April 2022

By Patrick Robinson

Balancing selfishness and altruism is not easy. The human ego, at least at earlier levels of maturity, often drives people to less charitable ways of thinking. But since we form reality through the symbolism of words let’s look at the words or terms that define both mindsets.

Selfishness:

• Me
• Blame
• Anger
• Hate
• Pride
• Jealousy
• Complaint
• Intolerance
• Resentment
• Victim
• Self-Importance
• Power
• War
• Chaos
• Denial
• Materialism
• Past and Future focus

Altruism:

The Seattle Police Department is honored to partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring Drug Take Back Day to Seattle again this year!

Information from Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is proposing a change to bell times (school start and end times) for the next school year. If approved, this new schedule would begin on the first day of school. September 7 is the first day of school for 1st-12th grade students. September 12 is the first day of kindergarten.

The School Board will vote on the 2022-23 Transportation Service Standards, which includes bell times for all schools, in May.

We know that changing the bell times will mean adjustments for families and staff.

Under the SPS bell time change proposal, Denny would start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:20 p.m. You can submit input here by May 18: https://www.k12insight.com/Lets-Talk/Dialogue.aspx?k=WF7G2YLT@DY8N1B7LT

"I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a tree." When Joyce Kilmer wrote his ode to trees in 1913, he couldn't have anticipated today's response to climate change. But as we experience hotter summers, extended droughts and other climate induced change, trees are being seen as far more than lovely. They are vital. 

The Seattle Department of Transportation's (SDOT) plans to build an ADA ramp at the corner of SW Fontanelle and Fauntleroy Way SW however are threatening to take out one of that neighborhood's most notable trees. A large horse chestnut, standing approximately 40 feet tall, is one of few large trees left on that stretch of Fauntleroy Way.

District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared this reminder regarding the Sound Transit light rail draft environmental impact statement whose comment period ends April 28,

Thursday, April 28 is the deadline to comment on the Sound Transit Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard light rail project. To comment you can click on the “Comment now” button at the top of the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions webpage.

After the end of the public comment period, the Sound Transit Board will decide which options will be studied in the Final EIS that will be published in 2023. Mayor Harrell and Council President Juarez represent Seattle on the Board.