So many people want to get involved with the revival of the Capitol Hill Community Council, its September relaunch meeting put the neighborhood library over its legal occupancy limit.
Organizer and neighborhood resident Chris Paulus, who has taken initiative to recharge the council, said it was “too much of a success.” The solution in September was to split the crowd in half and run the meeting twice.
“We weren’t expecting a large turnout but then to our surprise…we couldn’t let anymore people in,” Paulus tells CHS.
The October follow-up also went well. Now the neighbors, business owners, and community group representatives of the revived CHCC must work together to figure out where the council goes next.
This month’s meeting on October 10 in the 12th Ave Arts building offered space for attendees to express concerns they’re grappling with, like the transportation levy that will be on the November ballot.
The $1.55B transportation levy proposal and its focus on streets, transit, sidewalk, and bike lanes for the next eight years is one of the big decisions on the fall ballot.
The levy proposal would invest in street maintenance and modernization; bridge safety and infrastructure; pedestrian and bicycle safety; the activation of neighborhoods, business districts and public spaces; and improving transit corridors and connections; among others.
“There’s lots of concerns when it comes to that, because transportation touches on so many pieces,” said Paulus, who added how questions arose regarding how this levy would impact the operations of the Seattle Department of Transportation.
“Something we’re hoping to do better at in the future is maybe getting speakers to come and speak directly from these government agencies so people can ask questions directly,” Paulus said.
The revival is already experiencing the growing pains of locating and working with a space that’s capable of holding a large group.
“We’re working on finding larger spaces and getting some of our other ducks in a row,” Paulus said.
The CHCC has been able to get a website and newsletter up and running while searching for a meeting location and fundraising. Paulus said December’s meeting will focus on submissions from Capitol Hill residents about change they wish to see or ideas they have while competing with folks’ holiday plans, like traveling and office parties. Early new year meeting plans will include a presentation related to the elections and speakers lined up to chat about polling.
“It’s a good place to not just connect neighbors, but to provide neighbors a way to connect with the government or other entities that exist in and around Capitol Hill,” Paulus said.
The meetings can also offer opportunities to look back. Paulus said the September meeting included a presentation on the history of the Capitol Hill Library and the larger library system, and how the neighborhood had two public libraries for several years prior to the closing of the Aloha branch which was active on 1911 E Aloha from 1948 to 1961.
Maybe one model for the new Capitol Hill group can be the Squire Park Community Council which has rambled along as a neighborhood advocate and community organizer. It holds its pre-election gathering this Saturday.
For now, the Capitol Hill council is taking shape as more of a forum than a driver of community initiatives and political positions. The November election provides continued opportunity to draw people to show up and begin to get involved. CHCC’s next meeting will be held on November 5—election night.
“In November we’re going to have an election watch party at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian theatre. The theatre is large enough to fit everyone who might be interested in going,” Paulus said.
“An important part of civic and social engagement is the bedrock of democracy,” Paulus said. “I think the more that we can come together as a community, the better each of us are and the better the community is as a whole.”
Learn more at capitolhillcommunitycouncil.com.
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This article makes it sound like the only thing discussed at the CHCC meeting was the transportation levy. Nothing about open drug use, violent crime, or public safety?
Right? “questions arose regarding how this levy would impact the operations of the Seattle Department of Transportation.”
This sounds like an organization that’s going to spend a lot of time complaining about things that have absolutely nothing to do with it, not a good sign.
The issues raised are raised by people who attend the meetings.
For many of us living on the hill, our greatest source of everyday stress and fear about public safety is in fact rooted in trying to navigate our neighborhood outside of a car. That is probably why the transportation levy came up at the meeting, since it is key to funding any improvements. (I assume this, since I was not at the meeting.)
While you may perceive the mere existence of people less fortunate or “virtuous” than yourself or allow the mere sight of someone who *might* be unhoused or high to strike fear into you or perceive it as a physical attack in your mind, many of your neighbors feel and experience our neighborhood differently than you. It could be the case that the people most likely to be involved on the council don’t share your perspective.
So, you might consider that this is why your priorities were not represented at a meeting you did not participate in.
They are trying to get it up and running. Yes, those are concerns. But the immediate concerns are the election atm. The best way to fix it is to elect the right person.
Nice. Thanks to Paulus and everyone who is getting this going.