Property Rights Bill HB 1490 Back on the Table!!! Alert!!

In 2006, the City of Seattle attempted to declare southeast Seattle "blighted". The designation of "blight" would have made home loans more difficult to obtain, raised insurance rates, and threatened property values. The city's intent was to use the "blight" designation in order to assert the power of eminent domain, as provided under the state's Community Renewal law. A coalition of non-profit housing developers led the effort to impose "blight" upon southeast Seattle. Both non-profit and for-profit housing developers stood to benefit from the implementation of the Community Renewal Act.

Had the city's efforts succeeded, private property rights would have been taken away from many thousands of residents. Those precious rights would have been transferred to city leaders who would have had the ability to condemn property, forcing the sale and displacement of residents and businesses ---but only in southeast Seattle. Residents, property owners, and business owners fought back and forced the city to shelve the plan to implement eminent domain.

Futurewise, Great City, Transit Choices Coalition, Cascade Land Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and a host of other similar groups will be lining up in Olympia in January 2010 to demonstrate broad support for resurrecting and passage of HB 1490 in the 2010 legislative session. This is the second attempt to pass this piece of legislation. The legislation died in committee last year due to strong opposition from residents of southeast Seattle. Undeterred, the proponents of HB 1490 are back for another try.

If HB 1490 is adopted, southeast Seattle will be ground zero for this terrible legislation. Thousands of privately owned properties will be subject to a different and lesser standard of property rights. This will stigmatize our community and have a detrimental impact on property values. As has occurred in other cities, the condemnation and large-scale redevelopment projects will forever alter organic growth and demographic patterns for the benefit of a handful of special-interest developers. Affordable housing will be demolished to make way for newer, more expensive housing. Every city and town in Washington State is potentially at risk, but the greatest impact will be felt around the light rail station in southeast Seattle.

The power of eminent domain should be reserved for public uses such as schools, highways, and libraries, and not to payback favors to influential friends and wealthy developers who are on the 'in' with our elected leaders.

I hope you will mark your calendar for January 14th. You are invited to attend the press conference in Olympia. We will be working to arrange carpools and other transportation.

Please share this with your sphere of influence.

The press conference is scheduled for January 14, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the Senate Rules Room located in the Legislative Buildingon Capitol Campus in Olympia. The Senate Rules Room is located inside the entrance to the Lt. Governor’s Office. Visitor parking closest to the Legislative Buildingis the South Diagonal and North Diagonal parking which costs $.50 per hour.

See designated parking areas on map http://www.ga.wa.gov/images/campus-map.pdf .
Driving directions are as follows:

- From I-5 Southbound:Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 105A to State Capitol. Continue on 14th Ave SE through tunnel and onto the Capitol Campus. The Legislative Building is the domed building straight ahead.
From I-5 Northbound: Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 105A to State Capitol". Take left lane of exit. Continue on 14th Ave SE through tunnel and onto the Capitol Campus. The Legislative Building is the domed building straight ahead

Small Org Development Grant Announcement!

FYI

From: Barbara Fane
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 11:06 AM
Subject: FW: capacity building opportunity for small faith and community based organizations


Greetings:

Great news for capacity building for small faith and community-based organizations!

Please read below for information about Project Empower. A Request for Investment will be coming out in the next week or two. This is a great opportunity for small faith and community based organizations who have time to invest in capacity building. The RFI will be available through NAC and WCCDA and on their websites. This is all the information we have right now but NAC and WCCDA want to share information so folks will be prepared to respond to a RFI soon.

Please read carefully below to see if your organization is eligible and forward to those that may be.

Request for Investment (RFI) to Strengthen the Organizational Capacity of Small Grassroots Faith and Community based Nonprofits

Through Project Empower, the Nonprofit Assistance Center (NAC) in partnership with the National Community Development Institute and the White Center Community Development Association will be releasing a Request for Investment (RFI) targeting grassroots faith and community based organizations:

• With budgets of $500,000 or less

• Based and serving targeted low income communities in and bordering SE and SW Seattle (including White Center, Boulevard Park, Skyway, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Burien.)

• that provide services to assist:

a. Low income individuals gain greater access to state and federal benefits and tax credits.

b. Low income individuals find and retain employment, earn higher wages, and better quality jobs.

c. Low income individuals in need of financial assistance or credit counseling and help them access Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and other asset building strategies.

d. The Homeless

e. Elders in need

f. At risk youth including Native American Youth; and/or

g. Families in transition from welfare to work.

The Request for Investment (RFI) will have more detail and specifics regarding eligibility and minimum requirements to participate.

Project Empower is a 12 month collaborative project designed to strengthen the infrastructure and program delivery capacity of 15 faith and community based organizations selected through a competitive process. Organizational selected will receive a package of on-site, individualized, culturally competent capacity building support that builds on existing assets while addressing the four core areas of 1) Leadership Development; 2) Organizational Development; 3) Program Development; and 4) Community Engagement.

NAC is planning to release the RFI between December 1 and 15, 2009. Fifteen faith and community based organizations selected through the RFI will receive an array of capacity building support and a grant of $10,000 - $15,000 to address specific capacity building needs. Each organization must designate staff and board members to participate in individual technical assistance as well as group training and peer-learning activities. The RFI will be posted on the NAC website at www.nacseattle.org. For an electronic copy, please email info@nacseattle.org and write in Project Empower RFI in the subject line.

Project Empower is funded by a Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) grant award from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families’ Office of Community Services.