NEWS GLEAMS | Wing Luke Unveils 'Healing' Mural; New Interim CEO at King County Regional Homelessness Authority

A roundup of news and announcements we don't want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!

by Vee Hua 華婷婷

Wing Luke Museum Unveils 'Healing' Mural Following Vandalism

This week, the Wing Luke Museum unveiled a "healing mural," designed by local artists Sami Hilario and Shea Takabayashi Dailey.

The artwork is situated within Canton Alley in the Chinatown-International District and features a brightly colored pheasant, which can be considered a symbol of strength and auspiciousness in Chinese culture.

"Painting, to me, is a symbol to always remember what we're saying yes to when we're saying no to racism," said Dailey, who had ties with the Museum's youth programs, in an interview with KING 5 News.

Hilario added, "It's like not repressing those emotions for the community or ourselves; it's a way of processing it."

In September 2023, a community-led tour was being held at the Wing Luke Museum when a man took a sledgehammer and smashed nine large windows, causing more than $200,000 in damage. A 76-year-old suspect, Craig Milne, was charged with a hate crime, as he had shouted anti-Chinese slurs on the scene and had previously told the Seattle Police Department that "the Chinese have been torturing [him] for years and [he] had to do something," according to reporting from The Seattle Times. He was cornered by museum staff as they awaited a police response, which was significantly delayed.

During his Jan. 11 arraignment, Milne plead "not guilty" to his hate crime charge. His trial is set for Feb. 26.

Wing Luke Executive Director Jol Barraquiel Tan, recognizing that the attack felt personal, acknowledged that a personal response was also warranted. He stated, "We're not naive to the fact that this is happening more and more in the world, but we're not going to stop celebrating ourselves and our joy."

The Wing Luke Museum will celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Dragon on Saturday, Feb. 3.

King County Regional Homelessness Authority Appoints Interim CEO Amid Larger Hiring Search

Pending final approval from the organization's governing committee, the Implementation Board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) has recommended L. Darrell Powell for the role of interim CEO. Powell — a graduate from Garfield High School who has an Master of Business Administration in finance from Harvard Business School — comes to KCRHA with a focus on financial management and over 30 years of experience working at a number of local organizations. Most recently, he worked at Pinnacle Financial Services, which is a certified public accounting firm that provides financial support to growing businesses. He also has vast experience working with nonprofits as chief financial officer for Treehouse, College Success Foundation, United Way of King County, YMCA of Greater Seattle, and as the volunteer president on the board for the Seattle King County NAACP.

lf confirmed, Powell would replace current interim CEO Helen Howell starting on Feb. 14, as the organization continues its nationwide search for a permanent CEO. Powell and Howell will have a two-week overlap. Howell has been in her role for nine months, after KCRHA's founding CEO, Marc Dones, stepped down last year.

Howell has spent her tenure reviewing and improving core agency operations. In a press release from KCRHA, Howell said, "Moving from the early days of start-up through a variety of adjustments and improvements, I believe the agency is back on the right track. I continue to believe that homelessness is solvable, and that the solutions must match the scale of the challenge, with shared responsibility and a regional approach."

KCRHA, which has a mission to "significantly decrease homelessness throughout King County, using equity and social justice principles," was founded in 2019. It was created through an agreement between then-Mayor Jenny Durkan and King County Executive Dow Constantine, and both King County and the City of Seattle provided start-up funds for the agency to unify and coordinate the homelessness response across Seattle and King County. The agreement that created the entity is up for renewal at the end of 2024.

New City Regulations Prohibit Batteries From Being Discarded in the Trash

Due to the presence of toxic chemicals or metals within them, improperly discarded batteries pose public health risks and have the potential to start unexpected garbage fires. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has banned all batteries from being disposed of in the trash, as of Jan. 1, 2024. The ban encompasses alkaline batteries and lithium-ion batteries used in a number of electronics, such as vehicles, computers, and cameras. Other large electronics, such as computers and televisions, also cannot be discarded in the trash and must require special pickup services. Pickup can be added each week via SPU's website or through E-Cycle Washington, which provides free statewide recycling services for residents and small businesses.

The following materials may not be disposed of in commercial and residential solid waste, including garbage receptacles or transfer stations:

• Cathode ray tubes, as found in older television sets.
• Electronic products covered by the Washington Electronic Product Recycling Law (RCW 70A.500).
• Batteries, as defined under the State's Dangerous Waste Regulations (WAC 173-303-040), including but not limited to:
  • Miniature button cell batteries.
  • Zinc air, alkaline, and silver oxide batteries.
  • Lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and other rechargeable batteries.

The Seattle Fire Department has responded to 79 lithium-ion battery fires in the past two years.

📸 Featured Image: The Wing Luke Museum's new "healing mural." (Photo: Sharon Maeda)

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