Seattle Forward

Seeking Seattle Youth Commissioners

The City is currently looking for new applicants to the Seattle Youth Commission, a 15-member body made up of youth ages 13-19. The application deadline is Friday, August 5 at 5:00 p.m. This is a great way for young people to learn about community engagement and local government.

From the Department of Neighborhoods press release:

“Youth serving on the commission will be required to attend a half-day retreat on Saturday, September 24, bi-monthly SYC meetings, and additional committee commitments.  The commission meets the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of each month at Seattle City Hall from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Commissioners will serve a two-year term beginning in September 2016 and ending June 2018.

“In addition to representing youth across the city, commissioners receive hands-on experience in the public sector and learn how to cultivate the youth voice in city policy.”

To apply, visit http://www.seattle.gov/seattle-youth-commission/apply.

Youth Voice, Youth Choice Vote Week Starts Tomorrow

Last year the City launched a youth-focused participatory budgeting process, where Seattle youth will get to choose exactly how to spend $700,000 of City money. Youth delegates helped select 19 thoughtful proposals to be on the ballot, including funding for safe routes to schools, murals, job readiness workshops, or a youth-produced podcast on violence prevention.

Starting tomorrow, youth from the ages of 11 to 25 are able to vote for their favorite seven projects. Voting can be done in person at select locations or online. If you know a young person, encourage them to vote!

More details and a link to ballots are available here.

Letters from Second Grade

This week I visited a 2^nd grade classroom in my neighborhood to talk to them about life in the city. They each wrote letters to me expressing their concerns. Here are a few of them:

Dear Councilman Burgess, I am concerned about car break-ins. One day my family went out for dinner. When we came back, there was a big hole in the car window. My dad was upset that he lost his work backpack. I was so scared.

Dear Councilmen Burgess, Hi! I am 7 years old. And I am concerned about drugs. This year I have been seeing a lot of drugs. I HATE DRUGS! And I also am concerned about cars and speeding. We almost got in an accident a couple of days ago. Also, I hate trash. It can make animals sick. I am worried about animals especially the ones in the water. Can the city help?

Justice for Our Youth

The City Council voted Monday to pass a land use amendment that will allow the County more flexibility in designing a new Children and Family Justice Center on 12^th Avenue in the Central District. (In 2012, King County voters approved a nine-year, $210 million levy to replace the deteriorating facility.)

While a text amendment to the land use code initiated the Council’s process, the public discussion wasn’t really about a land use decision. It was a discussion about the nature of our juvenile justice system. Many community advocates gave eloquent and passionate testimony about how the current system fails youth – particularly youth of color who are disproportionately represented among those detained. They don’t want more money spent on a system that perpetuates these inequities.

While King County has made admirable progress reducing the use of juvenile detention over the last 15-20 years, continuing high levels of racial disparities show that we have not escaped the nationwide scourge of mass incarceration. We know that detention is not a good place for our youth and yet we struggle with how to balance that reality while keeping the broader community safe.

Boiled down, the juvenile justice system centers on a few important desires:

• The desire to help our youth in difficult situations;
• The desire to have a fair justice system free from racial disproportionality; and
• The desire to keep our communities safe.

I believe everyone involved in the discussion to date – members of the community, City government, and King County government – shares these desires. At the same time, I think those working within the system sometimes feel that community advocates ignore hard realities about public safety, while the advocates sometimes feel that individuals in the system lack imagination and motivation to try alternative methods of justice.

If we move past these initial feelings, there is space for a very productive dialogue that leads to action.

Honoring Cheryl Chow

Cheryl Chow hasn't lost any of her spunk or passionate commitment to public policy. That became very clear this afternoon when the Council honored former Councilmember Chow for her many, many years of public service to the citizens of Seattle.

Cheryl has served the people of Seattle as a coach, school teacher, principal, school board member, drill team master and City Councilmember. Now, as she battles cancer, Cheryl has identified her "last crusade" as advocating for gay rights and dignity.

As she took the portable microphone from the Clerk, Cheryl turned her back on today's Council and spoke directly to the audience. Tears welled up in my eyes as Cheryl told a poignant story about the time her mother, former Seattle restaurateur Ruby Chow, told her for the first time that she loved her. Cheryl used the story to make her point that everyone deserved to be loved, especially gay and lesbian young people who are often rejected and ridiculed, sometimes by their own families. Her plea focused on young people who feel suicide is their only "escape" from the rejection they experience. Cheryl Chow—still fighting for the basics, especially for those most in need of special protections.

God bless you, Councilmember Chow.

Hope Amid Violence

Seattle police commanders briefed the Council this morning about the recent surge in gun violence the city has experienced.  I know our officers and detectives are working hard to solve these crimes and prevent others before they occur. 

At the end of our morning session, we had the privilege of hearing from members of the Seattle Youth Commission, a student-led advisory body that advises the Council on a wide range of issues. Against the backdrop of violence on our streets, their presentation reminded me of the hope and potential of this city’s younger generation. 

The Commission members were poised, articulate, smart and very engaged as they briefed us on their work to prevent violence, end youth homelessness, improve Metro transit service, teach wise environmental practices and improve dialog with police.

A big shout out to our Youth Commission members! Well done and thank you.

Youth and Family Congress

I spoke this morning at Seattle Center to about 250 delegates from across the city participating in the Mayor's Youth and Family Congress.  Here's a PDF of my remarks: Download 2010 06 03 Burgess Congress Talk

Youth Voice At City Hall

The Council voted 7-0 (CM Conlin and Clark absent attending National League of Cities meeting in Washington, D. C.) today to establish a 25-member Seattle Youth Commission. 

Nearly one-fifth of Seattle residents are under the age of twenty.  These are our future civic leaders, future business leaders, and future neighborhood activists.  We want them engaged in city governance now and long into the future.  The Council wants youth input not just on matters specific to youth but on all issues relating to the whole city.  Their voice needs to be heard at City Hall.