Showing posts with label op-ed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label op-ed. Show all posts

Op-Ed: Labor Day stands as a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of the working class

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

By Alan Charnley

Labor Day stands as a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of the working class, a day dedicated to honoring the laborers who have tirelessly contributed to the fabric of our nation. 

It is a time to reflect on the progress made through the struggles of countless workers and labor movements, and to consider the challenges that still lie ahead. 

As we observe this important holiday, it becomes increasingly clear that the fight for workers’ rights is far from over. We must seize this moment to advocate for policies that not only celebrate workers but also fundamentally improve their lives—through more paid time off, living wages, and the preservation of dignity in the workplace.

One glaring issue that Labor Day highlights is the stark reality of paid holidays in the United States. Currently, the average American worker receives just about ten paid holidays per year. 

This figure is alarmingly low compared to other developed nations, where workers enjoy a significantly higher number of paid days off. 

For example, in countries like France and Germany, workers are entitled to upwards of 20 to 30 paid vacation days annually, not including national holidays. This disparity is not just a matter of tradition or economic structure; it is a reflection of how society values—or fails to value—its workforce.

Paid time off is more than a perk; it is a necessity for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Workers need time to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with their loved ones. Without adequate paid holidays, workers are more likely to experience burnout, decreased productivity, and mental health challenges. 

Moreover, the lack of sufficient paid time off disproportionately affects low-wage workers, who often cannot afford to take unpaid leave. This creates a vicious cycle where the most vulnerable members of our workforce are pushed to their limits, with little to no reprieve.

Beyond the issue of paid holidays, we must also confront the broader economic realities that millions of workers face daily. The current federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour—a rate that has not been raised since 2009. 

This wage is not enough to cover the basic cost of living in any state, let alone provide a comfortable standard of living. A living wage, which is calculated based on the actual costs of housing, food, healthcare, and other necessities, is essential to ensuring that all workers can live with dignity. In too many cases, workers are forced to work multiple jobs, sacrificing their health, time with their families, and personal development just to make ends meet.

The concept of a living wage is not radical; it is a basic human right. Every worker deserves to earn enough to support themselves and their families without having to endure the constant stress of financial insecurity. 

When workers are paid fairly, they are more likely to be productive, engaged, and loyal to their employers. Moreover, fair wages contribute to a stronger economy, as workers have more disposable income to spend in their communities, creating a positive ripple effect.

Dignity in the workplace is a multifaceted issue that extends beyond fair wages. It encompasses the right to work in safe conditions, free from harassment, discrimination, and exploitation. It includes the right to organize and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. 

It also means that workers should be treated with respect, regardless of their job title, background, or education level. Every job, whether it is in healthcare, education, construction, retail, or any other field, is vital to the functioning of our society and deserves to be valued as such.

Unfortunately, many workers still face significant challenges in the workplace. From unsafe working conditions to wage theft and retaliation for organizing efforts, the fight for dignity at work is ongoing. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the vulnerabilities of workers, especially those in frontline and essential roles. These workers, who kept our society running during the height of the pandemic, often did so without adequate protection, fair compensation, or the recognition they deserved.

As we celebrate Labor Day, it is crucial to remember that the holiday is not just a day off; it is a reminder of the power of collective action. 

The labor rights we enjoy today—such as the eight-hour workday, weekends, and protections against child labor—were not granted willingly by employers or the government; they were won through the hard-fought battles of workers and their unions. This legacy should inspire us to continue pushing for progress, ensuring that future generations of workers enjoy even greater rights and protections.

The path forward requires a renewed commitment to worker advocacy. We must demand that the average number of paid holidays be increased, reflecting a genuine respect for workers’ time and well-being. We must continue to fight for a living wage, ensuring that no worker is left behind in our economy. And we must insist on dignity in every workplace, from the boardroom to the breakroom.

Labor Day is a time to honor the contributions of workers, but it is also a call to action. Let us use this day to reaffirm our dedication to improving the lives of workers everywhere. By advocating for more paid holidays, a living wage, and dignity in the workplace, we can build a society where every worker is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. The future of our nation depends on it.


Read more...

Op-Ed: Removing fish barriers to improve salmon habitat and transportation for generations to come

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Crews work to install a buried, concrete box-like structure that will allow Skagit River fish better access under SR 20 between Concrete and Rockport. Photo courtesy WSDOT

By Roger Millar, Washington State Secretary of Transportation

Perfect is the enemy of good. This feels remarkably applicable to the Washington State Department of Transportation's work improving fish habitat. A 2013 federal court order directed WSDOT to correct hundreds of outdated fish barriers and open hundreds of miles of habitat. We're doing just that: working to remove 400 fish passage barriers and restore 90% of habitat blocked by state highways in little more than a decade once the Legislature ramped up funding.

The federal court order requires this work and sets the parameters (prioritizing projects by potential habitat gain) – and that's how we're going about it. As of June 2024, we have corrected 146 injunction barriers, opening 571 miles of potential fish habitat – 50 percent of the total blocked habitat of injunction culverts. We currently have 160 additional sites under construction contract. Once those additional 160 barriers are corrected, WSDOT will have restored access to 70% of blocked potential habitat. With existing funds, we expect to restore access to 75% of blocked potential habitat. The remaining work to get to 90% requires additional funding estimated at $4 billion.

One of two new box culverts shown here now helps tributaries to Patterson Creek flow freely underneath SR 203 near Fall City, opening up a potential 11 miles of habitat for salmon and other native fish. Photo courtesy WSDOT

In the past year, the Seattle Times has questioned the value of the projects we've addressed, confused our court mandated approach with other state agency fish passage efforts and asserted the presence of other fish barriers up- or downstream of our projects renders our work little more than "stranded investments." 

