Senator wants broad look at property tax
By Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Last Thursday, Nov. 29, lawmakers met in Olympia for a one-day special session. With the regular legislative session only six weeks away, many in the public were understandably confused as to why this was necessary.
replacements
In Ballard many home are being torn down and townhouses built in their place but none are affordable to the average worker. Huge apartment complexes a have been built and five more in various stages of completion and none will be "affordable Housing."
Lock Vista has 191 apartments, most are "affordable," and a investor wants to convert them to condominiums. Various organizations are trying to find ways to get enough financing to buy the units.
With a hood over his head and mittens to ward off the cold, Terry Cunningham sells the homeless newspaper Real Change in front of the Bartell Drugs store in Ballard and the money he earns helps him survive.
Cunningham is fortunate, after living on the streets for five years, he now has a place to stay, unlike 6,000 others in Seattle who end up seeking shelter each night.
People walking along 22nd Avenue Northwest purchase copies of Real Change from Cunningham for a dollar.
Swedish Medical Center's Ballard campus has a long history in the community and that tradition apparently will continue to grow with the hospital's Board of Directors approval of a $31.5 million project to build a new outpatient center and medical office on Tallman Avenue.
The move by Swedish is designed to update and expand the Ballard facility in order to meeting the changing needs of the community.
"We are doing it to continue to grow and expand on the success of the campus," said Swedish/Ballard chief administrative officer Kevin Brown.
When completed
Members of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church voted in favor of hosting Tent City 3 during a meeting on Sunday and the roving camp for the homeless is expected in Ballard during March and April next year.
Pastor Steve Grumm attended a meeting organized by State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson to discuss the growing homeless population in the area on Nov. 28. During the meeting Grumm said church members had talked to neighbors and found support for bringing in Tent City 3.
"We had a good response.
Mayor Greg Nickels has urged the Seattle City Council to take action by the end of the year on legislation he says could create hundreds of new, affordable homes for working families.
Nickels proposed the "Seattle Homes Within Reach" program to the Council in July, and he claims the costs of delay are mounting.
The Greenwood Washington State Driver Licensing Office, 320 N 85th St. will close at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, for remodeling work. It will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 11. This office is located at, Seattle WA 98103.
The other Seattle area offices are the Lynnwood Driver Licensing Office, 18023 Hwy 99, Suite E., open: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The West Seattle Driver Licensing Office, 8830 25th Ave S.W. hours are: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday from 8:30 a.m.
With the future of water supplies endangered from climate change and continued population growth, region leaders have launched a search for common ground and real solutions.
King County Executive Ron Sims kicked off the "Carpe Diem - the Western Water and Climate Change Project," a one-year effort by the leadership nonprofit group, Exloco, to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the looming threat of shrinking water supplies and growing demand.
"Because of climate change, King County's snowpack - which serves as a main water supply reservoir - has been and will
The city is seeking candidates for a vacant position on the Seattle Women's Commission which advises the mayor, City Council and city departments on issues that impact women in Seattle.
As advisors to the mayor, City Council and city departments, commissioners have the opportunity to address issues of concern for Seattle women and to work for positive change.
The board of the King County Ferry District has adopted a plan, budget and financing a potential ferry route from Shilshole to downtown.
Besides the Vashon ferry and year-around West Seattle Water Taxi, the council also approved five "demonstration routes."
"The Elliott Bay Water Taxi and the Vashon passenger-only ferry are proven successes, taking cars off our roads and giving commuters better choices to get where they need to go," said ferry board member Dow Constantine.
