SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced this summer's schedule of street festivals. Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets will open up streets to pedestrians and bicyclists, offering people a way to have fun, celebrate the spirit and personality of their neighborhood, and support local businesses. Each event is organized by a local group.
"The community is leading the way, putting together events that bring us all together," said Nickels. "Biking, walking, drawing chalk pictures, taking in the sights or shopping and eating at local establishments, Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets is a great way to spend time with family and friends."
Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets is modeled after similar successful events held in New York; San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Bogota, Colombia. Neighborhoods across Seattle have requested to open streets for community festivals.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to showcase Alki Beach in a way the locals and visitors don't get a chance to see on a daily basis," said Joe Fraser, general manager of Duke's Chowder House. "People can walk along the boardwalk and see what the buzz is about. From boutique retail shops to restaurants, Alki is the place to be."
"We're excited by the opportunity to work closely with the city of Seattle on this great initiative to highlight the neighborhoods that make up our great city, particularly the Greenwood-Phinney neighborhood," said Steve Giliberto, president of the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce. "Especially pleasing is the fact that our new, successful Art Up/Open Up Artwalk program will be the centerpiece activity for our event where businesses marry creativity, art, performance and fun on a monthly basis for all across the city to come and enjoy."
Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets partners include: Cascade Bicycle Club, Feet First, Greater Seattle Climate Dialogues, Greenwood/Phinney Chamber, King County Public Health, Orswell Events, LLC, Pike Place Market, Rainier Valley Chamber, Seattle Great City Initiative, Seattle Public Schools, University District Chamber and West Seattle High School PTSA.
Additional information about Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets is available at http://seattlecan.org/summerstreets
The following events are being held this year:
Event: The Greenwood/Phinney Chamber's Art Up/Open Up Summer Streets Party
Date: Friday, April 10, 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Phinney/Greenwood Avenue North from North 65th to North 87th streets
Event: Cascade Bicycle Club's Bike to Work Day and Summer Streets Party
Date: Friday, May 15, 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Bergen Place Park and 22nd Avenue Northwest between Market Street and Ballard Avenue
Event: West Seattle High School PTSA's 5K Run/Alki and Seattle Summer Streets Party
Date: Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Alki Avenue Southwest from California Way Southwest to 63rd Avenue Southwest
Event: Seattle Parks Summer Streets Party
Date: Sunday, June 7, 14, 21 and 28
Location: Discovery Park (7th), Interlaken Park (14th), Seward Park (21st), Magnuson Park (28th)
Event: U-District Chamber's Summer Streets Party
Date: Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: University Way Northeast between Northeast 50th and Northeast 45th streets.
Event: Pike Place Market's Fresh Fruit Festival and Summer Streets Party
Date: Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Pike Street/First Avenue to Virginia
Event: Rainier Valley Chamber's Heritage Parade and Summer Streets Party
Date: Saturday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Rainier Avenue South from South Orcas to South Alaska streets
Event: Cascade Bicycle Club's Restore Our Waters Cascade Spawning Cycling Tour
Date: Sunday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Starts and ends at Myrtle Edwards Park, goes through Seattle Parks non-motorized areas of Seward, Interlaken, Gasworks, Commodore and Discovery Parks.
Event: Visit a park with permanently open streets and Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets
Date: May through September
Location: Volunteer Park, Seward Park, Interlaken, Magnuson Lakefront Promenade, Arboretum, Discovery Park
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Mayor’s State of the City Speech
SEATTLE – Mayor Greg Nickels today delivered his eighth State of the City speech, emphasizing job creation, calling for new partnerships to help those in need, and promoting a new effort to mobilize 10,000 new volunteers.
Nickels said his "Seattle Jobs Forward" package will move up the schedule for public works projects, putting 1,500 people to work in the next two years. Seattle Jobs Forward includes $315 million in projects from local levies and the city’s capital improvement program that will be prioritized, including transportation, infrastructure and community spaces projects.
In difficult economic times, the Mayor said the City and community must come together to help the growing number of people who are struggling. He also called on volunteers across the city to reach out to their neighbors.
"Despite their worries, people – especially young people – want to help. They want to be asked. They want to know what they can do for their city, their country, their planet," said Nickels. "It is up to us to capture this spirit. Neighbor by neighbor, business by business, we must lend each other a helping hand. That is how we will emerge stronger."
The city will partner with the United Way of King County to offer volunteer opportunities. Throughout the year, Nickels will highlight good works and encourage community building.
"Today there is a clear need for even more volunteerism, since surmounting our current challenges will take a deepened sense of community and a greater sharing of time and talent. We thank Mayor Nickels for sounding the call," said Jon Fine, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of King County.
