‘NIGHT OUT’ REMINDER: The night for crimefighting, neighborhood-building block parties is August 3rd.

BARBECUE AT HICKS LAKE: 11 am-2 pm on August 14th.

STREETLIGHT TRACKER: Seattle City Light customers can not only report streetlight outages but also track how they’re being handled, by going to a new website. (Added: Here’s the link)

SEATTLE POLICE REPORT: Lt. James is introducing Officer Kiehn as the CPT officer for the West Seattle area that this group covers (among other areas). Next, he mentions that residential burglaries are a focus for the precinct – in Highland Park, there were 15 burglaries last month, and former CPT officer, now Detective, Jill Vanskike started investigating them, got the word out to patrol officers about what appeared to be a trend, and that led to the identification of suspects. Lt. James also is talking about a crackdown on car prowls, after encouraging people to call 911 about them. “Report everything, because we can’t be everywhere,” he reminds those on hand. He’s also letting those on hand know about the online information that SPD has added recently, including the availability of some reports, and the new incident map tools, plus the new online-reporting system launched yesterday for “low-level” crimes. (Added: Here’s the link.)

And Lt. James notes that August 21st, 1-4 pm, is the date for Picnic at the Precinct for the SW Precinct. In response to a question, Lt. James confirms that every precinct is giving two officers to the downtown/Belltown nightlife emphasis on Friday and Saturday nights – but he says they also have access to the same special emphasis on, say, Alki if they need it. Other questions include, from Dick Thurnau of Friends of Hicks Lake, who’s responsible for cleaning up after a car crash? Officer Kiehn’s reply: The tow crew that takes the wrecked car(s) away.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT, INCLUDING CLUB EVO: Deputy Jackson briefed the group, saying that a special crackdown is being planned for some ongoing problems. Separately – Club Evo is still a priority for the Gang Unit, she says, and they’re working with code enforcement from North Highline Fire, the Liquor Control Board, and other agencies regarding violations – she says a “case is opening up” and the NHFD will do a site visit; if Evo is not in compliance, then action will be taken. One attendee says that he just learned Evo hasn’t had the proper, complete licensing for years – Deputy Jackson confirms that’s true, and is being addressed.

Legislative candidate and White Center/South Delridge business owner “Mac” McElroy is here and says that he’s been told the best thing to do might be to send a letter to King County Executive Dow Constantine. Deputy Jackson says that’s certainly his prerogative as a citizen. It’s also being suggested from the audience that the King County Council should be a target of letter-writing as well. Another concern voiced: “A lot of homeless people sleeping near the street” near the future Strength of Place Initiative development site at 100th/13th. Deputy Jackson says without anyone in the storefront deputy position formerly held by Jeff Hancock, there is no one to proactively address problems like that; she says the future of that position may be made public by next month.

WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION: Now executive director Balahadia is up.

(This was the intense part of the meeting – click ahead for the continuation of our as-it-happened coverage)

She says neighborhood revitalization, family development and community building are the three lines of business for WCCDA; they try to connect the dots of all the work happening in the community. She mentions the neighborhood plan featuring 8 strategies that she says were hatched by people in the community. She says the plan is updated every year and presented at the annual Community Summit, which this year will be on December 4. She says more than 400 residents and 19 projects were part of another annual WCCDA-presented event, the Spring Clean (WCN coverage here). The Casey Foundation, she says, is a primary source of their funding. She says the revitalization component was the major part of their business when WCCDA started almost a decade ago, but it’s grown from there. Local banks also are a major contributor, she says. And a national group called Impact Capital funds WCCDA, she says. This year, they’re also helping other nonprofits with growth strategy in White Center, as well as training – which they offer to some people even in lines of interest such as “how to buy a house.”

Next, WCCDA’s Nhan Nguyen is speaking. “At the CDA, we set the table, but we don’t push the agenda,” he explains. He mentions that “White Center: Growing a Global Village” is then new brand. Welcome signs will be redone with the branding – and they will be asking people for their opinions. They’re also hoping to attract “family friendly businesses” to the area. They’re working with the King County Food and Fitness Initiative. Asked what the definition of the business district was, they focused on the central area not far from 16th and Roxbury, only as far south as 102nd – but not as far as 116th, despite an expression of surprise from some in attendance who say they consider the business district to stretch that far south. And questions arise about including the West Seattle side of White Center – Balahadia says, it’s not that we’re trying to promote West Seattle businesses first, but “many of you believe that (the South Delridge businesses) are part of White Center.” McElroy says people shouldn’t get too hung up on the Seattle/Unincorporated King County line. Ultimately, “it’s a resource question,” says Balahadia. And there’s another suggestion that this initial area WCCDA is working on may eventually change.

