write another post explaining how the service has changed.

South-End Stations:

  • highlightr-valleyBeacon Hill Station is underground and lies at roughly the corner of Beacon Ave. and S. McClellan St.
  • Mt. Baker Station is elevated and is at intersection of Rainier Ave. S and MLK Jr. Way.
  • Columbia City Station is a surface station at the intersection of S. Alaska St. and MLK Jr. Way.
  • Othello Station, as the name implies, is a surface stop at the intersection of S. Othello St. and MLK Jr. Way.
  • Rainier Beach Station is a surface station at the intersection of MLK Jr. Way and S. Henderson St.
  • Tukwila Int’l Blvd Station is visible from SR 518 (the airport freeway) as it crosses SR99.

GETTING THERE

By Car: Famously, most Link stations don’t have park-and-rides, due to a city policy that discourages driving and wants to save the land for transit-oriented development. However, the Tukwila International Blvd. station has a park and ride that may be convenient for those that live nearby, or south of I-405.

Also, there is a private pay lot ($3/day, closed Wednesdays) just west of the intersection of Rainier Ave. and S. Edmunds St. It’s about 3 blocks from the Columbia City station. At the corner of Beacon Ave. and S. Forest St., there is a small pay lot ($1.50/hr) that is about a block south of the Beacon Hill station.

Each station has plaza areas well-suited to pick-up and drop-off (“Kiss and Ride”).

oct08-128

By Bike: There are extensive bike racks at each station. For those seeking a more secure solution, you can simply take your bike on the train (except opening weekend), or you can rent a bike locker for $50/year, subject to availability. Bike Lockers are only at Sodo, Beacon Hill, Mt. Baker, Rainier Beach, and Tukwila/Int’l Blvd stations.

By Bus: Until the September service change, the bus system isn’t really oriented towards light rail. There are a lot of routes that get you within a few blocks, but not quite there. Nevertheless, here are your options:

  • From the Central District: To go downtown, the bus is faster. To go South, routes 7, 36, 42, 48, and 60 all interface with Light Rail at either the Beacon Hill or Mt. Baker stations, at all times of day. Route 14 takes you within about four blocks of the Mt. Baker station. Although they have limited service hours, routes 7X, 8, 9, and 42X all go to Mt. Baker Station.
  • From Georgetown: Route 60 connects to the Beacon Hill Station at all times of day.
  • From Beacon Hill: Route 36 runs along Beacon Ave. and serves Beacon Hill station, and some buses go to Rainier Beach station.  Route 39 crosses Link at Columbia City station and then runs along Columbian Way, though not evenings.  The 38 serves Sodo, Beacon Hill, and Mt. Baker stations along McClellan St. The 32, which runs only during rush hour, directly serves Rainier Beach and can drop you just up the hill from Othello and Columbia City along Beacon Ave.
  • Along MLK: The 42 and 42X serve all but Rainier Beach, which it misses by about a block, via MLK and Renton Ave.  The 42 runs all the time and the 42X only during rush hour.  The 48 sometimes serves all the Rainier Valley stations via MLK, though many go no further south than Mt. Baker or Columbia City.
  • Along Rainier Ave: The 7 connects with Link at Mt. Baker, and passes within about 5 blocks of all the other Rainier Valley stations via Rainier Ave., and runs very frequently in all but the early morning hours.  The 7X and 9 are faster, but don’t run as often.
  • Columbia City: Many of you will be able to walk, but you have the 7 going North on Rainier to Mt. Baker all the time. There’s also the 39 going west on Genessee to Columbia City station all but the evenings; the 48 also going there from Rainier Park except on evenings and Sundays; and the 34, 7X, and 9 to Mt. Baker via Rainier, but with much more restricted hours.
  • Seward Park: The 39 starts about 4 blocks away from Rainier Beach, and takes you to Columbia City station via Seward Park Ave. and S. Genessee St. It runs every day till the early evening, in both directions. The 34 starts in the same place and passes by Mt. Baker Station, but only during rush hour.
  • Rainier Beach: If you’re near Rainier & Henderson, you’re spoiled for choice. The 32, 36, 48 and 126 take you right to Rainier Beach station, although only the 36 runs all the time. The 106 is frequent and gives you a fairly direct run to Othello Station via Rainier and Othello St. The 42 and 42X take you within a block of Rainier Beach.
  • Dunlap/Skyway/Renton: The 106 travels north on Renton Avenue, passes 5 blocks east of Rainier Beach station, and then crosses the Link line at Othello. If you’re along the lakeshore, the 107 gets you to Rainier & Henderson, five blocks from the station. For the next few months, the 42 and 42X will leave from the Dunlap area, pass within a block of Rainier Beach, and then serve all the other Rainier Valley stations.  From Prentice St., the 7 and 7X are about 5 blocks east of the line till they meet at Mt. Baker Station.  Along MLK, the 126 will take you north to Rainier Beach station, but only during rush hour.
  • Southcenter/42nd Ave S: The 126 will take you to Rainier Beach station via MLK, unfortunately only during rush hour.  There will be many better options in September.
  • Pacific Hwy S: Those who live along SR 99 can take the 174 to Tukwila Int’l Blvd Station.  The connections in Southwest King County will get much better with the September service change, and when the Seatac Station opens in December.

