2007 General Election Set for Nov. 6 Federal Housing Budget Still Up
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FREE EACH VOLUME 26 MONTH ISSUE 11 A community-based newspaper serving the Puget Sound area since 1981 November 2007 Articles translated into six languages TheTheThe newspaper VoiceVoice of Neighborhood House 2007 general election set for Nov. 6 BY TYLER ROUSH The Voice Editor Voters around Seattle and King County will take to the polls Nov. 6. Among the major issues on this month’s ballot are state measures on insurance claims and school district tax levies and a King County roads and transit package. Voters will also vote on five seats on the Seattle City Council, four positions on the King County Council, two Port of Seattle commissioners, the county assessor and the county prosecuting attorney. At the state level, Measure 67 concerns fair conduct related to insurance claims for coverage or benefits. Approval of the bill would make it illegal for insurers to unrea- sonably deny certain insurance claims. Resolution 4204 would change the way PHOTO BY TYLER ROUSH school district tax levies are approved (From left) Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Boys & Girls Club of King County President Daniel Johnson, Branch Executive through an amendment to the state consti- Director Bill Burton and King County Executive Ron Sims pose for a photo during the Oct. 22 groundbreaking of the tution. School district tax levies currently Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club Rainier Valley Teen Center. require a 60 percent “supermajority” to be passed. The amendment would make a simple majority vote adequate for a school Boys & Girls Club breaks ground for Rainier Valley Teen Center district tax levy to pass. The biggest countywide measure is SHA StaFF art gymnasium and a multi-use sports field suited for Little Proposition No. 1, the roads and transit League baseball and softball, football and soccer. package. The Boys & Girls Club of King County hosted a ground- The use of the field will be coordinated with the help of Sound Transit’s regional roads and breaking event Monday, Oct. 22 on the site of their new facil- Seattle Parks and Recreation. transit plan proposes an expanded light ity at MLK Jr. Way South and South Tamarack. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive rail system and road improvements to the The event marked the start of construction of the Rain- Ron Sims attended the Oct. 22 groundbreaking for the $14.3 state Route 520 bridge, Interstate 405, ier Vista Boys & Girls Club Rainier Valley Teen Center, a million project, which will serve youth in the Rainier Val- state Route 167 and the SR-167/I-405 in- 40,000-square-foot facility that will include a state-of-the- Please see “Teen Center” on Page 2 terchange, Mercer and Spokane streets in Seattle, and state Route 509. The plan would be funded by a sales tax increase of six-tenths of one percent and a Federal housing budget still up in the air motor vehicle excise tax increase of eight- BY SCOTT FREUTEL made up of representatives and senators. If it passes, it will be sent to President tenths of one percent. Seattle Housing Authority One of the senators will be Patty Murray Bush for his signature. The president, In Seattle’s council races, incumbent (D-WA). however, has given formal notice to Con- Jean Godden and challenger Joe Szwaja An article in The Voice last month But according to Alex Glass, Sen. Mur- gress that he will veto the bill if it calls are contending for Position No. 1. reported that in September the U.S. Sen- ray’s press secretary, who was reached for substantial increases in appropriations Newcomers Venus Velázquez and ate had passed a $104.6 billion housing late last month, the conference committee for the Department of Housing and Urban Bruce Harrell are vying for Position No. appropriations bill, and that a similar bill hasn’t met yet, and won’t “for at least a Development (HUD) over those outlined 3, which is currently held by councilman had been passed in the House of Repre- couple of weeks.” in his budget. Peter Steinbrueck, who opted not to run sentatives. Assuming the committee is able to Even as a battle over HUD’s budget for re-election. The article ended by noting that dif- hammer out terms satisfactory to both the looms, the House agreed last month to Incumbent David Della and challenger ferences between the two bills are to be House and the Senate, an appropriations establish a National Housing Trust Fund, Tim Burgess are in the race to fill Position negotiated by a conference committee bill will be voted upon in both houses. Please see “Budget” on Page 2 Please see “Elections” on Page 4 In this issue Quotable Neighborhood House Nonprofit org. Jesse Epstein Building U.S. postage PAID Health Notes Page 2 “We were too scared to go so both 905 Spruce Street