Finally, the “elephant in the room” comes up: Some are concerned that the CDA is “pushing to become part of Seattle.” Balahadia asks, “Has the coalition taken a position?” No, came the reply. Then Barbara Dobkin, who is on the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council but stresses that she attended as a private citizen, brings up the issue of WCCDA website content rearding annexation. Balahadia said WCCDA has not taken a position. She also says she is not prepared to have an annexation decision, but was here to talk about other community issues. She shortly switches the topic back to community work, and those who are working in White Center schools; she says, “Education is one of the issues that our families care the most about.”

She moves on to say that “there are a ton of things going on in White Center – but they’re not always connected.” She declares “there are a lot of positive things happening.” She also notes that 10 people work at WCCDA – and it used to be just 1 1/2 back in 2004. “We grew because the need was there – but we’re still 10 people strong – we need to look at ourselves as united on goals we can move on.” She says she’d be happy to have another conversation about annexation, “but frankly, it’s so divisive, and really tiring, and something that I hope we can moving forward around this issue.” Then another difficult issue comes up: 14 businesses serving alcohol in a 2-block radius. Balahadia agrees that’s not family-friendly and is asked, what’s the CDA’s stance on that? Nguyen answers this: “There’s nothing wrong with an alcohol-serving institution” and points to McElroy as someone running an “upstanding institution” – while then saying that he does have a problem with overserving, or selling high-potency beverages from stores, so he’s hopeful a Good Neighbor Agreement will work as well here as it has in other areas, such as Kent. Meantime, someone in the audience says he does have a problem with anyone selling alcohol. McElroy says, “It’s very easy to look at the end result and draw a direct lane to say, ‘If we stop serving this, we won’t have this problem’” and mentions Prohibition, noting that didn’t work. He suggests that the concerned citizen “not lump us (alcohol-serving businesses) all together. … I’m looking as part of your community to make this a better community for all of us.”

Another member of the WCCDA staff asks to take a turn and says even though it’s headquartered on the Seattle side of the line, they help many families on the other side of the city-limit line. She gets emotional, saying that WCCDA has helped her family as well and feels as if “personal attack(s)” are being made against the organization, and suggests she’s feeling blindsided by the direction that the discussion has taken. “Next time you invite us to come to one of your meetings, please be honest with us (regarding what topic you want to ask about).” Now chair Healy points out that historically, a WCCDA rep used to always be on hand at the coalition meeting – but sometime back, that changed, without warning. He is saying that the group did have many issues to ask about, including the family-friendliness (or lack of same) of an alcohol-laden business district. “We’ve got like three different issues going on,” Healy points out.

He also goes on to say – qualifying that it’s a personal opinion – that he has a toddler daughter and would not like to see her continuously witnessing alcohol being consumed. Now the guy who is planning to open Company (in the business district south of Roxbury on 16th) speaks, and says that his business is going to be 21+ only, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be “part of the destruction of the neighborhood.” Now the discussion turns to – would it feel so overwhelming, if there were more other types of businesses in addition to those? Then the issue shifts – it’s not just about the fact that alcohol is sold, but what about safety, and the atmosphere in which it is sold? The short-lived Hang Around Bar and Grill is brought up, and its proprietors’ attempt at “cleaning up” the area around the establishment (formerly The Wall, now vacant) – in an area that otherwise has trouble with prostitution, drugs, and gangs, in the opinion of the meeting-goer who’s speaking. “These aren’t neighborhood people who are most of the clientele of the place – they are being drawn from other neighborhoods, and they are making our neighborhood less … than it could be.” She suggests that the WCCDA get more deeply involved in addressing those problems (and those at Club Evo) and advocating that position.

Yet another attendee says it still sounds to him as if everyone is OK with the drunkenness problem. McElroy now refutes that and also points out that the people who are bringing new energy into the community are people like him, like Company proprietor Jesse, and Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin – and that seems to bring a discrepancy between the voiced perception that alcohol sales in and of themselves are bad, and the reality of business owners in a district with many vacant storefronts actually opening businesses and working hard in the community. He says finger-pointing “is divisive” and calls for unity. Standing next to him, a Highland Park resident who says, “Isn’t it really about the owners of the businesses and the people they hire” rather than what they sell/serve?

