ESSENTIAL ARTWORK While Most Huddle Inside, Artists Have Been Painting the Town, P.5

REALCHANGE April 29 – May 5, 2020 PANDEMIC EDITION

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2020 n VOLUME 27 NUMBER 18 n REALCHANGENEWS.ORG

YOUR VENDOR BUYS THIS PAPER FOR 60¢ AND KEEPS ALL THE PROCEEDS. PLEASE PURCHASE FROM VENDORS WITH LAVENDER 2020 BADGES. ESSENTIAL ARTWORK While most huddle inside, artists have been painting the town, p.5

FINANCIAL STORM BREWING: The city of Seattle is facing a $300 million budget shortfall | p.3 MARCHING IN PLACE: Will the coronavirus stop protests for May Day, fair rent and Pride? | p.4 BOOK REVIEW: Can the Green New Deal stave-off global warming? Author Stan Cox examines | p.8 REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 2 OPINION April 29 – May 5, 2020 April 29 – May 5, 2020 NEWS 3

Homelessness and housing in America has been “This probably will be the toughest economic climate our city has faced in Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless a tinderbox waiting to catch fire for generations multiple generations. What the city will have to do is likely to be very tough.” people while taking action for economic, By ISRAEL BAYER the streets, and the poor, among others. housing counseling. Resources for REPORTER’S — Mayor Jenny Durkan social and racial justice. Guest Writer The nightmare is far from over. In fact, it’s legal services are needed to protect NOTEBOOK Real Change offices just begun. Without bold action, an entire tenants from unlawful evictions that 219 First Ave. S., Suite 220 “It’s a time bomb”: 23 die as virus hits new generation of people will be thrown may occur after any moratoriums are Locked up Seattle, WA 98104 packed homeless shelters into poverty and homelessness without lifted or if moratoriums are not put 206.441.3247, www.realchangenews.org the necessary support and safety nets into effect. Housing counseling can n a 5-4 decision handed down April 23, Positive cases of covid-19 at San Fran- put in place. help renters and homeowners remain the Washington State Supreme Court re- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Yolanda Altamirano (President), Malou Chávez, cisco homeless shelter grow to more The National Low Income Housing stably housed during and after the I jected arguments to protect local prison- Shelly Cohen, Matthew Hayashi, than 90 Coalition and other national leaders, coronavirus outbreak. ers from the coronavirus by releasing them. Hannah Hunthausen, Pamela Kliment, Jim Lauinger, Maria Elena Ramirez, Mary Riski including the International Network of • Moratorium on sweeps of home- The suit, brought by Columbia Legal One in three among Boston homeless Street Papers North America, is calling less encampments. The Centers Services, would have reduced the prison EDITORIAL STAFF tested positive for coronavirus for the following in the short-term: for Disease Control and Prevention population by thousands. However, the Staff Reporter Ashley Archibald Editor Lee Nacozy advise localities to not sweep home- justices ruled that the organization had Features Reporter Kamna Shastri hese are just some of the many • Emergency funding of $11.5 less encampments or force people to not shown that the Department of Cor- Art Director Jon Williams headlines we had this month in billion to minimize the number relocate during the pandemic if there rections wasn’t taking sufficient steps to the United States. There will be of people who live in homeless en- are no alternative housing options care for incarcerated people. REAL CHANGE STAFF T Circulation Specialist Wes Browning more. The global respiratory disease campments and congregate shelters available to them. Federal resources Nick Straley, the attorney represent- Organizer Evelyn Chow known as covid-19 is hitting America’s and to identify alternative space, should be tied to a requirement ing the plaintiffs, said that he was disap- Volunteer Manager Katie Comboy Managing Director Shelley Dooley homeless population, and it’s hitting it including hotels, for isolation and that states and local communities pointed in the court’s decision. Communications and Development hard. self-quarantine, as well as funding institute a moratorium on homeless “All of the evidence in the court record Associate Alexis Estrada Unfortunately, it’s not a surprise. for short-term rental assistance and encampment sweeps. showed that the Governor’s and the De- Founding Director Timothy Harris Field Organizer Neal Lampi There is no place for people experienc- housing stabilization services. Funds STORM CLOUDS GATHER OVER SEATTLE partment of Corrections’ (DOC) actions to Vendor Program Manager Rebecca Marriott ing homelessness to shelter in place and should also be used to provide medi- It’s also important to remember there date have been insufficient to meet public Lead Organizer Tiffani McCoy Vendor Case Manager Ainsley Meyer emergency shelters aren’t the most ideal cal respite care, outreach and street was a housing crisis in America before Councilmembers spar over how to handle $300 million budget shortfall health recommendations,” Straley said in Office Manager Ari Shirazi setting to fight a global pandemic. It’s a medicine for people experiencing the pandemic. Long-term the United a statement. “Uniformly, national public Development Director Camilla Walter harsh reality for more than 500,000 people homelessness. States must move to create a new housing health and correctional experts agree experiencing homelessness on any given • A national, uniform moratorium strategy that provides massive ongoing By ASHLEY ARCHIBALD that to protect people in prison from the VOLUNTEERS Seattle’s general fund revenue scenarios Editorial Committee Susan Storer Clark, night. on evictions and foreclosures. investments in supporting the production Staff Reporter virus, a significant reduction of the prison Laura Ditsch, Willie Jones, James Jenkins, Dagmar We shouldn’t be surprised. The issue Congress should implement a uniform of millions of new housing units, rent as- 2020 adopted Rapid recovery Slow recovery population is necessary.” Matheny, Paige Owens, Tiron Rowe $1.55 of homelessness and housing in America policy that assures that renters and sistance for our most vulnerable citizens, he city of Seattle is looking down 1.51 The decision comes after Gov. Jay In- $1.50 Contributing Writers Rabbi Olivier BenHaim, has been a tinderbox waiting to catch fire homeowners will not lose their homes and protections for renters and homeown- the barrel of a $300 million bud- 1.46 1.46 slee ordered that more than 1,100 people Hanna Brooks Olsen, Wes Browning, for generations. We know that housing during a pandemic. A lot of tenants ers nationwide. get shortfall due to the impact $1.45 be released early to reduce the incarcer- John Helmiere, Michelle Galluzzo, Dave Gamrath, T 1.40 Kelly Knickerbocker, Joe Martin, Patrick “Mac” specifically has been used as a weapon will be responsible for paying back The reality is, for millions of people out of the coronavirus, and a plan to raise $1.40 1.39 ated population. One of the largest out- McIntyre, Jill Mullins, Oscar Rosales Castaneda, Billions 1.34 Susan Storer Clark, Megan Wildhood, Mike Wold against people of color in America for cen- unpaid rent. The law should prohibit of work and facing housing instability, sur- $500 million through taxes on the biggest $1.35 breaks in the state occurred at Monroe 1.30 turies. To add insult to injury, the massive rent arrears — accumulated during viving the pandemic will only be the first businesses is receiving short shrift from $1.30 Correctional Complex, where more than Photographers and Artists Alex Bergstrom, disinvestment in housing for America’s the period covered by the morato- hurdle in the long road that lies ahead. We the mayor. 1.24 100 inmates protested the conditions at Matthew S. Browning, Sam Day, Natalie Dupille, $1.25 1.22 Jeffrey Few, Valerie Franc, Susan Fried, Seth poor during the past 40 years, the lack of rium — from forming the basis of an have the opportunity to do much more. In an April 21 press conference, Mayor the facility. Goodkind, Derek Gundy, Lisa Hagen Glynn, Lara mental and physical health care, ongoing eviction. We have the chance to create a na- Jenny Durkan and Budget Director Ben $1.20 The decision will not end Columbia Kaminoff, Ted Mase, Dave Parish, Joseph Romain, 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wes Sauer, Katie Wheeler racial discrimination and most of all, the • Emergency rental assistance tional housing justice movement that Noble told the public that the forecasted Legal Service’s efforts to get people out Source: City of Seattle lack of leadership at a federal level, has and eviction prevention of $100 addresses both systemic racism and the drop in revenues as the local economy of prison and safely at home, Straley said. Copy Editors Pamela Bradburn, Mason Duke, Merry Nye, Morgan Wegner led us to the situation we find ourselves billion. A moratorium on evictions, need to provide a safe place to call home grinds to a halt means that the city will be “Today’s decision is a momentary set- in today. on its own, is not enough. Congress for all our citizens. facing severe budget shortfalls, and that lion tax on large businesses to support should veto it,” Pedersen wrote. back at a moment when there’s no time to Real Change Volunteers Yolanda Altamirano, It’s time for change. We must not forget must also provide tens of billions of There’s no better time than the pres- money spent on the coronavirus response housing and other services prior to the Washington relies on sales, business waste,” Straley said. Cathie Andersen, Carla Blaschka, Maridee Bonadea, Pamela Bradburn, Chris Burnside, that the one time America did attempt to dollars in rental assistance to avoid ent. n could hit $100 million. coronavirus outbreak. It