Capitol Hill is helping The Elliott Bay Book Co. celebrate its grand opening by throwing a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ block party on Thursday April 15th from 4 – 7 p.m. on 10th Ave. between Pike and Pine.
“The Chamber is delighted that Elliott Bay is coming to Capitol Hill. We think it's an incredible draw for our neighborhood and we want to bring them into the community and encourage residents and businesses to support the store by shopping there,” said Jack Hilovsky, executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. “They offer tremendous possibilities to continue to enhance the retail district of Pike and Pine.”
New Belgium Ale is sponsoring the beer garden and Neumos is donating stage equiptment and a tent for a live band to perform. They haven’t decided on an artist yet, but are looking for someone to play for free. Members of the City Council will preside over the official ribbon cutting and Hunters Capital has invited Mayor Mike McGinn, but no word yet on whether or not he’ll be in attendance.
Via Tribunali, Café Vita, Pike Street Fish Fry and Quinn's are just a few of the local companies donating goods and services to show their support. Hunters Capital LLC, the real estate company that owns the building Elliott Bay Books is moving in to, is footing the bill and networking closely with the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, which will receive proceeds from money raised. They’re providing a large banner that will stretch across 10th Ave. and telling the businesses in their networks about it though e-mail blasts and word of mouth.
“Everyone’s been terrific -- their support has been overwhelming,” said Jill Cronauer, director of property management for Hunters Capital. “This is a great community here on Pike and Pine. Elliott Bay Books will be a great asset to the community and we hope there’s a great turnout and that they feel welcome.”
When Janie Hendrix and The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park began developing plans for the project at 2400 S. Massachusetts St., there was a lot of debate about whether or not the iconic statue on the corner Broadway Ave. should be relocated.
The debate is over. Jimi isn't leaving Broadway.
Hendrix said she discussed the issue at length with Michael Malone, the owner of the statue and the building on the corner of Broadway and Pine that had been home to Everyday Music and will soon be home to Blick Art Supplies.
"We've realized that Capitol Hill doesn't want to lose the statue," said Hendrix. Hendrix, CEO and president of Experience Hendrix LLC, is currently on tour with a 19-city tribute concert series.
If the news gives you the urge to kiss the sky, there's actually a new Jimi Hendrix album available. Valleys of Neptune is a collection of recordings from 1969, a little over a year before his death and after the release of Electric Ladyland. Sony Legacy Records and Experience Hendrix LLC are planning to release other memorabilia this year, the 40th anniversary of Jimi's death. There will be a new DVD documentary, a Hendrix-themed iPod and "Rock Band" video game, plus a re-release of all his major albums.
Could be something to add to your collection when Everyday Music opens in its new location next to Elliott Bay Book Co. in April.
UPDATE 10:10 AM
From the CHS comments, thanks to Cory for pointing out that Jimi has a new neighbor. Welcome, Chuck!
Photo: Cory Johnson
"We sat down and discussed how we can solve the issue and have Jimi represented on Broadway and at the museum, and decided to create a totally different design," said Hendrix. "He was very charismatic when he was playing, so we can come up with something unique and different for the park that also represents him."
Hendrix hopes to have a statue commissioned and installed for the park's grand opening, tentatively slated for 2012, the year Jimi would have turned 70.
"We had a community meeting about a month ago, and a lot of people came out and were really supportive with nice ideas," said Hendrix. "We want to include a butterfly garden and rain drums, and are working on a crop circle design that would look like him from the sky."
Three cameras perch on poles above the visitors to Cal Anderson Park capturing surveillance video of the area 24 hours a day. But no one is watching. Cal Anderson is now the only park in Seattle where cameras like these operate.
The future of the cameras is now in the hands of City Council member Sally Bagshaw, the new chair of the Parks and Seattle Center committee.
Cal Anderson's cams (Photo: Justin Carder)
“The pilot program has since come to an end, and the Council will need to decide whether to allocate funds to extend the use of these cameras or to take them down,” said Philip Roewe, legislative aide to Bagshaw.
Bagshaw's committee will take up the discussion of the cameras at their meeting next Thursday, March 18.
Former Mayor Greg Nickels quietly had the cameras turned on in February 2008 sparking public outcry. Community members and the ACLU criticized the "Big Brother" tactics.
“It was the Nickels administration’s idea in response to the declining city parks,” said Ann Corbitt, legislative aide to City Council member Tom Rasmussen. “The council didn’t have a chance to authorize them.”
