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$50,000 $40,000 AND CULTURE $30,000 Angelina Villalobos paints the world with wild, magical tones, p.6 $20,000

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FUNDING DOWN, NEEDS UP King County is facing a $79 million shortfall in the general fund, p.3

UNLIKELY ALLIES HATCH A PLAN The Third Door Coalition proposes a $1.6 billion recipe to end chronic homelessness, p.4

‘NICKEL BOYS’ ADDS UP We review Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about an infamous boys school, p.8 REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 2 SPRING FUND DRIVE May 20 – 26, 2020 May 20 – 26, 2020 NEWS 3

Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless REPORTER’S people while taking action for economic, NOTEBOOK social and racial justice.

Real Change offices 219 First Ave. S., Suite 220 Seattle, WA 98104 Contact 206.441.3247, www.realchangenews.org Longtime and confusion Real Change BOARD OF DIRECTORS Yolanda Altamirano (President), Malou Chávez, vendor Ad- ov. Jay Inslee announced a new Shelly Cohen, Matthew Hayashi, dis Michael contact-tracing program that will Hannah Hunthausen, Pamela Kliment, Jim Lauinger, Maria Elena Ramirez, Mary Riski Jr. speaks to G identify coronavirus patients a group of and those who have come into contact EDITORIAL STAFF students in with them in an effort to safely open more Staff Reporter Ashley Archibald File photo by Jon Williams Editor Lee Nacozy Occidental businesses in the state. Features Reporter Kamna Shastri Park for the There are 1,371 contact tracers Art Director Jon Williams Homeless trained in the state as of May 12, includ- REAL CHANGE STAFF Speakers ing members of the National Guard and Circulation Specialist Wes Browning Bureau. ‘The news is not good.’ the Department of Licensing and local Organizer Evelyn Chow health officials. They will interview coro- Volunteer Manager Katie Comboy Photo by Jon Managing Director Shelley Dooley Williams, 2015 navirus patients to get names of people Communications and Development with whom they have been in close Associate Alexis Estrada contact. Those exposed will be asked to Founding Director Timothy Harris $397 million lost from metro Field Organizer Neal Lampi stay inside for at least two weeks after Vendor Program Manager Rebecca Marriott the date they interacted with the person Lead Organizer Tiffani McCoy WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER $42 million from behavioral health services Vendor Case Manager Ainsley Meyer who was sick. Office Manager Ari Shirazi Your Spring Fund Drive gift keeps Real Change strong in uncertain times The identity of the sick person will be Development Director Camilla Walter $79 million from the general fund between 2020-2022 kept confidential, according to a release t’s been a rough few months for Real Change vendors, but is a bright light at the end of this tunnel. This world operates best by the Governor’s Office, but tracers VOLUNTEERS Editorial Committee Susan Storer Clark, hard times are always easier when you’ve got friends. when we help each other.” will ask for age, ethnicity, address and Laura Ditsch, Willie Jones, James Jenkins, Dagmar Your support has allowed us to distribute food, hygiene We have much work to do, and the stakes are high. gender. Matheny, Paige Owens, Tiron Rowe I supplies and gift and cash cards while our vendors are out of work. The coronavirus disproportionately threatens homeless According to a survey conducted by Contributing Writers Rabbi Olivier BenHaim, Your messages to individual vendors and continued volunteer people and communities of color, and recent progress toward National Public Radio, states had plans Hanna Brooks Olsen, Wes Browning, work have told them they are loved and cared for, even when they adequate shelter and hygiene resources falls dramatically short to put more than 66,000 people to work John Helmiere, Michelle Galluzzo, Dave Gamrath, ‘In fact the news is Kelly Knickerbocker, Joe Martin, Patrick “Mac” need to stay home. of the need. following up on infections and inform- McIntyre, Jill Mullins, Oscar Rosales Castaneda, Susan Storer Clark, Megan Wildhood, Mike Wold Now, we’re asking for your help again. As suspension of We’re fighting for the basic needs and civil rights of Seattle’s ing people who may have been exposed. street sales has eliminated circulation income from news- most poor. Your support makes that work possible. That’s 30,000 more people than when Photographers and Artists Alex Bergstrom, paper sales, meeting our $100,000 spring fund drive goal Since Real Change suspended street sales to protect our the network first surveyed states at the Matthew S. Browning, Sam Day, Natalie Dupille, Jeffrey Few, Valerie Franc, Susan Fried, Seth is more critical than ever. vendors, we’ve reinvented our work to anticipate their shifting VERY BAD.’ end of April. Goodkind, Derek Gundy, Lisa Hagen Glynn, Lara Your gift to the spring drive fuels opportunity, quality report- needs, and have: The figure is still vastly below esti- Kaminoff, Ted Mase, Dave Parish, Joseph Romain, Wes Sauer, Katie Wheeler ing, and effective advocacy during these unprecedented times. • Moved our quality reporting online to keep the newspaper mates of the need. Real Change transforms lives. Just ask Addis Michael Jr. Before coming while street sales are suspended; A letter cited by NPR and signed by Copy Editors Pamela Bradburn, Mason Duke, Merry Nye, Morgan Wegner he came to Real Change, Addis panhandled to feed his addictions. • Helped our vendors with unemployment claims, advocacy public health officials suggests that the “I was self-medicating then,” he recalled. “As long as I could for stimulus checks and access to health care; country will need more than 100,000 Real Change Volunteers Yolanda Altamirano, peacefully feed my habit, I felt I wasn’t doing anything wrong.” • Facilitated direct vendor payments through Venmo and pro- people to fully conduct contact tracing Cathie Andersen, Carla Blaschka, Maridee Government revenue streams Bonadea, Pamela Bradburn, Chris Burnside, At first, he said, selling Real Change was just another way to vided cash and food support through the Vendor Relief Fund; and across the country. Cathy Clemens, Jim Freier, Candace Gallerani, stay high. But before long, Addis wanted a better life for himself • Kept our community safe by handing out masks, gloves and Guidance from the Centers for Dis- Michelle Galluzzo, Anne Jaworski, Carlo Jones, Kevin Jones, Ron Kaplan, Jesse Kleinman, and the people he cared about. hand sanitizer. are trickling as needs overflow ease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Pamela Kliment, Daniel Kramer, Joe Martin, “My customers made me feel like I was part of society. Through it all, our vendors and staff have been over- that people who have been exposed need Dagmar Matheny, John Maynard, Patrick McIntyre, Juan Montes, Carl Nakajima, Eileen Nicol, Despite the shape I was in, they lifted me up and encour- whelmed by the generosity and caring of the Real Change By ASHLEY ARCHIBALD vices like mental health is a weakness more in need of services. Washington is to stay at least 6 feet away from others for Deb Otto, Maria Elena Ramirez, Merri Jo Seil, aged me. Real Change showed me that people care. I found community. Every gift, large or small, gets us closer to our Staff Reporter during an event like a pandemic, when particularly reliant on regressive taxes on at least 14 days and to monitor their tem- Lawrence Soriano, Susan Storer Clark, Jeremy Tarpey, Moriah Vazquez, Jed Walsh, Mike Wold that I could escape the drugs.” critical $100,000 goal. funding takes a dive even as services are income and property because graduated perature and other symptoms regularly. Addis found sobriety, housing and a deepened faith in both A matching grant from the Lucky 7 Foundation means unding for mental health services more necessary. The pandemic creates taxes are unconstitutional and income Washington was one of the first states The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project is a God and community while selling Real Change. that gifts of $150 or more will be doubled while funds last. in King County could take a $42 stress, fear for oneself, fear for a loved one taxes are banned by a 1980s state law. hit by the coronavirus. King County alone 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Real Change is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association He believes in a future where we all care for each other as With your heartfelt support, Real Change will continue to be F million hit as the shutdown to pre- and financial insecurity, all of which are Attempts to raise money for public ser- has more than 7,000 confirmed corona- and the International Network of Street Papers. much as people have cared for him. here long after this crisis has passed. We really are in this together. vent the spread of coronavirus eats away associated with declines in mental health, vices in other ways have been unsuccessful. virus cases and hundreds of people who n REAL CHANGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA Since late March, Addis and the rest of our vendors have stayed Thank you for being there. at sales taxes, according to King County according to the Centers for Disease Con- The city of Seattle passed an income have died of the disease. Those figures