Another attendee then points out it boils down to the state Liquor Control Board’s enforcement – and suggests also that they bring the topic back to, what is the WCCDA doing in general, not just on this issue? Deputy Jackson steps into the discussion and reminds everyone to report the problems they see, so that there is something on the record when establishments file to renew their license. She says there have not been many official complaints about places that people griped about all the time – and that means there’s nothing on the record when renewal comes up again.

After another attendee exhorts the WCCDA to be sure that “the people” are educated about annexation – Balahadia points out that her organization hosted five community forums on the issue the last time it came up, with representatives of all sides.

Back to the alcohol issue – Friends of Hicks Lake’s Dick Thurnau points out the alcohol use in Lakewood Park and the cans/bottles he’s found, observing that it’s right next to two schools. North Highline Unincorporated Area Council’s Christine Waldman brings back the key issue – go online and report liquor violations to the state. (We’ll add that link later too.)

And another issue has surfaced – what about the library system? Shouldn’t WCCDA be more involved in its future? Balahadia agrees that’s a good point. She now finally gets to conclude her presentation, giving kudos to White Center Jubilee Days and also mentions the upcoming Pasefika Festival at White Center Heights Elementary, as well as the upcoming annual YES Foundation backpack giveaway/street festival at Mount View Elementary on August 31st and at White Center Heights on September 1st – because of some funding changes, a WCCDA rep explains, it’s been split into two days, instead of the all-community, one-day event that it was in years gone by. And she says that Holy Family School‘s street festival is coming up September 11-12th.

With that, the meeting breaks up without a formal gaveling of any kind – though it’s almost 8 pm anyway.

(The WC Community Safety Coalition usually meets on the fourth Thursday of the month, 6 pm, at the same location – 9650 15th SW.)

(Video and photos by Cliff DesPeaux)
For White Center Now and partner site West Seattle Blog, photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux covered today’s “Got Green?” “green jobs”-program media event at SW 100th and 13th SW, on the site of the future Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI) Village in WC. The video above is from the media briefing that kicked off the event, at one of the existing houses that will be demolished as part of the revving-up project:

SOPI is a project to create 30 future housing units, involving the White Center Community Development Association as well as both the West Seattle-based Delridge Neighborhood Development Association and Capitol Hill Housing. The workers who are training in weatherization techniques at the future demolition site are hoping to be providing as part of a City of Seattle project that organizers say will kick off this fall. As part of today’s event, Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith was on hand (he speaks about 5 minutes into our video clip). RIght now, 14 trainees are learning at this site. A walking tour followed the briefing, going inside the house to see what the trainees are working on – such as measuring for insulation:

In the next photo, Michael Siva is working in the crawl space:

Placards at the training site reminded onlookers what the project’s about:

You can find out more about Got Green? here. As for Strength of Place Initiative, groundbreaking is set to happen later this summer – here’s one of the renderings:

Its description, from project managers:

Located on the corner of SW 100th Street and 13th Avenue SW, the project will have 30 apartments ranging from one-bedrooms to three-bedrooms for low-income families making less than about $55,000/year. Strength of Place Village will also deliver living-wage construction jobs to White Center and will be green built to the Washington State Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard.

It’s going on noon, and we’re just back from a quick tour of some White Center Spring Clean sites. First, above, we stopped at White Center Community Development Association HQ, where the Polynesian Club was helping out with a planting project – a few members stopped to pose with “Miss Piggy” outside the office. Across the street, the triangle’s getting some love too:

In the downtown business district, Rat City Rollergirls are working at several spots – this group was at the second of 15 businesses in need of window-washing:

Across 16th SW, King County Sheriff’s Office community-service Officer Vary Jackson was outside the KCSO storefront with planters and plants:

As we pulled up, a well-known White Center-based entrepreneur happened to be wheeling one of the planters away – Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s Justin Cline:

WCCDA had signed up more than 500 volunteers for White Center Spring Clean even before the big day arrived.

The White Center community is gearing up for its annual Spring Clean, an event that brings together volunteer youth and elders, business owners and residents, retirees and students to work, clean and improve the community’s physical environment.