At the time, the Nickels administration said the $850,000 camera program would deter drug dealing, vandalism, illicit sex and other illegal activities. But further budget cuts made maintaining the cameras impossible. Today, Cal Anderson is the only park where the cameras still operate. No money was budgeted to either remove or use the cameras already in place. All that City Hall could do was set up legislation for who could view the video and when. In June of 2008, the Council adopted Ordinance 122705 creating the Surveillance Camera Pilot Program and severely limiting their use.
“When the council had a chance at the policy, the main concern was privacy and limit the amount of people viewing the tapes as possible,” said Corbitt. “We heard the call from the public and did what was asked for.”
Portion of Ordinance 122705
The result is spy cams stuck on autopilot. The city's rules for utilizing the cams are so restrictive that even though the recording continues round-the-clock every day, the collected video has almost never been viewed.
Last October, the City Auditor's office presented its findings on the effectiveness of the cameras to deter crime and provide safety. We've included a copy of the report attached to this post. The report concluded that the cameras had not been effective at deterring criminal activity and the only documented time SPD utilized any footage was during the investigation of reports of a roving gang attacking people in the park in August 2009.
“This testing period has shown inconclusive – the police haven’t used [the footage] and it hasn’t been a very active tool,” said Dewey Potter, spokesperson for Seattle Parks and Recreation.
Today, the only people who can view the tapes are a select few in the Seattle Police Department. While the Parks owns the equipment, staff cannot view, operate or utilize any of it, according to Potter.
SPD would not comment on the cameras and referred us back to Parks for more information.
"Parks has a very limited role,” said Potter. “We own the software but the footage is under lock and key at the police department. We only can get access to it if we make a public disclosure request."
Contrary to Publicola's recent item on the cameras where an unidentified source told the site that the cameras are inactive, Potter says the recording continues.
The City Auditor's nine recommendations for the camera system (Click to view)
"To my knowledge, the cameras are still running,” said Potter. “They record digitally for two weeks then start over."
Thursday's City Council parks committee session will begin to address the future of Cal Anderson's cameras and plans for cameras across Seattle. Bagshaw is expecting representatives from the Office of the City Auditor and SPD to attend. No word yet if anybody from Parks will be there or a rep from Mayor Mike McGinn’s office.
“Nobody has heard any hints of talk from the mayor's office about the cameras,” said Kathy Mulady, spokesperson for the City Attorney’s office.
Given the backlash over the way the cameras were installed in the first place, it seems unlikely the Council will fund continued operation of the technology without significant changes to how the cameras are to be used and -- maybe more importantly -- how the public thinks about them.
"There is a new administration and a new council now," said Corbitt. "They may have new ideas."
Previous
A small group that says it represents about 600 Capitol Hill homeowners has become the loudest Hill voice in the debate over the future of the 520 bridge. The North Capitol Hill Association has rallied around outcry over plans to lift and widen the sagging SR 520 bridge.
“The SR 520 project is our Achilles' heel,” NCHA president Pegeen Shean told CHS.
Shean's group worries that the state's preferred 'A+' design plan for the bridge will damage the community for their neighbors in Montlake and damage the environment in the Arboretum and on Lake Washington.
NCHA has hosted community events on the bridge issue that Shean said over 150 residents have attended. The group hosts these meetings with the Sustainable 520 Coalition. Prior to the 520 debate, turnout has been closer to 20, Shean said.
Shean said there are over 600 members in NCHA, referring to the 600 or so homes within the NCHA neighborhood boundaries but she did not say how many of those residents are voting members of the group. To become a voting member, residents can sign up for an annual $10 individual or $25 family membership. NCHA is a state nonprofit organization.
“It costs us about $600 [to host a meeting], including all the mailings,” said Shean. To reach a wider number of people faster (and cheaper), all of the NCHA information, including updates on meetings and agendas, is now available online.
NCHA hopes to establish itself as a representative of the north Hill community and to act as a community information center and collective representative in local politics. Check out their map to see if you’re eligible for membership -- the boundaries begin on E. Howell Howe St., from Broadway Ave. to 15th Ave. E., and up through Interlaken Park.
The area is one of the wealthiest in the city with the average price of homes currently for sale in the neighborhood well above $1 million.
The combination of website bulletin board and Facebook page are the main channels of information currently available on the group. Shean told me that NCHA is working hard to fix the site and make it usable.