home and stayed safe. Your support has made that possible. Budget Director Dwight Dively. trol and Prevention (CDC). tax on high earners that ultimately died in are likely only a hint at the total number “When we pull together and stay together,” said Michael, “there — Timothy Harris “The news is not good,” Dively said. “In “Fear and anxiety about a disease can April when the Washington State Supreme of cases in the state, however. fact, the news is very bad.” be overwhelming and cause strong emo- Court refused to review the case. A tax Many people who have the corona- @RealChangeNews The sales tax forecast for 2020 through tions in adults and children,” according to on business was attempted in 2018 before virus are either asymptomatic or have Change happens when we all help. 2022 projects shortfalls of $79 million to the CDC website. “Coping with stress will the City Council repealed it. Seattle City mild symptoms and aren’t immediately Please make a difference with your gift today. the general fund, $42 million to Mental make you, the people you care about, and Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and able to get tested for the disease, mean- Name: Illness and Drug Dependency (midd) and your community stronger.” Tammy Morales are fielding an effort to ing they can spread coronavirus without Real Change offers low-barrier jobs, award-winning $397 million to King County Metro. The Coping with such stress can hurt men- raise taxes on business again, but the ef- being aware. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR journalism, and anti-poverty advocacy. Our Vendor Address: projections may be too rosy, Dively told tal health, cause changes in sleep or eating fort was stymied when Councilmember Shortages of testing supplies ham- Have something to say? Real Change accepts letters to the editor. Send them to editor@realchangenews. Center has remained open through the pandemic, and it King County councilmembers on May 5. patterns, worsen chronic health problems Lorena Gonzalez determined that meeting pered the initial response and even org or visit realchangenews.org and click It’s too soon to know what the impact and increase dependency on substances. to raise taxes was against the governor’s people with symptoms couldn’t necessar- “Write the Editor.” is thanks in large part to donors like you. City, State, Zip: will be, said Sherry Hamilton, spokesper- Alcoholic beverage sales increased 55 guidance on public meetings. ily get tested. Even those who did could Your gift of any amount makes Real Change possible. Phone: son for the Department of Community percent in the U.S. by mid-April compared Cities, counties and states are having have gotten false results, depending on bit.ly/RealChange2020 and Human Services (DCHS), in an email. to the same time last year, demonstrating financial difficulties during the coronavi- the test. “Yes, unfortunately we are looking at at least one way that people are handling rus as economic activity slows to a halt. President Donald Trump denies that Email: a significant reduction in the sales tax the prolonged crisis. They received some relief from the federal people in the United States have diffi- ❑ Yes! I want make a one-time gift of: revenues that normally support midd,” That’s a concern, King County Coun- government’s coronavirus relief fund, but culty getting tested for the coronavirus ❑ $50 ❑ $100 ❑ $150 ❑ $250 Make checks payable to Real Change and mail to: Hamilton wrote. “We are beginning dis- cilmember Reagan Dunn said. additional help is at question. while also saying that testing revealed 219 First Ave. S., Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98104 cussions about priorities and options, “We’ve got a very, very serious problem Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- more coronavirus cases, raising the ❑ $500 ❑ $______other amount Or use our secure online giving option at realchangenews.org. both for 2020 and also looking at impacts on our hands we need to take a look at in nell said in April that Republicans were numbers for the country. ❑ Make a monthly recurring gift of: to the 2021-2022 biennial budget currently terms of addiction and recovery,” Dunn not open to “revenue replacement” for “When you test, you have a case,” ❑ $10 ❑ $20.83 ❑ $41.67 ❑ $62.50 ❑ $83.33 Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project under development.” told his colleagues. local governments, only to walk that back Trump told reporters. “When you test, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Gifts of $150 or more will be matched, while funds last. midd funding comes from a 0.1 percent Shortfalls are a predictable conse- a week later, according to CNN. you find something is wrong with people. ON THE COVER sales tax that brings in $136 million every quence of funding services with sales How states and local governments If we didn’t do any testing, we would have Seattle artist Angelina Villalobos draws upon A c c o u n t N o . ______E x p . D a t e ______C V c o d e ______two years specifically for behavioral taxes: Revenues drop as people with few will overcome such dramatic revenue very few cases.” n line, color and her heritage to create murals for commission and by donation all around the city. S i g n a t u r e ______health for low-income people. resources start spending much less while, shortfalls without federal assistance has Story on page 6. Photography by Mark White. The reliance on sales taxes for ser- at the same time, lower-income people are yet to be seen. n — Ashley Archibald REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 4 NEWS/COMMENTARY May 20 – 26, 2020 May 20 – 26, 2020 NEWS 5 OPINION: Tax Seattle’s prosperous businesses

By ANITRA FREEMAN Guest Writer

heel (Women’s Housing, Equality and Enhance- ment League) is a grassroots organizing effort Wof homeless and formerly homeless women. One of our major projects for the past 20 years is a low-barrier shelter welcoming any woman, in any condition, at any time of night — the only shelter of its kind in Seattle. covid has impacted the homeless community severe- ly. We welcome the Tax Amazon legislation proposed by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales. It would tax the most prosperous 2 percent of businesses to provide immediate relief for homeless people and others hit by the covid crisis and to fund steps on the homeless 2010 photo by Joe Mabel emergency, building 10,000 new units of low-income housing. Council hearings on this have been canceled for the The West Seattle Bridge can be seen from vantage points across Seattle, Washington, like here from the 12th Avenue South Viewpoint on Beacon Hill, while in use. duration of the Governor’s stay-at-home orders, because it is deemed not “related to the immediate covid-19 public health emergency.” This is the only emergency covid aid that is going to directly help homeless people! West Seattle Bridge closure exposes inequities We were already in an officially recognized, severe state of emergency. Now homeless people and everyone working with and serving homeless people are in this new emergency in Duwamish Valley communities atop an emergency already stretched thin. When you’re homeless, you’re always afraid. You’re afraid By BUNTHAY CHEAM crossing over from Georgetown and South places for bikes.” “That’s one of the biggest concerns we while you’re sleeping. Now add another fear on top of that. Contributing Writer Park. That increase is having an impact on Residents say South Park, which is heard that keeps coming up — is we’re You never have everything you need. You always have to the cultural center. considered a food desert, has its capac- already dealing with so much pollution choose between one need and another. Now you have new n March 23, the city of Seattle “People drive too fast on West Mar- ity already constrained due to impacts in the [Duwamish] Valley. We’re already needs that your life depends on, and no new money. Businesses, advocates and academics closed the West Seattle Bridge ginal Way … there’s a lot of traffic in the from covid-19. Increased traffic could dealing with lower life expectancy and wheel together with share (homeless and formerly O due to rapidly expanding cracks morning and at night now,” said Jolene put even more strain on access to com- higher incidence of childhood asthma,” homeless men and women) provide a big slice of King County that rendered it unsafe for vehicle traffic. Haas, a Duwamish Tribe member and munity needs. Jesse Moore said. emergency shelter, some with church hosts. We provide it unite to end chronic homelessness The bridge will be closed until at least Director of the Duwamish Longhouse and “Even now with this [covid-19] crisis, sdot Downtown Mobility Director for each other, self-managed and self-maintained, providing 2021 and may not be repairable, according Cultural Center. there are families accessing the resources Heather Marx has been appointed by Sam dignity and empowerment along with survival. By ASHLEY ARCHIBALD ber found in the annual point-in-time count that takes to Seattle Department of Transportation While the lower Spokane Street bridge at Concord [International School] — fami- Zimbabwe to oversee the West Seattle We do it on a shoestring. It’s been a scramble. Now it is a Staff Reporter place in January. Chronic homelessness is defined by (sdot) director Sam