Hello Spring
Flowers are blooming and days are getting longer in Seattle. I like those extra rays of sunlight in our City’s beautiful parks and trails in District 7, such as Discovery Park, the Bell Street parkway, and Myrtle Edwards Park.
Thank you to all the parks and community volunteers who have spent hours weeding, planting trees and bulbs, and beautifying our open spaces so the rest of us can enjoy them! If you are interested in signing up to volunteer with Seattle Parks you can do so here, or join your local community council or neighborhood group to get involved. You can search for community groups on the Department of Neighborhoods Community Connector here.
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Marching For Our Lives
I am proud of our nation’s students and youth for standing to demand gun responsibility, and I am honored to march by their side this Saturday (3/24). The Seattle March for Our Lives program begins at Cal Anderson Park at 10am, with the march beginning at 11am. Please join me in supporting our youth and take a stand against gun violence. Learn more information about the march here.
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Increasing Firearm Safety in Seattle
Seattle and Washington have consistently been national leaders in gun responsibility, and I am committed to exploring every avenue possible to make our city safe. I have written extensively on my blog about steps I believe we can do at the City, county, state and in our own households to increase firearm safety, which you can review here.
Yesterday I joined Mayor Durkan as she announced the development of new legislation to increase responsible gun ownership in Seattle. The proposed legislation would require the safe storage of firearms and increased civil penalties and legal responsibility for failing to report lost or stolen firearms.
This local legislation is critical to protect our children and families. In 2015 an estimated 150,000 adults in King County reported keeping a firearm unlocked in their home. Keeping firearms in lockboxes decreases the risk of accidental shootings, suicides, and firearm theft. I am looking forward to working with my council colleagues and the Mayor as the legislation progresses.
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Age Friendly: Respect and Social Inclusion
As we go through phases in our lives, our needs and desires change - no surprise there. People who are retired, no longer have kids at home, or are without family nearby often tell me they begin to feel isolated and alone. The word I frequently hear is “invisible.” Many express a need for genuine connection, yet new friendships and support can be hard to come by.
For those who don’t have a network of close family or friends, the rest of us become their support system – if we are aware and willing. One of Age Friendly Seattle’s Eight Domains of Livability is “Respect and Social Inclusion.” The heart of this domain is the simple fact that everyone wants to be valued. While the City is working on improving infrastructure and programming, realistically valuing and including people is one area that we, as individuals must embrace person by person.
So, where to start? To increase respect and social inclusion for all, I recommend these guiding principles:
First, I believe that everyone irrespective of age, gender, orientation, or family background is an individual worthy of respect and love. Only by spending time with another can we connect deeply and find that worth.
Second, I try not to make assumptions about an individual’s interests or needs. I ask.
Third, I know that many people complain about feeling invisible or alone and I do what I can to make personal contact and learn more from that person.
The lessons to address social isolation are clear: lead with love, ask instead of assume, and genuinely engage with people as unique individuals.
To learn more, please read my most recent blog here.
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Add Your Voice
Your Voice, Your Choice is an exciting opportunity for you to have a direct say in how money is invested in your neighborhood. Focused on Parks and Street improvements, the participatory budgeting initiative allows Seattle residents to democratically decide how to spend $3 million dollars of the City’s budget where they live, work or volunteer.
There are four key steps to Your Voice, Your Choice:
We are currently on phase two of the participatory budgeting process, Project Development, and right now you can help make recommendations and develop the proposed projects. There are two more meetings in District 7 the public is invited to join:
March 22, 6 - 8pm (TONIGHT!)
Mama's Cantina, Backroom - 2234 2nd Ave
March 27, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Magnolia Branch Library - 2801 34th Ave W
Community meetings in other districts and neighborhoods across the city can be found here.
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North Downtown Mobility Action Plan
Last week, North Downtown communities came together for discussions around how to prioritize funding from the Oak View Group’s Transportation Fund as part of the redevelopment of our new Civic Arena. Thank you to the community organizations who hosted these opportunities, including:
- Uptown Alliance
- Belltown Community Council and Belltown Business Association
- Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Cascade Bicycle Club
You’ll have one more opportunity to join us in South Lake Union on Tuesday April 3. At these meetings, City staff asked people to place dots on their favorite projects for modes of transportation, including pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and freight. For more information, please see the North Downtown Mobility Action Plan webpage for more information and how to get involved.
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Additional Opportunities to Engage in District 7:
Second Key Arena Design Open House, March 24, 1:00-5:00pm at the Seattle Center Pavilion
- You are invited to take part in the ongoing design process of the new Seattle Center Arena and to learn about how the design has progressed
- Please join us to share your favorite Arena experiences and brainstorm with us what should happen here next
- Learn and Discuss
- How will this project transform the Arena venue?
- How will this project positively affect social equity?
- How will this project engage with the Arts and Culture?
How will the new Arena enhance Seattle Center?
Citywide Open House featuring Districts 3+7 Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) Maps, March 29, 6pm
- Come and review maps of proposed MHA zoning changes to your urban Village
- Districts 3 + 7 include the following urban villages: 23rd and Union-Jackson, First Hill-Capitol Hill, Madison-Miller, North Rainier-Mt. Baker, Upper Queen Anne
Engage at Every Age, May 4, 2018 1:00pm-3:00pm
- Join Councilmember Bagshaw in celebrating Older Americans Month with a Forum on Social and Civil Engagement. Co-sponsored by Seattle Human Services Department’s Age Friendly Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Department of Neighborhoods Find more details and RSVP here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/engageMay4
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Sally Bagshaw
Email: Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov
Phone: (206) 684-8801
Online: Council Website
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For more information on what my office has been up to, check out our recent blog posts:
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