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Why Seattle Needs Districts (OP-ED)

June 22, 2009

in Guest Columns,Opinion,Politics

6-16-012bBy Pat Murakami

How many of the local civics questions can you answer correctly?

1.    Did the biggest spender win every City Council race in 2007?
2.    What was the average amount spent?
3.    How much did unchallenged City Councilmember Rasmussen spend?
4.    How do we elect our City Council?
5.    How long have we been electing our City Council this way?
6.    Under our current system of electing the City Council, could all 9 Councilmembers be from the same part of Seattle?
7.    Do you think SE Seattle is served well by our City Council?
8.    SE Seattle is in the 37th Legislative District.  How many City Councilmembers live in the 37th?

Answers:

1.    Yes, without exception.
2.    Average was $249,667.  Tim Burgess spent the most:  $353,532.  Sally Clark spent the least (against a very weak opponent):  $176,746.
3.    Though he had no opponent Tom Rasmussen spent $201,874 in 2007.
4.    All 9 City Councilmembers are elected at-large.  They are elected by all Seattle voters and must campaign city-wide.
5.    Since 1910.
6.    Yes, they could literally all live within a few blocks of each other.
7.    Well do you?
8.    5 of the 9 City Councilmembers live in the 37th L.D.:  Clark, Conlin, Drago, Harrell and McIver.

Do we need five City Councilmembers in SE Seattle or just one that serves our community well? Is it possible that the rest of Seattle prospered over the last decade while SE Seattle’s poverty rate increased because we didn’t have that one City Councilmember that served us well? Is it possible that crime dropped in 2008 for all other parts of the city except in southeast because we didn’t have a City Councilmember focusing on our issues?

Action Seattle is sponsoring a Seattle City Charter Amendment called Seattle Districts Now which would change the way our City Council is elected from the current 9 at-large positions to five district and four at-large positions. Voters will still get to vote for five of the nine positions – their representative and the four at-large positions.

Ninety percent of the largest cities in the United States (with a population of at least 350,000) operate under some form of a district system.  Only five of the 52 largest cities are at-large City Councils:  Detroit, Columbus, Austin, Seattle and Portland.

It is hoped the creation of districts will result in a more accountable and responsive City Council.  Districts will allow candidates to engage in grassroots campaigns, interact with their constituents and know the local issues.  When voters have an issue with the City they will have a specific Councilmember they can contact.

Seattle’s population has more than doubled since 1910.  Seattle has become too large to be well served by an at-large Council.  Our Council is designed to look at the big picture.  What about the actual picture – business closures, lack of economic development, rapidly increasing crime rates?  Attention to local and neighborhood issues is long over due.

You can help let the voters of Seattle decide if they want local representation. Go to the Action Seattle website, download the petition, print both pages on regular 8.5” x 11” paper, staple them together, sign, get some of your neighbors to sign and mail the petition to the address on the bottom of the petition.  It just might make a difference for SE Seattle.

Councilman Bruce Harrell and community activist Pat Murakami address the crowd at a recent Southeast Neighborhood District Council (SENDC) meeting. Photo/do communications, inc.

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Denise Gloster: An Open Letter to My Rainier Valley Community…

May 31, 2009

in Guest Columns

dd

From Denise Gloster, Mt. Baker/Hillman City:

Dear Friends, Community members, neighbors, and acquaintances;

I am writing to express my gratitude for your help during this most difficult time for Danny and myself.

