Monthly Archives: April 2014

Pedaler’s Fair coming to Capitol Hill

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PF-2014-posterThis Saturday, April 26th, bike riders can help plan the northern route of the 23rd Ave greenway. They can also mark their calendars for next Saturday, May 3rd, as the Pedaler’s Fair comes to Capitol Hill:

Pedaler’s Fair is an annual marketplace for Washington based, bicycle-inspired small businesses to exhibit their goods. In its first year, Pedaler’s Fair hosted 23 exhibitors and received over 1,000 guests. In addition to exhibitor booths we had live music, workshops and presentations. We are currently working on bringing you the 3rd annual Pedaler’s Fair, with even more family focused events, tutorials, workshops and presentations, in addition to all of our fantastic vendors.

CHS Pics | This week in Capitol Hill pictures

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The CHS Flickr Pool contains more than 18,000 19,000 20,000 photographs (Yay! The pool received its 20,000th submission this week!) — most of Capitol Hill images, many glorious, some technically amazing. The pool is a mix of contributions from Capitol Hill — and nearby — shutterbugs. Interested in being part of it? If we like your photo and it helps us tell the story, we may feature it on CHS so please include your name and/or a link to your website so we can properly credit you. Interested in working as a paid CHS contributor for scheduled assignments? Drop us a line – our roster is full for general assignments but pitch us on an idea.

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CHS Community Post| Meet Central Lutheran Church ‘Where Love is Central’

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10269307_10151990468141401_3962041458956575404_oYou’ve probably noticed Central Lutheran Church (CLC) at one point or another on your way to Cal Anderson Park, to work, to the bars, heck you might have even ventured in the doors on a random Sunday morning…  Whether or not you’ve given it much thought, Central is a pretty cool progressive Christian community and I’d like to share with you 5 reasons why.

    1. Central’s been LGBTQA friendly since 1992. Pastor Cindy makes a point of stating our “Welcome to Central Lutheran Church.  An especially warm welcome to you if you are visiting with us here this morning.  We hope that Central can be a place YOU feel YOU belong, no matter WHO you are or WHERE you are on your journey of faith.  We are an Open and Affirming Congregation, which means we welcome you regardless of age, race, gender identity, social status, or sexual orientation.  Welcome.” at the beginning of every worship service on Sunday mornings. This approach has allowed us to welcome all kinds of families in a genuine and authentic way.

 

    1. In 1984 the members of this community started what is now known as the Community Lunch on Capitol Hill, which services roughly 200 guests every Tuesday and Friday from 12-1pm out of our Parish Hall. Currently its own non-profit, the Community Lunch started out serving Senior Citizens, moved on to provide hot meals at the beginning of the AID’s epidemic, and continues to grow with the needs of the community.

 

    1. CLC has a long history of joining in Social Justice and Advocacy Issues. Former Pastor Jon Nelson was arrested 15 times over issues ranging from nuclear submarines to low-income housing issues. There is even a story about him getting arrested for sitting on a Senators Desk. More recently, in 2012 we joined the Faith Coalition in support of Referendum 74 and were the starting point for an official Washington United for Marriage March to the Ballot Box on Nov 4, 2012. Currently we’ve started to host community events like Liberty in North Korea (LINK) and Inequality for All as a way to help educate ourselves and the community about issues that we’re facing.

 

    1. We’re host to the national organization known as Lutheran Peace Fellowship (LPF). LPF’s core mission is to oppose violence, war, and injustice. They have do workshops, mobilize churches for peace, have a resource center, advocate within the Lutheran Church and of course have a website and blog with related materials.

 

    1. Just this year we’ve started and are testing out a Neighborhood Gardening Partnership. Currently, 4 people in Capitol Hill are taking care of the raised beds that are built along the south side of our sanctuary for the duration of a year. You’ve probably noticed things already start to grow this Spring!

