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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2018)
November 14, 2018 The Skanner Portland & Seattle Page 5 News Events & Announcements Community Calendar 2018 cont’d from pg 4 Dimension Recovery Center, 3807 NE MLK Blvd. BLACK STORYTIME: The African and African American experience comes alive for children from birth to age 6. In a positive and affirming environment, have fun with books and stories, songs, and movement activities. Black Storytime builds language and literacy skills your child needs to be ready for kindergarten. From 10:30 – 11 a.m., North Portland Library, 512 N. Killingsworth St. PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Police Contract Protest Dozens of people representing 24 community groups including the NAACP, Not This Time, Creative Justice and Africatown held a press conference on Tuesday November 13 at City Hall to express their opposition to the City of Seattle’s new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild. The community groups say the new contract rolls back recently-negotiated police accountability reforms. Despite the opposition, the Seattle City Council voted 8 to 1 to approve the contract. Briefs cont’d from pg 4 of events exploring Indigeneity in the twenty-first century. All events are free and open to the public. Luger’s ar-ti-fact exhibit will be on view in the mu- seum’s Oregon—Where Past Is Present hall through August 2019. Raised on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, Luger is a New Mexico-based, multi-disci- plinary artist of Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, Austrian, and Norwegian descent. Interweaving per- formance, visual arts, and political action, Luger’s work invites us all to engage with Indigenous Peoples and values apart from the colonial lens. Luger’s ar-ti-fact exhibit will be on view in the mu- seum’s Oregon—Where Past Is Present hall through August 2019. All events are free and open to the public. Seattle News Briefs Gang Unit and Massive Investments in Housing, Homeless Services, and Transportation Headline Budget Tuesday the King County Council adopted the 2019- 2020 county budget, a plan that includes funding to restore the Sheriff ’s gang unit, $100 million for af- fordable housing projects, and $230 million to com- bat homelessness. This week’s passage comes after nearly two months of deliberation and review of the proposal delivered from the County Executive in September. Totaling $11.7 billion dollars, the budget is headlined by an ar- ray of key measures: The restoration of the gang unit, a vital law enforce- ment tool an communities affected by gang violence. Increasing shelter space for the homeless while in- creasing oversight of funding for programs. Taking steps to implement a low/no-cost transit fares for Metro’s lowest-income passengers with the goal of having the program in place by 2020. Providing funds to help meet the region’s growing transit needs, including 200,000 hours in increased bus service throughout King County. There are also funds to study new transit options, including Seattle ferry services to and from Renton and Kenmore. Examining the impact of the wastewater system on orcas and salmon. For more information visit https://www.kingcoun- ty.gov/council/budget.aspx/ Kohl-Welles: County Must Speed Up Visa Certification Process for Immigrant Victims of Violent Crime Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles successfully secured funding in the 2019-2020 county budget to add an additional full- time records management specialist to ensure the King County Sheriff ’s Office is processing U visa re- quests within the state-mandated 90-day time frame. “Non-citizens in the United States are especially vulnerable if they become victims of a crime,” said Kohl-Welles. “While King County welcomes all im- migrants regardless of their immigration status, we must go above and beyond to ensure these victims of crime have equal access to justice and are able to help law enforcement without fear of retribution or deportation.” The U nonimmigrant status visa, also known as the U visa, is essentially a permit that allows for vic- tims of crime immigrating into the United States, or non-citizens already in the United States, to enter or remain in the U.S. when they might not otherwise be able to do so. There is a list of qualifying crimes, including domestic violence and sexual assault, for which victims are able to qualify for being granted a U visa. The crime must have occurred in the United States and the victim must be helpful to law enforce- ment or the government agency that is investigating the crime. Currently, it can take up to six months for the King County Sheriff ’s Office (KCSO) to certify U visa re- quests. In emergency cases, such as if it is for an ap- plicant under the age of 21, KCSO would be required to respond to U visa requests within 14 days of receipt. In addition, T visas, a similar visa for victims of traf- ficking, are included in the budget language. AUDUBON STORY TIME: Join us for Kid’s Story Time, a read-aloud geared towards kids aged 3-6 (although all are welcome). Each month we pick a nature-themed picture book to read, followed by a fun activity that ties into the story. This event is free to attend. From 1- 2 p.m., Audubon Interpretive Center, 5151 NW Cornell Rd. A YEAR OF RETURNING: Home school and Ori Gallery are excited to present a talk by Ashley Alexandra Johnson, Founding Fellow and Program Director of Birthright Africa. Joining remotely from Accra, Ashley will discuss her work with Birthright AFRICA, how it led her to moving back to the African continent, “The Year of Return” (the Ghanaian commemoration of 400 years since the slave trade began), and the roles and opportunities she sees for the BADASS (Black American Descendants of American Slavery & Sharecropping) diasporas. Snacks and refreshments available. From 7 -9 p.m., Ori Gallery, 4038 N. Mississippi Ave. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 JUSTICE FOR JENNIFER LAUDE: Jennifer Laude was a 26-year-old trans Filipina who was brutally murdered by US marine Joseph Scott Pemberton in Oct. 11, 2014. On this Transgender Day of Re- membrance, join us for a community forum and screening of Call Her Ganda—a documentary that sheds light on the life and case of Jennifer Laude and her family’s struggle for justice. Free screening, 6:30 – 9 p.m., 4115 N Mississippi Ave. Seattle Metro SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 CLASSICAL PERSIAN MUSIC: Behrooz Alavi introduces Persian music and performs alongside Ali Ghaemmaghami on the spiked bowed-string instrument known as kamancheh, and vocalist and percussionist Sarang Amirtabar playing tombak, a gob- let-shaped drum. 10 a.m., Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave. HOLIDAY ART EXHIBIT: Buy glass and ceramic art and pieces by the Northwest Pastel Society at this regionally focused holiday art market. From 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave, Everett. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 SHORT STORIES LIVE SEATTLE EDITION: Our beloved Short Sto- ries Live series returns to present ‘Seattle Voices,’ a collection of readings from the works of Black and Indigenous authors read by talented local actors. Tickets $15, 6 p.m., Rainier Arts Center, 3515 S Alaska St. fairs’ website: https://www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs/ programs/daca. Mayor Durkan Commends the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ Ruling to Uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program Red Cross Issues Immediate Call for Blood and Platelet Donations The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week upheld a ruling that continues the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Led by City Attorney Pete Holmes, the City of Seattle in March signed on to an amicus brief in support of undocu- mented youth. “Today’s ruling is another win for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our DACA youth,” said Mayor Durkan. “In Seattle, we know that our immigrant and refugee neighbors contribute endlessly to the success of our city. This will not be the Trump admin- istration’s last attack on our values, and this is not the last time we will have to stand up for our immi- grant communities. We will not give in to hate-filled fear-mongering from this administration, or any oth- er. We will continue to fight for our undocumented young people.” The City of Seattle funds the efforts of several com- munity organizations to provide legal assistance, education, and outreach support to DACA recipi- ents. You can find the City’s latest action in support of DACA on the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Af- The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage and urgently needs blood and platelet do- nors to give now to avoid delays in lifesaving medical care for patients. Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from wors- ening this winter. During September and October, the Red Cross col- lected over 21,000 fewer blood and platelet donations than what hospitals needed. Blood donors of all blood types, especially type O, and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood. org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Fewer blood drives in September and October cou- pled with hurricanes Michael and Florence, which caused thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected, were key contributing factors to the current blood shortage. “This time of year, as many give thanks for family, friends and good health, it’s important to remember that patients across the country cannot survive with- out your generosity,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services.
