and Washington State Democrats Chair Dwight Pelz

 invite you to a

 Fall Fundraiser

 for the

 37th District Democrats

 with

 Rep. Jim McDermott

 State Rep. Sharon Tomiko-Santos

State Rep. Eric Pettigrew

 At the home of

Chairman Dwight Pelz

(the house with the yard signs — you can’t miss it!)

29th Avenue S and S Holgate Street

  Saturday, September 11 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Hors d’oeurves & wine

 Please RSVP to

Brendan Patrick

 206.310.8112 or chair@37dems.org

no later than September 9, 2010

Paid for by the 37th District Democrats,

 PO Box 28306, Seattle, WA 98118

to download a pdf flyer invitation to send to friends and family click here.

US House of Representatives
7th District – Jim McDermott
9th District – Adam Smith

State Senate – Adam Kline

State House of Representatives
Position 1 – Sharon Tomiko Santos
Position 2 – Eric Pettigrew

King County Council
8th District – Joe McDermott

State Supreme Court
Position 1 – Stan Rumbaugh
Position 5 – Barbara Madsen
Position 6 – Charlie Wiggins

King County Superior Court
Position 36 – Jean Rietschel

Seattle Municipal Court
Position 1 – Edsonya Charles OR Ed McKenna (dual endorsements)
Position 3 – Steve Rosen
Position 4 – Judith Hightower
Position 5 – Willie Gregory
Position 6 – Karen Donohue OR Michael Salvador Hurtado (dual endorsement)

District Court Southwest
Position 2 – Susan Mahoney
Position 3 – Vicki Seitz
Position 4 – Mark Eide

District Court Southeast
Position 6 – Matt Williams OR David Tracy (dual endorsement)

District Court West
Position 2 – Mark Chow

Please contact or district chair Brendan Patrick at Chair@37dems.org if you have any questions concerning our endorsements.

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

——————————————————

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

Mark your calendars now for PCO candidate filing week, June 7 to 11.   Your two-year term ends this fall and new terms begin on December 1.  The election is held in conjunction with the primary.  All candidates must file between 9:00 a.m. on June 7 and 4:00 p.m. on June 11.

Thankfully, the process has been reformed and simplified.  Filing will be available online.  There will no longer be a $1 filing fee.

We will miss Sue’s dedication to Democratic issues and causes. In particular, we remember her work on the LAC where she doggedly followed the proceedings in Olympia making sure our representatives were fighting for the issues she and the rest of the 37th District Democrats cared about.

Sue is survived by her husband John and daughter Mia.  Funeral arrangements have not been announced.  Details will be posted here when they become known. 

Sincerely,
Michael Wolfe
1st Vice-Chair
37th Legislative District Democrats

Whereas, our platform states that Democratic values include health care for all, high-quality public education, the elimination of poverty, the end of homelessness and the achievement of justice for all.

Whereas, Washington State is facing a $2.6 billion shortfall in the 2010 supplemental budget.

Whereas, cutting another $2.6 billion from the 2009-2011 bi-annual budget would result in:

• Over 65,000 people losing access to affordable health insurance;
• 16,000 children losing health insurance coverage;
• Over 20,000 people unable to work due to disability losing financial and medical assistance;
• 12,300 students from lower income families losing an important source of financial aid;
• 10,000 working families per month losing child care assistance;
• 1,500 three-year-olds losing access to early learning opportunities.¹

Whereas, the damage from cutting another $2.6 billion to our education system, health care infrastructure, public safety, and environmental protections would impact all Washingtonians.²

Whereas, when presenting her “all-cuts” budget Gov. Gregoire stated, “This document is not true to the values I believe in and which have guided me through a 30-year career in public service.”

Whereas, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate joined the Governor in calling for new taxes to help close the budget gap.

Therefore be it Resolved, that the members of the 37^th Legislative District Democrats, direct Rep Sharon Tomiko Santos, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Sen. Adam Kline, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Gov. Christine Gregoire to find a revenue solution to the $2.6 billion shortfall in the 2010 supplemental budget.

Be it Further Resolved, that all revenue solutions should be explored including, but not limited to, amending the Washington State Constitution to allow an Income Tax, raising property taxes, raising the B&O taxes and repealing non-performing tax exemptions.

Be it Further Resolved, that any revenue solution involving an increase in the regressive state sales tax be accompanied with a mechanism to mitigate the adverse effects such an increase would have on low income families and individuals.

Be it Further Resolved, that upon passage this resolution be communicated to the KCDCC, the WSDCC,  Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Sen. Adam Kline, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Gov. Christine Gregoire

1. Washington State Budget and Policy Center (http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/governors-budget-shows-need-for-balanced-approach)
2. Ibid.

Printable version:  MS Word: Resolution