Last May, as I was running about trying to stir participation and collaboration for the first March For Youth, Danny received a diagnosis of cancer.  It was about 5:20pm on May 20, 2008 when he came home and told me the doctor said he had head and neck cancer.  I had to be at a meeting in about a half an hour and the wind was knocked out of me!  I am sure that I went into shock; my body tensed and I could hardly breathe, I believe it stayed extremely tensed as I struggled to try to work to save my husband’s life.  On April 21, 2009 we got word from the doctors that Danny’s cancer is cured!  We are so relieved, so thankful, and hopeful!  I wanted to make sure that everyone gets this news!  No one knows what the future holds, but for now our days are blessed!

Now there are probably a lot of things one should know about cancer and how it occurs, but I’m not an expert in that area and will save what I do know for another time.  It is difficult to have enough support and love while going through a situation such as ours, and every bit of help means so much that I wanted to say thank you publicly.  During this ordeal and not knowing what to do or how to do it, I flew by the seat of my pants, shot from the hip as it were, and did the best I could to keep him, Danny, with us.  I also worked to maintain my community involvement.   Though I can easily state that this was the worst year of my life, I am and was warmed by the many of you that wanted to help.  So while I say thank you, please let me share a little about who and how the Rainier Valley community helped us.

A great big thank you to Amber Campbell for setting up meals for us for a couple of months and to all of you that brought dinners over (a couple people told me they couldn’t even get on the list cause it filled too fast).

Delores & Richard Ranhoffer, brought us several delicious meals (too many to count)

Sarah Valenta and family, shared with us her mother’s recipe for vegetarian lasagna and a wonderful meal

Marilyn Moch, visited with dinner twice and brought over homemade applesauce

Mark B, called, many times, to invite me to lunch or just to hang out

Thanks to all the folks that helped with the first March For Youth — too many to list but especially Priest Amen, Stefani Fox, Jennifer Duong, Wyking Garrett, and Nature Carter-Gooding and to all of you who gave money and came out for our kids.

Pat Murakami and Lois Mills (Lois is a friend from my BA who lives in Auburn) both picked up the phone every time I called.

Geoff Coburn, our neighbor brought homemade chicken noodle soup over for us

Francisco Delatorre, our tenant came over and mowed the grass

Alison Dildine, a friend from college who lives in Bellevue sent a housecleaner for 6 months and had a gardener clean up our yard.

Juli and Marvin Gray of Rainier Avenue Church brought over the best chocolate cake along with a nice dinner of soup

Barbara Beck a former Mt. Baker resident and my childhood friend made several trips from Monroe to help me out — once to take me to the emergency room.

Dani Weiss brought us her favorite baked chicken dish

Amber Campbell, Brian Lettich, Matt Hendrickson, Mark Westbrook, Tracy Fagan, active HCBA members, and many others for helping to keep things rolling in Hillman City for Summer Events 2008

Sally Clark brought dinner a second time — homemade, chicken in sauce to go over rice

Mariana Quarnstrom came over and helped me tape for paint in my new office

Jeanne Muir sent me the book “Share the Care” so that I can help us all develop better caring networks

Our neighbor Mary Alice brought a pot of flowers for our porch

Abbey Norris, Amber Campbell, Brian Lettich, Ian Gloster-Fink, Jeremy Valenta, Matt Hendrickson, Tamra Smilanich, and Tristin Pagenkopt helped us make the Heart Hunt &Town Hall happen.

Ian, our son brought pizza’s, groceries, and came to mow the grass several times

Cheryl Webber of Veldyke Realty brought a wonderful salad along with a casserole

Eleuthera Lisch, Franklyn Smith, John Hoole, Paul Patu, MAD — Mook and Boug, Mariana Quarnstrom, Sarah Valenta, and Van Manivanh, and others for contributing to planning efforts to make March For Youth 2009 happen

Others who thought of us with a meal, call/conversation, email, or visit:
Buna Faircloth
Chris O’Brien-Touchie
Christy Coxley and Jay
Diane Duthweiler
Emily Ericsen, a close neighbor
Kathy of the Crime Council
Mark Westbrook
Pam Banks
Patty Gloster
Paul Olver, Rainier Avenue Church
Randy Ivie (my nephew)
Ray Akers
Susan Davis – Bruce Kochis
Tom Acker
Yun Pitre

If I left anyone out, I am sorry, but did my best to remember even little things because as I stated they mean so much.  Since it is a traditional memorial season, I am remembering losses — one on my street, to cancer, Steven Wheeler, a week ago lost a five year battle with brain cancer and sending prayers to his loved ones.  Please look around you today for someone that could use your help and remember sometimes, a smile or kind word can mean a lot, so try to share.