would directly and property taxes, since income taxes are Cathy Clemens, Jim Freier, Candace Gallerani, create a social safety net for all its citizens creating a financial cliff individuals “This probably will be the toughest tax payroll of large businesses such as currently illegal. However, there is a way Michelle Galluzzo, Anne Jaworski, Carlo Jones, Lawless Kevin Jones, Ron Kaplan, Jesse Kleinman, — creating national jobs and housing pro- and families will fall off when evic- Many street paper vendors are home- economic climate our city has faced in Amazon, which is a primary target of the that companies who pay their employees Pamela Kliment, Daniel Kramer, Joe Martin, grams during the Great Depression — it tion moratoria are lifted. less or struggling with housing. Find multiple generations. What the city will legislation. handsomely can contribute, said John ultiple county sheriffs in Wash- Dagmar Matheny, John Maynard, Patrick McIntyre, Juan Montes, Carl Nakajima, Eileen Nicol, did so in response to both market forces • Emergency funds for already ex- out more and help us take action at the have to do is likely to be very tough,” They’ve now increased that tax to $500 Burbank, executive director of the Eco- ington state have announced Deb Otto, Maria Elena Ramirez, Merri Jo Seil, and social unrest. The federal government isting affordable housing in both National Low Income Housing Coalition Durkan said. million, with as much as $200 million go- nomic Opportunity Institute, a left-leaning that they will not enforce the Lawrence Soriano, Susan Storer Clark, Jeremy M Tarpey, Moriah Vazquez, Jed Walsh, Mike Wold didn’t just wake up one day and say “we rural and urban environments, website, nlihc.org. The economic picture is bleak. ing to direct assistance to people already think tank. statewide lockdown to stay home and stay want to help the poor.” With the collective including tribal lands. Providing Modeling for the city suggests that on Seattle’s low-income programs, such as A different proposal would tax compa- healthy because, they believe, it violates The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project is a circumstances we find ourselves in today, resources for already existing af- Israel Bayer is director of the North a short but deep recession is coming the Utilities Discount Program and Fresh nies with high-wage employees, Burbank Washingtonians’ constitutional rights. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Real Change is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association we have a similar opportunity for much fordable housing efforts is critical in American branch of the International for Seattle, sparked by the economic Bucks, as well as people who have been said. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fort- and the International Network of Street Papers. different reasons. maintaining people’s housing during Network of Street Papers. stall from the coronavirus. Consul- impacted by covid-19. “It’s not an income tax; it’s an excise ney and Franklin County Sheriff Jim Ray- REAL CHANGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA There’s no question the coronavirus the covid-19 pandemic. tants prepared two scenarios, one Durkan did not directly address tax,” Burbank said. “It’s a tax on em- mond said that their deputies would allow pandemic is a nightmare for people on • Access to legal services and Courtesy of INSP.ngo optimistic and one pessimistic, but the Sawant’s and Morales’ proposal on April ployers on compensation over a certain people and businesses to resume normal rapidly changing conditions rendered 21, but did say that a payroll tax would threshold.” activities despite the danger presented the more optimistic version obsolete, not pay dividends fast enough to solve the Now is the right time to put a tax on by the coronavirus, which has killed 711 @RealChangeNews Noble said. looming crisis. compensation over $250,000, Burbank people in Washington since it was first “What is described here is a true eco- “There are no ways, mechanisms or said — a standard created during the documented in February. Give BIG Today and Double Your Impact nomic crisis,” Noble told councilmembers tricks to somehow magically have money Great Depression. The first coronavirus case reported in the next day. appear this year or next year to fix these “That puts that person in the top 3 the United States originated in Snohom- The city is expected to lose 20 percent budget shortfalls,” Durkan said. percent of earnings in the country, and ish County, although new data shows two LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Now through May 6, your gift to GiveBIG will of its sales taxes and a similar amount of The councilmembers disagree. at the same time we have unemployment earlier deaths in California. Have something to say? Real Change accepts letters to the editor. Send them to editor@realchangenews. the business taxes paid. Court fines, park- They identified $200 million in poten- that’s going to be reaching over 20 percent Fortney wrote on his Facebook page org or visit realchangenews.org and click ing fees and utilities are all projected to tial interfund transfers that would take and desperation over food and housing,” that the governor had no plan or details “Write the Editor.” be doubled thanks to a matching fund from the be down. Property taxes, another source money from some city accounts and use Burbank said. about when the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Wyncote Foundation NW. of revenue, won’t be paid until later, defer- them to support households in need that The city tried to impose an employee order would be lifted. ring the impact. would later be repaid with the proposed hours tax to fund homeless services in “This simply is not good enough in Ultimately, it’s hard to say what level payroll tax. 2018. This tax would generate 10 times times when we have taken such drastic Your gift goes twice as far to keep our vendors of havoc the coronavirus will have on The proposal has garnered opposition more revenue. measures as the suspension of constitu- Seattle, Noble told councilmembers. from Councilmember Alex Pedersen, who The City Council heard initial pro- tional rights,” Fortney wrote. connected, and powers our new strategies to meet “We do not have a lot of information said in Seattle Times op-ed that the tax posals at its April 23 Budget Committee Inslee and Attorney General Bob Fer- about what the impacts will be,” Noble would “further harm Seattle.” meeting. The necessity of the tax in the guson called the decision “disappointing.” their evolving needs during this time of crisis. said. In the piece, Pedersen argued that a face of a systemwide failure is huge, “People’s lives are deeply impacted by Cities in Washington and the state recession was the wrong time to target Sawant said. this crisis,” they wrote in a joint statement. Your generous gift keeps our community strong! itself do not have the legal ability to go businesses with additional taxes and tried “I urge you to look at the legislation “We are working hard to turn the tide on co- ON THE COVER into debt. That means that every outlay to to rebrand the effort from the “Amazon in light of the magnitude of the need in vid-19 and begin lifting restrictions. These Murals by @pazuzu810 at 2 Fingers Social in White support people hurt by the economic crisis tax” to the “Sawant tax.” our society and that we pass a tax ... that decisions are guided by science. Our priority Center and Madeline Owen at Pho Fuscia in Pioneer Square and @pazuzu810’s Smoke Shop mural in has to be funded in some way. “Until Seattle’s economy further re- raises revenues that are commensurate is keeping Washingtonians healthy.” n White Center are just a window into the fantastic Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and covers, the City Council should reject the with the need our community members art going up around Seattle during the pandemic. Please make your online gift today at givebigwa.org/realchange See the story on page 5. Photos by Mark White. Tammy Morales proposed a $300 mil- Sawant Tax — or Mayor Jenny Durkan are experiencing,” Sawant said. n — Ashley Archibald REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 4 NEWS April 29 – May 5, 2020 April 29 – May 5, 2020 ART 5 Seattle City Council commences housing projects amid coronavirus

By ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Staff Reporter