“White Center is people-powered. Events like Spring Clean showcase our collective action for positive neighborhood revitalization that truly defines our diverse community,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association. The White Center CDA is a catalyst for a healthy community and new prosperity in White Center- so it’s a better place to visit, shop, and live.

Asked why she participates in the Spring Clean event, White Center resident Keysha Bryant said: “You must be the change you wish to see in your community, to help build and keep it a clean safe place for our children and everyone who lives here.”

In 2009, more than 350 volunteers turned out for the Spring Clean event. We painted one block-long mural previously plagued with graffiti, cleaned and painted art on 21 trash cans for the business district, removed invasive plant species at six parks, and hauled away two tons of garbage. Volunteers covered 70 neighborhood blocks, picking up litter and completing 19 individual beautification projects developed by local residents and groups.

The White Center CDA thanks our sponsors for their contributions to this year’s event: BECU, The Home Depot, King County Housing Authority, King County Parks and Recreation, Seattle Public Utilities, The Triangle Pub and the White Center Chamber of Commerce.

Volunteers are needed! To sign up as a volunteer, contact Nhan Nguyen, Neighborhood Revitalization Program Manager at (206) 694-1082 or at whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com, and fill out the attached registration form. To register online, visit http://www.wccda.org/home/wccda/644 and you will see the link to register at the bottom of the page. Volunteers will receive a complimentary t-shirt, light breakfast, refreshments, and lunch. For event information or to sign up as a volunteer, refer to additional information on the program’s website www.wccda.org.

We do not find this remark funny- we find it offensive, as this stereotype is obviously applied to the communities of color in our diverse White Center. It is also abusive to our goal to market and promote our wonderful, hard-working, and largely immigrant owned small businesses and restaurants.

We appreciate community residents like yourselves getting together to improve your neighborhood. We’d implore you to please do so without dragging down a neighbor, especially one like White Center that has done so much to counter such negativity over the last few years.

We’ll be checking with both WCCDA and the Shorewood group to see if there’s been followup, since a week has gone by. 2:13 PM UPDATE: We heard back from Shorewood newsletter editor Kevin, who said he had replied to say he’s sorry they were offended. Aileen at WCCDA confirmed they had received a response but it wasn’t as much of an apology as they felt was in order, since the remark was published in a community-wide newsletter.

(Photo courtesy White Center Food Bank)
That’s Long Nguyen with his raised-bed garden at White Center Heights Park – and now you might be able to have one too, according to this announcement, which includes a call for community-garden volunteers:

Together with the White Center Community Development Association, the White Center Food Bank is announcing that applications for raised beds at White Center Heights Park are now available.

The garden is located at 102nd SW and SW 7th across the street from White Center Heights Elementary School. Community members will have an opportunity to use a raised bed to grow their own garden. Raised beds are free to garden for the season. Gardeners can also contribute a part of their harvest to feed the clients of the White Center Food Bank.

Now In its 3rd year, the garden will be a place where residents can come together as a community to grow food with neighbors, family and friends. White Center Food Bank is excited to be able to provide an opportunity to the community to increase self-sufficiency and celebrate the diverse cultures that make White Center a wonderful place.

Applications are available at the White Center Food Bank. Contact Audrey Zemke in person, at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or (206) 762-2848 for an application. Applications are due to the White Center Food Bank by March 30, 2010. A lottery system will be used to pick the 16 individuals or groups who will receive a raised bed.

The White Center Food Bank is also looking for people to help with the community garden. Volunteers are needed to help with composting, cleaning up before and after the season, educating gardeners, planning the kick-off garden event or year-end harvest celebration. If you want to be connected to a great community of gardeners, contact Audrey Zemke to volunteer.

Day after the White Center Community Development Association put up that hip-hop video about green job opportunities, a news release just in from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation includes word of a $200,000 grant for WCCDA’s “green jobs initiative” (and other nonprofit endeavors):

Providing foreclosure counseling for distressed homeowners in southern Oregon and supporting the development of a green jobs initiative for young adults in Seattle’s White Center neighborhood are among the grants recently awarded by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. These latest grants reflect the Foundation’s continued focus on strengthening the social safety net for those living on the financial edge as well as supporting longer-term initiatives to help low-income families and individuals achieve economic stability.

“During one of the most dramatic economic downturns in history, we remain committed to helping our nonprofit partners and the communities they support respond and adapt to these growing challenges,” said Susan M. Coliton, vice president of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “Our latest grants will help people build the long-term social and economic assets they need for economic stability in these uncertain times.”

