Month: February 2019

We must support immigrants’ role in workplaces. The Keep Washington Working Act (KWW) would protect our communities, economy, and resources by getting local governments out of the business of federal immigration enforcement. Click to learn why we need your help to pass the KWW bill this session, and notify your representative that you stand with the immigrants community.

This bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 27, at 1:30 PM. If you are unavailable to attend in person, you can still email your representatives by first clicking here to find which district you live in. After entering your address, your district number and legislators’ names will then appear. Some of your representatives may sit on the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Contacting them first is the highest priority. Click here to see the list of members for you to contact.

In November, community leaders held a press conference at El Centro de la Raza to reject the City’s contract with Seattle Police Officer’s Guild, the City’s largest police union. Community groups still believe the City needs to keep its promise of upholding the accountability system made possible by the 2017 Accountability Ordinance. The contract’s detrimental impact could weaken public trust and the progress the City has made under the Consent Decree.

Last week, the Community Police Commission filed a brief to the Federal Court about the City’s contract with the SPOG. One of the CPC’s goals has been to ensure Seattle has a strong police accountability system that meets community standards. It is the only way to make sure the hard work done under the Consent Decree over the past seven years will be protected after court oversight goes away. The new police contract undermines that effort. Click to read CPC’s blog post.

The Plaza Roberto Maestas After School Program serves 11 to 13-year-old scholars during a critical segment of their education: the middle school years. Our program supports youth academically through one-on-one mentoring and exposes them to a cultural enrichment curriculum affirming the contributions of people of color in American society. We plant the seeds of cultural advocacy and instill a passion for social justice.

We are excited to partner with the Woodland Zoo starting this March. In an effort to create a prosperous Zoology Career Pipeline, this collaboration provides youth the opportunity to ask a zoologist questions in an intimate setting and even receive a special visit from a critter. Also, our two programs will be hosting Up Close Encounters on-site at El Centro de la Raza and visiting the Zoo every other month to learn about the Zoo’s operations.

We are currently enrolling for the spring semester and accepting names for our summer waitlist. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, please contact Liz via email at lhuizar@elcentrodelaraza.org.

L.F. was in case management from September 2015 until August 2017. During this time, she participated fully in our services. L.K. emigrated from Ethiopia when she was seven years old after spending two years in a refugee camp with her family. She was able to learn the English language, survived domestic abuse from family members, sexism, and adultism, as well as bullying from students, teachers, and administrators.

We started case management during her 8^th grade year in school. She was referred because of her defiant behavior resulting in suspensions and discipline referrals, was very outspoken on social justice issues, and associated with friends who were prone to violence. The problems at school stemmed from the DV going on at home.

To find outlets, L.F. participated in Aggression Replacement Training, and Powerful Voices Activistas Program, worked at the Woodland Park Zoo’s Summer Program, and improved her grades by attending after-school tutoring. L.K. continued her social justice work by leading the 2019 MLK Rally & March. She will graduate from high school in June and continue her education at a local college.

The Washington State legislature is considering House Bill 1847, an Act relating to aircraft noise abatement for impacted neighborhoods surrounding the Sea-Tac Airport. The Beacon Hill neighborhood is a “vertical fenceline” community located right underneath the fixed flight path where 70% of the flight arrivals fly over us about every 60 to 90 seconds.

Flight operations from the Port of Seattle adversely impact the Beacon Hill neighborhood of 35,000 residents, yet the bill’s current language excludes us from the “impacted area.” As a direct result of planes flying overhead and major roadways surrounding us, these unjust environmental and health conditions expose residents – both young and old as well as new to long-time – to air and noise pollution.

If you either live in Beacon Hill or have a relationship with the relevant legislators connected to this bill, please urge them to fully consider Beacon Hill for inclusion in HB 1847. Find your district here. You can defend Beacon Hill by commenting on the bill or emailing your legislators:

Representatives by District

District 11
Bob.Hasegawa@leg.wa.gov
Zack.Hudgins@leg.wa.gov
Steve.Bergquist@leg.wa.gov

District 22
Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov

District 30
Mike.Pellicciotti@leg.wa.gov
Kristine.Reeves@leg.wa.gov

District 33
Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov

District 37
Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov
Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov
SharonTomiko.Santos@leg.wa.gov

Members of the Local Government Committee

Chair: Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov (District 46)
Vice Chair: Strom.Peterson@leg.wa.gov (District 21)
Ranking Minority Member: Vicki.Kraft@leg.wa.gov (District 17)  
Ast. Ranking Minority Member: Dan.Griffey@leg.wa.gov (District 35)
Member: Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov (District 23)
Member: Keith.Goehner@leg.wa.gov (District 12)
Member: Tana.Senn@leg.wa.gov (District 41)
Research Analyst: Yvonne.Walker@leg.wa.gov
Legislative Assistant: Alexis.Arambul@leg.wa.gov

The disproportionate weight of the worst pollution impacts falls onto the shoulders of many affected communities statewide. This HEAL Act (SB 5489 | HB 2009) serves as the starting point for establishing a healthy environment for all. Let your representatives know how important it is to:

• Establish a definition of environmental justice;
• Entrust agencies to address health disparities; and,
• Create a task force to recommend how environmental justice principles should be applied through agencies’ decision-making processes.

You can contact your representatives by clicking here to find which district you live in. Your district number and legislators’ names will then appear. Feel free to use this sample call script and email template to guide you through the process. Some of your representatives may sit on the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Contacting them first is the highest priority. Click here to see the list of members for you to contact.

In addition to contacting your representatives, there are many other ways to take action:

• Investigate the Washington Environmental Health Disparities map, companion report, and policy application analysis.
• Gain an understanding of lived experiences from communities of color that feel like they are bearing an “Unfair Share” of the environmental health burden.
• Take your support to Twitter and Facebook by saying why you support this bill using hashtags #HealWA and #WALeg. Feel free to use this profile picture frame to show your support.