he Seattle City Council passed an emergency bill on April 27 that T allows certain housing projects to move forward after a similar version of the bill failed to garner enough support to pass just a week before over concerns it would grease the wheels for gentrification. The bill aimed to modify the Design Review process, which vets new housing projects to ensure that the exterior of the buildings pass muster. Under the tem- Real Change file photo, 2014 porary rules, certain projects already in the pipeline could opt for an “administra- El Comité members protest at the 2014 May Day rally. This year, gatherings have been banned but members of El Comité are not willing to tive review” process that forgoes public concede their calls for justice for immigrant workers. meetings until city staff are able to set up Photos by Mark White virtual meetings for public participation. Affordable housing projects, which Seattle’s Heartwood Provisions restaurant on First Avenue downtown is home to one of Patrick Nguyen’s many public murals. Nguyen, also known as Dozfy, has created dozens of murals. already go through an administrative Protest may look different but review process, would be exempt from design review altogether. Those projects could be approved by the director of the more urgent amid coronavirus THE COLOR AND SHAPE OF SEATTLE’S HEART Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). By ASHLEY ARCHIBALD of paying their rent. They don’t have ac- Murals remind us that we still hold space for the place that we love, even in quarantine The legislation expires after 180 days. Staff Reporter “There’s a historical, cess to the paycheck programs.” Councilmember Tammy Morales It’s a slap in the face to undocument- By KAMNA SHASTRI | Staff Reporter online, a healing balm to the pandemic’s side effects of became the swing vote, switching to a he afternoon of May 1, 2019, underlying ability ed workers, many of whom have been shuttered businesses, vandalism and a communal thirst yes after carving out an exemption for hundreds gathered in Judkins deemed “essential” by state, local and n Patrick Nguyen’s signature image painted on various walls around the city, the Space for something cheery and uplifting. The parade of colors the International Special Review District T Park for the slow procession federal governments because of their is cropping up everywhere, accomplishing multiple goals (IRSD). The board will not meet for at least from the central Seattle area that was in this country to work in agricultural fields. The U.S. Needle is a beacon of hope. The heart at its base is a reminder of love and support, colored at once. 60 days in order to ensure people in the once a rare haven for people of color to Department of Agriculture estimates green to pay homage to the Emerald City. “The present times, dire times, a lot of fear and Chinatown International District (CID) downtown, organized by El Comité and have no sentiment as many as half of people hired to pick I Supportive framework can weigh in on developments targeted at the May 1 Action Coalition. crops are undocumented, a category unknown,” Nguyen said, “creating a Space Needle with a heart is a clear message. What we are Keith Wilson owns Bon Voyage Vintage in Pioneer their neighborhood. The crowd incrementally flowed which does not include workers in the Square and had to board up his windows after someone doing is helping the greater good.” Many of her constituents lack access into the street, swirling into eddies for workers and country temporarily on an H-2A visa, attempted to kick them in. When the Alliance for Pioneer to the technology and English proficiency at junctures to hear speakers call which allows them to stay in the coun- Square reached out to local businesses with a roster of needed to participate in a virtual meeting, for worker rights and protections. A no solidarity with try for certain agricultural work for a Since Seattle quieted down artists to paint their storefronts, Wilson chose an artist effectively cutting them out of the process sprinkling of rightwing provocateurs period of 10 months. after Gov. Jay Inslee’s strictest who painted animals. She came out to paint vibrant pink altogether, Morales said at the council dressed in black with a paintball gun Even as President Donald Trump lockdown took hold, Nguyen sloths lazily swinging from branches with the tagline meeting approving the bill. and two maga hats wandered on the workers, especially announced plans to use the crisis to has painted dozens of murals, “hang in there.” “Speeding up the administrative outside of the march trying — and shut down immigration, his adminis- the largest of which is a sprawl- “It is bringing people down to the Square,” Wilson said. backlog in the name of progress often has largely failing — to catch protesters workers of color.” tration made exceptions for workers ing tree with an anatomical “Makes people stop for a second.” negative consequences on communities of for inflammatory interactions to play who ensure there is food available to heart at its center. The way the murals have bloomed across the city is color,” Morales said. She noted that most on their YouTube channel. be stocked on grocery store shelves. unique, Haygood said; it is a process that is happening Protective layer of the projects proposed for the CID were Such a sight is unimaginable in 2020 — Juan Jose Bocanegra, executive Reports indicate that some workers organically and faster than city arts projects, which take market-rate housing and hotels, not the while the coronavirus continues to lurk director of All in For Washington received paperwork deeming them es- Shota Nakajima had to months because they are paid for by taxpayers. “I think affordable housing that the community in the community, largely undetected sential. board up Adana, his high-end it shows resilience of the art community and how it’s needs. by dint of inadequate testing. Gather- But it goes past the coronavirus: Japanese restaurant in Capitol interwoven through the community,” he said. The project backlog is growing. ings of more than a handful of people throughout the country, as government Undocumented workers pay taxes, feed- Hill. He had just done a deep Murals make art more accessible because they are Roughly 20 projects with approximate- have been banned since March, making officials made various attempts to slow ing into programs and services to which clean of the interior, and “the integrated into the daily landscape instead of being cor- ly 3,500 units between them were stuck in traditional displays of solidarity — like the spread by limiting how and where they do not have legal access. last thing I want is breaking in. doned off in galleries and museums. But Haygood said the pipeline because they could not get a the March for Workers and Immigrant people could interact with each other. “There’s a historical, underlying Just wanted to make sure it’s the murals are also a sort of “proxy” for public sentiment: decision from one of eight design review Rights — impossible. Millions of Americans were laid off as ability in this country to have no senti- completely protected so I can Even if venues are closed, they are not forgotten. boards in the city, according to staff. But organizers at El Comité and in a result, causing a spike in unemployment for workers and no solidarity with sleep at night,” he said. “This is just so unique,” he said. “We can’t help physi- That waitlist was expected to grow by other communities are not ready to ment insurance claims like nothing workers, especially workers of color,” Nakajima asked four artist cally with people, as [we would with] earthquake or di- 20 projects a week, said Councilmember cede their calls for justice, solidarity seen since the Great Depression. Bocanegra said. friends — including Nguyen — saster response. In a way, the artwork is sort of a stand-in Dan Strauss, the sponsor of the legislation. and inclusion to stay-at-home orders at Congress plumped unemployment California created a $125 million to paint the blank boards with When restaurants, bars and small businesses started for people. A way for us to hold that memory.” “This is temporary in nature. The in- a time when the virus has laid bare the insurance by $600 per week and ap- fund to provide direct cash payments each of their unique styles. Unable to provide food for closing temporarily, owners began reaching out to artists tention of this legislation is to allow hous- inadequacies in systems that they have proved individual stimulus payments to undocumented workers, and advo- the neighborhood, Nakajima sees the murals as a way to to paint their storefronts. The plywood many were erect- Art as essential ing projects to continue moving forward been calling out for decades. of up to $1,200. Undocumented work- cates want the same type of relief here contribute good-will during this time. “At least I am able ing was constantly being tagged with graffiti anyway. In The University District Partnership (UDP) reached through the public process in a way that Instead, they are employing new ers saw none of that, said Juan Jose in Washington. to provide something that is not super depressing to the the Chinatown-International District, artists offered to out to businesses in their area around the University of preserves public input and public health,” tactics to rally, to protect and to pro- Bocanegra, executive director of All in Rather than march in the streets of neighborhood,” he said. paint a mural for Jade Garden, a neighborhood favorite, Washington who had boarded up and connected them Strauss said. vide support. For Washington, an effort to right the Seattle, they plan to drive to Olympia Indeed, the murals coming up around town are far after its windows were vandalized. with local artists from University Heights Center Artists Councilmembers Alex Pedersen and state’s inequitable tax system. en masse to deliver their ask to Gov. from depressing. They are an unforeseen public service; Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Curator and Collec- Collective. UDP was able to get a local branch of Sherwin Lisa Herbold voted against the bills in Labored industry “A lot of the workers have been un- Jay Inslee. the city looks ominous, as if it were waiting for a natural tions Manager Blake Haygood said, “Art really has that Williams to donate paint. Good paint is usually the most The coronavirus shut down eco- employed for three to four weeks now,” disaster to strike with its quiet streets and boarded-up power to settle things down a little bit. We’re in it together.” See HOUSING Continued on Page 12 nomic activity in Washington and Bocanegra said. “They don’t have a way WORKERS Continued on Page 11 windows. Social media users are posting the surprises they find See MURALS Continued on Page 6 REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 6 REALApril 29CHANGE – May 5, 2020 ART AprilApril 29 29 – – May May 5, 5, 2020 2020 7

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK WHITE

Belltown Pizza, right, displays the varied styles of Seattle mural- ists including Ryan Henry Ward. Below, Pioneer Square’s Driftwood building displays the Japanese-wood- block-inspired work of Jona- than Wakuda Fischer of Wakuda Studio.