Zimbabwe. sdot is is still open, it is currently restricted to lies are going up there to get pickup lunch Bridge repair project. “Of course, the grind. It’s nerve-wracking and exhausting, and if we don’t get the federal government as whether or not a person has still working to assess the full cost and transit, freight, emergency vehicles, bicy- from the free lunch program — families [historic environmental justice issues] help soon, it’s going to be heartbreaking when we have to tell n organization formed by unlikely allies in busi- a disability and the amount of time that they’ve lived timeline of needed repairs. clists and pedestrians. who are picking up packets of work be- were taken into consideration, but we a woman that we have no room, and nobody else does either. ness and homeless advocacy sectors proposed outside. The city-owned bridge is vital to peo- “My concern is [traffic coming from] cause they don’t have the resources to don’t have a lot of choices. There are only There’s no mental health support for the people in shelter A a $1.6 billion plan to end chronic homelessness As a result, people who are chronically homeless tend ple living on the West Seattle peninsula, the south, cutting through South Park access technology,” said Peaches Thomas, so many routes across the Duwamish or the staff. No treatment support. No support. Hospitals within five years by building 6,500 units of permanent to be more visible and have more complex symptoms, serving as the main route of access to the and Georgetown to go to West Seattle … who worked as a traffic ambassador for waterway,” Marx said, responding to are still releasing people to the streets with no housing — supportive housing, but funding for the idea has yet to which means they can play an outsized role in people’s rest of the city for about 100,000 vehicles they would have to come and cut through Concord International School in South whether historic environmental justice is- without even a shelter referral. Police brought a woman to be finalized. perception of the homelessness crisis. per day. both communities that are already super Park and is a DVSS organizer. sues affecting Duwamish Valley residents the wheel shelter with severe mental health issues because The Third Door Coalition — a group of business- They also account for a large amount of public spend- The main detour routes offered by the impacted by air pollution and the traffic South Park has a high concentration of were taken into consideration when sdot the hospital had released her with nowhere to go! people, academics and nonprofit leaders — alongside ing on the homelessness crisis, spending that could be city take drivers through the Duwamish infrastructure. We’re not prepared to get households with children, and according decided on the detour routes. There’s no new shelter. New sites have opened to spread elected leaders from Seattle and the state said that the directed elsewhere if they were inside. One year of perma- Valley and through the communities of a hundred thousand vehicles in our small to the City of Seattle’s Duwamish Valley “We like to focus on arterials [when people out. That’s not more beds. For 20 years, wheel has plan would house the people who are most visible and nent supportive housing costs the same as three months Georgetown, South Park and along West neighborhoods,” said Paulina Lopez, a Action Plan, 83 percent of students qualify deciding detour routes]; we don’t want to been able to say that no woman is ever turned away, no mat- vulnerable in the community, and those who have been in King County jail and three days in Harborview Medical Marginal Way. South Park resident and Executive Di- for reduced or free lunch, compared to the send people onto neighborhood streets,” ter how full we are. Now we have to limit our capacity. wheel outside the longest. Center, according to Plymouth Housing. Uncertainty about how long repairs rector of the Duwamish River Cleanup city average of 37 percent. Compared to Marx said. “We also focus on routes that has asked repeatedly for hotel vouchers, like the ones given Getting people who are chronically homeless into One weakness of the plan is that it is, at its heart, a will take and the impending influx of traf- Coalition (DRCC). the city average of 21 percent, 40 percent are most proximate and most parallel to several other programs, and for collaboration in planning housing would mean a massive change in the quality of public-private partnership, marrying public money with fic and air pollution has residents in the Some Duwamish Valley residents feel of households speak a language other than to the road that’s being detoured. In the added capacity. We haven’t even received a reply. life for those individuals as well as the already housed funds raised from businesses or other outside parties. Duwamish Valley worried, especially as that the increased traffic will also stress English, making homeschooling an access case of the West Seattle Bridge, we have The CDC advised cities NOT to sweep encampments at residents of the city and county, said Sara Rankin, a co- So far, there are no firm funders lined up, although the covid-19 shelter-in-place guidelines from an already outdated traffic infrastructure. issue for households that are non-native geography, topography and existing in- this time, but our city leaders went ahead and swept one in chair of the Third Door Coalition and head of the Home- city of Seattle would be spending roughly $160 million to Gov. Jay Inslee continue to ease. “I think the city has been behind on speakers of English. frastructure not in our favor. … This isn’t Ballard May 4. There was not enough shelter for everyone less Rights Advocacy Project at Seattle University. make it happen. “My immediate thoughts were, ‘Where making investments in our active trans- Air pollution is also a high-priority is- the way I would have it, but it’s what we’ve who had been living there. “We believe that if we can make an impact with re- “We share this framework today knowing it doesn’t are the 90,000 cars going to go?’” said John portation network, especially down in this sue for residents. The City of Seattle’s Du- got, and we’re making the best use of it.” Whenever the “shelter-in-place” orders are over, the spect to the hardest to house, we can change minds and have all of the details,” Rankin said. “Today was a really Persak, a 14-year resident of Georgetown, part of Seattle … Georgetown and South wamish Valley Action Plan revealed that Residents hope their voices will be rooms that were opened for “spacing” will close, the shelters create momentum to solve homelessness more generally,” important step toward offering space for everyone to upon learning of the bridge’s closure. “And Park,” said Jesse Moore, a Georgetown asthma prevalence in the Duwamish included as plans to mitigate the bridge that have been allowed to go to 24 hours will go back to night Rankin said. come together and work together on the proven solution.” my immediate next thought was — well, resident and organizer for Duwamish Val- Valley is 12 percent, compared to the city closure progress. only, and there will still be no new beds, and no new housing. The backbone of the idea is straightforward: more The concept of “Housing First” — getting people into they have to go through Georgetown be- ley Safe Streets (DVSS). “We don’t have the average of 9 percent. “We definitely want a seat at the table, Planning for the end of temporary help needs to start permanent supportive housing. homes without requiring certain behaviors of them first cause all of those West Seattle commuters same options in the rest of the city to get “Beyond the pedestrian safety … our because people are definitely perceiving now, and the share/wheel community needs to be at that Permanent supportive housing is not just an apart- — is old hat in the homeless services community, and that use that bridge are trying to access out of our cars and reach our destinations biggest concern at PTA [is] also the air this as a West Seattle issue and forgetting table, with our experience and expertise. Let’s not go back to ment. It comes with wraparound services and costs widely viewed as one of the most effective interventions at I-5, I-90 and, to some degree, downtown.” efficiently.” quality and the effect on our kids with we’re part of this,” said Aley Thompson, “normal.” Normal was killing people! Let’s prove that we can roughly a third of a household’s income, whatever that hand. However, the intervention relies on the availability Persak helped draft a letter to the Some residents hope what is happen- asthma [because] of so many more cars,” one of the organizers behind a letter to meet an emergency at the scale of the emergency, and then may be. At $1.6 billion over five years, it sounds like a lot of land as well as many, separate funding streams, often city with a coalition of Georgetown and ing with the West Seattle Bridge can shed said Robin Schwartz, a South Park resi- the city from South Park community continue to do it. We can end homelessness, if we actually try. of money, particularly for Seattle which would fund 10 pieced together using federal tax credits. Duwamish Valley stakeholders about the light on issues Georgetown and South dent and member of the Concord Interna- members. An effort at the scale of the emergency will take many percent