Here are the realities. The legal fight to arrive at these court-ordered requirements started in 2001 and lasted 17 years. Is the project list perfect? Does it immediately resolve every other barrier in every waterway we've worked on? No. But contrary to the assertion that we're building "stranded investments," we're simply the first owner out of the gate.

State law requires every barrier owner to fix their barriers and we just happen to be the only barrier owner also required to do the work by the court. Our work is the linchpin. When we correct our barriers, it creates or continues momentum as WSDOT barriers are often the largest and most expensive. 

Other owners in that same watershed may have less expensive barriers that likely will score higher for grant funding opportunities to correct them after our work is complete. Subsequent actions taken by other barrier owners makes every WSDOT investment valuable. As with anything difficult, if there's not motivation to do the work, no one will get it done. Salmon can't wait decades and again, perfect is the enemy of good. And our share of the effort would only become more expensive if we were to wait the years or decades for all partners to be ready to go at the same time.

Workers dig under a new bridge to restore a stream under US 12 in Grays Harbor County
Photo courtesy WSDOT

I call this work a moonshot – a monumental, aspirational effort – because that's exactly what we are delivering. No other state department of transportation or organization anywhere in the nation has been tasked with fixing generations of significant environmental harm in such little time. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife field surveys confirm fish are already returning to many of the restored waterways.

We've faced many challenges not directly within our control, including funding, supply chain, workforce and construction industry shortages, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and the presence of up- or downstream barriers. We've gotten better and more efficient with the work, including new contracting methods and bundling projects to save time, money and impacts to the traveling public.

SR 108: A worker holds a small cutthroat trout gently removed from a fish passage construction site in Mason County before work begins to improve access along SR 108. All fish are removed, counted and then released into another part of the waterway as part of the preparation process. This fish passage work improves access for salmon as well as many other types of fish. Photo courtesy WSDOT

While a federal court requires this work, correcting fish barriers benefits every single Washingtonian present and future. From a purely transportation perspective, removing fish barriers allows us to design and build structures to better withstand earthquakes and extreme storms and flooding. The new structures' natural stream conditions restore runs and open habitat to salmon and many other types of wildlife. 

More importantly, improving salmon habitat is one crucial step we can take to repair the fragile ecosystem of the beautiful state we call home. WSDOT remains committed to continuing this hard, rewarding work in partnership with Washington's tribes.

Bottom line – the court injunction lays out roles and responsibilities for culverts under state-owned roads. Local governments, landowners and tribes have roles to play in broader watershed and stream restoration efforts. While WSDOT culvert projects may not bring back salmon solely on their own, they are a critical piece of the puzzle – OUR piece of the puzzle.


Read more...

Op-Ed: Washington State Voters Need Accessible Voting Options

Sunday, August 11, 2024


I am legally blind. I am unable to see the writing on a paper ballot. My options for voting independently and anonymously are limited.

In Washington, we have a vote-by-mail system. You get your ballot mailed to you. You mark your ballot, and you can mail it back or place it in a drop box. Visually impaired voters cannot vote this way.

For voters who are blind or have low vision, voting is not easy, and, at times, it is impossible.

There are some limited options.

You can choose a trusted person to fill out your ballot and help guide you to the signature line. However, there is no way to verify your choices were honored. Plus, your voting choices are not anonymous using this method.

You can go to your local polling center and use an accessible voting unit (AVU). This device will read to you the information on the ballot and allow you to make a selection on the computerized screen. The elections officials will then print off the ballot so that a paper ballot exists per Washington state law. 

All you need to do as a visually impaired voter is find a ride to your polling center during business hours, hope that someone in the office is trained to use the AVU and find a ride back home. 

Using Paratransit for transportation will likely take 3 or more hours round trip. Of course, you need to pre-schedule your ride at least three days in advance to vote since same-day trips are not possible. Paratransit is not like calling Uber.

In some counties such as King County, you can mark your ballot using screen reading technology on your computer. However, you then must print out your ballot, figure out where to sign it and then mail your ballot. Who owns a private printer these days?

Visually impaired voters in Washington state continue to be disenfranchised. We have submitted legislation to establish an accessible voting portal that was blocked by Common Cause, The League of Women Voters, Free Speech for People and representatives from the Secretary of State office. 

We have tried working directly with the Secretary of State to solve transportation issues, inadequate access to AVUs and other issues. We still have no resolution to our ongoing needs.

So, we are now making this issue public. We are asking you to help us move forward.

Are you appalled that in 2024, disabled voters are struggling to be able to vote as is our constitutional right? Send an email to secretaryofstate@sos.wa.gov. Let Secretary Steve Hobbs know that establishing an accessible voting portal for visually impaired voters tis the right thing to do.

If you want to reach out to members of the Washington Council of the Blind on this issue, please contact us atwcb.voting.issues@gmail.com.

We appreciate your support in this important voting year.

Judy Brown
Chair of Government Affairs
Washington Council of the Blind


Read more...

Op-Ed: President Biden’s remarkable 50 years of dedicated public service

Friday, July 26, 2024

By Alan Charnley

Today, we celebrate President Biden’s remarkable 50 years of dedicated public service. 

From his early days as one of the youngest senators in U.S. history to his current role as President, he has shown unwavering commitment, resilience, and leadership.