 

Of course this only touches the surface of all the things we do. On a weekly basis we work to build a community that lives out the message of Christ, but being Christian doesn’t mean we’re a bunch of pious know-it-all’s. Rather it means that we know we are broken individuals who want to gather together and figure out what life, God, the Universe has in store for us. Our service can seem pretty traditional on the surface, but behind our weekly ritual is a community deeply rooted in love, acceptance, and spiritual authenticity. If you feel like learning more, check out our website (www.loveiscentral.org), Facebook  or stop in one Sunday. Our service starts at 11AM. All Are Welcome, and we mean that.

 

David De Block

Coordinator of Intergenerational Ministries ([email protected])

 

1710 11th Ave

Seattle WA 98122Central

Mayor’s $15 plan for small businesses: tip and health care credit, 5+ year phase-in

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IMG_3048Tips and health insurance would count towards a  $15 an hour minimum wage and extra time would be given to small businesses to implement it under a plan that emerged from closed door negotiations at City Hall, sources close to the process told CHS on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Ed Murray said he and his minimum wage task force were committed to a set of principles on charting a path to $15 as part of a broader fight to addressing the country’s shrinking middle class, but that he still wanted more members to back an unspecified plan.

CHS has now learned details of that proposal, although sources say many parts are still in motion. On Friday morning The Stranger also reported on the proposal, which would require all employers to phase-in a $15 an hour minimum wage with no inflationary adjustment during the phase-in period.

The plan offers a two-pronged approach for both small businesses and large, 500+ employee businesses.

Small businesses that offer health insurance or have tipped employees would get to count those benefits towards a minimum wage and get seven years to phase-in all employees to at least $15 an hour. Small businesses with no health insurance or tipped workers would be given a five-year phase-in period.

Large businesses would face similar options, with a four-year phase-in for employers of tipped or insured workers, and a three-year phase-in for those without tipped or insured workers.

The negotiations also reportedly are setting the groundwork for the next phase as the City Council must pound out legislation to make the final framework a reality. The process to achieve consensus on the committee recommendations is also an effort to galvanize the business, labor and nonprofit groups involved to support the plan once it is taken up by Council later this year. The mayor will veto any legislation that significantly deviates from the final recommended plan, a source involved with the discussions but not yet authorized to speak with the media told CHS.

If the consensus holds and the plans don’t prove untenable in the political arena ahead, the majority-backed proposal’s elements appear to be major wins for the Capitol Hill food and drink-focused small business community.

Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce director Michael Wells and and Lost Lake owner David Meinert are members of the Income Inequality Task Force. Meanwhile, a charter amendment so activists can begin the process of collecting thousands of signatures to put the issue on the ballot this fall.

Negotiations over how to implement a $15 an hour minimum wage continued into stoppage time on Friday as the mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee failed to reach consensus in time for a planned Thursday announcement.

Seattle’s only Dominic Holden explores sex and politics on a Capitol Hill stage

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(Image courtesy Dominic Holden)

In a 2012 story for Capitol Hill-based The Stranger, writer Dominic Holden pretty much confirmed something many LGBTQ people and their allies had long suspected: Top donors to anti-gay marriage campaigns are really obsessed with the butt sex.

In a newly written monologue, aptly titled Talking Shit, Holden is combining his reporting on anti-gay marriage campaign donors with musings on the hypocrisies of those on both sides of the gay marriage debate, as well as personal stories of sex and politics. The two-day run at the 19th and Mercer Washington Ensemble Theatre begins Saturday night. You can purchase the $10 tickets here.

“The overarching theme here is that there is a crusade between the moral left and moral right to attack each other and expose each other, but it’s not like their crusades are as virtuous as they seem to be,” Holden told CHS. “The Christian right want to characterize gay people as drug using, porn watching, anal sex having freaks. And to be fair, I’m all three.”

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Capitol Hill fabric store Stitches celebrates ten years on E Pike

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IMG_2009IMG_1994A week knitted together with discounts, prizes and treats hits Capitol Hill thread shop Stitches April, 30 as it celebrates its ten year anniversary on E Pike. Owner Amy Ellsworth is looking forward to adding another decade on the Hill.