As part of its latest round of grants awarded in 2009, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced $4.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. The Foundation awarded grants to 66 diverse non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest region (including 38 nonprofits in Washington, 18 in Oregon, four in Alaska, four in Idaho, and two in Montana).

Providing Economic Relief and Building Family Assets

The Foundation continues its focus on helping nonprofit organizations meet growing community needs during the current economic crisis. The latest grants include $50,000 to the Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Roseburg, Ore.) to help it meet increasing demand for foreclosure counseling, with the goal of assisting 700 Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure.

In addition to helping individuals in crisis, the Foundation’s latest grants will also help people build income streams and learn new skills to create long-term financial stability. The Foundation awarded $200,000 to Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Portland, Ore.) to expand its entrepreneurial micro-enterprise program called Micro Mercantes that provides mentoring to Latina women in becoming successful food vendors at local farmers’ markets; and $200,000 to White Center Community Development Association (Seattle, Wash.) to develop a green jobs initiative that will take advantage of federal stimulus funding to train young adults in home weatherization as a foundation for additional education, training, and employment security.

Expanding Educational Opportunities for Youth

The Foundation’s latest grants continue to support initiatives that test new models within the K-12 public education system and expand opportunities for youth to develop new interests, skills, and abilities. Grants include $400,000 to the Washington State STEM Education Foundation (Kennewick, Wash.) to support comprehensive professional development for teachers at Delta High School, a new high school focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the Tri-Cities region; $100,000 to the Portland Schools Foundation to support Ninth Grade Counts, a broad-based program to increase high school graduation rates and workforce readiness for Portland youth; $150,000 to Business Education Compact (Beaverton, Ore.) to increase capacity and facilitate expansion of their Proficiency-Based Teaching and Learning program to reach more than 1,300 educators; $50,000 to IslandWood (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) to support a two-year pilot program called Stewardship Stories in partnership with the Seattle Park and Recreation Department to provide hands-on environmental education programs for Seattle youth; and $60,000 to the National Wildlife Federation (Anchorage, Alaska) to expand a green jobs program for teens in rural Alaska.

Continuing a Longstanding Commitment to the Arts

Arts and culture grants in the latest round of giving include support for many of the Foundation’s longstanding nonprofit partners, including the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and Perseverance Theatre, among others. The latest grants include support for annual arts programming as well as initiatives that help arts organizations strengthen their financial condition and sustain themselves during the recession and beyond.

Arts and culture grants include $75,000 to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Boise, Idaho) to support the Tessitura Consortium project, an initiative that creates a technology-sharing partnership with the Boise Contemporary Theater to integrate ticketing, donor, educational and financial data systems that improve operational efficiencies and customer service; $40,000 to the Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery (Portland, Ore.) to support the organization’s integration with the Pacific Northwest College of Art by providing improved infrastructure, training and staffing support.

Other key grants include $25,000 to the Seattle Chamber Music Festival for marketing initiatives to increase ticket sales and expand the organization’s 2010 Summer Festival audience base at its new Benaroya Hall location; $50,000 to the Northwest African American Museum (Seattle, Wash.) to develop a strategic marketing and outreach program to promote the museum’s exhibits, membership and services; $50,000 to the Holter Museum of Art (Helena, Mont.) to support a two-year audience and resource development project that honors the military and veteran community in Helena and greater Montana; and $75,000 to the Alaska Native Heritage Center (Anchorage, Alaska) to support the commissioning and presentation of four culturally significant works honoring Alaskan Native heritage and culture.

“Our commitment to supporting the continued vitality of the local arts sector has not changed,” said Coliton. “Like other nonprofits, arts and culture groups are grappling with new economic realities. It is encouraging that attendance at local museums and performing arts organizations remains strong. Clearly, even in challenging times, audiences find value and meaning in the creative work being developed and presented in our communities.”

Launched by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and Jo Lynn Allen in 1988, the Allen family’s philanthropy is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities by fostering innovation, creating knowledge and promoting social progress. Mr. Allen has contributed $378 million to the Foundation since its inception, benefitting over 1,370 diverse nonprofit groups to support and advance their critical charitable endeavors in the Pacific Northwest. A complete list of the Foundation’s latest grants is found at www.pgafamilyfoundation.org/grantlist.