Throughout his career, President Biden has made significant strides in various areas:
  1. Foreign Relations: His tenure as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Vice President saw efforts to strengthen international alliances and promote global security. Key initiatives included supporting NATO expansion, working on the Iran nuclear deal, advocating for the end of apartheid in South Africa, and leading efforts to secure nuclear non-proliferation agreements. He has consistently defended and promoted democracy around the world, supporting democratic movements, standing against authoritarian regimes, and fostering international cooperation based on democratic values.
  2. Healthcare: As Vice President, he was instrumental in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, providing millions of Americans with access to health insurance. He also led the Cancer Moonshot initiative, aiming to accelerate cancer research and make more therapies available to patients. His administration has worked to reduce prescription drug costs and improve mental health services.
  3. Economic Recovery: Under his leadership during the Obama administration, the country navigated the recovery from the Great Recession, including the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As President, he has worked to rebuild the economy post-COVID-19 through initiatives like the American Rescue Plan, which provided critical economic relief to families, businesses, and communities. He has also focused on creating jobs through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy.
  4. Climate Change: As President, he rejoined the Paris Agreement and has set ambitious climate goals, aiming for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and investments in clean energy. His administration has pushed for significant investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles, sustainable infrastructure, and conservation efforts to protect natural habitats and biodiversity.
  5. Social Justice: He has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, including his support for marriage equality and the Equality Act. He has also worked to advance racial equity through executive actions aimed at combating systemic racism and promoting fairness in housing, education, and criminal justice. His administration has taken steps to reform policing practices and address disparities in the criminal justice system.
  6. Pandemic Response: His administration has made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19, including vaccine distribution and economic relief through the American Rescue Plan. The rapid rollout of vaccines helped curb the pandemic, allowing the country to move towards recovery. Efforts have also focused on strengthening public health infrastructure and preparedness for future health crises.
  7. Infrastructure: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aims to rebuild America’s roads, bridges, and rail systems, modernize public transit, and expand broadband access. This law represents one of the largest long-term investments in infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. It also includes funding for clean water projects, improving ports and airports, and upgrading the electric grid.
  8. Education: He has advocated for increased funding for public schools, support for teachers, and initiatives to make higher education more affordable, including proposing free community college and increasing Pell Grant funding. His administration has also worked to address student loan debt and expand access to early childhood education.
  9. Veterans: Throughout his career, Biden has worked to support veterans and military families, including efforts to improve healthcare services for veterans and addressing issues like homelessness among the veteran population. His administration has increased funding for veterans’ mental health services and expanded job training programs for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
  10. Violence Against Women: As the author of the Violence Against Women Act, Biden has championed efforts to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This landmark legislation has provided critical resources and support to survivors and has been reauthorized and expanded over the years. His administration continues to advocate for the protection and empowerment of women and girls.
  11. Gun Control: Biden has been a vocal advocate for common-sense gun control measures, including background checks for all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and investing in community violence intervention programs.
  12. Economic Equity: His administration has focused on reducing economic inequality through initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, expanding tax credits for working families, and supporting small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities. Efforts have also been made to ensure equal pay for equal work and to close the gender pay gap.
  13. Immigration Reform: Biden has worked to create a more humane and fair immigration system, including reversing some of the previous administration’s policies, protecting DACA recipients, and proposing comprehensive immigration reform to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
  14. Labor Rights: He has been a strong supporter of labor unions and workers’ rights, advocating for policies that protect workers from exploitation, ensure safe working conditions, and support collective bargaining.
  15. Technology and Innovation: His administration has emphasized the importance of investing in technology and innovation to keep America competitive in the global economy. This includes funding for research and development in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
  16. Defense and National Security: He has worked to modernize the military, ensure the safety of American troops, and enhance national security through strategic international partnerships. His administration has also focused on cybersecurity measures to protect the nation from emerging digital threats.
  17. Promoting Democracy: Throughout his career, Biden has been a staunch advocate for democratic principles. He has supported efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, promote free and fair elections, and uphold the rule of law both domestically and internationally. His commitment to democracy is evident in his efforts to protect voting rights, counter disinformation, and support civil society organizations worldwide.
Thank you, President Biden, for your perseverance, your compassion, and your steadfast dedication to making our country a better place for all. Your legacy of service is an inspiration to us all.

--Alan Charnley


Read more...

Op-Ed: United Way of King County response to U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding people experiencing homelessness

Sunday, June 30, 2024

The United States Supreme Court ruling that people experiencing homelessness can be arrested and fined for sleeping in public places moves our nation backward in being able to resolve the homelessness crisis and places even more burdens and debts on the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.

Punishing people for being unhoused is not a solution to end homelessness and does not address the underlying issues of the crisis. People experiencing homelessness already have nowhere to go – through no fault of their own – and this ruling will exacerbate the problem.

At United Way of King County, we believe in investing in and implementing prevention strategies—currently few and far between—to ensure people don’t fall into homelessness in the first place. We need our national and local governments to invest more to ensure affordable housing is readily available for renters with the lowest income. Our community deserves stronger renter protections and eviction prevention resources to stabilize households during a crisis so they don’t fall into homelessness.

We believe that this ruling will fail to reduce homelessness, requiring an extreme need for resources and funding to make sure further harm is not placed on the unhoused. This ruling does not lead with real solutions or facts.

Data shows that meeting people with individualized immediate access to stable housing and other wrap-around services and case management will lead to housing stability. Rather than leading with an approach to invest in adequate housing, shelter, and financial resources, this ruling punishes unhoused people for being in a vulnerable situation and not having a home.

Further, Black, Indigenous, and people of color experience homelessness at higher rates due to longstanding historical and structural racism, as well as single mothers with children under 18. This ruling, along with raising housing costs and gaps in income levels, will not solve any issues for these populations, which should be prioritized.

Prevention efforts are more important than ever. Our community deserves to ensure that no one is punished or criminalized for being unhoused.

United Way of King County


Read more...

Op-Ed: 1933 Frances Perkins is the first woman to hold a Cabinet post as Labor Secretary

Monday, March 4, 2024

By Alan Charnley

Today, we commemorate a pivotal moment in history. 

On this day in 1933, Frances Perkins shattered barriers and blazed trails by becoming the first woman to hold a Cabinet post as the Labor Secretary. 