“Because we are all very busy and are volunteers, [the website is] a place where neighbors help each other,” said Shean. “If someone can answer [another persons’] question, feel free to do so. We encourage the neighborhood to sound off, post a garage sale, or a favorite restaurant.”
Corrected version: Due to an editing error, some statements in this report were mistakenly attributed to crime prevention coordinator Mark Solomon that should have been attributed to East Precinct commander James Dermody.
The monthly East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting that helps community members from the Hill, Central District, Leschi and other neighborhoods on the grid voice their concerns about crime around their homes and businesses, will be moving to a more Capitol Hill-central location. Details on that move and more CHS notes from Thursday night's February meeting are below:
- There has been no progress in identifying who was responsible for a night of violence on Capitol Hill and in the Central District involving a group of thugs who beat a man near 15th and Madison.
- In an exciting development for Capitol Hill residents, EPCPC meetings will move to the Seattle University Alumni Relations building off 12th Ave. and E Marion St., beginning in April or May. SU has sanctioned a space in that building for community meetings and will be open for public reservations. Currently, meetings are held at the Seattle Vocational Institute at 2120 South Jackson Street in the Central District. March’s meeting will still be at Seattle Vocational Institute. CHS, for one, had advocated for more of these meetings to be held on Capitol Hill so this move should help make it easier for community members from our area to attend.
- The SPD Crisis Intervention Team, CIT, gave a presentation on the efforts they do in the community with the mentally ill or people in crisis. Currently, 250 to 300 SPD officers have taken the 40-hr certification course for CIT and they are frequently the ones called to the scene when someone is believed to be mentally unstable or a danger to themselves or others. They collaborate with other departments when an individual is taken into custody or put into involuntary commitment and try to ensure that the needs of the community, and individual, are met. When someone needs SPD assistance with a mentally ill person, they can request a CIT officer directly through 911 or contacting their department. SPD officers also encouraged community members to call the Crisis Clinic.
- East Precinct commander Jim Dermody spoke about the benefits of his program and asked the community for more support. Currently, 3 officers handle three different areas of the precinct. Terri Johnston, who covers the West precinct, Broadway, First Hill, 12th Ave., Yesler Terrace and Eastlake, is the Capitol Hill CPC point person for anyone with community crime concerns. She was not at the meeting last night.
“I have requested overtime hours for these officers to attend these meetings,” said Solomon. “It’s important for them to come to [EPCPC] meetings so they can speak for themselves and meet you.”
Contact Johnston to set up block watches and other community crime prevention acts.
“They can fill the gap [between officers and the community,” said Dermody.
Currently, CPC officers are grant-funded employees. With new budget cuts for this year and more expected in the next, Dermody urged community members present to express their support for the program to City Council. He wants funding for more of these officers and wants to expand their capabilities.
“We are in a critical position,” said Dermody. “And 2011 doesn’t look good budget-wise. We need to justify their position in the community [to the city].”
- SPD released their city-wide crime statistics for 2009 compared to 2008. CHS will report on that next week with a full neighborhood crime trends report. So stay tuned for that.
- Car prowls remain a concern in every neighborhood throughout the East Precinct. Officers met with the president of Seattle Central Community College to talk about the spike in break-ins in the SCCC lots.
“These types of crimes are difficult to interdict,” said Dermody.
More units have been dispatched to survey these areas, and SPD reported last night that things are looking “better.” Dermody reported that they have captured their “top ten-ers” and have the main culprits behind the recent wave of car prowls in custody, awaiting trial. 11 of those 13 individuals are juveniles. SPD says they are working with other organizations to make sure their efforts are “more refined in individual cases.”
- In terms of the “junkie phone” we reported about last month on the corner of Broadway Ave. and E. Thomas St., SPD said they are watching the area very closely.
- The homicide on the 800 block of James, where a man was shot as he sat in the cab of his truck, still has no new developments.
- The next meeting is scheduled for March 6 at 6 p.m. at Seattle Vocational Institute. EPCPC has officially decided to change their start times from 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. because they tend to run late. Topics planned include a presentation from city officials on sex offender registration.
- More coverage of the meeting from our sister site, Central District News
Standing on the curb of Broadway in front of Dick's, Ronald Fulton opens his guitar case and pulls out an Eric Clapton signature Fender Stratocaster, a black and white beauty decorated with Jimi Hendrix and Greenpeace stickers. Plugged into a mini amp to his right, he starts warming up with some scale work.
