April 2009

The West Seattle Clothesline is re-opening at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, Friday, April 17, and the organization is asking for donations to restock its supply of new of "gently used" washed clothing.

The clothing bank serves all individuals and families regardless of where they live, according to the West Seattle Helpline Web site.

Clothing is  available for all ages, from infants to adults. There is never a charge for the clothing and each individual can receive up to four complete outfits. There is a dress for success area, a large beautiful woman section and a great choices for men and children.

Donations can be dropped off at the West Seattle Helpline during business hours at 6516 35th Ave. S.W. #204 on the following days and hours:

Mornings from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Afternoons from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. From noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The community service project is sponsored by he West Seattle Helpline, Hillcrest Presbyterian Church and Holy Rosary Church.

Ballard, Greenwood and Phinney Ridge residents are invited to Taproot Theater this Friday, April 10 for special two-for-one tickets to that evening’s performance of "Tuesdays with Morrie." The offer corresponds with that evening’s Art Up Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk and the Seattle Summer Streets event.

The two-for-one offer is available for people living in the 98103, 98107 and 98117 zip codes. Just ask for your “Art Walk 2-for-1” ticket when calling the box office at 206-781-9707. The performance starts at 8 p.m. at Taproot Theatre, located at 204 N. 85th St. in Greenwood.

Seating is limited, and the offer is subject to availability.

"Tuesdays with Morrie," directed by Karen Lund, runs through April 25.  For more information, visit Taproot's Web site or contact the box office at 206.781.9707 or box@taproottheatre.org. 

Support for Taproot Theatre’s 2009 season is generously provided by 4Culture, ArtsFund, The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, the Washington State Arts Commission and PONCHO. Thanks to Romio’s Pizza and Pasta, our Pizza and a Play sponsor.
 

(Editor's note: The following was sent as an email from Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles to her constituents with a copy to this newspaper.)

As you likely know, I introduced an income tax bill last week, SB 6147, which would establish a 1 percent income tax on high income residents. I am sending this e-mail to you with some clarification relating to the bill’s provisions. 

Our state faces a historic revenue shortfall, the chorus for a state income tax is growing louder. Our state tax system is dependent on the sales tax. It is regressive, forcing the poorest in our communities to pay the most of their income in taxes, and structurally unsustainable as we become an ever-increasing global economy.

That is why I have introduced Senate Bill 6147 to implement a 1 percent income tax on incomes of over $500,000 annually for individuals, $1 million for spouses filing joint returns and $750,000 for single-income households.

The revenues collected from this tax must be deposited in the Education Enrichment Account, created under this measure, to be used in support of the state’s public schools, colleges and universities.

Tomorrow, Wednesday April 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Madison Middle School, the community is invited to a workshop to help prevent teenage drinking.

The event is sponsored by the Madison Middle School Parent Teacher Association and the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership. It features special guests the author's of "From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking," Chris and Toren Volkmann.

Madison Middle School is located at 3429 45th Ave. S.W. For more information contact Renae Gaines at 396-2945 or rtgaines@seattleschools.org.

Dear Editor,

I am the administrator at Lifecare of West Seattle and have worked in long term care off and on since 1967. One thing I do know is that the care residents receive now is exceptional when compared to 40 years ago. However, the state is threatening to roll back that progress with harmful cuts proposed in the house and senate.

In my facility, 75 percent of the residents rely on Medicaid (state funding) to help pay their share of the cost. The cost per day to care for each one of these residents is $245.82, even though reimbursement is only $170.18.

Additionally, the facility is responsible for paying for special equipment, supplies and medications that are not covered by Medicaid. With the new budget, Medicaid will be reducing further their payment to $147.52, a $93.30 shortfall of what it costs to keep a resident in a nursing home each day.

Providers will be forced to scrutinize accepting residents because of payment source, leaving them for much longer periods and at a greater expense at the hospitals.

In a unanimous vote, Seattle City Council members agreed to pass an ordinance that would restrict spending any funds in the 2009 Seattle Department of Transportation budget toward the Mercer Corridor Project but will still allow the project to go out for construction bid.

“Since 2004, I have argued that funds being considered for development of the Mercer Corridor should be used to address more pressing transportation needs,” said council member Nick Licata. “There still remains a difference of opinion on the city council and in the public about whether the $200 million dollar project is a good use of taxpayer dollars.”

However, Licata said that he does support the piece of Mercer legislation passed Monday, April 6.

“I thank my colleagues on the council for showing with their vote that they share my long-held belief that the project should not get a green light until a realistic funding plan is in place,” Licata said.

A blue-ribbon committee of citizens and county elected officials will help evaluate candidates for appointment should a vacancy occur in the office of King County Executive, under legislation adopted today by the Metropolitan King County Council.

“We need an open and transparent process to review candidates for interim executive,” said council vice chair Jane Hague, sponsor of the motion. “This panel will thoroughly evaluate each candidate and provide the Council with valuable recommendations. This will ultimately help us to choose the best person to manage county government free of politics.”

“We must move quickly once a vacancy occurs to appoint an interim executive to guide King County during this critical year,” said council chair Dow Constantine, co-sponsor of the motion. “Working together, we have crafted an open, transparent selection process that will provide council members with extensive information on the top candidates for the position.”

Citizens will better understand where their tax dollars are being spent under a budget transparency ordinance unanimously adopted today by the Metropolitan King County Council that requires a dramatically greater level of detail in the presentation and reporting of the annual county budget, according to a release from King County.

“Budget transparency is critical, especially in times of deep fiscal challenges,"said Council member Bob Ferguson, chair of the committee of the whole and prime sponsor of the ordinance. "Policy makers and citizens need to know where every dollar is going. This legislation provides the public with a greater level of detail about county spending and ensures that citizens’ priorities are being met.”

“Transparency has the effect of holding policy makers accountable,” said ordinance co-sponsor council member Reagan Dunn. “If people can see what their money is spent on, they have more faith in their government. That is something that is surely lacking among our citizens at this time.”

Pending sales around Western Washington for the month of March reached the highest level in six months, according to the latest figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Compared to February, last month’s pending sales (offers made and accepted, but not yet closed) surged 25 percent, rising from 4,559 transactions to 5,701. Last month’s volume was down 5.6 percent when compared to a year ago, but it was the highest monthly total since September when brokers reported 5,982 pending sales.

Inventory fell sharply from a year ago (down more than 14 percent), in part due to fewer new listings being added to the supply, according to the listing service. Member brokers added 10,252 new listings during March, compared with 13,274 for the same month a year ago, for a drop of nearly 23 percent.

At month-end, there were 39,825 active listings of single family homes and condominiums in the listing service database, a decline of 14.1 percent from the year-ago total of 46,358 listings. The total includes 33,083 single family homes and 6,742 condominiums in 19 counties.

When the 39-year-old left King County Jail after serving time for a domestic violence incident, he immediately returned to his wife's home—despite the no-contact order that barred him from seeing her for ten years. For four hours he kicked and beat his wife (in front of the children), slamming her head repeatedly into the bathroom sink, and threatening to kill the kids if they called police. When the landlord stopped by and knocked on the door, a daughter was able to whisper what was going on. Officers were called, but before they arrived the suspect stole his wife's keys and $1,000 rent money. He fled to a nearby neighborhood where officers found and arrested him. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of domestic violence assault, threats to kill, robbery, unlawful imprisonment, probation violation, and court-order violation. His wife was transported to Harborview for treatment. The landlord told officers that he would immediately change the locks on the door to help ensure the family's safety.