This milestone not only marked a significant step forward for gender equality but also placed her as the first woman in the succession order for the Presidency, symbolizing the endless possibilities when we break down societal barriers.

As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, let us also reflect on its enduring significance. 

Frances Perkins' legacy serves as a beacon of inspiration, reminding us of the importance of empowering our daughters to dream big and reach for the stars. 

We must cultivate a culture where women are encouraged to pursue leadership roles across diverse fields, whether it be in science, literature, business, governance, or any other realm of human endeavor.

In honoring Frances Perkins, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a future where gender equality is not just a dream but a reality. 

Let us continue to champion and support the aspirations of our daughters, nurturing them to become the next generation of leaders who will shape a brighter and more inclusive world for all.


Read more...

Op-Ed: It’s time for the Shoreline School Board to engage more with the community

Saturday, October 21, 2023


School board meeting April 2023 when the Board proposed cuts to music and sports
Photo by Tanner Phillips

By Maris Abelson

Now that the distrust and acrimony from last spring’s school district budget negotiations have died down, it would be great to make some positive changes going forward:

1) Convene a year-round budget advisory committee.

Many school districts have these financial committees, made up of stakeholders from the district. Budget advisory committees (or financial advisory committees) foster collaboration, mutual respect, trust, and problem-solving. 

When such a committee meets regularly, there are more eyes on the district’s finances and fewer surprises when the next year’s budget is created. 

The Northshore School District’s Financial Advisory Committee, for example, has open meetings and minutes, and discusses upcoming budget concerns well in advance of budget negotiations.

2) Offer real back-and-forth interactions with the community.

Many members of the current school board ran years ago on offering more communication with the community. Unfortunately, there have been no regular coffees, forums, or town halls with the community during the year. 

Last spring, a series of town halls were held regarding the budget cuts. It would be great to continue that practice, with general-topic town halls throughout the year, so board members could engage with community members. 

This form of communication, rather than the brief, unanswered comment period provided at Board meetings, and emails to the Board (which often don’t result in a response), would enhance the rapport with constituents, and help to resolve problems as they arise.

Regular, anonymous, multilingual surveys of the student body and their families could really provide insight into the needs of constituents. Having a general comment section on surveys would also bring unexpected concerns to light.

Aggregating the responses and sharing them with the public would help create a feedback loop to keep families engaged. The Edmonds School District offers regular online surveys to students and the community throughout the year, which helps inform Board policymaking.

3) Exit surveys of families who unenroll would help to understand the main causes of attrition.

Demographic data is very useful, but giving families the opportunity to provide reasons for unenrolling their children is valuable because it is direct feedback from constituents. This should be provided as an option for families who leave our district.

In conclusion, a strong community is one where there is space for dialogue and public input. There is so much good will and energy in the Shoreline District. Let’s put it to good use by providing opportunities for more community engagement.


Read more...

Op-Ed: NUHSA Endorses Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy Renewal (King County Prop. 1)

Saturday, July 15, 2023

On August 1st, King County residents will have the opportunity to vote to renew the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). 

Many area service providers, senior centers and community leaders have already endorsed this critical support for our communities, and NUHSA is strongly advocating for its renewal.

The VSHSL serves as foundational funding for assisting veterans, senior citizens and our most vulnerable neighbors. 

Throughout King County, the VSHSL provides over $60 million in annual investments to more than 150 community-based organizations and delivers services for residents through over 300 essential programs. 

These diverse programs help people transition to affordable housing, get job training, find employment, access emergency financial assistance, connect with domestic violence advocacy, receive behavioral health treatment, and access many other resources and services.

If approved, the Levy would have an initial levy rate of $0.10 per $1,000 of assessed value (the same initial rate for the existing levy) and it would create more than $500 million in critical human services funding between 2024 and 2029.

In our north-end communities, that means essential support for our two senior centers, veterans’ organizations and human service providers, such as Crisis Connections and New Beginnings.

It signifies creating deep investments to aid survivors of gender-based violence, offering supportive housing options, and strengthening the human services workforce by improving wages. It also means doubling current funding for many senior centers across the region and continuing our nation-leading efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans in partnership with the Veterans Administration.

Overall, the Levy has served more than 185,000 people since its last renewal in 2017, including more than 27,000 veterans, service members or their families – and more than 100,000 seniors!

Let’s keep doing what works.

Please choose to vote YES on King County Prop. 1 and invest in the people, providers and programs that strengthen connections and build healthy communities.

Thank you for your consideration!

**See here and here to learn more about the Levy’s impact.


Read more...

Op-Ed: Pride decorations stolen from Center for Human Services (CHS)

Sunday, June 25, 2023


By Beretta Gomillion, Executive Director CHS

Earlier this month, CHS staff and supporters decorated the trees and reader-board in front of our building at 17018 15th Ave NE in Shoreline as part of our celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. 

Sometime during the weekend of June 16, 2023 person or persons unknown stole all of the decorations. 

Some of the Pride decorations at CHS. All were stolen.
Photo courtesy CHS

While we were certainly disappointed that anyone would do such as thing, we want it to be known that we remain open and affirming to all people and are proud to celebrate Pride with our LGBTQ+ staff, clients, and community.

A disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people experience mental health struggles. Young people across King County and the country are facing increasingly difficult mental health challenges, and young people who are in underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ people, face even greater challenges. 

According to King County’s Healthy Youth Survey, LGBTQ+ young people have an urgent need for mental health supports, with higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, and depression. 

Personal, family, and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and personal safety of LGBT+ individuals. 

Against the backdrop of societal harassment, discrimination, and violence, the fact that so many LGBTQ+ persons survive and thrive is a testament to their resilience.