of the effort even as the coronavirus decimates It also depends on the public’s willingness to allow impact of the detour as it routes through Park have continuously advocated for, tional School PTA. “No, they haven’t [reached out to us times the amount targeted in this legislation. The Sawant- public coffers. such a complex. Seattle City Council meetings around af- the area. such as access to essential needs that are Another study, the Cumulative Health initially], and that’s why part of the let- Morales Tax Amazon legislation is the biggest first step I However, the same population is only a third of the fordable housing projects and legislation to fund or make “The biggest impacts will be along unique to the Duwamish Valley. Impacts Analysis written by Just Health ter was like, we need to be sitting at the have seen in 25 years. To do less would be like sending an homeless population in Seattle and King County, but ac- housing projects possible are often met with commenters Michigan [Street] and Bailey [Street] “Other neighborhoods have a grocery Action and the Duwamish River Cleanup table making sure that they’re consider- expedition up Mount Everest with only half the needed sup- counts for a disproportionate amount of services, be it who say they support affordable housing, but it’s not right particularly. We have an artist community store, they have a community center or a Coalition/Technical Advisory Group in ing our opinion of everything that they’re plies: The goal isn’t going to be reached, and people will die. emergency response, hospitalization, police or time in jail. for their neighborhood. around Fourth [Ave. S] and Michigan, but library,” Persak said. “They have health 2013, found that “a range of health ex- planning,” Paulina Lopez said, “that they There is no reasonable excuse for the council to delay It’s the humane thing to do, but it’s also the most fis- The plan does not offer a solution to that critical also Michigan where it intersects with care facilities. All of us [in Georgetown] posures and impacts disproportionately should be bringing our community lead- this emergency legislation. It will save lives and lessen the cally responsible, which accounts for the strange bedfel- hurdle. Corson [Ave. S] is a congested intersection have to leave the neighborhood to get all affect people in the Duwamish Valley, ership and that we also get to decide on misery that women living on the street are feeling. We need lows that make up the organization, said Chad Mackay However, with homelessness topping the list of prob- and with Carlton, which is a residential of those things. And so, if there’s gridlock an area with the greatest number of con- the mitigation measures. They’re not here the city to tax our biggest businesses without watering of Fire & Vine Hospitality. lems in the state’s pre-coronavirus era, the Third Door street,” Persak said. in the neighborhood, we either have to get taminated waste sites, poorly built envi- on the day to day. They’re not here to see down the councilmembers’ proposal, without delay. “Data, not drama, was our mantra from the start,” Coalition’s cross-sector nature does suggest that even In 2009, the Duwamish Tribe opened into a car, which is time consuming; we ronment characteristics and severe air this reality.” Thank you, Kshama, for getting the ball rolling. Now let’s Mackay said in a press release. groups with disparate notions on many subjects are ready its Longhouse, which is located along West have to get on a bus, which will also be pollution compared to the rest of Seattle. These are some of the issues that were all get behind it and push, and get this done! n The data is stark. to come together over solutions driven by data, and theo- Marginal Way across from the Duwamish caught up; or we have to attempt to bike Life expectancy in the neighborhoods underscored in the letter that prompted The Third Door Coalition estimates that there are retically put money behind them. River. For the most direct route to areas for our more able-bodied people. And that of Georgetown and South Park is up to Duwamish Valley community members Anitra Freeman is a formerly homeless participant in 6,500 people experiencing chronic homelessness in “Government alone cannot end homelessness,” Rankin such as Alki or the Admiral District, presents its own set of challenges because 13 years shorter than wealthier parts of wheel and share and a founder of wheel Women in Black. King County, a figure that is roughly double the num- said. “It has always been our collective responsibility.” n commuters take West Marginal Way after of the existing conditions of not a lot of Seattle.” See BRIDGE Continued on Page 12 REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 6 REALCHANGEMay 20 –FEATURE 26, 2020 May 20 – 26, 2020May 20 – 26, 2020 7

“My major hang-up with canvases is it’s only accessible to people who can immediately see it.” — Angelina Villalobos

Photo by Mark White A mural, “Dragon Lotus,” by Angelina Villalobos borders the Hangar Cafe in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.

Photo courtesy of Angelina Villalobos The grand piano designed by Seattle artist Angelina Villalobos was placed at Alki Beach. COLOR ME WILD Angelina Villalobos uses

Photo by Mark White nature and fantasy to transpose Above, “Offering” when she imbued her love of art with ac- For a mural Villalobos created in White Center, she recalls, “... I’ll just do happy little fish; a koi pond can be here; something beautiful can exist here.’ challenges the tra- tivism. At the time, she was attending pro- ditional depiction grams at El Centro De La Raza in Beacon possibility on reality of the Madonna Hill, the neighborhood where she grew up. Villalobos sees herself as a mix of and baby Jesus. “They were really instrumental in making country mouse and city rat. She was only “Lady Pear,” left, me aware of social justice and empowering By KAMNA SHASTRI | Staff Reporter in the Valley for four years and came to stay and “Sleeping me in making poetry,” she said. “I kind of with her grandparents in Seattle after her Lady,” below left, merged those two worlds, so that is how I hen Angelina Villalobos was asked to paint a piano for father, who had been undocumented, was show Villalobos’ got into doing street art.” Pianos in the Park in 2017, she did not paint just any piano. deported to Mexico and her mother became illustrative style. Villalobos has three mediums: a black- addicted to drugs. Walking through Seattle, and-white, line-drawing style; street art and She passed over the uprights she was shown and went Images courtesy of W through the warehouses in Belltown and Angelina Villalobos mural work; and acrylic painting, where straight for a grand piano. She adorned the instrument with her signature the gray concrete of the city, Villalobos she gets to experiment more with color and yearned for color and form. “I wanted to shape. Recently, she realized she does not color palette inspired by nature. Leafy greens, browns and soft mauves see my experience in Yakima on those fields only prevalent in society but have been picking at what these characters actually like painting in small spaces. “My major and on those adventures we’d take with my omnipresent forces in her own life. are because they are really just characters hang-up with canvases is it’s only acces- curled up the legs and across the curved body of the piano. sister there,” she said. Both of Villalobos’ parents came from in a story,” Villalobos said. Chuckling, she sible to people who can immediately see it.” Mexican Catholic backgrounds, and she added, “My grandpa’s going to be like, ‘That She says that a piece of art only affecting “I love a challenge when it comes to Evolve like revolution often explores the nuances of this iden- is blasphemous’!” one household or one person “is almost difficult spaces,” she said about painting Villalobos was an introverted child who tity through her art. Her family expected For Villalobos, elders in her family counterproductive to the mural work I all the nooks and crannies of a full-sized found solace and adventure in books. “I’m women to adhere to gender roles, and she would suggest that the ideal life for her do because I want art to be accessible to grand. “Oftentimes, difficult people, dif- really quiet and shy; I was chubby; I had went to church every Sunday with her included a stable marriage, fulltime moth- everyone.” That is why she makes plenty ficult spaces, difficult situations — people glasses; I was awkward. So art gave me an grandmother while the men of the family erhood or becoming a secretary. Villalobos of affordable prints and $5 archival cards, tend to shy away from them.” The finished escape: I’m going to read my book and I am could stay home and indulge in watching pushed back and followed the artist’s so that even if someone cannot purchase piano was installed at Seattle’s Alki going to draw what I read,” she said, adding sports. path. She completed a bachelor’s degree in the original design due to a financial bar- Beach, looking out over the blue waters all that this is still the case. The Bible takes center stage, where she graphic design, but later realized she didn’t rier, they have other ways to connect to summer long. Anything from “The Little Mermaid” questions the angelic image and message enjoy working on computers so much and the