April 29, 2010 – 11:33 am
At our April Membership meeting we passed a resolution opposing the proposed Chihuly exhibition at the Seattle Center. The resolution was communicated to the Mayor’s Office from which we recieved a reply. Below is a copy of the resoultion and response.
Honorable City Council, Park Commissioners, and Mayor:
The 37th District Democratic Committee unanimously adopted this resolution from Bob Rosenberger OPPOSING the proposed Chihuly exhibit at Seattle Center.
Whereas, Seattle’s urban landscape has a paucity of parks and open space,
Whereas, the agreed upon 2008 Seattle Center Master Plan calls for the Fun Forest building to be replaced with a treed open area,
Whereas, prime public land should not be locked away for a private profit making venture,
Whereas, the proposed exhibit of a single artist does not constitute a museum or a benefit to the larger arts community,
Whereas, the planned $14 admission fee would be an economic hardship for many,
Whereas, there are numerous other places, both public and private, that could host a Chihuly exhibit,
Be it resolved that the 37th District Democrats oppose the proposal of the Space Needle owners to lease adjacent land at the Seattle Center for a paid admission Chihuly exhibit.
This resolution is to be sent to the Seattle City Councilmembers, the Seattle mayor, Seattle Park Commission and the King County Democratic Central Committee.
Sincerely,
Thomas Karwaki
Secretary, 37th District Democratic Committee
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Dear Tom,
Thank you for writing me about the proposed Chihuly glass exhibition at Seattle Center. I wanted to get in touch directly to let you know where we are on this issue.
First of all, I want to make absolutely clear that Seattle Center belongs to the people, and we will not make any decision without public support. I have heard a lot of concern expressed about this project, primarily about the loss of potential open space. Like you, I am concerned about the lack of open space in Seattle, particularly in the downtown/central core. As co-chair of the 2008 Parks for All campaign to pass the parks levy in 2008, I worked to ensure all of our neighborhoods have quality parks and open spaces, and I am committed to increasing open space in Seattle Center. Right now we are converting a former parking lot in Theatre Commons into an open space and sustainable garden, which will open this summer (images attached).
That said, at a time when the city is facing the deepest recession since the Great Depression, we need to be open to a discussion of how we can maintain the basic services that Seattle Center provides. The Center hosts arts and cultural events, such as Bumbershoot and Folklife, year-round, and provides a permanent home for cultural institutions like Seattle Children’s Theatre and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Non-profits at the Center are supported in part by the revenue from privately owned attractions such as EMP and the Space Needle. These arts programs and institutions add enormous value to the cultural life of our city, and many of them are now asking the City for a break on their rent because times are tough.
I have directed Robert Nellams, Director of Seattle Center, to issue a request for proposals to find out what ideas community members have for the space. I encourage you to respond to the request for proposals with your thoughts.
You can find more information about the Seattle Center Master Plan and Theatre Commons at seattlecenter.com, where you will soon be able to find the request for proposals.
Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard on this important issue. Your feedback is invaluable – please stay involved and stay in touch.
Warm regards,
Mike McGinn,
Mayor
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