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Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
JANUARY 29, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 5
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Port Commission president presents teal new deal
QueenAnne
By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer
Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa was sworn in as the Port of Seattle's Commission President for 2025. Hasegawa is a fourth generation Japanese American that was born and raised under the flight path in Beacon Hill and the First Asian American woman to hold this office. The well-attended President’s Reception demonstrated Hasegawa's commitments to equity, as well as strong links between the history and future of the Port of Seattle and the surrounding communities. While honoring the past, including SEA’s recent recognition as a 4-Star Airport, the focus was on building a more responsible and sustainable Port for the future. The speakers and ceremony details reflected that commitment. Daneca (Thalay) Tran was the first speaker. She is the founder of Global Chill, a land-based catering company, and a member of the Port Community Action Team (PCAT) who read her original poem at the ceremony. The poem began with “From the micro to the macro” and explored
themes of reflection on society and self and what responsibilities individuals have as caretakers and users of the land. And closed with: “Connection is a resource, and so collaboration will bring us far, Into the future, creative intelligence is a key solution to these raising questions, So Ihope, all in all, We understand the great importance of our relations.” Izzy Wang is a graduate of Seattle’s Garfield High School, currently studying Urban and Environmental Policy with a focus on Public Health at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Before introducing President Hasegawa, Wang spoke passionately about the importance of community connections. “I am shown time and time again that, especially in crisis, solutions lie in the strength of our community,” Wang said. Stressing that, “our survival is dependent on our ability to work together and make decisive choices rooted in equity and love.” Wang commended Hasegawa for leading with transparency and compassion. And said, “She has a practical and humbling understanding that we do this work with both our descendants and ancestors in our hearts.”
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PORT OF SEATTLE
On Jan. 14, Toshiko Hasegawa introduced the Teal New Deal as the Port of Seattle's newly elected Commission President for 2025. BOTTOM: Toshiko Hasegawa (front row, third from left) was surrounded by friends and family at the President's Reception earlier this month. While many people recognize Hasegawa’s father, State Senator Bob
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King County and Seattle to use combined $134M to build 1,600 housing units By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
King County and Seattle plan to use a combined $134 million to pay for the construction of 1,600 affordable homes. Seattle announced it is using $108 million toward affordable housing through its 2023 Housing Levy. The city anticipates the funds to create 655 affordable homes throughout Seattle. The Seattle Housing Levy’s tax rate is 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $383 a year for the median Seattle homeowner. It is
anticipated to collect $970 million through 2030, or $138.6 million annually. The city’s proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan increases zoning capacity
to more than 330,000 new housing units, which more than doubles the city’s current housing capacity. The initial plan estimated that at least 112,000 new
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units of housing will be needed over the next 25 years. “By leveraging the voterapproved Housing Levy and working together with our
community partners, we are creating affordable homes that will serve generations of Seattle residents,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement. “This is how we advance our One Seattle vision and ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has a place to call home in our growing and thriving city.” A lack of affordable housing is not just a Seattle issue. King County has worked to improve the region’s housing capacity as more residents move in. King County announced it is distributing $26 million in funding for the construction of nine affordable housing developments. In total, the funding will generate 848 new homes, 66 renovated rental units, and 25 new home ownership units across King County over five years. The funds come from the King County Department
of Community and Human Services’ Housing Finance Program. The program administers capital funding for affordable housing projects through federal and local sources. In January 2024, King County distributed $26 million from the program to local organizations to create up to 760 units of affordable housing. Both the county and city announced the housing funding on Thursday. It is estimated that there are only 23 units of affordable housing for every 100 low-income households in King County. The Washington State Department of Commerce projects that nearly 200,000 additional units of affordable housing will be needed by 2044 to ensure that the number of low and fixedincome households can afford a place to call home.