Thank you,
Denise Gloster

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KC Councilmember Julia Patterson Wants to Get Tough on Potentially Dangerous Dogs

May 25, 2009

in Guest Columns,News,Politics

patterson2009_150pxashxFrom King County  Councilmember Julia Patterson:

Owners of dogs exhibiting dangerous or potentially dangerous behavior would face special restrictions and enhanced penalties under legislation introduced today by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson.

Patterson’s proposal is in response to a vicious attack on a 72-year old SeaTac woman last fall by two pit bulls. The attack left the victim in critical condition, with severed ears, a crushed arm and severe wounds across her body.

“Dogs bites are a serious problem that inflict considerable damage—both physical and emotional—on victims and their families,” said Patterson. “In order to prevent these tragic events, King County needs additional tools to protect our communities. I believe this proposed legislation is a great step in ensuring the safety and well-being of both our dogs and our residents.”

The Center for Disease Control reports that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with one in five dog bites resulting in injuries that require medical attention.

The proposed legislation would make revisions to King County Code to reflect current Revised Code of Washington provisions and to address public safety concerns regarding dog bites. The proposal would create special requirements, higher fees and fines, and disciplinary action for owners of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs.

Specifically, the proposed legislation would require owners to:

  • Spay or neuter dogs that are dangerous or potentially dangerous
  • Keep those dogs in a proper enclosures. When they leave the property, the animal must be on a leash and muzzled at all times
  • Acquire insurance or surety bonds for dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs
  • Display universally readable signage on their property that they own a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.
  • Microchip their dangerous or potentially dangerous dog
  • Pay higher license fees for their dangerous or potentially dangerous dog

Washington state law defines dangerous dogs as dogs that inflicts severe injury on a human being, kills a domestic animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner’s property, or has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human are considered.

State law defines potentially dangerous dogs as dogs that when unprovoked, bite humans or domestic animals, chases or approaches persons in a menacing fashion, has a known tendency to attack unprovoked, or to cause injury or otherwise threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.

The proposed legislation is not breed specific, but applies to all dogs exhibiting dangerous or potentially dangerous behavior.

Failure to comply with the fines and restrictions will result in additional fees.  King County will use the revenue collected from the fines to educate dog owners in King County about responsible pet ownership.

Jurisdictions in other parts of the world have adopted comparable legislation with much success. Three years ago, Calgary, Alberta adopted bylaws similar to the requirements laid out in the proposed legislation.  Today, attacks by aggressive dogs in Calgary are at the lowest level they have been in 25 years.

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City Council Prez on Budget Revisions: No Cuts in Human Services or Uniformed Police & Fire

May 24, 2009

in Guest Columns,Politics

richardconlinFrom City Council President Richard Conlin, Seattle City Hall

Over the last few weeks the City Council and Mayor have been discussing how to adjust the City budget in the light of falling revenues.  The City is in relatively good condition compared to the County and State, but revenues are now projected to be some $40 million lower in 2009 than the fairly conservative forecast that was included in the budget approved by the Council in November of 2008.

Fortunately, the Mayor has proposed a plan to cover this shortfall that has minimal impacts on the level of services to Seattle residents and businesses.  The plan includes realizing a substantial amount of savings from the 2008 budget – usually, Departments are allowed to carry forward most of their underexpenditures, but not this time.  The plan also takes $5 million out of the City*s Rainy Day Fund, leaving a $25 million balance that will likely have to be used in 2010, and cuts some $13 million of 2009 expenditures, including some 60 positions, half of which were vacant.

The Mayor is responsible for taking these actions.  The Council has the authority to set the budget, and can prevent the Mayor from spending funds, but the Mayor has the authority to decide not to spend funds.

Mayor Nickels did consult with Councilmembers on this plan, but there is no Council action required to implement it.

The good news in the plan is that no cuts were made in human services programs or in uniformed police and fire personnel.  Again, this is a very different situation from the very tough choices that the State and County are faced with making.