Photo by Mark White

Patrick Nguyen, aka Dozfy, paints a slab of meat on plywood covering the windows of the Metropolitan Grill on Second Avenue downtown. Art is ‘practice, A Dachshund passes beneath a Dozfy mural that adorns Rudy’s Barbershop on Ballard Avenue. practice, practice’ to muralist Dozfy

rtist Dozfy aka Patrick Nguyen’s eye,” he said. MURALS Continued from Page 5 updo is flanked by a pastel, orange-peach signature style is minimal and Oftentimes Nguyen already has an background that distracts from the current A breathtaking: a black back- idea of what he wants to portray with one expensive supply in a muralist’s toolkit. dreariness and uncertainty of the time. ground with naturalistic line drawings. look at a canvas. The skill comes from the UDP is paying the artists at no cost to “I was excited to be able to add some He has a beautiful black-and-white land- discipline of drawing for eight-10 hours the businesses. vibrance to our quiet, distraught city,” scape at Salare Restaurant in Northeast a day. “I take my process as an athlete The murals are a result of a trifecta Tissot Storey said. Seattle, and several neighborhoods west, — practice, practice, practice,” he said. of alliances among community groups, For her, art is as basic a need as food, a vibrantly orange and white tiger looking “When it’s time to execute, it’s nothing artists and businesses. In many cases, shelter, air and water. Colors and shapes straight on with yellow eyes, jaw open you haven’t done before.” business associations — the Ballard are life-giving. She saw this firsthand outside a Rudy’s Barber Shop. There are always images running Alliance, sodo Business Improvement when she traveled to the Soviet Bloc in Nguyen has been painting for 30 through Nguyen’s mind, but he says his Area and University District Partnership, East and Central Europe at age 17. There, years and is trained in fine art, focusing Heartwood mural is perhaps one of the among others — are acting as connec- she saw a connection between the crisis on acrylics and screen printing, with a most special. In this piece, a tree trunk tors between individual businesses and and a lack of color. “People really lived A man passes by Angel Debate’s mural at the Deep Roots Tattoo and Piercing shop in the love for comic and anime art as well. He rises from the anatomical heart where it artists. The streamlined approach is re- in sadness. Every single wall was gray University District with its spring blossom and Seattle Strong theme. started working on his project, Menuart, is rooted; the tree and the heart are one, sponsible for the artistic transformation and bleak. It left such an impression on when he lived in Atlanta and engaged where branches and veins are almost happening in every corner of the city. me,” she said. “[Art] make[s] us feel that often with the restaurant industry. After synonymous. The design had been in his Murals on plywood have been spotted we live in beauty and I think that is a real coming in the U District is also an invest- tinue the loop of good-will from which coming to Seattle, he continued to build mind for a while and it was simply a mat- in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Columbia City, necessity for humanity.” ment in representing the historic neigh- the idea began. relationships with restaurants and has ter of finding the right canvas. Now the Pioneer Square and White Center. borhood’s identity. With a new light rail Meanwhile, Haygood wondered, contributed works to many mainstays. mural adorns the boarded-up entrance of Elise Tissot Storey responded to the Murals’ future station and the UW’s campus expansion, “How do we highlight this once we are Nguyen formerly gravitated toward Heartwood Provisions on First Avenue. Artist Collective’s call for murals. She had These public displays of color and more people will be traveling through the ready to start processing? How do we Bon Voyage Vintage owner Keith Wilson poses with a newfangled mural on his Pioneer Square store. color, but his artistic style shifted 10 years For Nguyen, orchestrating an image is been “resisting an urge” to paint pieces of texture have implications beyond the neighborhood and the murals can create document this?” Haygood said there ago, after he was inspired by the photog- like being a conductor or a composer who despair and hopelessness as the covid-19 current crisis. “I think that public art an integral sense of place. may be a way for the city to host a public raphy work of Ansel Adams. Nguyen was can see the structure of a musical piece in crisis continued. The opportunity to paint and murals can do a lot to build and The unanswered question is, what works show sometime in the future. taken by the black and white tones of their mind’s eye. “It's very therapeutic. As something cheerful was a welcome respite. demonstrate community character and will happen to these beautiful works of For now, in the face of an unknown “I was excited to be able to Adams’ work and wanted to create pieces you work with painting, it’s problem solv- Her fashion-model-inspired figure is on the identity,” U-Heights’ Built Environment art when restaurants can reopen and and nebulous sense of tomorrow, Se- that borrowed from that style without ing at each step. But you are also taking a right door of the Buffalo Exchange on 45th Community Relations Manager Katy remove the murals, most of which are attle’s murals are a symbol of unity. Like add some vibrance to our quiet, distraught city.” creating a hyper-realistic image. “[It’s] step back [to] look at the big picture.” n and University Way. A tall model dressed Ricchiuto said. temporary? Nakajima plans to auction Nakajima said, “It’s brought people to- — Elise Tissot Storey the philosophy of doing more with less. in vintage frills with a voluminous beehive Ricchiuto says that the public art off the murals for local charity to con- gether. Everyone is on the same field.” n … You can create things that draw the — Kamna Shastri REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 8 ARTS April 29 – May 5, 2020 April 29 – May 5, 2020 OPINION 9

Is the answer Rabbi Olivier BenHaim blowin’ in the wind? Practicing social solidarity According to Stan Cox’s ‘The n a few days, Jews will celebrate Green New Deal,’ it’s complicated the holiday of Lag BaOmer. This I minor holiday marks the death of a Review by MIKE WOLD towering mystical figure: Rabbi Shimon Contributing Writer Bar Yochai. There is a fascinating story describ- n 2019, progressive members of the U.S. House of Repre- ing Bar Yochai on his death bed as if sentatives offered a resolution to frame sweeping legis- possessed by a force compelling him I lation to deal with the approaching climate emergency. to reveal all the mystical teachings he The resolution called for a “Green New Deal” — a massive had yet to reveal, teachings that came effort to invest in renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. pouring unceasingly out of him until a To minimize economic dislocation, it called for creating mil- fire-like radiance, a brilliant light filled lions of jobs for displaced workers and ensuring that poor his house as his soul departed his body. and working people would be kept afloat, with the burden To me, this points to a profound of conversion falling on the rich, those most able to afford teaching. In these last ecstatic moments, it and those who had, arguably, benefited the most from our Bar Yochai merged with the One Light of dependence on fossil fuels. Although the resolution didn’t Being and became a fire-like radiance, pass Congress, and President Trump warned that the sup- a burst of Light. porters wanted to stop people from flying in airplanes and Bar Yochai was one of many of Rabbi driving their cars, it got significant support from Democrats Akiva’s disciples to die at that time. in the House and has advanced the discussion. A plague struck Akiva’s students and While Trump has a reputation for lying, his warning claimed 24,000 lives. had a seed of truth: He knew that it’s going to take more We don’t exactly know what that than a massive investment in renewable energy to avert disease was. The stories mention that, catastrophe. In “The Green New Deal,” author Stan Cox eerily enough, it was a plague character- argues persuasively that, while the program definitely is ized by a hoarse cough and difficulty worth supporting, by itself it won’t bring carbon dioxide in breathing. the atmosphere back to sustainable levels. This is because I’m fixin’ a hole in New Zealand, where The rabbis explain that both the the program is still