The decorations were only up for a little over a week, but it was worth our effort. During that time, a young man with Down’s Syndrome saw our pride flags and other decorations and came in to talk to someone. 

He stated that he feels so alone and doesn’t have the support of his family. He said that seeing our decorations made him feel safe and seen and that was something he was not accustomed to in his life. 

Making at least one person feel supported and safe was worth the anguish the theft caused.

CHS affirms our obligation to promote the dignity of all people and dedicate ourselves to be a welcoming and safe place for everyone.

-Beratta Gomillion is the Executive Director of the Center for Human Services, located in Shoreline


Read more...

Op-Ed: Compostable plastic is a step in the right direction

Friday, June 2, 2023

Compostable cup
By Corey Ip

I’m sure you know that plastic is bad for the environment. It takes forever to break down (and doesn’t even break down fully), ruins natural habitats, chokes innocent animals to death, and releases dangerous chemicals. 

It seems impossible to get rid of it, though. Trying not to use plastic in today’s world is an insurmountable task. 

However, compostable plastic can solve all of these problems! 

While it’s true compostable plastic is quite expensive, it’s way, way better for the environment. We’ll explore how in the following paragraphs.

In the right conditions, compostable plastic can fully break down into organic materials in a very short amount of time. 

According to worldcentric.com, ”Compostable plastics are non-toxic and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted.” 

Although they do need to be composted in a commercial facility or in a home compost pile, this means they won’t end up in landfills or the ocean. Compostable plastic works best with food, because both materials can compost together. Plastic that fully breaks down means plastic that doesn’t end up ruining the environment!

Compostable plastic is also made up of sustainable materials! 
According to the World Wildlife Fund, “compostable plastic is often made from biobased sources — like seaweed, sugar beets, or other plants — instead of fossil fuels. In this case, and if sourced responsibly, these materials can offer environmental benefits.” 

One common type of plastic, polyethylene, is made out of refined oil. Meanwhile, a common type of compostable plastic, PHA, is made by manipulating bacteria using nutrients. Bacteria is much, much more sustainable than oil, as I’m sure you all know.

I hope that this proves that compostable plastic is worth the extra cost!

It fully composts into organic materials in a short amount of time as long as it’s in the right conditions, and is made out of sustainable materials. If you can, use compostable plastic as much as possible! 

Usually compostable utensils can be $10 more than regular plastic utensils, but if you can take the cost, it’s totally worth it. Although it may not entirely solve the plastic pollution problem, it’s definitely a step in the right direction!

--Corey Ip is in the sixth grade at Einstein Middle School in the Shoreline School District.


Read more...

Op-Ed: Vote Yes on Proposition 1, the Crisis Care Centers Levy

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Lake Forest Park resident and North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) member Alison Carver generously shared the following personal story in order to encourage residents to vote YES on Prop. 1, the Crisis Care Centers Levy. 

