Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Newsletter

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 06/12/2020 08:08 AM PDT
black lives matter mural on storefront

 

Investing in Justice for Black Lives

At the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, we have two North Star statements that we use to guide our work and hold ourselves accountable. They are:

  • Put race and equity at the center of all decisions and actions; and
  • Invest in the power of communities to forge their own solutions.

As the events of the last few months have unfolded, we have realized just how necessary and powerful those principles are. Particularly right now, as our community rages at the murder of George Floyd and the systems of injustice that, for centuries, have led to so much harm for Black men and women in our country and the constant weaponizing of white supremacy and anti-blackness.

This is not an easy time to work within government institutions and systems that are so often causing harm – no matter how much our work is centered on changing that system. But, please know that we remain unyielding in our commitment to centering racial justice in our work. We remain committed to pushing against and dismantling the systems of white supremacy within our local government. Most importantly, we remain committed to investing in the communities that have been harmed by the institutionalized racism entrenched in our government and our society.

Right now, many of you are in the streets and online promoting solutions that could lead to systemic change for Black lives and Black communities. We stand with you!

And, we invite everyone that has joined us in our work – from community groups to business associations to historic societies to neighborhood councils and beyond – we invite you to stand in solidarity with us and the community to invest in justice for Black lives.

In solidarity,

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

OTHER CITY NEWS

King County is Now in Modified Phase 1: On Friday, June 5th the Washington State Department of Health accepted King County's plan to allow for limited openings of recreational, social and business activities in a modified Phase 1 of Governor Jay Inslee's Safe Start reopening plan. Learn what that means. (more)

Mayor Announces Bold Action to Deliver 500 Permanent Homes in Response to COVID-19: Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced that the City of Seattle Office of Housing is taking bold action to create 500 new permanent supportive housing units through alternative construction, reducing significantly the costs and timeline. (more)

Governor Inslee Extends Eviction Moratorium: The governor announced by proclamation on June 2, he was extending the eviction moratorium until August 1. Rent increases and late fees remain prohibited under the moratorium. (more)

City Takes Steps to Create Safe Place for Peaceful Demonstrations: The City is committed to creating a safe space for peaceful demonstrations, and will also take steps to minimize property damage or potential injuries. (more)

Seattle Sister and Partner Cities in China Come to City’s Aid With Generous Donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The City has been collecting and distributing these supplies to community partners working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. (more)

Apply for a Safe Routes to Schools Mini Grant: Apply for up to $1,000 to fund projects that educate students about walking and biking to school. Public and private schools, parent-teacher associations, and other non-profits are welcome to apply. (more)

West Seattle Bridge Updates: Get the latest information on options to reopen the West Seattle Bridge as essential stabilization and data collection work continues. (more)

Updates on Delridge Way SW - RapidRide H Line: Seattle Department of Transportation is hosting an online open house to share information about the Delridge Way SW - RapidRide H Line project design elements and what to expect during construction. (more)

Comment on Zoning Modifications at Kimball Elementary School: The public is invited to share its feedback regarding the development plans for Kimball Elementary School located at 3200 23rd Ave S in Beacon Hill. (more)

COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit Now in Eight Languages: The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development launched a toolkit to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic explore options for their commercial leases with a goal of remaining in their spaces. (more)