by Irene Jagla
The untimely and tragic death of Amina Ahmed, SeaTac City Councilmember and longtime immigrant and refugee advocate, shocked a community that had invested much hope in her tenure as a way to battle displacement and gentrification. Ahmed died in a car accident in the afternoon of December 8 at the intersection of South 188th Avenue and 16th Avenue South in SeaTac. She was only seven weeks into her council appointment.
Continue reading Friends and Colleagues Remember Amina Ahmed
by Carolyn Bick
As a senior on disability, Laura Hale lives on exactly $971 per month, not counting the $182 per month she receives in food stamps.
The 65-year-old Hale lives in the basement of her son’s house, a few blocks away from the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, where she regularly plays bingo on Wednesdays. Like many seniors who live on fixed income, such as disability payments or Social Security, Hale cannot independently afford to live in the area anymore, thanks to increasing costs of living, as developers move in. And like many seniors, Hale is on several city housing waiting lists that are literally thousands of names and several years long.
Continue reading Rising Rents, Long Waiting Lists Displacing Seniors From the South End
by Irene Jagla
Under a clear blue afternoon sky on October 13, a crowd of about 40 people — including representatives from the Seattle City Council, the King County Working Families Party, and the Firs Mobile Home Community — gathered outside SeaTac City Hall to show support for the appointment of Takele Gobena to the Council’s vacant fifth seat.
Continue reading SeaTac Center Community Fights Displacement Amid Hope for New City Council Member
(This article originally appeared on Patch.com and has been republished with permission.)
by Neal McNamara
Early in the morning on Sept. 17, Seattle police and firefighters responded to Dunlap Elementary School in the Rainier Beach neighborhood on a report of a dead person. The body of a 47-year-old man was found hanging by people heading to school that day.
Continue reading Suicide Near Seattle Elementary School Causes Concern
collected by Emerald staff
King County Elections Director Julie Wise wants residents to celebrate National Voter Registration Day in just the way you would expect: by registering to vote. She is calling on King County residents who have not yet registered to register online, by mail or in-person at the King County Elections office.
Continue reading News Gleams: Voter Registration Day and Washington CAN! Candidates Forum
(This article originally appeared on Patch.com and has been republished with permission)
by Neal McNamara
Some of the state’s wealthiest corporations — including Amazon, Starbucks and Fred Meyer — employ thousands of low-wage workers who receive public food assistance. Experts say this is a phenomenon driven by low wages and tenuous employment arrangements, like seasonal or on-demand work.
Continue reading The Wealthiest Companies In Washington Employ Thousands On Food Stamps
by Carolyn Bick
Despite reaching a tentative agreement with the district Friday night, educators could still vote to strike. Teachers will meet to discuss the agreement Friday evening, Sept. 7, and vote on the agreement the next day.
Continue reading Tentative teacher contract not strong enough in race equity, some educators say