All departments have had to cut some portion of their expenditures, with the most significant cuts being postponement of capital expenditures for repairs and maintenance on Parks and Library buildings.

Fortunately, the City took care of the most urgent building maintenance needs in the 2006-2007 period, when revenues were very favorable, and the expenditures that have been cut can be safely postponed for several years.  Depending on the speed of the economic recovery, 2010 may pose a tougher challenge, but the Rainy Day Fund, which the City set aside during the boom years, will help to make the task easier.

On Monday, May 11, the Council unanimously approved Resolution 31134, which reaffirmed the Council*s 2010 budget goals — Public Safety, Human Services and Housing, Transportation, Pedestrian Safety, Environmental Stewardship, and Neighborhood Planning.  However, the Resolution commits the Council to Public Safety and Human Services and Housing as its highest priorities.

The Council is also committed to continuing to improve our long-range stewardship of the City’s budget.  Even though the City is weathering this storm in relatively good shape, we will expand our outcome-based budget review procedure, which we began in 2008.  We will also be looking for further efficiencies in future budgets, including:

  • Reducing or suspending major maintenance projects;
  • Increasing the “span of control” and reducing management positions to reduce internal costs;
  • Reducing the number of vehicles in the City’s internal fleet and/or extending the lifespan of existing vehicles;
  • Reviewing fuel purchasing policies to eliminate food-based bio-diesel;
  • Reviewing long-term consultant contracts and bringing the work “in-house”;
  • Enhancing the efficiency of the Department of Information Technology, the Fleets and Facilities Department, the Department of Executive Administration’s Contracting Services Division and the City’s other internal services functions; and
  • Reviewing the City’s participation in various local, regional and national organizations and the membership dues associated with this participation, as well as funding for staff training and travel to conferences, professional meetings, etc., particularly those held outside the State.

Find the full text of the resolution here.

Find Council President Richard Conlin here:
Seattle City Hall
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025
(206) 684-8805

Spring Storm Brings Down Big Leaf Maple in Columbia City

May 21, 2009

in Guest Columns,News,South-End Scenes

mikalatreedown

By Mikala Woodward, Rainier Valley Historical Society

Yes, it’s true — one of Columbia Park’s big leaf maples went down in Tuesday night’s storm. By 8am Wednesday morning, Parks crews had arrived to assess the damage. By 8:45 they had cordoned off the area and were feeding branches off the fallen trunk into a wood chipper.

mikala3treechipping

An arborist determined that the storm wasn’t to blame. It turns out the tree was fatally flawed: two stems had long ago grown together into a single tree, but with a layer of included bark between them that made the bond weak. With all the decay revealed around the split, nobody seemed terribly hopeful about saving the remaining half of the tree.

treesplit1

We’re not really sure when the three big leaf maples were planted outside the Columbia Library — there aren’t many pictures of the park in the early days, possibly because it was an unsightly garbage dump until 1939. The trees were already big by the 1940s and ‘50s, but big leaf maples grow pretty fast.

babytreescropped1

A 1915 photo shows a wooded slope north of the half-finished library building – are those the big leaf maples in their youth?

library1915

Could be. It’s also possible they were planted later that year when the slope was graded as part of the realignment of Rainier Avenue.

Rainier’s realignment created a triangle of disputed land at the northeast corner of the park, and in the 1960s a proposal was floated to build an office building at the corner of Rainier and Alaska. The plan called for the removal of several old trees at the site, and Don Sherwood, Parks Department historian, protested: “We don’t have thirty years to grow new trees!”  I’m glad the plan was scrapped – I love the sweep of the park coming up from Rainier. But I think it’s important to note that new trees do grow, and they’ve got nothing but time to do it in. Our fatally flawed friend narrowly missed the Centennial Tree we dedicated in Columbia Park in 2007; it won’t be long – in tree time — before that little big leaf catches up with its elders.

Final thought: that realignment of Rainier back in 1915 cost Columbia City a beloved street tree, which stood in front of Phalen’s grocery (now the Columbia City Bakery). The tree doesn’t look all that big in the old photos, but it had a circular bench around the trunk, and people used to sit there eating ice cream while they waited for the streetcar. When Rainier was widened to add a brick-paved road, the tree was in the way and had to be cut down. A sentimental soul took the wood and made souvenir goblets for everyone in town. We’re hoping to persuade the Parks Department to help us preserve the trunk of the big leaf maple for a commemorative project of some kind – I vote for wooden goblets all around. Then we can stand under the remaining big leaf maples and drink to their health. Bottoms up!