work. Villalobos’ style is illustrative and to “The Ugly Duckling” captured her of perfection placed upon Mary and Jesus. turned back to doing art by her own two Also, Villalobos constantly looks for vibrant; color is everything. Even in her imagination, a common thread being the Villalobos created a series of black-and- hands. That choice was not easy. ways to uplift fellow artists, especially studio, her pens are color coordinated. idea of transformation, especially when white illustrations titled “Pray for Me” and “You don’t want to disappoint the people young people of color who may not have When she paints murals, her paints are something tiny becomes something much “Offering” for a zine. These pieces depict you love. You don’t want to feel like you are access to and opportunity in the art world. organized along the roygbiv color scale. larger. Comics, anime, folklore and fantasy the Madonna and baby Jesus as vulnerable betraying anybody’s expectations for you She helps other new artists prepare their This penchant for color came from Villalo- meshed together for her to create a unique, characters who are not beyond the human to be successful,” she said, “but you have portfolios, artist statements and biogra- bos’ early years spent in the Yakima Valley, illustrative style. experience. to be true to yourself, and at some point, phies to get started on their own paths to where her father was a farmworker. Those Villalobos characterizes her style as na- “In a lot of [my] illustrations you see you have to be stubborn.” success. Her desire to help other artists years were characterized by the colors of ture overgrowing a dystopian futurescape. him crying because when you look at the comes from remembering what it was like the landscape — mainly, the yellows of the Take the public mural she painted for the Madonna, he looks so serene. In one draw- Justice as accessibility to struggle through the ins and outs of the fields — and the organic shapes and flow sodo track that runs along the Link light landscape with an earthen touch. Yet she Villalobos often borrows magical ing, I switched roles and I had Jesus be a Central to Villalobos’ philosophy is so- industry on her own. Photo by Mark White of nature that surrounded Villalobos and rail route: Blues and greens bloom across sees nature being overgrown by the ever- contexts to subvert and question the gruffy dad with a cigar and sailor tattoos cial justice and the accessibility of art for Angelina Villalobos talks with Real Change. captured her imagination. a gray warehouse, soothing an industrial expanding city. roles of women and religion that are not and the virgin Mary as the little girl, so just all people. That took shape in high school, VILLALOBOS Continued on Page 11 REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 8 ARTS May 20 – 26, 2020 May 20 – 26, 2020 OPINION 9

Jill Mullins Title IX regulations, SCHOOL OR PRISON? or lack thereof Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Nickel Boys’ is based on an infamous he Department of Education released new Title IX regulations. T Title IX is the ban on sex discrimi- Florida reform school, where life is brutal and death is too common nation in education. A refresher: On the federal level, Congress passes laws; the Review by MIKE WOLD application and enforcement of many Contributing Writer laws is often handled by administrative agencies — in the case of Title IX, the n some novels, it’s the situa- Department of Education. Administrative agencies are part of tion — not the plot, not the the executive branch. The agencies issue characters — that moves regulations and guidance to ensure people I understand how the laws will be enforced. the story. That’s the case with The Republican Party has a platform “The Nickel Boys” by Colson of de-regulation. This effectively means eliminating the enforcement of the laws Whitehead, which just won the passed by Congress to protect citizens and our lands/environment. Pulitzer Prize. Whitehead bases Regardless of the political party in his story on a now-notorious boys’ power, addressing sexual harassment and assault in education have long been contro- “reform school” in Florida that versial. In 1990, Antioch College pioneered operated from 1900 to 2011, where the first affirmative consent policy. The backlash was intense. The prevalent view brutal floggings and sometimes was affirmative consent would destroy the deaths were common enough to romance of sexual interaction (because apparently rape is romantic). fill a mostly unmarked graveyard Opponents of Title IX believe that ‘Your honor, of what am I being charged?’ schools are unequipped to investigate on the school grounds, and sexual sexual harassment and assault. Their so- molestation was common. lutions, embodied in the new regulations ‘You’re charged with having been charged’ is to create a presumption that harass- There’s more than one way to ap- ment and assault have not occurred, to proach a place like Whitehead’s fictitious rump now accuses Obama of a I’m concerned is that Boston Dynamics make it harder for victims to report and “Nickel Academy,” also in Florida. One is crime, but won’t say what crime. shipped their robot dog Spot all the way harder for schools to be held accountable to play up the atrocities and the agony, T (“You know what he did.”) If he can to Singapore so he could roam Singapore’s for not addressing harassment and sexual the brutality and the sexual molestation, do it to a former president, he can do it to parks, nagging people to practice social violence. They often couch their position to effectively sensationalize what oc- anyone. This is very dangerous behavior. Adventures distancing. in terms of protecting boys and men. curs there. An opposite approach is the Also dangerous is Mitch McConnell in Irony When I lived in Switzerland for a This framing is intentional. Patriarchy, tack Whitehead takes: His matter-of-fact saying Obama “should have kept his year, way back when you couldn’t buy sexism, sexual violence, discrimination, descriptions sometimes read like a case mouth shut” rather than criticize the ad- Dr. Wes Browning sliced bread and cow’s milk was only for racism, and all the isms weave together and study. ministration’s covid-19 response. calves, they had little old ladies to do all reinforce each other so that no lives matter. That approach also serves to empha- It’s pretty clear to me that Trump eral election would be canceled, presum- the nagging. One day I was walking in a The more oppressed categories you are in, size one of his points: A place like the considers Obama’s crime to be just that ably because his father-in-law made him park along Lake Zürich and I saw a big the less your life matters. But theories of Illustration by Jon Williams Nickel Academy was not an exception or criticism. Trump has long said he believes in charge of the coronavirus response. rock about three feet high and, having superiority obscure the reality that systems a deviation from the norm; it was merely that any criticism of him or his policies Meanwhile, the president is spouting been walking all day, I sat upon it. Within of oppression create no good choices. an extreme manifestation of what might should be illegal. He’s called for changes nonsense about how voting by mail is too seconds, a little old lady came up to me For example, patriarchy demands be called the punishment regime in Ameri- in the law to make it easier to charge liable to fraud, even though this state has to say, “Don’t you know it’s forbidden to the sacrifice of male bodies in differ- can — and particularly white Southern — someone with slander or libel. There’s been doing it for years without any seri- sit on rocks in the park?” except she said ently dehumanizing ways. Male bodies culture: “Their daddies taught them how been no such changes in the law, but that ous problems. it in German, so I could pretend I didn’t are disproportionately the victims of war, to keep a slave in line … Take him away reality doesn’t seem to be a problem for But plenty of states are holding off understand. “Jaja, no hablo alemán.” (I industry and non-sexual violence. Which from his family, whip him until all he re- him. What he can’t do in a court of law he from setting up voting by mail. So, as didn’t say that. I got off the rock. This is is one reason why affirmative consent and members is the whip, chain him up so all the bathroom, Turner befriends him. their mouths shut, like Turner, get unpaid knows that Elwood can’t succeed. Elwood can do with his supporters backing him the general election approaches, Trump just my fantasy now.) bodily autonomy is so dangerous. Because he knows is chains.” The school’s practices The school also has white students, “training” jobs in the nearby town, deliv- may believe in Martin Luther King’s phi- up, acting as a jury. could be in a position to declare a national It’s hard to argue with a little old lady if women’s bodies (and all gender non- (and those of its real-life model) were only who are strictly segregated, and one Mexi- ering school supplies, such as food, tools losophy, but he is an introverted dreamer, It’s a pretty stupid jury that would say a emergency calling for indefinite postpone- saying “Weisst du nicht? Das ist verbo- conforming bodies) should be free from partially hidden from the public, and there can American, who keeps getting bounced