premised on growing the economy, disease and the failure to contain it was which means an increase in energy use that cannot be met due to great division and disunity among solely with renewable energy, at least in the short term. I’ll live with the rest of the introverts Akiva’s students, compounded by their The Green New Deal resolution assumes that the avail- inability to respect one another. The ability of cheap renewable energy will reduce fossil fuel uses “There’s no circumstance in which you $6 million in businesses there over a three- parallels to our current circumstances mainly through market forces. Cox argues it’s highly unlikely should take a disinfectant or inject a year period. are shocking. that increasing the availability of cheap renewable energy disinfectant. ... It can cause death and Longtime readers will know I have What our sages are pointing to is that will be enough to bring fossil fuel use down close to zero in very adverse outcomes.” — Former often reveled in print at the thought of emi- the disease was symptomatic of what the next few decades. But that reduction is what it’s going FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb Adventures grating to New Zealand. I also have had a truly ailed Akiva’s students: namely, so- to take to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enough in Irony lifelong desire to live in an underground cial dislocation. Which is why I cringe at to avert catastrophe. Expanding solar and wind power to bunker. After all, I’ve been clinically the expression “Social Distancing.” Not satisfy our current demands would require an improbably rump is actually leading his own Dr. Wes Browning tested in the top 5 percent of introverts. only does it misstate what we are doing, massive and ecologically unsound increase in infrastruc- supporters to inject themselves But, darn it, I’m a little cash-strapped right but it subtly reinforces what already ails ture — including battery storage facilities. T with Lysol by suggesting, essen- important. now, wouldn’t you know it, and even with us as a nation. Cox also cites an extensive 2019 study that showed that tially (not his exact words but close), “Hey, Trump must be feeling the heat. He all my coins in the coin jar, I’m not close to What we are doing is “Physical Dis- “the greater the share occupied by renewable sources in a it’s a disinfectant, right? Disinfectants kill knows old people are his best demograph- one million, let alone six. And then where tancing,” not “Social Distancing.” But nation’s energy supply, the tighter the link between growth the virus, right? Why wouldn’t it work?” He ic, but he’s afraid he’ll lose like Herbert would the funds come from for me to build while physically distancing, we must and carbon emissions. ... In the richer nations, most new actually said he thought it was a good idea Hoover if the depression starts to look as my mansion under the ground? I’d only also cultivate Social Solidarity, reach renewable capacity added to the energy supply; when it did to try injecting disinfectant directly into the bad as the one in 1932. What’s saving him have enough cash left to buy a shovel and out to one another and nurture the social displace another source, it was more often nuclear than lungs of a coronavirus patient. Wowwy wow. from that now, ironically, is unemploy- dig my own bunker. threads that connect us. We must prac- fossil-fuel capacity that was taken down.” Another study by “Maker of Lysol and Dettol says people ment insurance that was mostly instituted Speaking of odd headlines, there’s this tice “Social Solidarity” in the context of the European Economic Bureau “found a few cases here and should not administer disinfectant into under FDR’s leadership. one: “Missouri Sues China, Communist “Physical Distancing.” there in which emissions decreased as GDP rose. ... When the human body”: I can’t make up head- How many old people can Trump af- Party Over The Coronavirus Pandemic.” This practice offers us a unique emissions were found to have fallen alongside a rising GDP lines like these fast enough to keep up ford to lose? It’s a balancing act. Here’s a fun little real-world math fact: opportunity to rethink our relation- in a single country or region, it always turned out that only with reality. Trump thinks in practical terms. He 18 percent of all human beings live in ships with each other, our world and the emissions generated within that country’s or region’s The only way to end the use of fossil fuels, Cox argues, style changes that are required to really address climate At the same time, our president is doesn’t seem to mind losing old people China. It is therefore to be expected that 18 our ecosystem. What is our purpose borders had been counted; when the analysts also consid- is to put increasingly strict regulatory limits on extraction, change. This has been an issue in Washington state since encouraging his supporters to engage in in Blue states, probably calculating that percent of all apocalyptic pandemics will as humans? What truly defines human ered emissions produced elsewhere to manufacture goods import and export of natural gas, oil and coal until those at least the 1990s, when politicians got pushback on any armed protests against continued lockdowns those Electoral College votes won’t come first appear among residents of China, “all success? What does living a fulfilled that the country had imported, all evidence of decoupling are down to zero. Because there are limits to how well wind non-voluntary measures to increase car-pooling and tran- around the country. The protesters, led to be- his way anyhow, but if he loses a lot of else being equal,” as people will say. All else human life mean? I would submit that it [economic growth and carbon emissions] disappeared.” and solar power can meet current energy needs, there will sit use. Last year, an initiative along the same lines as the lieve the coronavirus is either a Democratic old people in Florida and Georgia, that’s being equal, I’d be as rich as Jeff Bezos. is not about getting the latest iPhone or Partly this is because adding additional cheap energy inevitably be energy shortages during this transition, requir- national legislation was defeated, despite major efforts Party hoax or a Chinese bio-weapon, seem serious business. The first person in history thought to drowning ourselves in ever more stuff. is itself an incentive for more industrial investment and ing government intervention. The shortfall would have to be by proponents to work with unions and people of color to to think that their political ideology makes So, he wants states such as California, have died of smallpox was Pharaoh Ramses As we practice Social Solidarity, a true production; and partly it is because the existing fossil fuel made up by conservation measures and lifestyle changes. broaden support for the program. Opponents were able them immune, so they protest without masks Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts and V. Should we sue ancient Egypt on the paradigm shift opens us up to the value infrastructure will continue to function, even if prices fall. The Green New Deal addresses some of the issues of conver- to convince voters that a Green New Deal, despite being or plastic gloves and without keeping 6 feet New York to lift their lockdowns, for the grounds it was a populous cradle of civiliza- of authentic human ties. We are not born One thing Cox doesn’t address is a situation in which sion and dislocation. It would be a good start, but without cast as a way to bring prosperity and address climate apart. Seeing them do that, he encourages sake of the national economy, but when a tion and therefore an attractive nuisance for to be good consumers. We are born to the economy isn’t growing, which is what’s happening right further government intervention in the economy, it will fail. change, would cost jobs. them to “liberate” their states. Red state wants to do it, he calls it a hasty deadly viruses? All else being equal. be good citizens, good neighbors, good now. As many advocates point out, this could be an oppor- Cox suggests energy rationing — similar to what took In World War II, we had an identifiable enemy that Even Trump has said Georgia’s gover- move. Too dangerous. Rash. Lives are at In other news, I just found out yes- caretakers of each other and of our tunity to use Green New Deal ideas to rebuild. We could place during World War II — to spread the pain, so lower-in- threatened our way of life. We were coming out of a nor, Brian Kemp, shouldn’t lift that state’s stake. Very