The Struggle to Stay in the Central District
Seattle’s Central District was shaped by racist real estate and financial practices, but kept vibrant and loved by its Black residents. The neighborhood is now a shadow of its former self. Many of the former residents have been priced out of living there. Houses in this neighborhood are selling for at least a million dollars today, with property taxes shooting up each year. (more…)
Crowd Funding and its Potential for Affordable Housing
In 2012, Barack Obama sign a piece of legislation called the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, expanding what can be done with crowd funding. YES! Magazine highlights a recent story regarding how this rule change could potentially open up more funding for affordable housing. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with Senior Editor James Trimarco to find out more.
Affordable Housing
Funds can be a bit tight for many of us after the holidays, but what about our local homeless families and individuals? How can they secure housing in a city with such high costs? KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with Sharon Lee, Executive Director of Seattle’s Low Income Housing Institute, to find out what’s being done to provide affordable housing in our area.
Seattle and Affordable Housing
The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) rolled out earlier this month. Since then, a lot buzzes around Seattle’s proposed zoning changes, tenant’s rights and interests and access to home ownership.
This week’s series looks at some background on the HALA report and on Seattle’s movement for rent control.
Episode 1, 2 & 3 – Jonathan Grant is a member of the Seattle mayor’s housing affordability and livability agenda or HALA committee and the former Executive Director of the Washington State Tenant’s Union. He’s also running as candidate for Seattle City Council. He goes into some backstory 0n the HALA report.
Episode 4 – Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant addresses rent control in other U.S. cities.
Episode 5 – This piece offers segments of the Rent Control Debate at Seattle’s Town Hall on July 20th. Speakers are Seattle City Councilmembers, Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata for rent control. Speaking opponents of rent control are State Representative, Matt Manweller and Development Lobbyist and Director of Smart Growth Seattle, Roger Valdez
Episode 6 – Executive Director of Homestead Community Land Trust (HCLT) Cathleen Hosfeld and HCLT homeowner, Estevan Munoz Howard discuss the land trust movement in Seattle.
Below is the full rent control debate at Town Hall on July 20th, 2015
Music: Rushus – Crimson Turtles
Image: Artist is Melissa Klein – print was created for an article by Sara
Shortt of the San Francisco Housing Rights Committee
Producers: Ruth Bly, Kei Imada and Yuko Kodama