To learn more, click here Vote by April 25th!
~~~

Vote Yes on Proposition 1, the Crisis Care Centers Levy. If approved, this proposition would fund behavioral health services and capital facilities, including a countywide crisis care centers network; increased residential treatment mobile crisis care; post-discharge stabilization; and workforce supports.

I don't share this information lightly but with the hopes your vote can prevent another unbearable loss.

My beautiful, talented, and brilliant daughter died by suicide on October 8th after numerous interactions with the broken mental health system in Washington State. She was seemingly thriving with a promising career, friends and her own apartment.

In the months before she died, she was transported to Harborview on numerous occasions, strapped in a four point restraint, left in a cart in a hallway in the ER, administered a dose of Haldol, then released the following day with no follow-up care. 

She was released from an involuntary 110 hour hold by a King County Judge, against the advice of her care team, doctors and social workers, again with no follow up care. She talked constantly about the trauma of being restrained and the physical scars the restraints left of her wrists and ankles.

I believe access to a walk in Crisis Care Center, staffed with trained medical teams, would have saved her life.

Please vote YES on Proposition 1. Ballots are due April 25th.


Read more...

Op-Ed: NUHSA advises Vote YES on April 25th to Improve Mental Health Services

Sunday, April 9, 2023

NUHSA (North Urban Human Services Alliance) advocates for human services in North King County (NKC) on behalf of its residents and the agencies that serve them


A special King County election is taking place on April 25th and your vote is needed to help ensure that residents get the mental health support they need – anyone, anywhere and at any time.

Successful mental health crisis systems include three core elements: someone to talk to, someone to respond, and someplace to go.

Currently our region offers a regional crisis line (988) and more people than ever are taking that critical first step in reaching out. Mobile Crisis Teams, Co-Responders and Outreach Leads respond when there is a mental health crisis and help is needed immediately. But the missing link is ‘someplace to go’. There is no walk-in behavioral health ‘urgent care’.

Currently, if someone is experiencing a mental health crisis in North King County, emergency responders have only three possible options: take them to a hospital emergency room, bring them to jail, or hope that one of the 46 King County crisis center beds is available, serving all 2.3 million people throughout the county.

The King County Crisis Care Centers Levy, which would raise funds through a property tax levy spread over nine years costing the owner of a median-valued home about $10 each month, fills this massive gap by doing three critically imperative things. 

The Levy will:
  • Create five new regional crisis care centers that will be distributed geographically across the county, including in North King County! These professionally staffed walk-in centers will provide short-term stays to help people stabilize, and one center will specifically serve youth.
  • Preserve and restore the dramatic loss of residential treatment beds. In 2018, there were 355 beds providing community-based residential care; today there are only 244.
  • Grow the behavioral health workforce pipeline by creating career pathways through apprenticeships and access to higher education, credentialing, training and wrap-around supports. It will also invest in equitable wages for the workforce at the crisis care centers.
  • Additionally, the Levy will provide immediate services while the Crisis Care Centers are being constructed through mobile or site-based services!

The choice is clear. People in crisis need immediate, safe places to go for help - and Mobile Crisis Teams and law enforcement need better, faster and more equitable options than jail and emergency rooms. The average wait time for a residential treatment bed is 44 days. With more beds and staffing, more people can get the help they need, when they need it.

As one North King County single mother explained in this Publicola article “Our family has lived with pain, confusion and anger with the system. If we had access to urgent care, I believe we would have been better equipped to survive my daughter’s worst days.”

Join NUHSA in voting YES on April 25th! Together, we can build a more accessible, responsive and effective mental health system for all residents.

Learn more here! Do you have questions or want to get involved? Email staff@nuhsa.org or click here for more information


Read more...

Op-Ed: The Middle is Missing and We Need to Find It

Saturday, March 11, 2023

By Donna Hawkey

There is a middle housing crisis, and Community Land Trusts (CLT) can help solve this problem in perpetuity.

I’ve lived in Lake Forest Park for over 25 years - yet, if I were to try to move here now, I could not afford it. 

I have seen smaller, more affordable houses torn down and million-dollar houses go up in their place.

From a demographic standpoint it means our community is becoming less diverse as millennials, workers such as teachers, social workers, and our own city workers are no longer able to afford to live in many of our communities.

Community Land Trusts (CLT) are one solution that allows one to afford a house and gain equity at the same time.

How? The land the house is on is not part of the cost of buying the house. As a result, the buyer only pays for the house, not the land. The house gains equity and in seven years on average a homeowner can sell their house and buy a new house at market rate. Unlike the traditional housing market, CLT homes remain affordable for every new buyer.

Want to learn more?

Tuesday March 14, 2023 at 7:00pm Kathleen Hosfeld, Executive Director of Homestead Community Land Trust will present to The City of Lake Forest Park Planning Commission. 

Homestead, a non-profit 501(c)(3), has been in existence for 30 years strengthening communities throughout the Puget Sound region by making housing dreams happen.

The March 14th Lake Forest Park Planning Commission meeting is a hybrid format for both in-person attendance and via Zoom. https://www.cityoflfp.gov/109/Planning-Commission

If you know of a property owner who could benefit from a possible tax incentive through a donation to a CLT please contact Kathleen Hosfeld at Kathleen@homesteadclt.org.



Read more...

Op-Ed: Shoreline School District Budget Issues

Friday, February 3, 2023

The Mayor and City Council of Lake Forest Park would like to thank all who took the time to express concerns about the budget issues in the Shoreline School District which affect our students here in Lake Forest Park. 


The City Council and administration are listening to your concerns and engaging with the Shoreline School District Board, Superintendent, and staff, to make sure your concerns are heard.

The City of Lake Forest Park plays no role in providing funding or determining the budget for the school district. 

In Washington, the state government is responsible for funding public education and, in 2019, spent an average of $11,500 per student. On top of basic education funding, school districts can apply for state, federal, and local grants; receive targeted state funding for specific purposes, such as school improvement; or raise levy funds within their local community, as they have done here in the Shoreline School District in the past.

We encourage all our residents to address your concerns about appropriate school funding to the School Board and to your state legislators.



Read more...

Ballot drop boxes in their usual places - time to turn in your ballot

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

 
Aurora Transit Center drop box. It's now across Aurora from a construction site.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

Ok, we made it through Halloween. Not quite down from the sugar high but we can maintain it at Dia de Muertos Tuesday night.

Daylight Saving Time goes away on Sunday (set your clocks Saturday night) Spring ahead - Fall back.

The drop box is in the parking lot of the Shoreline Library.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Between the sugar high and the time change disorientation, fill out your ballot and get it in the drop box. You can mail it - the envelopes are postage paid.

2021 special election

It's always a little disheartening that the percentage of voters is so low. Lake Forest Park always has more people voting than Shoreline but both usually end up in the mid -70% range. Let's hope this election is different.

Lake Forest Park has an easily accessible drop box right next to city hall. Shoreline has one at the library. The Aurora Park n Ride at 192nd has one.