"This is the best guitar ever made," he says with a broad grin. "The best guitar in the world."
It's 11 a.m. on a sunny Sunday afternoon and Dick's has just opened, but he has already gotten the attention of the restaurant employees and people passing by. After almost 10 years of paying homage to the likes of Jimmi Hendrix and Willie Nelson on street corners around Seattle and another decade playing "everywhere else," Ron has established himself as a local legend.
"I've been influenced by all of the music I've ever heard" he says. "Miles Davis, Jimi, Santana, Bob and Ziggy... all of the greats. Everything inspires me, even the birds. Let me hook that up in the mix!"
Now 53 years old, Ron remembers fondly the first time he first heard Jimi Hendrix.
"I hated it when I first heard it! It sounded like a bunch of gobbledy goop... was just too much for me to handle at first. But then the third time I heard it, I got it. I was like, damn..."
Ron and his wife live by Miller Park on 19th Ave. with their dog, Trinity. Together 21 years, they have two grown children, Adrian and Malia, and a grandson, Isaiah.
"When I first met my wife, I told her I was a jazz musician and she said, ya right," Ron says with a laugh. "Now she's my biggest fan."
Originally from Arkansas, Ron started playing alto saxophone in 6th grade and picked up the guitar at age 17. The son of a Pentecostal preacher, he has always surrounded himself with music. He entered the army, joined the 10th Mountain Golden Dragon Infantry Division in Desert Storm and spent time in Panama. Most recently, Ron worked at the E. John Safeway as a journeyman in the meat department for three years until he quit to play music full time.
"I said I'd quit (Safeway) when I could make the same amount street busking. But I loved it there... sometimes my old coworkers and customers come by Dick's for a burger and a listen."
These days, Ron is a full-time street musician. Street busking can be challenging -- and competitive. He often arrives at Dick's before they open to set up before the panhandling crowd moves in. Today is no different -- two panhandlers stand to the side for a while, waiting for a chance at the spot, before moving on for the afternoon.
"Street etiquette is, whoever gets there first, you have to wait until they're done. You can't ask how long they're gonna be there. They're there, and will be there until they want to leave," Ron says. "And you can't stand more than 50 feet next to another street performer. That ruins it for each other."
Sometimes, Ron even pays off panhandlers for a prime spot.
"I'll give them 5 bucks or so for the space. They can only make $5 a day sometimes... so usually it works out for both of us."
Ron says he can make up to $100 or more a day in street busking, but that more or less depends on the weather.
"It's a struggle. Some days I make $20, other times I make $100. I can't perform in the rain."
Ron regularly performs in front of Dick's, at the Fremont and Ballard Markets, and Pike Place Market. But he doesn't like Pike Place as much -- there is too much competition from other performers for the good places.
"Most days, I may set up in the worst spot and still make money." Ron pauses. "I feel so lucky to do this every day, I have found my special purpose."
Street performing can be a tricky dance between entertainers and law enforcement. Places like Capitol Hill, however, are rarely an issue.
"It completely depends on the powers that be," says Ron. "I've had police officers tip me a dollar or two and say, 'You know, I'm not supposed to do this, but you're pretty good,' and stuff like that. Some officers ask me for my permit then tell me to move along."
You can watch him on the Seattle Channel and contact him through his Myspace page or e-mail at fulton3@q.com. You can preview tracks and buy his album The LInear Now online. Currently, he only carries one copy of his CD around with him. He's holding on to it for a fan who prepaid him for it one day, but Ron hasn't run in to him since. The cover art was done by his daughter, a local graphic designer. Ron wanted it to look childish, to play on the happy nature of the album. All of the songs, except for one Willie Nelson cover, are Ronald Fulton originals.
He wants to start a trio, so if you're a bassist or drummer, contact him.
"I've been trying to get a group together forever and no one wants to play with me!" Ron exclaims. "I must suck pretty bad."
Without much warning, Ron breaks into song -- Willie Nelson's "Night Life." The Dick's employees hang out the window and grin as they watch. Then, he begins a jazzy rendition of "(What A) Wonderful World," the sky clear and blue during that strange February heat wave.
"I want people to know I'm just like them -- someone trying to find my way," Ron says with a grin. "I'm forging my way into the great unknown."
At Tuesday night's Seattle Parks and Recreation park acquisition meeting, no one was more surprised than the department representatives about the packed auditorium at Lowell Elementary School.