Seattle, WA HUNGER IN OLDER ADULTS of us put all our stuff (jackets and Seattle, WA 98104 Permit #8887 One to grow on Page 3 everything) on the escalator, but we NATIVE BERRIES: A TASTY couldn’t go. It all moved down slowly.” TREAT — Neighborhood House employee Niymo Our Voices Page 3 Abdisimad describes the day nearly 18 FIRST DAY IN AMERICA years ago when she and her family ar- Translations Page 8 rived in the United States. PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM MOLD AND MILDEW See story on Page 3 2 – locAl AND NAtIoNAl NewS NOVEMBER 2007 Health Notes A column devoted to your well-being Malnutrition in older adults can lead to serious health problems BY PAM MCGAFFIN 1. Be alert to symptoms and causes, Special to The Voice including easy bruising, dental pain, loss of weight and muscle tone, weakness, Your mother is still active and lives on confusion, alcohol consumption and de- her own, but she’s losing weight and some- pression. times seems confused. She finds it hard 2. Ask a doctor about screening tests for to cook for just one. So she pours herself nutrition problems. Low levels of certain some tea, nibbles on some toast and calls proteins can indicate chronic malnutri- it a meal. tion. PHOTO BY TYLER ROUSH Although she appears healthy now, your 3. Help older adults add protein to What is now a dirt field in the Rainier Valley will soon be home to a new mother may be malnourished, which puts their diets. Spreading peanut butter on Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. her at risk for serious health problems and toast, melting cheese on vegetables and loss of independence down the road. sprinkling nuts or wheat germ on cereal SHA will be constructing new road- Undernutrition or malnutrition — de- are easy and inexpensive ways to enrich a Teen Center ways, sidewalks and underground infra- Continued from front page fined as low or dangerously low levels of meager meal. structure, including a new Oregon Street protein and other nutrients — is particu- 4. Encourage healthy between-meal ley area. Boulevard from MLK Jr. Way South to larly common among elderly patients and snacks, such as yogurt, a milkshake or an “I can’t think of a project that better 33rd Avenue South. residents in long-term care facilities. apple with cheese slices or peanut butter. captures the mission of the Boys & Girls The road will replace the old Tamarack But it’s also a condition affecting a 5. Eat out with your older friend or rela- Club,” said Daniel Johnson, president and and Oregon Street connection. growing number of independent adults, tive or go with that person to a senior center CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of King Included with this project are new particularly minority and low-income se- or another meeting place that provides County, in a press release. “This amazing street improvements along 33rd Ave niors and women living alone, according low-cost meals along with opportunities building will allow the Rainier Vista Boys South, South Genesee Street and 31st the Healthy Aging Partnership (HAP), a for talk and friendship. & Girls Club to reach out to more children Avenue South, as well as a new Renton coalition of 40 Puget Sound-area organiza- 6. Provide companionship on walks. and teens in the community while deep- Avenue South. tions dedicated to the health and well-being Daily exercise boosts appetite, strength ening the impact of that outreach.” Two new areas of parks and open of older adults. and mood, particularly when it’s done About $9.5 million had been raised for spaces will be developed as well. One will The causes are many and varied and with a friend. the project as of the groundbreaking, ac- provide a connection from Alaska Street include poverty, loneliness, depression, al- 7. Consider dietary supplements to fill in cording to a press release provided by the around the new sports field connecting coholism, poor digestion, dental problems missing nutrients, particularly vitamins D, Boys & Girls Club of King County. with the new Oregon Street Boulevard. and appetite-suppressing medications. B-6 and B-12 and folate, niacin, zinc and The Seattle Housing Authority contrib- The stately red oak on the west side of Knowing who’s at risk can help friends calcium. Be aware, however, that supple- uted $4.4 million to the project through Tamarack will be incorporated into the and relatives spot the problem before it ments are not intended as food substitutes. its donation of the 2.7-acre parcel of land median of this new boulevard. becomes obvious and serious, according 8. Get outside help if needed. Arrange upon which the teen center will be built. This work is scheduled to begin mid to HAP, noting that a chronically poor diet visits from a home health aide or dietitian The original Rainier Vista Boys & to late December 2007 with an expected speeds decline.