7:00 PM Call to order, flag salute led by Rep Eileen Cody.
7:03 PM Adoption of agenda was moved and seconded, motion passed.
• May meeting minutes motion moved and seconded, motion passed.
• Treasurer's report motion is moved and seconded, motion passed.
7:05 PM Chairman Ivan Weiss gave his report, asked for a moment of silence for Robert Barton, Burien PCO who passed away last week.
• Weiss gave the PCO filings update: With the new Top Two Primary if you are a write-in you could win with only one vote. You may win if no one else gets votes.
• Weiss introduced Tyler Smith, Garden Party coordinator. Please see Tyler if you have questions, donations, and any ideas
• Weiss introduced Dorsol Plants, hospitality chair. He is the Picnic Coordinator and he is responsible for the refreshments during the meetings.
• The WPC awards banquet is 06-21, South SeattleCommunity College Brockey Center, 6-9 PM.
• Drinking Liberally meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month at Mick Kelly's in Burien. Please sign up if you want to attend and get the announcements.
7:15 PM First Vice Chair's report : Tim Nuse told of his trip to DC for Starbucks concerning renewable energy. He met with Finance Committee members in an attempt to have the policy added to another bill; as yet it has not happened.
• Both our State Representatives and Senator are running unopposed!
• The Coordinated Campaign has assigned Kimber McCreery to the 34th LD.
7:20 PM
• Julia Garratt, candidate for Superior Court, spoke.
• Tim Bradshaw, candidate for Superior Court Position 1, spoke.
7:26 PM Discussion of Highland Park jail siting issue:
• Dina and Dorsol have been working on this issue. There are two sites under consideration in West Seattle. 1) Myers way and Roxbury next to the new senior housing development, reasoning it's next to the park and ride, easy public transportation access. 2) Is located at the bottom of hill, on the north end of Highland Park. This site has no easily accessible transportation.
• These locations are a bad idea. The courthouse is located downtown; all prisoners would have to be transported. Changes to bus routes have to be approved. When released at midnight the only thing they have is residential housing to go to.
• City's justification for a residential location: Only 1 in 5 will be a violent offender, it's only going to be a 450 bed jail.
• Monica Cavagnaro spoke against: she has lived here 17 yrs. Things have gotten better over the years and the jail will turn that 180 degrees in the wrong direction. There is a freedom to get out and talk. If this jail goes in we don't have the police/sheriff support to handle what this jail will bring to our community. The community has to stand up and fight this.
• Dow Constantine has had the opportunity to talk with people. He says we need to make sure our neighborhood is as organized to make sure we are listened to. Dow said the process has failed because the communities are not organized.
• Sharon Nelson believes that this does not belong at either gateway to our communities. This does not belong near Highland Park or White Center.
• Seattle City Councilman Rasmussen is also opposed to these sitws. He is working with Dow to find better locations.
• Laura Feinstein asked: Why aren't there any downtown sites being considered? Councilman Constantine's reply was that there needs to be 7 acres for a one story building.
• Allan Munro asked, where are the other sites? 1) Interbay and 2) 117th and Aurora. Second question: What is the city doing other than build a jail? Dow responded, we have to build; there is no choice.
• Marcee Stone asked how long will this process be. We anticipate having a new jail by 2014, so construction needs to start in 2009.
• Ivan Weiss asked: We know that lots of the misdemeanor cases have previous felonies
• How much will this cost? Dorsol was not sure.
• If you want more information please go to the West Seattle blog.
7:29 PM Jason Osgood, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State - Oversee elections, why do you want to be Secretary of State: His reply was that he wants to ensure all registered voters are registered. Current Secretary of State had bragged that he just purged 400,000 registered voter records. The current Secretary of State has been taking away your right to a secret ballot. The agency is putting barcodes on ballots to be able to track them. King County is the only county to keep these bar coded ballots from being used in its elections. If you want to know more please go to www.jasonosgood.com.
7:32 PM Steve Sundquist, Seattle School Board
• We have a strong leader and good educators. We have a strong board. We know there are lots of challenges. There is lots of work being done, in neighborhoods, to build stronger schools. Math and Science test scores are lagging behind the National average. Goals: 0th graders 50 % passing Math, we are aiming for 82% in 5 yrs. There is only 1 of 3 passing Science; it needs to be 85% in 5 yrs. Our Graduation standards are lower than most college entrance standards; so most graduates are not even qualified to enter a four year college.
8:00 PM Appointment of PCOs: Tami Scheibach SEA 34-1475
8:10 PM Old business: none
New business: Resolution concerning re-empowering the Food and Drug Administration: The FDA is not getting funding to do its job. Not doing an adequate job of testing medications or research tests done on the meds. Pharmaceutical companies are using a preemptive clause saying that because FDA approved the drug they are not responsible for side effects, and are not allowed to sue. Motion passes by acclamation.
8:25 PM Motion to donate $1134 to Washington Public Campaigns, it was moved and seconded Marcee Stone spoke in favor: WPC needs money because they used all they had to get legislation passed during the last session. There were no speakers against the motion. The motion passed.
• It was moved to endorse Regina Cahan King County for King County Superior Court Position 10. The motion to endorse was passed.
• It was moved to endorse Barbara Mack for King County Superior Court Position 37. The motion passed 50-0
• It was moved to endorse Nic Corning for King County Superior Court Position 37. The motion passed 26-8.