and clothing, that are being illicitly sold not an organizer. Turner is attracted by defendant is guilty of a crime because the ment on account of the coronavirus. Jared ten! Verboten!” But robot dogs don’t have violence, why shouldn’t men’s bodies? were many people who knew what went on from one group to the other. Still, the to grocers and hardware stores, or doing this mixture of idealism and naiveté, as prosecutor said he was, even if the defen- Kushner was probably in the room when that moral authority. The weakening of Title IX is another there and chose to remain silent. school effectively functions as a metaphor maintenance work for members of the well as Elwood’s evident intelligence and dant was not ever charged with a crime. the idea was floated. It seems most people regard robot sign of the times that we must not over- It’s the early 1960s, and two Black teen- for how racism and other oppressive sys- school’s Board of Trustees. his unwillingness to accept things as they Judge to defendant: “You have been The spike in covid-19 deaths, almost dog Spot as a sign of the End Times, but look. Similar to the failure to enforce agers are sentenced to the Nickel School. tems can operate with a veneer of consent Turner gets Elwood on the crew for are. Turner helps get Elwood’s report out charged with a crime. How do you plead?” sure to happen following the August pri- I think he’s adorable. If a robot dog told the ban on sex discrimination, failure to Turner is a smart, homeless street kid; he’s by the oppressed: There’s no fence around working in town — any chance to leave of the school, even though he suspects it “I don’t know what crime I’m being maries for federal legislators, will support me it was forbidden to sit on rocks in the employ the Defense Production Act to been at the school before and intends to the school, but trying to escape means be- the school grounds is welcome — warn- will backfire. In the end, Elwood’s biggest charged with. No one has stated a charge.” the idea that the general election would be park, I would pat his headless body where produce personal protective equipment survive it again. Elwood, on the other hand, ing tracked down by dogs and subject to ing him to keep his mouth shut about the impact is to change how Turner thinks. Judge: “You know what you did. Every- too dangerous. his head should be and say, “Oh, look at and testing for covid-19 is a failure to is a well-behaved model student, planning solitary confinement, beatings and worse. corruption he sees. Elwood, still trying As Turner puts it, “It was not enough to one here knows what you did.” Of course, there’s nothing at all in the the good little doggy woggy. Isn’t he so use the laws Congress passed to resolve to go to college in the fall, and an admirer There’s also a veneer of normality to find a way to nonviolently change the survive, you have to live.” “OK, not guilty then.” constitution that grants the president the precious!” foreseeable concerns. We have lost close of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; he was about it. The school pretends to offer a system, keeps notes on everything. When The truth about the Nickel School, like Judge: “You just perjured yourself. We power to cancel federal elections, but this Or I’d say, “Hey, why aren’t you wearing to 100,000 lives unnecessarily. Systemic arrested for being in the wrong place at the real curriculum and even diplomas to he tries to get his information to the State the real-life Dozier School in Marianna, all know you’re guilty.” is the president who says the constitution a mask?” n inequality and the weakening of non- wrong time. Turner knows that the best its “graduates.” A point system gives the of Florida, he finds out that the corruption Florida, doesn’t come out until after the And so forth. This form of justice says he can do anything he wants to. discrimination laws (and other equal way to make it out of the school is to keep illusion of a behavioral ladder that boys extends a lot farther than he had realized. school is closed and archaeology students was very popular in the Inquisition. If it Article 2, Section 1: “The executive access laws, like those related to vot- his head down, seize what opportunities can climb to be released — except that Elwood’s insistence on the power of from the University of Florida discover catches on, the U.S. is in for some pretty Power, which is All the Power in the Whole ing) have meant that a disproportionate he can and take advantage of the system. the points are arbitrarily given and taken loving resistance contrasts sharply with many more skeletons than had ever been dark times. Wide World, shall be vested in a President number of the lives lost are communities Elwood, as soon as he understands that he’s away by the staff. The annual Christmas the regimen at the school, but Turner’s documented in the records. “The Nickel In other scary news, Jared Kushner of the United States of America, whose of color, particularly Native Americans, in a prison disguised as a school, sets out pageant at the school draws visitors from friendship for Elwood creates the tension Boys” is a story that needed to be told and stunned most of the country last week by name will be Donald J. Trump. But not Sound off to Dr. Wes: which is intensified by our lack of hon- to change it. When Elwood gets in serious miles around, and the boys get presents around that philosophy that makes the a reminder of the corruption that feeds on suggesting that he had some role to play in before then, because Obama. Amen.” [email protected] oring our treaty obligations and tribal trouble while trying to break up a fight in from townspeople. Boys who can keep book more than just a horror story. Turner silence. n deciding whether or not November’s gen- The best news this week as far as sovereignty. n REALCHANGE REALCHANGE 10 CROSSWORD May 20 – 26, 2020 May 20 – 26, 2020 FEATURE 11 DOWN It Could Happen, Y’know 1 Gospel singer Winans whose name sounds Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre like an enthusiastic agreement in Spanish VILLALOBOS Continued from Page 7 2 Hurting all over Ahmaud Arbery’s killing highlights ACROSS 3 Scottish hillside “When you think about who has access 1 Street fleet 4 Big ___, Calif. 5 Word that may be a lead-up to “television” 5 1996 best-selling guide for “grammarphobes” to art school — or, in my industry, street or “tower’ (3 wds.) (3,2,1) the risk of jogging while Black artists — who are those people? Usually, 10 Quarrel 6 Cathedral recess they are white males,” she said. 14 Cream shade 7 Jacques of “Mon Oncle” By RASHAWN RAY “What is the point of paving a path for 15 Some colorful food fish 8 What often follows “ah” and precedes 16 “I am woman, hear me ____” (classic Helen “Gesundheit!” The Conversation other artists to follow if you don’t look Reddy lyric) 9 Sister channel of QVC (Abbr./Acron.) Black people are 3.5 times behind and make sure that they are com- 10 Kind of med. center 17 With “the,” a recreational activity widely nsteady cellphone footage fol- ing along with you?” associated with flappers, speakeasies and 11 Charged particles more likely than white people the 1920s (2 wds.) (10,5) 12 It’s the truth lows a jogger — an apparently Villalobos wants to see more people of 20 One of the 4 depicted on every one- and 13 Rocker Glenn of “The Eagles” U young, Black man — as he ap- color in arts spaces and often works with five-dollar U.S. bill 18 “____ take you down ‘cause I’m going to... proaches and attempts to run around a to be killed by police in youth in partnership with Urban Arts. She Strawberry Fields...” (Beatles lyric) (2 wds.) 21 “Old MacDonald” refrain (1-1-1-1-1) white pickup truck parked in the middle has clever ways of teaching them about 22 Out of practice (3,2) situations where they 23 Aliens, for short (Abbr.) 19 Apothecary weights equivalent to 1/16th of a suburban road. Moments later, he lies color theory and imparting life lessons of an ounce 24 Body____ (video technology for policing dead on the ground. when students act up. She tells them their 23 “___ go bragh!” the police) are not attacking 24 Far from the target, in a children’s The killing of Ahmaud Arbery took destiny is in their own hands; they can do 25 Film type often selected as a first date flick guessing game place Feb. 23, after the 25-year-old was something in reaction to a negative person (2 wds.) (8,7) 25 “Scratch any ____ and you will find a confronted by Gregory McMichael, a nor have a weapon. or situation in life or in spite of it. 34 “Ouch! That hurts!” disappointed idealist” (Geo. Carlin) 35 Face-to-face exams 26 Illegal liquor, informally 64-year-old former police officer and Villalobos mentions how dehumaniz- 36 Application for the Mr. Universe contest? 27 Came out of a sleep state investigator for the Brunswick, Georgia, ing the idea of being a “starving artist” can 37 Palindromic time of day 28 Desmond portrayed by Gloria Swanson in district attorney’s office, and his 34-year- be and thinks of the stigma she and her 38 One might be seared on a steer’s rear “Sunset Boulevard” old son, Travis. It took 10 weeks to gain parents have faced because of her parents. 