by Brenda Williams
As a parent of two Seattle Public School kids, I’ve talked with other parents whose kids describe a deep desire to participate in the 17 minutes of action called for by national student leaders on 3/14/2018. The planned national action provides a platform for student/youth voices and is particularly important to many SPS youth. Continue reading An Open Letter to Seattle Public Schools
by Peter Johnson
The Seahawks traded Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles last night, and they’re expected to release Richard Sherman this week unless they can trade him. Continue reading Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman Leave an Impressive Legacy with the Seahawks
by Sharon Maeda
In the larger scheme of things, a $31,000 custom dining room set for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson’s private dining room is peanuts, especially in light of the current administration’s slashing of social programs.
But, this one is personal. I know that dining room and the new furniture are a small sign of the arrogance of federal cabinet secretaries who cut billions of dollars of much-needed education, health, housing, and human services funding and have no regard for the hard-working people who pay taxes in this country. Continue reading A $31,000 Dining Set is Trivial, The Continued Slashing of Social Programs for the Vulnerable is Not
by Tim Burgess
In my time at Seattle City Hall I discovered something that, frankly, we don’t like to discuss or even acknowledge.
We are failing to prepare all of our children for a successful life, a reality that creates injustice and social inequity harms our long-term economic prospects, and costs all of us a lot of money. This tragic fact is most evident when we look at education achievement. Continue reading Every Child Deserves a Strong and Fair Start
by Brian Bergen-Aurand
This month, Washington could become the twentieth state to eliminate the death penalty. Last week, the State Senate passed SB 6052, a bill to reduce criminal prosecution expenses by replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment. The bill has moved to the House and received a public hearing in the Judiciary Committee. Continue reading The Next Step in the Washington Death Penalty Debate
by Rabbi David Basior
When my dad texted me “School shooting at Stoneman Douglas today” at 2:13pm PST on February 14, 2018, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was busy. I had meetings and deadlines. I couldn’t be bothered. Over an hour later, I replied: “Wow.” “I know, police just reported, 17 killed,” he got back to me immediately.
I still remember the day my brother told me he wore a bulletproof vest to school – the same school – Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School – in January 1998. He had heard rumors that he was going to get shot at by a member of an opposing crew. Continue reading Gun Control Alone Can’t Solve the Problem of Dehumanizing Violence
by Erin Okuno
Seattle Public Schools’ Board of Directors has launched a search for their next Superintendent. Last fall the school board voted to not renew Superintendent Nyland’s contract and quietly opened the search process. The Superintendent is one of two employees hired by the board. Other employees working at schools fall under individual districts. The Superintendent role is important for setting a clear direction for 103 Seattle schools serving 53,000 students. Continue reading The Search for Seattle Public Schools’ Next Superintendent Should be More Intentional
by Brian Bergen-Aurand
There are plenty of problems with Disability Law in the United States, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is far from perfect. However, H.R. 620 The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, which comes up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on 15 February will do nothing to address the problems and everything to exacerbate the imperfections. Continue reading The ADA Education and Reform Act Will Hurt Us All
by Oskar Zambrano
In 2016, thousands of young Latinx Americans from mixed-status families across the country had a wake-call: it was time to vote. Donald Trump’s candidacy presented a terrifying threat to the safety of their parents, siblings, and communities. With the clock ticking, many of these young people rushed to the polls on Election Day, only to find they couldn’t take part. Why? They were eligible to vote, but they weren’t yet registered. Continue reading Op-Ed: To Fight Racism, We Need Automatic Voter Registration in Washington
by Jenny Durkan and Pete Holmes
In 2003, Seattle voters passed Initiative 75, which made minor marijuana possession the lowest enforcement priority for the Seattle Police Department. More than five years ago, voters in our state passed I-502 to legalize the possession and recreational use of marijuana for adults ages 21 years or older. Here in Seattle, voters overwhelmingly supported legal marijuana. Continue reading Leading the Way to Build a More Just Future