Elections told me that every election there are people who show up after the deadline - 8pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Your ballot will not be counted, even if you leave it on top of the drop box. Get there before the deadline.

Go vote! and if you have already turned in your ballot, good for you.



Read more...

Op-Ed: NUHSA strongly encourages a YES vote on Shoreline's Prop 1

Monday, October 31, 2022

OP-ED
From Heidi Shepherd, Board President NUHSA

Ballots have been mailed, and Shoreline voters now must vote on Prop. 1, the maintenance and operations levy for public safety and community services. The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) strongly encourages a YES vote!

The pandemic has had severe consequences for many in our community, and families are still struggling. From mental and physical health challenges to food scarcity and a lack of stable housing, residents have relied on the critical support Shoreline has provided during the pandemic and the infrastructure that the City has carefully built in partnership with area providers and agencies.

State law limits an increase in tax revenue unless authorized by a vote of the people, and because funding for basic City services (including that of human services) has not kept pace with rising costs, approval of Prop. 1 is essential to simply maintain current services. 

This includes critical community services funding for seniors, youth, and families in need, along with homelessness response services and staffing for the successful RADAR program that provides mental health professionals with police to assist community members in behavioral health crises.

If the proposed levy replacement does not pass, the City will be forced to reduce or eliminate services to balance the City’s budget, as required by law - and first on the chopping block will be those programs the City is not legally required to provide. 

At risk is support for human services, such as the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, the Teen Center and programs for children and young families, in addition to neighborhood services, community events, homelessness outreach, communications, parks maintenance, recreation programs, and cultural programming.

Renewing the levy is absolutely critical for maintaining the health and human services residents expect and ensuring a strong and vibrant community for everyone. Vote YES on Prop. 1!



Read more...

Op-Ed: LWV Snohomish County: Curbing Gun Violence: DO SOMETHING

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The non-partisan National League of Women Voters has supported measures to increase public and school safety and decrease gun violence since 1999. The League believes that “the proliferation of handguns and semiautomatic weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens.” (www.lwv.org)

Data from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, note on their Firearms Violence page

“Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying of gun injuries daily." 

Incidents include parents and siblings accidentally shot by children who obtain loaded weapons and school friends shot intentionally by angry children, as happened on October 14, 2014 in Marysville, Washington, just north of Everett. This does not include victims permanently injured and emotionally traumatized or their families and communities.

Regulating who obtains a gun and who can use a gun need not infringe upon any Constitutional rights for adults who use rifles and guns for sports. As many have observed, we require car and truck owners to meet certain criteria for operating motor vehicles. There are ways to support owners of legally-obtained weapons while protecting churches, schools, hospitals and all public spaces.

The League supports:
  • Requiring universal background checks
  • Closing the gun show loophole in the current laws
  • Banning assault weapons and placing limits on high-capacity ammunition magazine sizes
  • Increasing penalties for “straw” (fake buyer) purchases of guns
  • Funding research and reporting on gun violence in America
Such regulation would keep guns in the hands of responsible adult enthusiasts and out of the hands of those who would murder innocent people.

Let’s move from “thoughts and prayers” to action. 

It is long past time to enact comprehensive gun safety reform that protects our children, schools, and communities. Contact your Senators and let them know that you support common sense gun reform legislation and want action taken NOW. You can easily contact them through this action alert from the LWVUS.

The Texas LWV President, Grace Chimene, noted in her May 25 remarks that 
“Gun violence is not partisan. …. let your candidates know that gun violence prevention is important to you and that all lives, especially children’s, are just as important as the Second Amendment.”


Read more...

Op-Ed by FBI Director Christopher Wray: The Cops Who Didn’t Come Home

Friday, January 14, 2022

Washington state has experienced losses, including a K-9 just a week ago.
 
“This past year, I have personally attended two heartbreaking ceremonies of Washington state law enforcement officers suddenly taken from their families and communities while on duty,” said Donald M. Voiret, Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle Field Office. “As a former police officer and relative of a current officer, these line-of-duty deaths hit me especially close to home.”
 
FBI Director Christopher Wray
By Christopher Wray, FBI Director

While many Americans celebrated the holidays with their families in the final week of 2021, law enforcement kept working. And, tragically, four officers didn’t make it home to their loved ones that week. They were murdered while doing their job keeping others safe.

Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley, ambushed while alone in her car, died on Christmas Eve. Five days later in Illinois, Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley was killed during a call for assistance.

On Dec. 30, also in Illinois, Bradley Police Department Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was shot while attempting to locate the owner of dogs left in a car. And on New Year’s Eve, Cleveland Police Officer Shane Bartek was killed in an attempted carjacking.

These four murders brought the total number of officers feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2021 to 73, the highest annual number since the 9/11 attacks. That’s the equivalent of one officer murdered every five days. In a year when homicides and violent crime reached distressing levels, this 20-year high hasn’t received the attention it deserves.

Especially troubling is that a record number of officers killed — nearly half — had no engagement with their assailant before the attack. 
Each story is heartbreaking: A 30-year Florida deputy murdered one shift shy of retirement; an officer ambushed on his first day on the job, leaving behind a wife and 6-month-old son; a combat veteran and his police dog killed while serving together.

At the Federal Bureau of Investigation, we experienced loss in 2021, too. Special Agents Laura Schwartzenberger and Daniel Alfin were murdered while doing the difficult job investigating crimes against children. FBI Task Force Officer Greg Ferency of the Terre Haute, Ind., Police Department was ambushed and killed outside an FBI office.

When I started as FBI director, I made it my practice to call the chief or sheriff of every officer intentionally killed in the line of duty. I have now made more than 200 such calls. 

Each conversation reminds me that behind the uniform, the badge, and, yes, sometimes the flashing lights in your rearview mirror, there are real people. With each call, I think about the families and friends who lost someone they loved, the children who will grow up without a parent, and the communities deprived of a public servant.

We owe it to them to redouble our efforts to take the most violent offenders off the streets and to make sure officers have the resources, equipment and training they need to do their jobs safely. Even more, we need to ensure the brave men and women know that the communities they serve have their backs.

Every day, officers willingly put themselves at risk not knowing what dangerous situation or traumatic event they might encounter. 

I won’t pretend every person who carries a badge is beyond reproach, but the overwhelming majority do the job with the professionalism and commitment to equal justice citizens rightly expect.

I meet frequently with chiefs and sheriffs across the country, and they are concerned about morale and the challenges of recruiting the next generation of officers. They understand that trust and transparency are vital to safety, and they are committed to finding ways to improve interactions. 