important lives. terday my editor is working on her Judy environment. ramp up the renewable energy infrastructure and create come families don’t suffer unduly and so that it’s the upper- depression, which made it easier to redirect production lockdown yet. I want to remind you all that Some lives are at less risk than others. Garland impression. This is certainly the Our mystics would say that practic- jobs, while replacing fossil fuel use as quickly as possible. income families who take the biggest hits on consumption. while instituting rationing. This time, although it can be Kemp is the same guy who, only on April The Seattle Times has had a story about best of all possible worlds. [Editor’s note: ing Social Solidarity wakes us up to that However, restarting growth would also restart demand Mandatory, funded conservation measures would target argued that the real enemies are the corporations that are 2, woke up to the fact that people with rich people trying to escape the pandemic Dreams that you dare to dream really do precious Light within each of us which for fossil fuels. The government could use bailout funds to industry, favoring those uses that were essential for basic destroying the Earth, the most obvious enemy is our own asymptomatic covid-19 could transmit in underground bunkers, some in remote come true.] n Bar Yochai awakened to, to the threads buy majority control of oil, gas and coal companies, which needs and for the conversion to renewable energy. lifestyles. Until people are convinced not just that there the disease. Even though it had been in areas of New Zealand. of Divine Light that unite us, sustain us. would then make it possible to phase the industry out in a What Cox doesn’t address is perhaps the most dif- are shared sacrifices to be made but that those sacrifices the news every day for weeks at that point. New Zealand has stopped most im- Sound off to Dr. Wes: May we use that newfound awareness to way that didn’t cost jobs. That, of course, is very unlikely, ficult question: How to get the public behind this effort. are necessary, it will be hard to sell even the Green New Now he’s decided it doesn’t matter. Let migration to their country, but will kindly [email protected] usher in a more loving and compassion- regardless of who wins the election in November. As Trump understood, voters are worried about the life- Deal, for all its limitations. n the old people die. The economy is more make an exception if you’d agree to invest ate world. n REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 10 CROSSWORD April 29 – May 5, 2020 April 29 – May 5, 2020 FEATURE 11 DOWN Where’s the Honcho? 1 Rain forest ruminant with striped legs WORKERS Continued from Page 4 Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre 2 What galley slaves did for their keep The revolution will be Zoomed? 3 Former Chinese Premier Zhou ____ (2,3) The proponents of the rent striker A STREET PAPER HERO 4 Mariner Moose and Blitz the Seahawk, “What we are requesting, along are saying that this is an opportunity ACROSS for a couple with other major coalitions like the to combat longstanding issues that 1 City near Provo 5 San ___, Italy IN A PANDEMIC 5 “You ____, Sir?” (standard butler’s line) 6 Former MLB-ers Jesus or Felipe Washington Immigration Solidarity existed long before the virus. 9 Hi and bye on Kauai 7 GPS above-the-Equator abbr. (1,3) Network, the Northwest Immigrant “So, while not paying rent (or de- In Denmark, coronavirus cases and deaths have been kept relatively low compared 14 Hawaii’s ___ Coast 8 Blow one’s top (2 wds.) (3,3) Rights Project, One America and a liberately paying less rent) is a core with other European countries. But, as with elsewhere, its homeless and socially 15 Fashion magazine 9 Roald who led the first team to reach the 16 Wayne ____ (Batcave site) South Pole slew of other organizations, is that part of what makes a ‘Rent Strike,’ the excluded people remain at risk. With a government more used to criminalizing than 17 Hole-making tools 10 PC linkup (Abbr./acron.) the governor put $100 million to sup- collective act, of withholding rent and helping this population, street paper Hus Forbi has implemented radical measures 18 Castle defense 11 Quick visual exams (4-5) port undocumented workers and their building solidarity and support with to assist its vendors, and all vulnerable Danes, as the pandemic crisis continues. 19 “I give up!” 12 Anchor Lester of “NBC Nightly News” families during this period of time,” others unable to pay, is really what 20 Hippie’s exit line, perhaps (3 wds.) (5,3,3) and “Dateline” 23 Pilot’s announcement, for short (Abbr.) 13 Domain Bocanegra said. “We know it would be makes the ‘Strike’ part as opposed to By POUL STRUVE NIELSEN pharmacy, show their vendor card, and get 24 The cat’s pajamas or the bees’ knees, e.g. 21 Broody music genre a small amount given the number of simply a lot of people happening not to Hus Forbi medicine for free. Hus Forbi covers the cost. 25 Get up ____ (energy; enthusiasm) (2 wds.) 22 Jennifer of “Friends” folks in the state, but we would also pay rent,” they wrote. In Denmark, homeless and socially excluded (3,2) 26 Long-snouted, predatory fish like to look at this money as a bridge Organizing without physically gath- street paper hero is emerging: people live 19 years shorter than an average 27 Caulking gun or chainsaw 28 Undertaking in which a participant 30 Repudiate (WAS VOID anagram) might say “ I’m folding”? for a more permanent solution.” ering has posed challenges, but also Simon Nielsen. He is homeless and citizen and many do not get the medications 33 Jar parts 29 Cyberyuks (Abbr./acron.) Even that amount wouldn’t cover spurred work to make such organizing A sells Hus Forbi. Furthermore, he they are supposed to because they cannot 36 Big bird of old tales 31 Where Nipplegate occurred (2 wds.) the estimated 75,000 workers with In- accessible to people who may not make is chairman of the board of the Hus Forbi afford it. 38 The younger of pro tennis’s Williams (incls. abbr./acron.) dividual Taxpayer Identification Num- it to meetings due to disabilities, family organization that publishes the Danish street Some of the vendors do not want to go sisters 32 Stinging insect in a colony 39 Org. with a caduceus logo (Abbr.) 33 Like some excuses bers (ITIN), a form of tax ID for people responsibilities or work. paper. out in the streets. Others are still selling the 40 Hymn part that doesn’t appear in 34 Huge-screen film format without Social Security numbers, much “With the usual idea of ‘everyone get At the beginning of March, he had not paper. Sales have gone down to around one hymnals? (2 wds.) (6,1) 35 Contests for hoofers (2 wds.) (5,4) less every undocumented person, said together at this time in this particular imagined how much he was about to learn third of what it should be and would be if not 42 A.C.L.U. concerns (Abbr.) 37 Boardroom bigwig...or a hint to the for the looming presence of covid 43 Metrosexual tote that may also be called answers with circled letter groupings Carlos Marentes of El Comité. physical space’ now more or less being about crisis management in the coming -19. a “murse” (Abbr.) “Just for the city of Seattle to sup- entirely off the table, it has forced people weeks. He had not imagined that he would But we are publishers and we are continu- 45 Old antipoverty agcy. (Abbr.) 40 Hog product often used to flavor Boston port all of these people, including ITIN, to really do the dirty work of making sure have to advise his colleagues to sell the paper ing to publish without trying to channel the 46 Invitation request (Fr. Abbr.) baked beans (2 wds.) (4,4) people with no Social Security number that everyone is able to participate and only if it was strictly necessary for them. readers/buyers into subscriptions or digital 47 Show a real talent for (2 wds.) (5,2) 41 “The Matrix” role 49 ___ and for all 44 Sitcom costar of Betty, Estelle and Rue or people who do not qualify for sup- have their needs met,” the group wrote. He had not imagined that he would have to papers. This has of course been discussed, 51 Wonderland cake words (3,2) 46 Slang Revolutionary War-era term for ports, you need an amount over $25 How to meet the needs of her com- launch a fundraiser for money for colleagues but the conclusion is that it is important to 52 Off the cuff, unscripted remark (2 wds.) a British soldier million a month,” Marentes said. munity without flouting public health in need. And he had not imagined that he remain faithful to our business model. (2,3) (Lat.) 48 Prepare for solid food, in a way officials’ orders has been top of mind would spend a lot of time driving through The government measures to stop the SOLUTION 56 Certain corp. takeover (Abbr.) 50 What puts the high in high-test coffee, 58 “Easy!” (3 wds.) (5,2,4) briefly Rent strike for Elayne Wylie, co-executive director Denmark to deliver vouchers for supermar- spread of the virus seem to have worked in 62 Monteverdi opera 53 “Tootsie” Oscar winner Jessica Other interventions such as the of the Gender Justice League (GJL), an kets so that homeless and socially excluded Denmark. The health system is still func- Makeover 64 ____ as a reed 54 Popular Swedish furniture stores moratorium on evictions due to non- organization that supports transgender people would be able to do necessary shop- tioning. One hundred and thirty-nine people Magic! 