"There's only as far as we can go as officials without broader public support," said property and acquisitions services manager Donald Harris. "We're here mostly to get your feedback."
The topic at hand was a proposed new park on the corner of Federal Avenue East and East Republican Street. Right now it's a vacant lot, about a quarter of an acre of land with good sun exposure in the middle of a busy neighborhood. Even though Harris said the lot is going into foreclosure, the current owner is driving a hard bargain with the Parks Department and is reluctant to sell. The owners are also pursuing housing development options for the space.
"In this economy, market values just aren't what they used to be," said Harris. "The owner wants to hold out until the [property] values go back up."
Two other park opportunities on Capitol Hill have already been squashed quashed, said acquisitions planner Chip Nevins. The owners of a lot off Bellevue Ave. E. between E. Denny Way and E. Thomas Street decided not to sell after bargaining with the Parks department. Same goes for a parking lot area near Group Health on 15th Ave.
Construction on the park that will replace the Diamond Parking lot north of the Olive St. Starbucks, however, will begin in April. That park -- the almost-was-named-Perugia Park -- will feature “passive seating areas and p-patches.” Seven Hills Park, the other park under construction on the Hill at 16th and Howell was slated to be done this spring but CHS hasn't heard much about progress on starting that work and last we visited, the space was still a fenced-off, paved lot.
If Fedrep Investors, LLC, the company that now owns the land that was once planned for a townhome project, decides to continue holding out for a higher price, Seattle Parks could use its authority to force a sale on the owner. But first, representatives said, they want to make sure they're making the right decision with community backing and support. to take the property owner to court and force a sale.
Right now, the purchase price for the quarter acre lot hovers at just about $1.3 million.
The Parks Department has the money to acquire the property, but no funds to maintain or build on it, they said. That would become a matter of public fund-raising and a lot of work in the years to come.
To support efforts to build the park, community members may need to raise $500,000. The entire cost of the project is about $2 million. Once land is purchased by the Seattle Parks Department, the law is that it will always be allocated for public use.
Harris called it a “miracle” that “59 percent of voters gave more money to park acquisition.” Now it’s important for the public to voice their opinions on it, especially in the middle of a recession.
“You’re going to see a budget crisis in Parks and Recreation in the upcoming years,” said Harris. “And unfortunately that could mean some Draconian changes for a while.”
Many meeting attendants agree that the park would benefit the community exponentially and that it is a “gorgeous” piece of property. Some cited the number of apartment buildings and housing development in the area and that it would get a lot of use and is a central place for many surrounding residents. Having a park between Cal Anderson and Volunteer parks would, as one audience member said, create a “boulevard of Seattle Parks.” P-patches, child jungle gyms and sports fields were all mentioned as viable suggestions for the space.
Some, however, had their doubts.
One woman stated that she worked on a community garden that had no security, which created a safety and security hazard for the community. Volunteers had to pick up used syringes, clean up human excrement and had a hard time keeping transients out. With no money allocated in city budget for site surveillance, security is an issue.
Taking care of the land the Parks Department already owns is already a challenge, others in attendance stated. Why buy more when there are already maintenance and security issues in Seattle parks? For example, what about opening up spaces like Lowell Elementary's playground for public use?
Tuesday, the Parks Department gave the City Council their recommendation to move forward acquiring the lot for park development. Nevins and Harris assured the crowd that their thoughts at the meeting would be included in further conversations on the subject, but they need more community outreach and support.
The City Council meeting to approve the project should come at the end of March or early April. When that meeting schedule is released, Harris and Nevin encouraged community members to show their support at the meeting, either through writing e-mails to Nevin or by attending the meeting to voice their thoughts in person. CHS will update as we learn more about when the meeting will take place.
Capitol Hill company Pb Elemental Architecture is taking Haiti relief efforts out of the box with plans for multifamily temporary housing units that can easily be assembled on site. Their Shipping Container Housing project (SCH) is a development plan designed by Pb that could bring much-needed relief to distressed earthquake survivors, now over a month without housing.
The SCH design is fabricated from a 20-foot shipping container and sits on four adjustable legs. It features a 500 gallon rooftop cistern to collect rainwater, a passive cooling design to keep from overheating and small photovoltaic array, which helps cells convert solar energy to direct current electricity. People can cook and sleep in these multifamily units.