“I’m excited to see people… and say hi and thank you,” she said. From April 30 – May 6, the store will serve up snacks from local businesses and conclude each day with a raffle for classes and gift certificates – when you buy something you’re entered – as well as 20% off anything for the week.

Ellsworth has been selling fabrics and related crafting tools since 2004 on Capitol Hill, and like many Seattle start-ups, her story started at a local tech giant. Continue reading →

Seattle vs. the rest of King County — How we voted on Prop 1

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Proposition 1's totals by legislative district show a distinct split in King County. You can see the full map here, courtesy of .

Proposition 1’s totals by legislative district show a distinct split in King County. You can see the full map here, courtesy of Oran Viriyincy.

Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 3.16.56 PMThis map posted by transit analyst and advocate Oran Viriyincy shows the Election Night returns for the vote on Proposition 1 broken out by legislative district. The proposition, seemingly on its way to a sound defeat, would have created a county transportation district to fund Metro and roads with a sales tax and car tab increase. One look at the map makes the basic story obvious — Seattle voters valued public transit enough to add the tax and car tab cost. The rest of the county? Not so much. Next week, we’ll learn more abut the plan from Friends of Transit which has announced it will focus on preserving Metro service within the city limits with a new Seattle property tax. The group plans to place an initiative on Seattle’s November ballot that could raise up to $25 million a year for the next six years, “enough to reverse most cuts to King County Metro routes that serve Seattle.” A statement from the group said members would file the ballot initiative Friday afternoon.Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 3.17.24 PM

More East Precinct gun violence as one shot near 26th/Columbia, another murdered south of Jackson — UPDATE

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Police were called to 26th Ave and E Columbia just north of Cherry early Friday morning after a report of gunfire and a woman running and screaming in the street. Police found a man shot in the chest and began a search for three reported assailants seen leaving the area. The incident was reported just before 1 AM.

The shooting was the second of the night in the East Precinct after a 19-year-old man was shot to death in an assault at 28th Ave S and S Lane St south of Jackson around 6:44 PM Thursday. SPD has posted its preliminary report on the incident here.

Early last Saturday morning, a 24-year-old man was shot and killed at 22nd and Union. He was identified as Kevin Brown, a member of the Central District gang Deuce 8.

We do not have additional information on the condition of the victim in the 26th Ave shooting at this time. Police were investigating the incident as a possible robbery. Police and a K9 unit searched the area nearby for the reported suspects described as three black males, possibly in their 20s, last seen on foot. A witness told police that one of the three was carrying a silver handgun, according to East Precinct radio dispatches.

UPDATE 9:18 AM: SPD has released its preliminary report on the early Friday morning robbery attempt and shooting.

A 36-year-old man was shot and wounded during failed robbery in the Central District early this morning. Just before 1 A.M. the victim and his girlfriend were walking through an alley in the 2500 block of E. Columbia St. when the couple noticed three men following them. Continue reading →

Mayor set to announce $15 minimum wage plan — with or without consensus — UPDATE: No deal

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Demonstrators surrounded City Hall Wednesday (Image: Working Washington)

Demonstrators surrounded City Hall Wednesday (Image: Working Washington)

UPDATE: There was a self-imposed deadline but no deal Thursday at Seattle’s City Hall. With no proposal of his own to offer, Mayor Ed Murray said at a Thursday press conference he still wanted to give his committee more time to hammer out a path to $15.

“A majority of the committee has agreed to a proposal but I don’t believe we have a good cross section of businesses and non-profits to make it viable,” he said. Continue reading →

Travel back in Capitol Hill time with new Google Maps feature

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Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 1.42.05 PM Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 1.43.58 PMIt was a simpler time on Capitol Hill back in 2007. During those gleeful pre-recession years CHS was still in its infancy and you could get $1 pull tabs at Benson’s Grocery (although history does tend to repeat itself). Relive it all and watch the neighborhood transform before your eyes with Google Maps new feature that allows you to walk  through seven years of street view images.

There are some real gems, including watching the transformation of Broadway from a low-rise, small business street to a mixed-use haven with a big hole where the Capitol Hill light rail station will go. Other fun finds:

Post your favorites finds in comments.