Tag Archives: mike mcginn

Beacon Bits: Grocery stores, town halls, and a song

A new Grocery Outlet is coming to nearby SoDo. Photo by Jason.
A new Grocery Outlet is coming to nearby SoDo. Photo by Jason.
The Grocery Outlet just off Rainier Avenue, next to the Mount Baker train station, didn’t survive long enough to see the station open. It closed last year, its business hampered by ongoing station construction right in front of its parking lot.

Fans of Grocery Outlet shopping will soon have another nearby option, however, with a new store opening in the former state liquor store site on Fourth Avenue South in SoDo. The new site is not as convenient to pedestrians as the old one, however; the nearest Link station, instead of being right next door, is about a half-mile walk around a huge block and part of the Metro bus base.

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Mayor-elect McGinn is hosting three town halls this week to hear your thoughts and ideas about the future of the city. Two of the town halls are reasonably close to us here on Beacon Hill.

These are the locations:

Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Avenue Northeast
7:00 pm, Monday, November 30

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Avenue South
7:00 pm, Tuesday, December 1

Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center At Rainier Beach High School, 8815 Seward Park Avenue South
7:00 pm, Wednesday, December 2

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Beacon Hill’s Helladope had KEXP’s song of the day last Monday with “Just So You Know.”

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Did you deep-fry your Thanksgiving turkey? Still wondering what to do with all that excess cooking oil? Red Apple has joined with Standard Biodiesel to collect your used turkey fryer oil. Standard will donate money to Children’s Hospital for each gallon collected. Please contact the store before bringing in your oil; instructions are in the link above.
Thanks to the P-I’s Big Blog!

Beacon Bits: Off the rails, on the record, at the party, and eating right

KING 5 has a slideshow and story of a Link Light Rail train derailment today in SoDo.

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KOMO’s (and Beacon Hill’s) Travis Mayfield has posted an interview he conducted with Senator Patty Murray on health care. Travis also points out Mike McGinn‘s “Victory Party” taking place this Friday, November 20th, at the NewHolly Gathering Hall, to which everyone is invited.

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The Seattle Institute for Biochemical and Clinical Research located at the VA hospital is seeking a full time Research Dietitian, if you happen to know a dietitian looking for a gig.

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Supposed to get pretty windy tonight and tomorrow, like it was early this morning; make sure your garbage cans and lids and such are secure and aren’t blowing down the street.

Mayoral candidate McGinn visits Beacon Hill for town hall meeting

Mike McGinn speaks at Beacon Hill town hall meeting, September 19. Photo by melissajonas.
Mike McGinn speaks at Beacon Hill town hall meeting, September 19. Photo by melissajonas.
Mike McGinn had a whirlwind day in Southeast Seattle.  He started off in Columbia City, opened his new office near Othello Station, more in the ID, then to Jefferson Park Community Center at 8:00 pm.  He was up-front about being tired, but made it clear he was happy to be in Beacon Hill.

About 25 of our neighbors came to share their ideas with Mike.  He was engaging, patient, and smart.  He listened and responded thoughtfully.  He does not seem like a politician.  Will people vote for someone who doesn’t seem like a politician?  I hope they do.  Mike McGinn is working very hard to establish personal connections–he’s not slick or packaged.  He’s honest about not knowing the answer to everything.  Attending a McGinn event is a refreshing change from closely-managed rallies with talking points. 

Campaign volunteer (and Southeast Seattle community activist) Thao Tran introduced him by name, then Mike shared his personal history.  He’s originally from Long Island, New York.  His parents were both involved in public education: his dad, a school administrator, his mom a pre-K and Kindergarten teacher.  Mike and his wife have three kids in Seattle public schools.  Public education is very important to McGinn, on a personal level.  He’s committed to improving the quality of Seattle public schools.

He moved to Seattle in 1989, practiced law for a while, then founded Great City–a nonprofit striving to “enhance our quality of life, help preserve our region’s natural beauty, and make Seattle a model of economic and environmental sustainability.”  Mike explained that Great City was–in part–responsible for putting the Pro Parks Levy on the ballot and helping pass it.   Mike got the community organizing bug.  He threw his name in for mayor, believing that the race needed to be about the future.  He won the primary, and is running against Joe Mallahan to be our next Mayor.  It’s a surprise to everyone–including Mike.  He says, “Everyone expected this race to be between Nickels and someone.  It’s not–it’s between two new guys.  That gives a chance to talk about the future.  We still need to learn from the past–but let’s talk about the future.”

McGinn stayed after his presentation to review the North Beacon Hill neighborhood plan in progress. Photo by melissajonas.
McGinn stayed after his presentation to review the North Beacon Hill neighborhood plan in progress. Photo by melissajonas.
The Beacon Hill town hall topics included bringing jobs to the Hill, making it easier for small businesses (including home businesses) to survive and grow, making our parks safer and improving internet connectivity on the Hill and around the city.  McGinn addressed concerns from two neighbors about a gun ban in parks violating civil liberties by saying that he supports the proposed ban because he believes it will make our parks safer.

McGinn’s campaign is run entirely by volunteers.  He rides his bike, takes mass transit, and relies on rides from supporters to get to events.   He’s gotten the most press from his vocal opposition to a deep-bore tunnel replacing the Alaskan Way viaduct.  Neighbors asked Mike about the tunnel and how he would do things differently.  He laid out a clear, succinct argument.  Google “Mike McGinn tunnel” to hear it.

I was more interested in how he felt/what he thinks about all the other issues facing Seattle.  We’ve heard a lot about how McGinn opposes the tunnel.  It turns out McGinn supports a lot of other things:  improving public schools, supporting neighborhoods, making Seattle safer, saving money, creating a broadband public utility, and lots of other things.  His campaign established a website so you can share your thoughts: www.ideasforseattle.org.

Are you registered to vote at your current address?  Have you researched the candidates and the issues on the ballot?  Be a good neighbor; be an informed, engaged voter.  Attend meetings, read materials, talk to your neighbors.  We are choosing a new mayor for the first time in eight years.  This decision will shape our neighborhood for years–if not decades–to come.

Beacon Bits: Candidate visit, free trees, Jungle tour, and poetry

You could grow these on your own tree, free from EarthCorps and the Mayors Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Photo by Erlomo.
You could grow these on your own tree, free from EarthCorps and the Mayor's Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Photo by Erlomo.
Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn, who seems to be attempting to court Southeast Seattle voters lately, is hosting a “town hall” meeting at the Jefferson Park community center at 8pm on Saturday, September 19th. He’ll also be at the Columbia City library earlier the same day, at 10:30am. (There probably won’t be much yelling at these town halls.)

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More free trees! EarthCorps and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment are looking to provide trees to residents to plant on private property or the planting/parking strips along the street in neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage. There are several trees to choose from, including cherry trees. Check the EarthCorps site for more info and the application form.

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Craig Thompson takes KOMO’s Travis Mayfield for a walk in the Jungle. Video, too. And more at Travis’s personal blog.

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Garage sale Sunday near 28th and FerdinandCraigslist
You can post your own garage sale announcements in our Forum.

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The Chrysanthemum Literary Society’s inaugural poetry reading is this Saturday, the 19th, from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Beacon Hill library.

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Don’t forget the other events coming up — like the Lucile Street block party this Saturday starting at noon! Check out the event calendar for more.