Halcyon days
Residents of the Halcyon Mobile Home Park won a reprieve Monday when the Seattle City Council approved a moratorium on development, preserving the park for a year.
The residents — all at least 55 and many in frail health — received word at the end of December that the park might be sold to a developer. The previous owner had died, leaving the property in trust with US Bank.
The proceeds of the sale would benefit the University of Washington, although the school has no hand in the sale of the property, said Kylin Parks, a community organizer and consultant with the Association of Manufactured Homeowners who is assisting the Halcyon residents.
Closing Halcyon would mean the loss of dozens of naturally affordable housing units, a rarity in Seattle where the cost of living is among the highest in the country. Residents told the City Council that they were afraid of what might happen to them because they live on fixed incomes and can’t afford apartments in Seattle.
The vote is only a partial win, Parks said. If the park is sold to investor-owners and maintained as a mobile home community, the residents could still face untenable rent increases.
A steaming cup of no
Sit. Down. Howard.
The billionaire announced an independent presidential bid while promoting his new book, prompting immediate backlash from Democrats, and those still holding a flame for the erstwhile Seattle Supersonics.
Schultz’ debut onto the political scene fell more flat than a poorly frothed cappuccino.
He rejects Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’ call for a 70 percent top marginal tax rate, called Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax proposal “ridiculous” and Medicare for All “unaffordable.” (So are health care bills for uninsured Americans).
Schultz’ biggest sin, amongst national politicos, is running as an independent. In doing so he skirts a packed Democratic primary, putting him in a position to siphon votes from the Democratic general election candidate and handing President Donald Trump another victory.
At home, Schultz is that guy who sold the Supersonics after getting shot down for a publicly funded stadium. As first reported by the Seattle Times’ Danny Westneat, he hasn’t voted in local or off-year elections and despite his call Thursday for more corporate investment a la Microsoft’s $500 million for affordable housing, his main focus seems to be preventing taxes and preserving his own vast personal wealth.
Schultz may have gone to Davos, Switzerland, but he wasn’t listening to historian Rutger Bregman when he said, “Just stop talking about philanthropy and start talking about taxes.”
Viaduct Party
Seattleites loaded onto the Alaskan Way Viaduct from the Seneca Street on-ramp to take in one last view from atop the pavement on Saturday, Feb. 2, mixing with street musicians and artists.
The viaduct is being replaced with a tunnel, but it has historically provided shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Authorities say it is vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Follow Ashley on Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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