And while respect must be earned, if we are going to recruit and retain the kind of people willing to put their lives on the line to protect others, we have to show that we value their sacrifices.

Civic and business leaders, government officials and responsible citizens need to consider how we talk about engaging with law enforcement. When police are miscast as lacking humanity — devoid of empathy and compassion — everyone suffers. Departments lose good officers who are hard to replace, and communities are less safe.

As we reflect on 2021, let’s honor the memories of those who lost their lives protecting others. Let’s commit to making communities safer, finding ways to improve interactions between law enforcement and those they serve, holding everyone to the high standards befitting men and women in uniform, and valuing those who do their jobs with honor.

~~
Christopher Wray is an American attorney who has been the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2017.



Read more...

Op-Ed: The Meaning of Equality vs Equity

Monday, January 10, 2022

By Gay Armsden

I am a resident of Lake Forest Park and co-president of AAUW Seattle.
 
I regularly come across confusion about the word “equity.” The words “equality”  and “equity” are similar, both having to do with the way people are treated, but the difference between them is very important for our society. 

Equality means every individual or community is treated the same way with the same access to resources. Equity is about every individual or community having equal access to what they need to thrive or succeed. 

To give a simple illustration, if you give a small box to stand on to a tall kid and a tall box to stand on to a short kid, they both will be able to see the ballgame over the fence (this is “equitable” treatment); if you give both kids boxes of the same height, the short kid might not be able to see the game (this is “equal” treatment). By giving what’s specifically needed to each of the kids, they both would see the ballgame.
 
Some people worry that measures to increase equity means they will be forced to give up something. This misconception creates the bias that equity versus equality is like a zero-sum game - that is, that making things fairer for some (the “winners”), others will always lose something (the “losers”) because their goals are opposed to each other.

It’s crucial to understand that the goals aren’t necessarily in opposition. In the simple example above, the same goal for both kids– viewing the game – was met by the equitable access to different-sized boxes. 

Keep in mind that the people who are raised up by equitable treatment end up where they could have been in the first place if they’d had access to the same resources as others.
 
Equity is not a highfalutin value nor is it a hinderance to equality; it is part of a solution to the severe social and economic injustices in our society. Equality can be truly achieved only through equity.
 


Read more...

Parting words from retiring LFP councilmember Mark Phillips

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Mark Phillips photo courtesy
City of Lake Forest Park
Mark Phillips has retired from the Lake Forest Park City Council after serving from January 2014 to December 2021.

His parting words for the community:

I’m proud of what Lake Forest Park accomplished over the last eight years, especially the acquisition of two new park properties, the expansion of a third park and the construction of three new culverts which eliminated periodic flooding of the roadways around Town Center. 

Although it will take time, the lakefront property promises to be a great resource, fulfilling long-standing desires for public lake access and more active recreational opportunities. The majority of the funding for all those improvements came from federal, state and county grants, along with public donations for one of the parks. 

I’m also pleased that the city is in a stronger fiscal position now than eight years ago with increases in required year-end fund balances and the creation of a new investment opportunity fund which was helpful in the lakefront purchase. This work was led by the council’s Budget and Finance Committee chaired by Councilmember Resha, and by two knowledgeable finance directors.

Disappointments? Yes, a couple. After over two years of hard, detailed work in conjunction with our Planning Commission to strengthen our development standards in anticipation of Town Center redevelopment and Sound Transit’s plan for a parking structure at the mall, neither of those have moved forward. 

The code changes we enacted reflect the wishes of our residents for the mall, but apparently mall owners find them too restrictive, and Sound Transit abruptly announced an indefinite delay in proceeding with the parking structure. I also regret that we were unable to reach an agreement with the Lake Forest Park Water District to complete the McKinnon Creek Trail, creating a direct pedestrian pathway between Horizon View and the Town Center.

One characteristic of Lake Forest Park that is important for understanding our civic life, and which any elected official comes to know well, is that we are almost exclusively residential. This didn’t happen by chance. It was the explicit vision of our founders over 100 years ago to create a residential oasis free of commerce. That direction was reinforced in 1961 when residents voted to formally incorporate the city as a way to control and limit encroaching commercial activity. The fact that the city remains largely residential can be seen as both a blessing and a curse.

Being primarily residential and with many larger-size lots, we are able to coexist with a proliferation of large trees, which along with our streams and steep ravines, creates a wonderful natural setting, much desired by weary inhabitants of an intensely urban region. Recognizing a good thing when we see it, we have embraced our natural environment and worked hard over the years to maintain it. Every few years, for example, we feel the need to review and strengthen our tree protection ordinance, including one major update during my time on the council.

Our residential nature, however, presents a major challenge: we are much more dependent on property taxes than many other cities. In my experience, people in Lake Forest Park are very generous, freely contributing volunteer hours and money to any number of social and civic purposes. However, when it comes to increasing property taxes, many residents tend to draw the line.

During my 30 years here, the average annual increase in the city’s portion of property taxes has been less than one percent, while the costs of providing services have consistently risen more than that. One fact that stood out for me during the lead up to the recent failed Prop 1, was that the median-valued home in LFP in 2021 ($624,000) paid $610 into the city coffers. I find that amount surprisingly low, especially given the generally high regard people have for our city services – police, public works, etc.

So, there is no fat in the city’s budget. We have entire departments that consist of only a couple of people. This limits what we can do ourselves and makes us the darling of the consulting companies. It also means we often depend on the largesse of others to accomplish our goals. Shoreline contributes much more to the Senior Center than we do, yet we are afforded full use of its services. Mountlake Terrace generously handles the administrative functions of the interlocal agreement through which we are working together to improve the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek watershed. With extremely limited resources, we are rarely the leader among the cities in our region.

LFP residents divide along these lines. Some feel this is a perfectly fine state of affairs – it’s good, lean government and anything we don’t have is available somewhere else. Let’s not try to be something we’re not. Others feel our level of fiscal austerity means missed opportunities for amenities and improvements that many people want. We shouldn’t always be dependent on the vagaries of grant funding to make those things happen.

This community conversation – about the kind of city we want to be – is not new. We have been engaged in it throughout our history, and elected officials and citizens will undoubtedly continue to sort it out far into the future. 

Lest there be any doubt, I am very optimistic about that future. We have a strong administration led by a mayor whose enthusiasm is contagious, along with dedicated and skilled staff members. We have four experienced councilmembers, whose collegiality and leadership often carried me during the last eight years, who are being joined by three very capable new ones. And we have residents who truly care about our city and are willing to engage in the civic process.



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP