City Council eases budget cuts
Members of the Seattle City Council held a press conference Monday to congratulate themselves, in part, for rescuing some of the social services that would have been cut next year under the mayor's plan to fill the city's $72 million budget hole.
The council fully restored $40,000 to food bank and meals programs and $186,000 in human services advocacy money that funds groups like the Seattle Human Services Coalition.
The council also restored more than $1 million in funding for three programs that help the addicted or mentally ill get off the streets -- Co-STAR, GOTS and CURB -- that Mayor Nickels has tried to zero out before. On the down side, it looks like the
Technology Assistance Center, which helps nonprofits, had its $176,000 budget slashed.
The council plans a final vote on the package at its regular weekly meeting on Monday, Nov. 23, starting at 2 p.m.
--Cydney Gillis
A Thanksgiving Valentine
Sure, there'll be places serving turkey and the trimmings on Nov. 26, but how many places can you go that day and get a nice hi-top fade? For free? One, for sure: Valentine's Men's Grooming Salon.
Located at 7912 Greenwood Ave. N, Valentine's will be offering free haircuts to all men in need, on Thanksgiving morning, from 6 to 11 a.m. No one turned away for hair type or hairstyle. The #5 bus stops right before the salon.
Valentine, owner of the salon, says that in the past, not a lot of people showed up, perhaps because they didn't know. This year he wants that to change, along with his desire to give something to those who could benefit most.
For more info, visit valentinesseatle.com.
--Rosette Royale
'Tis the season
It's time to gather coats, gloves, socks, sleeping bags, backpacks and other sorts of gay apparel for those who will be spending the yuletide outside.
The Finish Company, a local construction contractor with a sterling conscience, has partnered with Real Change to get cold-weather gear together for the homeless. If you drop off new or clean, bearably used items at any of 10 locations between now and Dec. 20; they'll be given away at two public events, the first on Thanksgiving Day. Want to drop off some things, or just write a check and let us do the shopping? For details, go to thefinishcompany.com.
--Adam Hyla