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Liam News

Community Police Commission invites community input on proposed reforms

The Community Police Commission (CPC) needs your help to create a stronger, safer and more connected community.

On September 20, the CPC issued draft policy recommendations for public review. These recommendations are in the areas of bias-free policing, stops and detentions, and in-car video recordings. The CPC is also seeking public comment on the Seattle Police Department’s proposed use of force policy. The CPC must issue a report with its final policy recommendations in these areas on November 15.

Public meetings are being held during October with Seattle residents to get their perspectives about SPD and to gather their thoughts on the CPC recommendations. Many of these meetings are being arranged to ensure we reach those community members most impacted by police practices.

All Seattle residents have a stake in better policing. We hope you will attend a scheduled meeting or offer your views online.

How to participate

Share your thoughts on improving police services in Seattle by taking the online survey!

To learn more, go to the CPC website at www.seattle.gov/policecommission:

  • Find information about CPC meetings which are open to the public and review meeting minutes.

Upcoming community events

Meetings and small group discussions have been arranged by a range of community organizations. You are welcome to attend. Here are some of the meetings coming up:

  • Oct 16, 7:30pm, Delridge District Council meeting, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW
  • Oct 21, 6:00pm, LGBTQ Allyship community forum, Southside Commons, 3518 S Edmunds Street (Please RSVP to allyship@yahoo.com)
  • Oct 23, 6:45 pm, Duwamish District Council, Georgetown City Hall, 6202 13th Ave South
  • Oct 23, 7:30 pm, Southeast District Council, Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave South
Liam News

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods 25th Anniversary Celebration
You and your family are invited to an evening of celebration and entertainment in appreciation of our friends, colleagues, and volunteers over the past 25+ years.
DATE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013
TIME 5:30 – 8:30 P.M.
PLACE MUSEUM OF HISTORY & INDUSTRY, 860 TERRY AVE N
RSVP celebrate25.brownpapertickets.com
or 1-800-838-3006 ext. 1
 PLEASE RSVP BY OCTOBER 16
Families are welcome to enjoy MOHAI exhibits. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
For more information and to RSVP, go to celebrate25.brownpapertickets.com.
This event is free. 
Liam News

Public Meeting on Belltown-Waterfront Connections on October 17
Waterfront Seattle will transform Seattle’s central waterfront and bring new connections to Belltown.

From a new surface street connecting to the waterfront, to completing Bell Street and new public open spaces, the City will share an overview of improvements planned for the Belltown neighborhood. The event is free and open to the public, and we invite your ideas and feedback. See you there!

Let’s Connect: Linking Belltown to Seattle’s New Waterfront
Thursday, October 17
6 PM
City University of Seattle
521 Wall Street

Event is free and open to the public.
Click here to RSVP.

Questions or comments?
info@waterfrontseattle.org
206.499.8040
waterfrontseattle.org

HOSTED BY: City of Seattle’s Departments of Transportation, Planning & Development, and Parks & Recreation

For special accommodations, including interpretation, please contact info@waterfrontseattle.org or 206.499.8040.

Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request for alternative formats through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

 

Liam Events, Transportation

Monday: Tell State Lawmakers to Preserve Metro Funding

Metro is facing a crisis. Unless the Legislature acts to extend or replace expiring taxing authority, Metro will be forced to cut service next year. The Legislature considered but failed to pass a bill this year, but Governor Inslee has promised to call a special session in November if lawmakers can agree on a transportation funding package.

Metro faces a $75 million annual shortfall next year, and without a funding solution, will have to begin major service cuts in fall 2014. Metro is planning reductions of up to 600,000 annual hours of bus service – up to 17 percent of Metro’s service countywide – that would begin in September 2014. Public outreach about proposed reductions will begin this fall.  » Learn more about Metro’s funding and what’s at risk

An additional 45,000 annual service hours will have to be cut from bus service in the Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor. State funding for enhanced bus service to reduce the impacts of the viaduct replacement project runs out next June, even though work on the new tunnel and waterfront improvements will continue through 2019.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is hosting a “listening session” for state lawmakers on Monday. Those who rely on Metro are encouraged to attend and share their comments.

Monday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, 1013 8th Avenue

Liam News

BCC Meeting Wednesday October 9

Join us tonight for our monthly meeting. The chair of the Community Police Commission will present on the proposed reforms of the Seattle Police Department.

Wednesday, October 9
6:30 PM
Belltown Community Center, 415 Bell Street

Liam News

Lack Health Insurance? Open Enrollment Begins Tomorrow

Do you lack health insurance?

Starting tomorrow, October 1, the Washington Healthplanfinder will open for enrollment for coverage starting January 1. Washington Healthplanfinder is Washington’s health insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”). It will allow you to compare insurance plans from different carriers and see if you qualify for subsidies to help you afford coverage.

Health plans at Washington Healthplanfinder are brand new, and all the basics are covered: doctor visits, prescriptions, maternity care, emergency care, preventive care like cancer screenings and vaccinations and more. No one will be denied coverage because they are sick or because they have a pre-existing condition. 

Visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org or call 1-855-WA-FINDER toll-free to learn more and enroll. If you need assistance, trained staff will be available Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through the end of the year at the Seattle Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue. Check with Public Health – Seattle and King County for exact hours.

Liam Public Safety

Detectives Looking for Witnesses in Belltown Robbery

Detectives investigating the assault and robbery of Rory Burks the morning of September 16 are asking for the public’s help in identifying 3 potential witnesses captured on security cameras near 4th and Lenora. Burks left a wedding reception at a hotel at 4th and Stewart around 1:30 AM wearing a tuxedo. He was found unconscious, bloodied, and missing his wallet, watch and phone around an hour later near 4th and Blanchard.

If you recognize any of the people shown on the video or have any other information in this case, contact the Seattle Police Robbery Unit at (206) 684-5535.

Friends of Rory Burks have set up a campaign to help cover his medical expenses.

Liam Education

Seattle Public Schools Revising Attendance Area Boundaries

The Seattle School Board has begun the process of revising the attendance area boundaries for elementary and middle schools across the city to reduce overcrowding at some schools. Notably, under the draft boundaries [PDF] presented to the School Board on Tuesday children in Belltown, downtown and South Lake Union would no longer attend John Hay Elementary and McClure Middle School on Queen Anne but rather will attend Lowell Elementary and the new Meany Middle School on Capitol Hill.

The final boundaries will be approved by the Board in November. Members of the community are invited to Walk the Boundaries and submit feedback to growthboundaries@seattleschools.org or at one of the community meetings scheduled next week.