Top Three Photos/Mikala Woodward. Bottom Two Photos/Rainier Valley Historical Society

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People in Your Neighborhood: Mt. Baker Neighbor Pulls the Lion by the Tail

May 1, 2009

in Arts/Living,Guest Columns,People In Your Neighborhood

christimuonekeFrom Jane Faulkner & Embodied Living:

If you’ve ever met Christi Muoneke, you will remember her.  Christi serves her clients with humor, practical savvy and insight into their business needs and challenges, and as a result her practice has been expanding despite the economic downturn.  As she says, “I strive to be the kind of renaissance lawyer that I would want to represent me in business, [as opposed to one that I'd want to write a law review article with].”

The founder and owner of Zephyr Law Group Group, Christi is a joy to know and work with. Her background is unusual and her brilliance is undeniable.  Yet, it is her dynamic presence and down-to-earth nature that magnetize friends and clients to her.

Born to a lawyer father who was a diplomat for Nigeria and a mother who is an educator, Christi spent the first decade of her life living in different countries such as England, France, Sao Tomé, Gabon and Ireland.  In 1967, her father was exiled from Nigeria because of the civil war with Biafra, and Christi and her six siblings were hidden in shipping containers [otherwise packed with dried fish and other marvelous-smelling relief aid food], until they were safely inside a cargo plane arranged by a Roman Catholic aid agency.  After a long and harrowing flight, they arrived in Cork, Ireland and lived with a wonderful Irish family, the O’Neils, for several years until the war ended and amnesty was granted to all former Biafran operatives.  Her parents returned to Nigeria and the family reunited.

Back in Nigeria for high school, and a good student, athlete and tomboy, Christi was training for her blue belt in karate, when a friend told her about a beauty pageant with a trip to the US as first prize.  As most of the rest of the world, she’d always been intrigued by her image of the US, a country she’d yet to visit.  And so, although she didn’t consider herself to be a great beauty, Christi spent months preparing and transforming herself from “dojo geek” to “beauty queen.”

To her surprise (and that of her family and friends), she won the pageant over more suitable contestants!  And that experience made her realize that we can achieve the near-impossible, with enough desire, grit and determination.  The prize trip to New York changed her life and drew her back to the US to attend UCLA.  Although the 5th of 7 very close-knit children, she was the first to move to the States.  Over the following years, her siblings did so one at a time, and today they’re all reunited again, albeit in different parts of the country.

After graduate school, she spent six years designing high-rise office buildings in LA, but ultimately felt ready for new challenges. Encouraged by her father and brother, both lawyers, she decided to go to law school, and subsequently graduated from Stanford Law School, where she served as Associate Editor of the Stanford Law Review.   She moved to Seattle, starting her practice at Perkins Coie and then Graham & Dunn, where she practiced corporate securities, M&A and technology law.  She also spent over 7 years at Microsoft, where she worked with several of the company’s major business and product development groups, Including  Windows Client,  MSN, Int’l Strategic Alliances, and UPG/Emerging Markets.

Christi’s “aha moment” came in 2006, while 5 months pregnant with her second child.  During a routine visit with her husband for an ultrasound, Christi collapsed in her doctor’s office with major hemorrhaging.  As she was being wheeled into the operating room, in danger of losing her child and her own life, she was later told that she came to for a moment, and asked the doctor if the doctor could please hurry as she had to make it back to work for an important 3 p.m. meeting!  Needless to say, she never made it back to that job (that day or any other), and remained hospitalized until her son was born several weeks later.

The weeks of bed-rest and forced non-activity resulted in some reluctant soul-searching, and Christi had to rediscover her intrepid self again.  She also realized what mattered most to her, the gift of time with her family, and what her proudest accomplishments were.  She decided to start the kind of practice she’d dreamed of when she first decided to study law.  It was an easy decision.

Initially, she found work through colleagues and friends who knew her during her time in practice.  Zephyr Law was born in 2007 as Christi moved from her home office to a space in the Georgetown/SODO area, and the firm has continued to grow and add lawyers and other professionals.

