Totem Star music flourishes over digital airwaves and across generations

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Articles by Ashley Archibald

Emily MacArthur guides volunteer Dave Ellenwood through the process of the contactless signature-gathering effort called Amazon Tax Prime. The goal is to collect 22,000 signatures so the initiative can be presented to voters in November.

Prime organizing is on the move to send ‘Amazon tax’ to voters

by Ashley Archibald | June 3rd, 2020

Rev. Angela Ying and Emily MacArthur stood, appropriately distanced, on a gravel turnout in front of the Bethany United Church of Christ, waiting for their first volunteer. Ying stood behind a card table with rows of medical masks, disposable gloves and...

In response to sweeps, Seattle lawmakers splinter

by Ashley Archibald | May 28th, 2020

An attempt to curtail homeless encampment sweeps during the coronavirus pandemic stalled May 27 in the face of resolute opposition by members of the executive branch despite testimony from some frontline workers that the status quo is hurting their clients...

Read more in the May 27 - June 2, 2020 issue.

A sweeping conundrum

by Ashley Archibald | May 27th, 2020

Seattle officials debate whether to sweep away encampments, all the while frustrating and displacing community members

The morning of May 21, dozens of police arrived at Weller Street and 12th Avenue in Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID) for a publicized clearing of a large homeless encampment. Community members were there to meet them in the cold rain,...

Read more in the May 27 - June 2, 2020 issue.

ROOTS Young Adult Shelter Executive Director Jerred Clouse tries out the new, environmentally friendly street sink that was installed in an alley next to the University District shelter.

Street sink installed at ROOTS Shelter

by Ashley Archibald | May 27th, 2020

The Real Change Advocacy Department partnered with University of Washington College of Built Environments faculty to design and install environmentally friendly “street sinks” for people experiencing homelessness. On May 19, workers installed the first of...

Read more in the May 27 - June 2, 2020 issue.

Fraud claims up in Washington

by Ashley Archibald | May 27th, 2020

A slew of fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits forced Washington state officials to implement new rules that allow the state to cut off weekly payments quickly if they suspect wrongdoing. The new regulations allow the state to suspend...

Read more in the May 27 - June 2, 2020 issue.

A commuter boards a Sound Transit light rail train. Fare enforcement will resume on June 1, though the fare will be discounted.

Fare enforcement resuming in threat if not in actuality

by Ashley Archibald | May 27th, 2020

Fare enforcement on Sound Transit light rail and Sounder commuter trains will resume June 1 due, in part, to concerns over vandalism and biohazards, after more than two months of coronavirus-spurred free ridership. The fares will be discounted, costing $1...

Read more in the May 27 - June 2, 2020 issue.

Flowchart of HUD's Definition of Chronic Homelessness

Businesses, advocates and academics unite to end chronic homelessness

by Ashley Archibald | May 20th, 2020

An organization formed by unlikely allies in business and homeless advocacy sectors proposed a $1.6 billion plan to end chronic homelessness within five years by building 6,500 units of permanent supportive housing, but funding for the idea has yet to be...

Contact and confusion

by Ashley Archibald | May 20th, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new contact-tracing program that will identify coronavirus patients and those who have come into contact with them in an effort to safely open more businesses in the state. There are 1,371 contact tracers trained in the state as...

Government revenue streams are trickling as needs overflow

by Ashley Archibald | May 20th, 2020

Funding for mental health services in King County could take a $42 million hit as the shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus eats away at sales taxes, according to King County Budget Director Dwight Dively. “The news is not good,” Dively said. “In...

Totem Star music flourishes over digital airwaves and across generations

by Ashley Archibald | May 13th, 2020

“Kiddus is here!” Tate, who goes by the stage name Russ.Le, threw his arms in the air, his face beaming. Kiddus joined the group Zoom call, having just moved his kid brother out of the room so he could talk with his friends and fellow artists in peace. “...