Nickels also asked community leaders, churches, parents, teachers, business leaders and others to join in preventing youth violence. As part of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, the Mayor announced that the city signed an agreement this morning with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle to put outreach workers in communities and to offer young people a way out of the cycle of violence.
This neighborhood network in the Central area will be the first of three youth service networks created by the city’s $8 million initiative. Nickels called for a summit on youth violence prevention to exchange ideas and gain inspiration to do more.
Despite the economic downturn, there are signs of hope, said Nickels. Investments in urban villages and business centers such as South Lake Union continue to employ thousands of residents.
Nickels delivered the speech at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club, which received $1.2 million from the city of Seattle for its new facility. The mayor noted that Rainier Vista, a successful public housing development, was just across the street, and that the new light rail trains will cruise along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard this summer.
Nickels said his "Seattle Jobs Forward" package will move up the schedule for public works projects, putting 1,500 people to work in the next two years. Seattle Jobs Forward includes $315 million in projects from local levies and the city’s capital improvement program that will be prioritized, including transportation, infrastructure and community spaces projects.
In difficult economic times, the Mayor said the City and community must come together to help the growing number of people who are struggling. He also called on volunteers across the city to reach out to their neighbors.
"Despite their worries, people – especially young people – want to help. They want to be asked. They want to know what they can do for their city, their country, their planet," said Nickels. "It is up to us to capture this spirit. Neighbor by neighbor, business by business, we must lend each other a helping hand. That is how we will emerge stronger."
The city will partner with the United Way of King County to offer volunteer opportunities. Throughout the year, Nickels will highlight good works and encourage community building.
"Today there is a clear need for even more volunteerism, since surmounting our current challenges will take a deepened sense of community and a greater sharing of time and talent. We thank Mayor Nickels for sounding the call," said Jon Fine, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of King County.
Nickels also asked community leaders, churches, parents, teachers, business leaders and others to join in preventing youth violence. As part of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, the Mayor announced that the city signed an agreement this morning with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle to put outreach workers in communities and to offer young people a way out of the cycle of violence.
This neighborhood network in the Central area will be the first of three youth service networks created by the city’s $8 million initiative. Nickels called for a summit on youth violence prevention to exchange ideas and gain inspiration to do more.
Despite the economic downturn, there are signs of hope, said Nickels. Investments in urban villages and business centers such as South Lake Union continue to employ thousands of residents.
Nickels delivered the speech at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club, which received $1.2 million from the city of Seattle for its new facility. The mayor noted that Rainier Vista, a successful public housing development, was just across the street, and that the new light rail trains will cruise along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard this summer.
US consumer spending rises after half-year drop
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US consumer spending picked up in January, after six months of decline, while personal saving jumped as Americans hunkered down in a deepening recession, government data showed Monday.
The Commerce Department reported consumer spending rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent in January, beating analysts' consensus forecast of a 0.4 percent gain.
In December, consumer spending fell 1.0 percent from the prior month. Over the June-December period the spending -- which accounts for two-thirds of US economic activity -- dropped 3.5 percent.
On an annual basis, consumer spending in January was 1.6 percent lower.
Personal income rose 0.4 percent in January, double the 0.2 percent gain in December but trailing the rise in spending.
In the first month of the year, Americans found more cash in their pockets as personal disposable income -- income after taxes are paid -- vaulted 1.7 percent.
The Commerce Department noted the income gains were largely due to pay raises for the federal government's civilian and military employees. Excluding special factors, personal income increased 0.2 percent in January, after falling 0.3 percent in December.
With the economy sinking rapidly in a second year of recession, Americans further shrugged off decades of intense credit-fuelled spending to save in the face of soaring unemployment, falling home values and rising foreclosures.
Personal saving -- disposable personal income less personal spending -- vaulted 5.0 percent in January, up from a 3.9 percent in December.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
The Commerce Department reported consumer spending rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent in January, beating analysts' consensus forecast of a 0.4 percent gain.
In December, consumer spending fell 1.0 percent from the prior month. Over the June-December period the spending -- which accounts for two-thirds of US economic activity -- dropped 3.5 percent.
On an annual basis, consumer spending in January was 1.6 percent lower.
Personal income rose 0.4 percent in January, double the 0.2 percent gain in December but trailing the rise in spending.
In the first month of the year, Americans found more cash in their pockets as personal disposable income -- income after taxes are paid -- vaulted 1.7 percent.
The Commerce Department noted the income gains were largely due to pay raises for the federal government's civilian and military employees. Excluding special factors, personal income increased 0.2 percent in January, after falling 0.3 percent in December.
With the economy sinking rapidly in a second year of recession, Americans further shrugged off decades of intense credit-fuelled spending to save in the face of soaring unemployment, falling home values and rising foreclosures.
Personal saving -- disposable personal income less personal spending -- vaulted 5.0 percent in January, up from a 3.9 percent in December.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
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