ACTION ALERT: No on Street Car Rail Lines on 8th Ave S.

An Action Alert from Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, Interim CDA, International Community Health Services, Denise Louie Education Center, International District Housing Alliance, and the Wing Luke Museum

OCA-Greater Seattle has responded to this action alert with the following letter:
NO on street car rail lines on 8th Ave So

July 27, 2011

Dear Council President Conlin and Seattle City Councilmembers:

OCA-Greater Seattle, an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans, is deeply concerned about and rejects the proposed street car rail lines on 8th Avenue South.

These street car rail lines CANNOT and should NOT run along 8th Avenue South between So Jackson Street and Dearborn Ave. Safe and usable access to this neighborhood is vital for our residents, businesses, service providers, and visitors. Your decision puts hundreds of children, elderly, and people with disabilities – who are the most vulnerable members of our community – at risk every day by creating a barrier to an already busy neighborhood.

Although you say that such a system has worked in other cities, this is not to say it will work in this neighborhood. 8th Avenue South is one of the critical pathways in the International District where residents and visitors – many who are not fully-able bodied and who need additional assistance (young or old) more so than the typical person to move about – seek necessary social and health services. How will those in wheelchairs – whom we see daily – go about their business with these lines in the way? It is already difficult for them – as is – to navigate their way around; why pose this barrier?

8th Avenue South is also home to many family-owned businesses who rely on the smooth flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic to simply maintain their livelihood, given the economy we are in. And parking is already a prime commodity in this neighborhood; the rail lines wouldn’t make parking any easier, and especially for those who must park as close as possible to their place of business. We urge you to identify a new route to the Charles Street maintenance facility that does not unnecessarily compromise the public safety of our community. Whatever this new route is, you owe it to us to engage with us proactively in the conversation and in the impact of this decision. Unless you yourself spend some quality time in this neighborhood, you won’t fully understand the hardships you are imposing on those who live, work, and do business here. On top of that, imagine if you are older or have a disability that prevents you from getting around and seeking services along 8th Avenue South, only to be limited by these rail lines that do not add any positive or safe value.

Thank you,
Kim Nguyen
OCA-Greater Seattle President,
Board of Directors
info@ocaseattle.org
www.ocaseattle.org

July 21, 2011

We need your help!

The City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is
developing the First Hill Streetcar line that will run along Broadway and Jackson Streets.
While our community has actively participated in the main route, SDOT decided to place
the streetcar maintenance facility at the Charles Street yard, using 8th Avenue South for
access. Without adequate notice to property owners, major tenants and residents, the
City is unnecessarily putting our patients, clients, residents and visitors at risk and
obstructing emergency and business services. This means construction impacts along
8th Avenue South with an out-of-service streetcar passing through this busy street in
perpetuity.

The streetcar’s maintenance line along 8th Avenue South unnecessarily presents serious
hazards for hundreds of our community members: elderly and people with disabilities
who call Legacy House home; patients and clients who seek health care at ICHS;
children who attend the Denise Louie Education Center; and visitors to the Wing Luke
Museum. Many more patronize the International District branch of the Seattle Public
Library, the Community Center and local businesses on this street.

Please help us call or email the Mayor and the City Council today and through
next week!

“Please do not run street car rail lines on 8th Avenue South between South
Jackson Street and Dearborn Avenue. Hundreds of children, elderly, and people
with disabilities—the most vulnerable members of our community—should not be
put at risk every day. Please find a new route to the Charles Street maintenance
facility that does not unnecessarily compromise the public safety of our
community.”

Call or e-mail Mayor McGinn and City Council Members

Mayor McGinn
o Phone: 206- 684-4000
o Email http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm

Richard Conlin, Council President
o Phone: 206-684-8805
o Email: richard.conlin@seattle.gov
Sally Bagshaw
o Phone: 206-684-8801
o Email: sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
Tim Burgess

1 of 2

o Phone: 206-684-8806
o Email: tim.burgess@seattle.gov
Sally J. Clark
o Phone: 206-684-8802
o Email: sally.clark@seattle.gov
Jean Godden
o Phone: 206-684-8807
o Email: jean.godden@seattle.gov
Bruce A. Harrell
o Phone: 206-684-8804
o Email: bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
Nick Licata
o Phone: 206-684-8803
o Email: nick.licata@seattle.gov
Mike O’Brien
o Phone: 206-684-8800
o Email: mike.obrien@seattle.gov
Tom Rasmussen
o Phone: 206-684-8808
o Email: tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

Thank you for helping us keep 8th Avenue South safe for our kids, elderly, residents,
staffs, and visitors!

Teresita Batayola, International Community Health Services
Maiko Winkler-Chin, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and
Development Authority
Janice Deguchi, Denise Louie Education Center
Hyeok Kim, Interim ICDA
Sharyne Shiu-Thornton, Executive Director of the International District Housing Alliance
Beth Takekawa, Wing Luke Museum