65 Most fit rating for a military draft (3-1) 55 Member of a wild bunch? payment of rent or freezes on utility people in Seattle and beyond. ping. All because of coronavirus. have died. Five hundred and seventeen are April 22 Issue 66 Direct (to) 56 Actress Petty or Singer 67 Roll call response 57 Writer Harte shutoffs are a form of triage — they Members of the transgender commu- The Danish Social Minister said publicly in the hospital, and this figure is decreasing. Donate an old car to 68 Turkish V.I.P.’s 59 Prepare to swallow don’t get at the underlying problems nity are disproportionately low-income — with the director of the Danish Board of If the society had been totally shut down, it Solutions to 69 “No worries” (2 wds.) (3,2) 60 Cork’s country that allowed the virus to take millions workers, are overrepresented in homeless- Health standing next to her — that, of course, may have been impossible to keep selling 70 She-sheep 61 Change for a five this week’s of workers already on the edge and ness statistics and have barriers to appro- it is not dangerous to buy a copy of Hus Forbi. the paper. REAL CHANGE 71 Word after “acid” or “aptitude” 63 Fair-hiring inits. (Abbr.) puzzle shove them off. priate medical care — circumstances that You just have to take the same precautions Maybe Hus Forbi has been a little lucky 1.877.537.5277 will appear “The freeze on rent, many of us see coronavirus has exacerbated. that you take when you interact with any with the timing, too. We have started a digital in the that as a good thing, but when we say GJL opened its doors to community other human being. The vendors have been project to be more visible on social media realchangenews.org/index.php/site/giving next issue. that, we’re accepting the status quo members to provide shelter even as it instructed how to interact as well, so we are and examine possible ways to publish digi- about how rents are set,” Marentes said. and other groups began working togeth- happy for the message. tally. Because of this, there was a fine-tuned “That’s the other part of the issue. It’s er to map out how they would approach But there is really no urgency expressed digital marketing machine ready to support not just about how we apply triage right Pride this year, the 50th anniversary of by the Danish government to support those the fundraiser. Some of the money raised has now, but how do we solve the structural the first, formal Pride celebration. who are homeless. The homeless community been spent on publishing, which has in fact Streaming to stay sane problem.” Pride isn’t just about marches and does not really care, though. They support manifested as an extra edition of Hus Forbi Almost all King County events are canceled, so we’re listing streaming events for optimal physical distancing Internationally, May Day is about performances, Wylie said. It’s a celebra- themselves. Hus Forbi is run by the vendors — a special pull-out in three national daily worker solidarity and the fight to im- tion of togetherness and acceptance — a and the homeless; and the decision to take newspapers on Easter Saturday. The ads in Monday, May 4 lovely evening activity. Pour yourself a Lo-Fi is asking for donations via their Ongoing prove the lives of the people who pro- critical sentiment for vulnerable people some measures was made by the board on these papers have already proved worth it in drink, make a snack plate, get cozy and GoFundMe to help them stay open duce the economic gains that continue trapped at home alone, cut off from their the very day schools and cultural events were terms of increased funds being raised. start that page turner. when the time comes. Lo-Fi has been a Online Sing Along/Play Along fixture in the Seattle music scene since Seattle Public Library to enrich a small sliver of society. community and gender-affirming health closed. While the government distributed Most stories in that extra edition are 7 p.m., Zoom access via link, free 2004, hosting local live bands, tour- Various times, info via link, free It’s also the day rent is due for mil- care, which has been delayed in an effort a little sum of money to a small variety of about homeless people coping with coro- tinyurl.com/y9t2bb8n Friday, May 8 – ing acts and the best soul music dance tinyurl.com/yau5v5yb lions of Americans, many of whom will to free up medical resources. organizations three weeks later, Hus Forbi navirus, but the cover story is an interview Warm up those vocal chords, dust off Saturday, May 9 nights. If you’re able to donate, you The Seattle Public Library is host- not be paying. “We are all struggling to find peace; responded immediately. with one of the vendors who was a rough your instruments and get ready to sing can help keep a small business afloat. ing a plethora of ongoing events for Calls for a rent strike have been we’re all struggling to find happiness; It is an advantage to have people who sleeper, who was criminalized and prohibited If you can’t cut it this week, you can or play along with this musical event. Cafe Flora , Friday: 2–6 p.m., our enjoyment as we stay home. You growing, championed by elected of- we’re all struggling to find the thing are themselves the target group for initiatives from accessing the center of Copenhagen. The Online Sing/Play Along is hoping support by tuning in and listening to can catch a Virtual Story Time (baby, Saturday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., order via link, DJs Marc Muller, Michael Chrietzberg ficials like Councilmember Kshama that gets us through the day. Whatever as decision-makers, because they will take His case was taken to court and the judge to bring people together through music $20+, tinyurl.com/yb7d7nze toddler, pre-school) for your children even though we can’t be together in and Anthony Alvarado spinning rare to enjoy stories, rhymes and songs Sawant and pushed by organizers. that looks like,” Wylie said. “For me, the initiatives they need — and not political ruled that the police had broken the law. His person. Song requests can be made Cafe Flora, the beloved Madison Park soul tunes. with the children’s librarian. There Groups have papered the city with and for the community I serve, Pride is decisions or decisions based on what some compensation was only symbolic, and he is through the chat function on Zoom eatery famous for its veggie, vegan and are also Financial Literacy classes that posters encouraging renters to organize a big part of that. Pride has saved lives.” people who do not know may feel or think. very critical about the way he is distanced and there is a songbook provided for gluten-free options, still wants to help Sunday, May 10 focus on planning for retirement and with their neighbors and giving advice Organizers are working to capture Immediately, Hus Forbi started a fund- and stigmatized by the public. you to sing and play along with. If you celebrate Mother’s Day. There are your future in general throughout the you’re feeling shy, don’t worry: Your four menus to choose from — one veg- — Every Sunday month. If you’re looking to practice on how to present a united front to their Pride’s essence and translate it online raiser. It was successful, so only a few days Further negative government measures mic will be on mute so it’s a great time etarian, one vegan and gluten-free and your English-speaking skills, you can landlords. by broadcasting acts and speeches or later, the three next steps in the plan could be against the homeless population seem to to practice, let loose and have fun with two kids’ menus — and options for pick Betty’s Body of Knowledge, 7 p.m., also attend the Virtual English Circle, It’s also a cause for @MayDaySea, holding an online conference of sorts. carried out with help from Hus Forbi’s