Date: Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Subject: Queen Anne Community Center Funding
To: "mike.mcginn@seattle.gov" <mike.mcginn@seattle.gov>, "richard.conlin@seattle.gov" <richard.conlin@seattle.gov>, "sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov" <sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov>, "tim.burgess@seattle.gov" <tim.burgess@seattle.gov>, "sally.clark@seattle.gov" <sally.clark@seattle.gov>, "jean.godden@seattle.gov" <jean.godden@seattle.gov>, "bruce.harrell@seattle.gov" <bruce.harrell@seattle.gov>, "nick.licata@seattle.gov" <nick.licata@seattle.gov>, "mike.obrien@seattle.gov" <mike.obrien@seattle.gov>, "tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov" <tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov>, "christopher.williams@seattle.gov" <christopher.williams@seattle.gov>
Cc: Ellen Monrad <elmonrad@gmail.com>, "Christa Dumpys (christa.dumpys@seattle.gov)" <christa.dumpys@seattle.gov>, "qaeditor@nwlink.com" <qaeditor@nwlink.com>
November 3, 2010
Dear Honorable Mayor Michael McGinn & Honorable Council President Richard Conlin:
I am writing with regard to the disturbing news that your office is proposing to all but close the Queen Anne Community Center. I'm sure you know I understand very well the dire budget situations we both face in the City and the State, but I must speak strongly against any plans to reduce services and hours for this facility that is so vital to my district and the Queen Anne community.
Over 60 years ago, the Queen Anne Fieldhouse was specifically built by the City as the center for community to gather, organize, and recreate. All these decades since, generations of Queen Anne residents have used that space intensively, and anyone who has lived here long enough has many fond memories of times within its walls. Today, the center is still used to capacity, and remains a vibrant and essential part of this neighborhood. If you are unsure, drop in anytime the center is open. Look around at the activity and ask the people there how much they use the facilities and what it means to them. It means a lot—our community has opened a "Save Queen Anne Gym" Facebook page and gathered over 1000 signatures on the petition to save our center.
My office continues to receive calls from distressed constituents, all hoping there is something I can do. But it is in your hands. As I stated, I understand as well as anyone how difficult these times are and how many difficult and unpopular decisions need to be made. This should not be one of those decisions. The decision here needs to be a renewed and firm commitment to funding and staffing for this Queen Anne community institution. However, if indeed reductions are made, then I strongly believe you should be equitable in your decision-making and spread such reductions among all the community centers in the City. In times like these, a community needs its backbone and its heart. The Queen Anne Community Center is exactly that for us.
Sincerely,
Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Chair - Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee
36th Legislative District
Washington State Senate
(360) 786-7670 (206) 281-6854
Cc: Hon. Sally Bagshaw Hon. Bruce Harrell
Hon. Tim Burgess Hon. Nick Licata
Hon. Sally Clark Hon. Mike O'Brien
Hon. Jean Godden Hon. Tom Rasmussen
Christopher Williams, acting Superintendent of Parks & Recreation
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