curated by Vee Hua 華婷婷
This week, the Seattle City Council is discussing Mayor Bruce Harrell's proposed budget, which is to be amended and approved by the council before going into effect. The budget hearing process is as follows:
Budget Hearing Breakdown: The first day of committee this week, Tuesday, Oct. 11, presented a general overview of the council's General Fund balancing as well as related fund policies.
Each following day this week will cover a handful of departments and their related budgets:
Tune in live or watch recordings of each day on the Seattle Channel. Recordings of each session are usually uploaded within the hour for folks who miss a day. You can stream each hearing on their website Seattle Channel Live.
Hybrid Public Meetings: In-person and online at City Hall:
All are also welcome to provide public comment during the first committee meeting on Budget Deliberations on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m.
Written public comment will also be accepted at all meetings of the Budget Committee. Comments intended for the full council can be sent to Council@Seattle.gov.
Registration for public comment opens up to two hours before the specific allotted time. Seattle City Council encourages remote participation due to COVID-19, but in-person opportunities are also available at City Hall.
Seattleites are invited to participate in the White Cane Day Walk 2022 in Seattle on Saturday, Oct. 15, starting at 10:00 a.m. The 1-mile walk will begin at the south base of the Space Needle (400 Broad St.) and end at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (2021 9th Ave.).
According to the press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State, "The event celebrates people who are blind and visually impaired, many of whom use a 'white cane.' White canes not only help drivers and other pedestrians see them; they also enable users to avoid obstacles, find steps and curbs, locate and step over cracks or uneven surfaces, find doorways, get into cars and buses, and more. Through the years the white cane has become a symbol of independence that empowers the blind and visually impaired to explore and navigate their environment."
The walk will be followed by a reception. Vendors will be on hand to provide information and services such as cane repair, wayfinding apps, human guides, and more.
Those who are blind or visually impaired, their families and friends, and the general public are encouraged to join this free event, which is open to all.
White Cane Safety Day was first signed into law in 1964. Over the years, it has shifted from safety towards greater independence and quality. In 2011, White Cane Day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day by then-President Barack Obama.
Following a summer of reduced hours, the Seattle Public Library will increase service hours for a number of branches starting in mid-October. Changes will take place at the Ballard, Capitol Hill, Douglass-Truth Branch, Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, Montlake Branch, and Rainier Beach Branch, as well as the Central Library downtown, which will reopen its upper levels starting Sunday, Oct. 16.
All current open hours can be found at SPL.org/Hours and the updated branch hours are listed below.
(Note: Takes effect Thursday, Oct. 20)
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Before you move on to the next story …
The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.
If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn’t have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.
We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!