39 Thomas Edison’s middle name 29 “Monty Python and the Holy ___” 40 “Eeew!” 30 Grammy category widespread attention with the circulation “Other people look at me, the daughter of 41 Like wallflowers, typically 31 Pitching Hall-of-Famer Ryan of video footage on social media, prompt- an illegal immigrant and a mother that is 42 Braid of hair or the “P” in RSVP 32 Palindromic Honda model ing revulsion and calls for justice. addicted to drugs her whole life — I think 43 Its absence in the brain may be directly 33 Fill with joy related to anxiety and/or depression (2 38 They may be flicked at rock concerts Gregory and Travis McMichael were I am doing pretty good, and when you wds.) (8,7) 39 Word often uttered with a sigh both taken into custody on May 7 on charg- say [starving artist], it’s actually pretty 46 Targets for a crunch crusade 41 Dalai Lama’s homeland es of murder and aggravated assault. condescending. It’s invalidating.” 47 Greyhound vehicle 42 Luxurious 48 Ala ____ 44 What the “M” video game rating stands for Villalobos has painted beautiful com- SOLUTION 51 Jewish wedding rings? 45 Ancient calculating device that’s still Death in suburbia missioned murals with private clients, 54 Tiebreakers, briefly (Abbr.) being used throughout the world The killing of Arbery by people with such as Microsoft and Starbucks, as well 48 Large percentage of names in film credits, 57 What someone hoping for something links to law enforcement raises impor- as city and community art projects. Many Blizzard that’s possible but highly unlikely has... typically May 13 Issue or a hint to a feature of the 3 other long 49 Pro : for :: ____ : against tant questions over why it took so long of her murals feature animals, which she answers in this puzzle (3 wds.) (2,7,6) 50 Word before “work” or “warrior” to make arrests in the case and the so- often decorates to signify that they are 60 Shape employed in many rating systems 51 Online option that turns into “show” when called blue wall of silence that extends precious creatures. Her bright colors that Donate an old car to clicked 61 “Farewell, mon ami” from law enforcement agencies to pros- play with contrast splash nature on walls Solutions to 62 Country singer McEntire’s self-styled 1988 52 Scandinavian war god REAL CHANGE this week’s album title 53 Part of many a woodwind instrument ecutor’s offices and courtrooms. across the city. puzzle 63 “Time and ____ wait for no man” (Chaucer) 54 Most fit rating for a military draft (3-1) But there is a separate question that Villalobos finds herself caught be- 64 Heals, as a broken bone 55 Leading inits. in frozen desserts will appear 56 Group that includes the Caribbean and the needs to be asked: Why do these inci- tween wanting to create work with a 1.877.537.5277 65 The “Say Hey Kid” of the Giants from 1951-72 in the Mediterranean dents seem to occur in certain types of message and simply creating something realchangenews.org/index.php/site/giving next issue. 58 Yosemite ____ (Bugs Bunny adversary) neighborhoods? Satilla Shores, where aesthetically beautiful. “When I deal with 59 Something up a magician’s sleeve Arbery was killed by the McMichaels, the city, when I do public works of art, I is predominately white and suburban. It want it to mean something,” she said. evokes memories of the killings of Tray- The catch for her is being part of a von Martin, Jonathan Ferrell, Renisha generation that is so attached to being Streaming to stay sane McBride and Tamir Rice. able to make money from their passions, As a sociologist and public health schol- which makes it challenging to refute the Almost all King County events are canceled, so we’re listing streaming events for optimal physical distancing ar, I have studied physical activity and how it idea that everything one does has to make varies by race and social class. I know that value or have a purpose. the exact behaviors that are encouraged to A mural she did in White Center broke May 25 real estate divorce specialist. A licensed movement patterns that can help us feel May 30 extend life for all are the exact ones that can this open for her. “I remember doing it and family and marriage counselor will also more awake, grounded and refreshed. be present. The meetup recurs on the This help from Seattle Theatre Group end the life of men like Ahmaud — in short, thinking, ‘I’ll just do happy little fish; a Online Improv Workout last Wednesday monthly, if you miss is much appreciated while sheltering in Pole with Purpose: A virtual competition jogging while Black can be deadly. koi pond can be here; something beauti- 7–8:30 p.m., pay what you can, Zoom info this week’s or find yourself suddenly place. The BrainDance is friendly for all for COVID-19 relief, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., dona- In 2017, I published a study on physi- ful can exist here.’ So I put these little with registration at tinyurl.com/yd69xhh2 needing some info. ages and abilities, so gather a crew from tions encouraged, Facebook Live, tinyurl. cal activity — focusing on where and how goldfish,” she said. Villalobos painted the com/yd5ag4rl Have you taken improv classes before near and far for a nice midday break. people exercise, and breaking this down been documented in public places like force upon them. mural for free, but it became one of her and feel like getting back in the game? Also, may I add that now is a time to Photographing Wildflowers of the Pacific really dance (BrainDance included) like Pole with Purpose is an all-day com- by race and gender. I surveyed nearly 500 stores, restaurants and coffee shops. most photographed and tagged pieces on And by the game, I mean practicing Northwest, 6:30–9:30 p.m., free, register at petition with 80 participants from all middle-class Black and white professionals Black men are often criminalized Signaling or survival? social media. and performing improv in your living no one is watching? Let loose and have tinyurl.com/y7z2uyqc fun with it! over the world. The judges will provide around the United States. The research also in public spaces — that means they are Some Black men attempt to make “It’s hard, because we think of getting room. Unexpected Productions is host- feedback to every participant and give ing this 90-minute workshop that will Despite the fact that the spring season lighthearted titles and fun awards. The included in-depth interviews, focus groups perceived as potential threats and preda- themselves less threatening. When it that [monetary] check as the validation lead you through games, exercises and felt sort of canceled, the blooming of Digitizing Your Family Photos, 5–6 p.m., donations will go to support people who and observations of public spaces in cities tors. Consequently, their Blackness is comes to jogging in white neighborhoods, versus … tagging me in a photo they open scenes to reinforce and hone your the Pacific Northwest continued on donations encouraged, register at tinyurl. have lost their income due to covid-19, with varying racial and class compositions, weaponized. Moreover, Black men’s some of the Black men I spoke to wore took with their little kids in front of the without interruption. Advocates Alanna improv skills. Unexpected Productions com/y8tep8dv including the event staff of Seattle’s Posi- including Oakland and Rancho Cucamonga, physical bodies are viewed as potential alumnus T-shirts, carried I.D., waved and mural — how do you put money on that? Veteran Paul Levy and Education Di- Jonson (environmentalist and amateur tive Spin Pole Dance Gym, as well as Sex rector Jill Farris will be there to provide photographer) and Jennifer Carr (na- Remember when photographs lived California; Brentwood, Tennessee; Bowie, weapons that could invoke bodily harm, smiled at neighbors, and ran in well-lit, Obviously, the attention and the love the outside of screens on actual paper?! The Workers Outreach Project-Seattle. Tune constructive feedback along the way. ture photographer and educator) will in for a fun-filled day of watching rare Maryland; and Forest Park, Ohio. even when they are not holding anything populated areas. community is showing is worth the weight Improvisation seems just as important a host a webinar on how to identify and Southwest Seattle Historical Society I found that race and place significantly in their hands or attacking. In fact, Black This is hardly surprising. Black men do of the mural in gold.” n wants to help you organize your old fam- and wonderful performances! skill to develop as baking endless banana photograph the flowers of this beautiful inform where people engage in physical ac- people are 3.5 times more likely than this at work by thinking consciously about bread, so enjoy! region. You’ll learn techniques to identify ily photos, like those stashed in a shoebox and photograph wildflowers, following in the back of a closet or collecting dust tivity: White men, white women and Black white people to be killed by police in their attire, tone and pitch of voice, and nature-first principles, and you’ll gain on your grandma’s bookshelves. Col- women living in predominately white areas situations where they are not attacking behavioral mannerisms. Even during the co- READER REACTIONS May 27 a new appreciation for these local won- lections Manager Rachel Regelein will were significantly more likely to engage in nor have a weapon. vid-19 pandemic, many Black men are going ders. Now you can add zest to your daily walk you through the basics to digitize physical activity in their neighborhoods. My research highlights that the social to great