They will be assembled in the US, constructed by Method Homes in Bellingham and the Crilio Mclain Project in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Before they become dwellings, the containers will be stocked with food and medical supplies. Once in Haiti, the materials will be distributed and the SCH can be assembled and adjusted on site.
Donations can be made through their Facebook page and website (with PayPal), or you can purchase a t-shirt featuring one of two housing designs at $18 each. All profits go to the container construction and shipping costs. They are also accepting donations of materials, including used (non-toxic) containers, solar panels, cisterns, spray foam insulation, plywood, sinks and raw metal.
February's '2nd Thursday' Capitol Hill Blitz art walk features a grand opening, some festive Valentine's Day exhibits, local cartoonists and, yum, sugar cookies. CHS is a happy sponsor of the monthly walk so we hope you head out to enjoy it. Here are some of this month's highlights:
NuBe Green Grand Opening
NuBe Green, a hyperlocal, sustainable, artist-supportive retail store will celebrate it's grand opening during this week's art walk. Sample some treats from neighbors Molly Moon's and Oddfellows, shop for sweet Valentine's gifts and meet some participating artists. 10% of all purchases will go to the Blitz Art Walk fund.
BFF: Friends of the Nib
This collaborative group of local cartoonists get together weekly at Cafe Racer to collaborate on different works. As a group, they have produced and exhibited work for three years, with shows usually based around a theme.
They plan to "throw open the doors to their secret machinations and reveal to you some sketches, drawings, prints and more from their own portfolios, including a special preview of original artwork from the upcoming "Friends of the Nib playing card set!"
BFF: Friends of the Nib will be on display at Vermillion Gallery, 1508 11th Ave.
Valentine Cookie Decorating
Stop by Babeland for "naughty sugar cookies" to frost, decorate and eat! They'll also be showing off Jenny GG's boudoir photos, if you're interested.
"Janice Maple"
Artist Janice Bobb uses maple leaves to express her vision.
See her work at Studio 229, at 229 Broadway Ave. E.
SpeckPrint Sale
Head over to SpeckPrint during Blitz and receive 10% off screenprinted posters by Stephen Peck. The print "Cupid: Angel of Death" will be featured.
After the galleries close, head over to The Bus Stop for some 'Penetration,' the Blitz art walk after after party. Kaleidoscope audio and visuals by Dumb Eyes. Prism glasses will be provided. The kaleidoscope freak out starts at 9pm and goes to 2am.
The second annual Capitol Hill Pride Festival is set for June 26 and, while it would not be the first Hill organization you might think of to lead the event, Seattle Museum of Mysteries is moving ahead with planning for the summer celebration that will turn blocks of Broadway into a community party.
When we asked the Museum of Mysteries about their plans and if there was any information we could share, museum employee Charlette LeFevre referred us to their website. According to the site, an estimated 5,000 people celebrated up and down the Broadway. in 2009. This year, they are expecting 7,000 to 10,000 people and are adding three blocks to the event, so that it stretches from E. John St. to Roy St. More than 200 booths and vendors are planned to surround three stages of entertainment. Festivities include a doggie drag show, body painting and music. The festival is planned to run all day, from 10 AM to 10 PM. You can also learn more about the festival on Seattle Gay Scene.
We checked with several organizations to find out if they were planning to support the festival this year including the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Capitol Hill Community Council, The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) and the Capitol Hill staff of the Department of Neighborhoods.
"To date, the Capitol Hill Community Council has not been contacted regarding planning for or involvement with the Capitol Hill Pride Festival on Broadway," said Jennifer Power, president of the Capitol Hill Community Council.
"We wish the organizers of the festival great success and applaud their contribution towards honoring the history of our community and its continued pursuit of equal rights for all."
Jose Cervantes, Capitol Hill's rep from the Department of Neighborhoods, said the organizers can apply for funding and support through his department, but they have not yet done so.
Capitol Hill's Chamber of Commerce is also not officially supporting the effort to organize the second year of the festival. "We were not approached by Museum of Mysteries to support or sponsor the Pride Festival this year. That would be an issue for the Board to take up at our Feb 23rd meeting since it would involve commitment of Chamber resources," said Jack Hilovsky, executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. "We did send an invitation for our Board and membership to volunteer at last year’s event, and would do the same this year in the spirit of supporting any community activity that celebrates and benefits the Hill."
Think they could use some help? There is still vendor space available and volunteers are needed, so go to their website for more information.