The name Zephyr was inspired by Christi’s family car (a Zephyr 6), her first introduction to “technology.”

Her firm is thriving and so is Christi.  What does she bring to her clients?  A nimble practice that meets each client’s unique needs over time, personalized legal service of the highest quality, a keen business sense and can-do practical approach, and reasonable pricing.  She makes it her job to understand the culture and sensitivities of her business clients. Because she is a “business advisor” in the truest sense, her clients are satisfied and her practice is growing.

Christi’s goal is to take a couple of months off with her kids, to spend the summer in a different African country each year.  She enjoys the very small firm feel where everyone finds the schedule that works for them, and is supported in their own intentions.

Would Christi change anything?  Probably not.  “Obviously, I wouldn’t be where I am right now without each and every experience that I’ve had along the way. Going home to Africa every year helps keeps me grounded, and reminds me of what a great life I have – whatever the challenges. With the slightest twist of fate, my life could easily have gone in a completely different trajectory, like that of the other billions of people in the developing world.  As we say back home, ‘after you’ve had the experience of pulling a lion by the tail, you’ll never again be afraid of a mere kick from a donkey.’”

She is ready to slow down the building of her practice and put some processes in place to streamline procedures.  Other than that, she feels blessed and fulfilled in her life.

Myra: Slow Police Response = Additional Victimization

04.30.2009 911
rhf1

Tuesday and Thursday nights are special to the women at Rainier Health & Fitness (RHF). From 6-8pm every Tuesday and Thursday night, it’s ladies-only at gym. This is a necessity for some women whose religion forbids dancing in front of men. As a member of RHF, I know many women look forward to the time [...]

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March4Youth: Nothing More Important Than Youth Violence; Expect to Be Recruited

04.26.2009 Guest Columns
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From Columbia City neighbor John Hoole: Last Wednesday, I met Denise Gloster for lunch at Afrikando Afrikando in Hillman City to start planning this year’s March For Youth, which is officially set to go down on Sat., June 20, from noon to 4pm. Aside from taking care of myriad other business, Denise is a relentless [...]

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Myra: Andaluz = Missing Piece to Rainier Valley Fashion & Gift Puzzle

04.21.2009 Arts/Living
andaluz1

Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all the fantastic happenings happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t necessarily equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations [...]

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Note to City Leaders on Youth Violence: Check Yourself, People; Mission NOT Accomplished

04.10.2009 Guest Columns
tim-burgess

Last Tuesday, Columbia City neighbor and frequent RVP contributor John Hoole attended the meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and was kind enough to share some observations about the briefing on the City’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (YVPI): The plan as it was initially announced to the public had a $9.2 million budget. [...]

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Fantasy Basketball & Community Responsibility: Who’s in Charge Here? (OP-ED)

03.23.2009 Guest Columns
johndiaz

The following guest column comes to us from Rainier Valley neighbor John Hoole: Sometime soon, Mayor Nickels will appoint a new police chief. Whether it ends up being Diaz, Metz, or some dynamic outsider, it would be a mistake to pin too many hopes on his choice because no police chief will care enough about [...]

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Support Our Sponsors: Myra Falls for Rainier Health & Fitness & You Will, Too

03.18.2009 Arts/Living
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Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all after-hours happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t always equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations about hidden [...]

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Myra’s Crazy About Chef Jemil’s Po Boys

03.12.2009 Arts/Living
2-20ish-175

Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all after-hours happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t always equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations about hidden [...]

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Elected Officials & SE Seattle Leaders Need to Get Serious About Youth Violence Epidemic (OP-ED)

03.10.2009 Guest Columns
nickelsstateofcity09

The following guest column comes to us from Rainier Valley neighbor John Hoole: On the occasion of his annual State of the City address, Mayor Greg Nickels was in our neighborhood spreading election year cheer about crime. A mile from the spot where, a week and a half before, gunmen had shot 19 bullets into [...]

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Myra’s Back With Amorcito Lounge on Beacon Hill; Just in Time for the Weekend

02.27.2009 Arts/Living
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Myra Myra on the Wall is a semi-regular column written by a hip, Rainier Valley 20-something who seeks to uncover all after-hours happenings in Southeast Seattle for those of us who don’t always equate going downtown with having a good time. Email Myra with your favorite south-of-I-90 hang-outs, upcoming events or random observations about hidden [...]

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