part- have been put on hold in this situation. But your musical talents. up throughout the weekend. Truth- Zoom ID: 216-614-9359, tips encouraged where you can practice your conversa- a “loose collective of folks organizing Pride events are typically in June, but ners around the country: Hus Forbi handed then again, it does not look good if the govern- fully, all sound beyond delicious and tinyurl.com/y7tn9hpf tional English with other learners and in different areas” that has been using organizers are considering in-person out vouchers for supermarkets to those in ment is doing little for a vulnerable, at-risk it’s been very challenging writing this native speakers. The library offerings Wednesday, May 6 before having had breakfast myself. If Iconic Seattle Drag seem to have something for everyone, their Twitter account to amplify the possibilities for later in the summer. need; money was given to cafés and shelters group, and at the same time just plays tough Every Wednesday you’re looking for treats rather than a Queen Betty Wet- and if these virtual events aren’t hit- message and strategies. Even if stay-at-home orders end before for homeless and socially excluded people on them. And the government is already meal, you can also order cocktail kits, ter is back host- ting the spot, you can check out what “We want to recognize the fact that, or during summer, it may not be safe for so that they could provide take-away; Hus asking a lot. ing her weekly Silent Reading Party flowers and chocolates to enjoy as well. the Library has to offer in terms of organized collectively or not, millions everyone to congregate in large groups. Forbi started to pay for homeless vendors The prime minister said in a speech: “We Help support a homegrown restaurant trivia nights. book recommendations, e-books and 6 p.m., access sent via email day of, Previously at Solo of people will not be paying rent on May Until a vaccine is widely available, the to stay in some Danhostels [the umbrella- have to ask those who are weak to be strong $5-20 tickets, tinyurl.com/yawvpy8z and show your appreciation for your other great resources. mom, or yourself. Bar, you can now 1,” the group said in an email. “Our calls virus will be there, threatening to erupt. organization of Danish youth hostels — they in this situation.” Before shelter-in-place started, Seattle’s join virtually via for a rent strike take this into account, That new equilibrium will touch have standards and are much better than Hus Forbi replied on Twitter: “We prom- Silent Reading Party was so popular it Zoom. The room while also suggesting that in this crisis most workers in most industries, and the cheapest hotels]. On top of that, hand ise to be strong” — and got a like from the will open at 6:30 would often have a line formed before Saturday, May 9 we can get the best results for each what it looks like is a mystery. But our sanitizer, which is sold out in most pharma- prime minister. This strength is built on soli- the event even started. How lucky to p.m. for drinks and live in a city with a bunch of other some house rules other by working together.” daily lives are unlikely to revert to the cies, was distributed to partners so that they darity, unity, good leadership, wise decisions weirdos who like to read silently next Emerald City Soul City Presents: Ain’t Betty Wetter (like getting di- Some people simply won’t be able to pre-coronavirus “normal,” and that’s a could give it away. and determination. In April, Hus Forbi put its to strangers? Even luckier for us is that Nothin’ But A House Party, 8 p.m., Face- vided into private make rent. Even if a person has access good thing, organizers say. After the fundraiser and a campaign own chairperson, vendor Simon Nielsen, on this is an event for which going virtual book Live, donations encouraged, teams). The evening will not only have to enhanced unemployment benefits, “We don’t want a simple ‘return to in three national daily newspapers, it was the cover with the donation number so that tinyurl.com/ybkafdow trivia, but will also feature guest per- doesn’t seem completely absurd. Every This is compiled by Michelle Galluzzo. Got rents in Seattle are notoriously unaf- normal,’” according to @MayDaySea. possible to take further steps to support the anyone can use their phone to donate easily Wednesday, The Stranger will be host- formances from drag queens Michete ing this silent reading party, and you Lo-Fi and its Emerald City Soul Club and Eucalypstick, as well as a special something we should know about? Email fordable. “We want to see a world where housing vendors: the price for the April edition was and immediately. can grab your tickets at the link above. will bring soul music right to your audio round with Cookie Couture. Sup- it to [email protected]. The But if those who can afford to pay is a human right, where workers have cut in half for vendors, from 10 Kroner to 5 A street paper hero is something one can Whether you’re just looking for some house, setting you up for a great house port our amazing drag community and deadline for calendar submissions is nine refuse to as well, it will make it harder power, where no one has to be locked (the readers still have to pay 20 Kroner). certainly be. n company or trying to watch less TV (I party, even if it’s a party for one. While have lots of fun in the process! days prior to the date of publication. it is free to access the live music set up, for landlords to take action against the up. And at its heart, May Day has always Hus Forbi is now supporting the health feel you), the Silent Reading Party is a poorest. been about those sorts of ideals.” n needs of its vendors — they simply go to a Courtesy of Hus Forbi / INSP.ngo REALCHANGE 12 NEWS April 29 – May 5, 2020

HOUSING Continued from Page 4 because of the length of time it takes to build affordable housing that is ex- both iterations. actly why we need to include affordable Decreasing the amount of public housing under this umbrella of Covid comment on design decisions will end being a crisis that is directly affecting in worse buildings, Pedersen said. whether or not people can have access “I find it hard to believe that projects to healthy, secure housing,” Mosqueda that we cannot solve the tech challenge said. we have here for design review in our Design review can take as long as highly advanced tech city,” Pedersen a year. Delays can make projects more said on April 20. “I’m concerned when expensive or render them dead in the there isn’t an opportunity for the public water. That’s of particular concern to weigh in, the quality of the housing with affordable housing projects that can go down.” already operate on tight margins and The administrative review process, complex funding streams. which most market-rate buildings Meetings will continue without pub- would use, still invites written public lic comment until the virtual meeting comment at multiple stages. space can be set up. It’s uncertain how Herbold told the public that she long that will take. wanted to support it, but that a change April 20 was the first time in two that pushes affordable housing out of months that the City Council had a digi- the design review process did not ap- tal system for public comment. Nearly pear to comport with guidance from 30 people signed up hours before the Attorney General Bob Ferguson about meeting took place, and all but one were the kinds of legislation passed during able to speak. the coronavirus emergency. It wasn’t completely smooth on the The bills must be “necessary or council’s end — at one point, Morales routine” or directly relate to addressing lost the connection and struggled to the coronavirus. Changing the design regain it in time to vote. process to exempt affordable housing Strauss said he dropped out of the from review was an unnecessary policy meeting twice. change given that affordable housing Getting a working virtual meeting projects are already prioritized in ad- system stood up will return the pro- ministrative review. cess to a “fairly familiar design review No one knows how long the corona- system,” prevent a backlog of projects virus will shut down public meetings from building up and help rebuild the and other functions but getting people Seattle economy, Councilmember An- into housing during the pandemic is drew Lewis said. crucial to Seattle’s housing and virus- “The department should take the related crises, Councilmember Teresa cue that sooner rather than later is Mosqueda said on April 20. better to set up the virtual process,” “I would propose it is precisely Lewis said. n