lengths to reduce criminalization these parts of your history, answer- Do’s & Don’ts of Separation & Divorce walks by running into your new friends Black men living in predominately white psychology of criminalization — the in- by staying in the house, wearing colorful — the beautiful blooms. ing questions: How do you best scan a Meetup, 5:30–7 p.m., free, register at photo nowadays? What is the best file neighborhoods, however, were far less ability to separate concepts of criminality masks and even forgoing masks altogether. tinyurl.com/ycrrmojt type for storage? Where do you even likely to engage in physical activity in the from a person’s identity or role in society Sociologists call it a signaling process. Full disclosure: This event is hosted by a May 21 and 28 start? And many more. There is also a areas surrounding their own homes. — is important here. Often, physical Black men call it survival. “This is a great law firm, but because the topic is often downloadable reference guide available features such as skin tone are used to An irony in the case of Ahmaud Arbery “taboo” and the experience can be isolat- for you after the workshop to continue Calendar compiled by Michelle Galluzzo. Weekly BrainDance, 1–4 p.m., free, Face- the project. I hope this made you feel as Got something we should know about? Good neighbors? guide attitudes, emotions and behaviors is that it has set in motion a campaign newspaper with a ing, it could be an important resource. book and Instagram Live, tinyurl.com/ nostalgic (read: old) as me for the days of Email it to [email protected]. Black men I interviewed who had that can influence interactions between that could see more Black men putting on If you find yourself in a separation or ydbt7env divorce, this meetup will offer a Q&A printed photos! The deadline for calendar submissions is jogged in white neighborhoods where people of different races and lead to over- their running shoes. The #IRunWithMaud focus on activism with a top divorce attorney, a certified What is a BrainDance, you might be nine days prior to the date of publication. they lived reported incidents of the police simplified generalizations about a person’s social media campaign is encouraging divorce financial analyst and a certified wondering? Well, it’s a series of eight being called on them, neighbors scurry- character. For Black men, this means that people to jog 2.23 miles — a reference to and change.” ing to the other side of the street as they negative perceptions about their propen- the date on which Arbery was killed. n approached, receiving disgruntled looks sity to commit crime, emotional stability, — Tony G. and seeing the shutting of screen doors aggressiveness and strength can be used Rashawn Ray is an associate professor of as they passed. Similar experiences have as justification for others to enact physical sociology at the University of Maryland. REALCHANGE 12 NEWS May 20 – 26, 2020

BRIDGE Continued from Page 5 that are already on the table, it would defi- the traffic and pollution caused by the In the coming weeks, Marx plans to re- nitely be now, so that they are not left out bridge closure, many residents pointed spond to all community letters, as well as to reach out to the city through a letter of the shuffle. Because if those projects to investments in more transportation begin dialogue and unveil neighborhood with more than two dozen community remain further delayed, then the equities options and safety for pedestrians. traffic plans that “will include all the ideas stakeholders as signatories. — the inequity and the inaccessibility will “We’ve been advocating to get to the that we’ve collected both within sdot as Mayor Jenny Durkin unveiled the city’s continue in those communities.” Duwamish River,” Jolene Hass of the Du- well as from the community,” she said. Duwamish Valley Action Plan in 2018 with “When the low span bridge also closes, wamish Tribe said. “We’ve been advocat- “We want to give comprehensive re- a goal to “expand economic opportunity, if only temporarily for repairs of the upper ing for crosswalks because we try to get sponses that really address in a serious make environmental progress and in- bridge, every single person riding a bike to the river [and] to T-107 Park, which is way all of the issues that the community crease investments in the South Park and towards downtown will be going through an archeological site. And we have tours has brought up,” Marx said, “and that’s Georgetown communities.” Georgetown or South Park,” Jesse Moore and schoolchildren that come.” not something that can be completed in “The city has been better, the invest- said. “They’ll have to. And I think now The Duwamish Longhouse sits on an 10 minutes. We really want to put some ment … the city is doing a lot with their everybody’s realizing there is no safe acre of land across the street from the thought into it.” race, social justice and equity toolkit. bicycle infrastructure at all through the Duwamish River, along West Marginal On April 28, District 1 Councilmember They’re trying to address systemic and manufacturing industrial center into Way, one of the main routes to West Seattle Lisa Herbold, whose district encompasses historical racism,” said Aley Thompson. sodo. … I think that there are projects like since the bridge’s closure. West Seattle and South Park, held a virtual Despite programs like the Duwamish the South Park to Georgetown trail that The park across the street, T-107, is town hall to take questions and hear con- Valley Action Plan, there is fear among could be a way for the residents in those owned by the Port of Seattle. Many visi- cerns from residents. members of the community that the neighborhoods and community members tors use its parking lot while visiting the “We’re sharing all recommendations momentum created might dissipate if to better access those spaces.” Duwamish Longhouse. with sdot,” Herbold said, “really requiring West Seattle Bridge mitigation plans lack DVSS recently concluded outreach for “We need people to be able to come to them to communicate with folks as much Duwamish Valley voices. a planned Georgetown to South Park bike the Longhouse,” Hass said. “We have lim- as possible in real time.” “drof [The Duwamish River Opportu- trail in partnership with sdot and fears ited parking and people want to ride their She stresses it’s also up to voters to help nity Fund] came out of years of advocacy,” that dealing with the bridge closure may bikes and take the bus. … A lot of Indian mitigate impacts in the Duwamish Valley. Lopez said, “to have more community halt just when communities need it most. people are poor; they ask to take the bus. “In order for any of that work to really ownership, community ways of doing “Right now the city’s under a lot of We have people that work for us that don’t come to fruition,” Herbold said, “we need to things. When you’re thinking about the budget restraints and there’s a lot of con- have cars that need to take the bus.” make sure that Seattle passes a new trans- government doing things better and en- siderations for prioritizing other essential Currently, bus service doesn’t run on portation benefit district. We are not going to gaging populations — but then these types needs at this time. But I think the bridge the stretch of West Marginal Way where have any additional funding for new services. of things happen. … What happened with closure has highlighted the need for city- the Duwamish Longhouse sits. The city has a new transportation benefit the encouragement for communities and wide connectivity. The concern would be Letters from the Duwamish Valley district package on the ballot in November.” for creating programs that talk more to keeping those projects hopefully on the and Georgetown include suggestions for “I’m hoping that now they’ll see that equity when you didn’t even consult with table,” Moore said. increased bus service, safe pedestrian West Marginal Way has got to become [the] community?” “Because of the pandemic, everybody’s crossings and improved bike connection. more important to the community,” Haas drof is a grant pool awarded by the budget is squeezed,” Marx said. “We at Haa s noted that there have been some said. city to “improve the quality of life and SDOT, as well as the mayor and the City new traffic revisions near the Duwamish “I’m tired of feeling afraid to ask, like restore the health of Duwamish River Council, have to take into consideration the Longhouse and Cultural Center. “We’re it’s asking too much. That’s how we feel communities.” needs of the whole city, but with a special thankful that sdot did traffic revisions in most of the time.” n “I think this health crisis has really recognition that the communities that are front of the Longhouse to make it easier shown a lack of infrastructure for people most impacted by the West Seattle Bridge to see traffic,” she said. “They’ve reduced Bunthay Cheam was born in the Khao I to have alternate routes to get to where closure are attended to appropriately.” two lanes to one lane going south. It gives Dang refugee camp. He is a storyteller, they’re going,” Peaches Thomas said. “If When asked about what the Duwamish us a chance to get out to West Marginal activist and lifelong resident of South there is a time for prioritizing the projects Valley communities need to best absorb Way without getting hit.” Park.