Michael McGinn's Blog (11)

Inspired by the success of this site, the Seattle Great City Initiative has started a new website -- my.greatcity.org. We thought about just taking this site and evolving it into the new site, but we decided it was cleaner to start fresh with a new community site. However, we really want all of the members of this site to come over to my.greatcity.org and share your ideas, projects and passion with the people there. The topics are intended to be broader than just parks and open space. We want t… Continue

A few people have asked me about the tax rate for the Parks Levy, as the ballot title is a little confusing. The Parks Levy will cost the median priced home about $81 a year, about $30 a year less than the expiring levy. The ballot title also mentions an overall limit on property taxes of $2.60, but that includes all other city taxes. That amount is not the rate for the parks levy. By the way, city property taxes per $1000 assessed valuation have declined over time. Check out www.timburgess.com… Continue

The editorial in today's P-I urging a yes vote on the levy captures what this is all about: "A citizens group formed by the council built its ideas for the parks projects from existing city plans. But rather than slipping into bureaucratic process, the group created a plan that almost magically captures how residents live and want to live. There is money for P-patches, sports fields, playgrounds and trails. There are forest and stream restorations, park developments on 66 acres of new reservoir… Continue

This week's Stranger has a full page advertisement for the parks levy, in a special section encouraging people to register to vote Grab a copy, and share with your friends. It is a great image, and great message. After you take a look, I hope you are inspired to come back here and volunteer for our events, and donate. We need your help to spread the word. Continue

We have some great events planned this weekend as part of our Rolling Kickoff. Check out the events section for more details. We would love to have "on the bus" with us, or at some of the planned events. Continue

Please help us by picking out an event this weekend that you can help spread the word. It is easy, go to an event listing, RSVP, and invite your friends. Brady will make sure you will have materials. Get outside while the weather is still good, and help win more parks for Seattle! Continue

More grassroots Democratic Party groups support the Parks Levy. Tuesday night saw both the 11th District and 43rd District Democrats endorse the Parks Levy. Great work by our volunteers who represented the campaign at those meetings. Continue

Thanks to everyone who showed up at the volunteer party. Joyce, Brice and Cheryl led the way on making signs. Brady and David helped train people on all the different organizing tools on the website. New folks signed up, joined groups, and agreed to leaflet events. 3000 flyers were taken away by volunteers for distribution. Bill Farmer showed off his "Seattle Parks for All" sign mounted on his bicycle rack (I hope somebody got a picture.) But mainly, people from all over town had the chance to… Continue

More good news -- both the 34th and 36th Democrats endorsed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy this past week. Continue

Two of my favorite organizations in town posted their endorsements for Seattle Parks for All today Friends of Seattle, http://www.friendsofseattle.org/vision.php and Allied Arts, http://www.alliedarts-seattle.org/. Both organizations care deeply about how our city grows, and that is what this levy is about. Creating active healthy places, that help build community. And leaving a legacy of great parks for the next generation, just as we have been given great parks by prior generations. Thanks… Continue

Cheryl Trivision and I distributed Parks Levy flyers up at the playground dedication in Ravenna last night. It was a beautiful evening and lots of neighbors were out enjoying the community celebration. Folks were very receptive to getting information, and many said they supported the renewal. A few people thanked me for working on behalf of parks, which was very nice. Tom Rassmussen spoke briefly at the event, and in his remarks spoke about the importance of parks in communities and the pending… Continue