• It was moved to endorse Mariane Spearman King County Superior Court Position 53. The motion to endorse passed.
• It was moved to endorse Rebeccah Graham for King County Superior Court Position 22. The motion passed.
Good of the Order:
• Ann Martin: Interns are being trained to by Coordinated Campaign. Please take food.
• Laura Feinstein: is there anyone willing to car pool while volunteering for Darcy Burner?
• Robin Hess: Please sign the Death with Dignity Initiative so it can be added to the Fall ballot.
• Craig Salins: Thank you for donating to Washington Public Campaigns.
• Jenn Huston: The campaign kick off for Representatives eileen Cosy and Sharon Nelson and Senator Joe McDermott will be at Youngstown Arts Center 26 June 08. That's a Thursday night from 5:30-7:30.
Introduction
• 6:30 PM - Social - drinks provided, please bring potluck food to share
• 7:00 - Call to order, flag salute, Adoption of agenda, minutes of May meeting, treasurer's report
• Chairman's report:
– PCO filings update
– Tyler Smith, Garden Pary coordinator
– Dorsol Plants, hospitality chair
– WPC awards banquet, 06-21, SSCC Brockey Center 6-9 PM
• First Vice Chair’s report
• Adoption of agenda, minutes of May meeting, treasurer’s report
Candidates:
• Julia Garratt, candidate for Superior Court
• Jim Rogers, candidate for Superior Court
• Jean Rietschl, candidate for Superior Court
• Tim Bradshaw, candidate for Superior Court
Program: Discussion of Highland Park jail siting issue
Candidates:
• Jason Osgood, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State
Program: Steve Sundquist, Seattle School Board Report
Business Meeting
• Appointment of PCOs
• Endorsements - Endorsements may be considered
• Old Business
> Resolution concerning re-empowering the FDA
> Motion to donate $1034 to Washington Public Campaigns
• New Business
• Good of the Order
Next Meetings:
• July 9 - Endorsement meeting
• July TBD - picnic
June Message from Chair Ivan Weiss
We don't always Pick and Choose
When the City of Seattle on May 6 offered four potential sites for a potential new city jail that would house misdemeanor offenders, residents of Highland Park in the 34th District, whose neighborhood contained one of the sites and was close to another, sprang into action.
With the help of 34th District Democrats activists Dina Johnson, Precinct Committee officer in SEA 34-1250, and her husband Blair, immediate past chair of the Highland Park Community Association, residents formed the Highland Park Action Committee.
Residents met with City of Seattle officials May 19 at Highland Park Improvement Club to discuss the proposal. West Seattle Blog chronicled the meeting, which sparked a lengthy exchange of comments.
The Action Committee set up a Web site, www.highlandpk.net, which is organizing opposition to siting the jail in Highland Park, and has asked for agenda time at the June meeting of the 34th District Democrats to inform our members and ask for support.
We don't always pick and choose issues around which to organize. Our neighbors don't always respond to our "pitch" no matter how relevant we try to make it. People organize for their own reasons, and in their own time and their own way.
We are here to help our communities organize. It's more than just electoral politics, or a neighborhood cleanup, or attending an annual fundraiser. Those are great. We need to continue that kind of participation. But sometimes our neighbors will drive the agenda, and this is one of those times.
The city will have to put that jail somewhere. If it ends up in Highland Park after all efforts to stop that fail, we want Highland Park, a growing part of the 34th District, to be in the strongest possible negotiating position.
The format of the discussion at our meeting is still developing as this newsletter goes to press. We'll try to keep you updated on the Web site.
Last call for PCOs to file
Candidates for election as Democratic Precinct Committee officers have until Friday June 6 to file for election with King County Records and Elections. Forms (and the $1 filing fee) must be in the hands of the county, regardless of postmark, by 4:30 PM Friday.
We have been asking, pleading, cajoling, and hounding our members to file for PCO. If you still haven't done so, please mail your forms and the $1 (remember, you can't fax a dollar bill) to the county, and PLEASE let Jackie Dupras or me know that you have done so.
We are likely to have a record number of elected PCOs this time. That will be a great source of pride, and an essential building block for this organization, and we want all of our 206 precincts filled. Please call Jackie or me if you are interested, but by the time you read this, time will be getting short.
2 members step up
Please congratulate and offer to help Dorsol Plants, PCO in SEA 34-1249, who is our new hospitality chair, and Tyler Smith, who will be our Garden Party coordinator for 2008.
Dorsol, a newly appointed PCO in the Highland Park area (he has filed for election; have YOU?), will be in charge of our meeting potlucks (including the beer and wine; get your requests in), and will coordinate our annual picnic at Lincoln Park (date to come real soon now).
Tyler, who has been our member since age 13, just finished his freshman year at Johns Hopkins University. You might say he is familiar with West Seattle Nursery, having spent most of his life there. Mark Smith is Tyler's dad, and Irene Stewart is his mom. Tyler has taken charge immediately and we anticipate the best Garden Party ever. Mark your calendar for Friday, August 8.
See you Wednesday, June 11, for all the democracy you can handle.
Ivan Weiss, Chairman, 34th District Democrats
PO Box 860
Vashon WA 98070 206-463-4647
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When they're sleeping, we're working."
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June Message from Chair Ivan Weiss
