Unsolicited Letters to Buy Your Home.

by

Updated: April 10, 2018

Are you getting letters in the mail wanting to buy your home?

 A message from John Arthur Wilson, King County Assessor.

 “Not a week goes by without us receiving unsolicited offers to buy our house. I put these in the “Seller Beware” category. Some are well-intentioned. But are they really offering what your homes is worth? Before you accept any unsolicited offer to buy your home, stop. Ask questions. Ask friends. Ask a real estate professional you trust. I don’t want to see anyone struggling to pay their property taxes to think a quickie sale is a solution. The risk is selling your house for thousands less than it is worth.”

Homeless encampments at Carkeek Park

by

Updated: April 4, 2018

 

There is a big concern on the growing homeless encampments at Carkeek Park. Lots of our neighbors responded on Next-Door. I was moved by the willingness to go down there and clean up the trash but this is not a good idea for many reasons. Sadly, this is happening in many neighborhoods. The City is overwhelmed with hundreds of calls a month on this problem, so response time is slow. We are on their schedule. 

A message from Colleen Hackett, Parks Crew Chief:

“The navigation team is scheduled to focus on Carkeek the week of April 24th. 

As the Parks Crew Chief, I am requesting that you do not encourage neighbors or volunteers to go on their own to clean trash at these sites. 

Here is a link to Navigation Team: http://homelessness.seattle.gov/meet-the-nav-team/

The field coordinators on the Navigation team are trained for this. “

Other resources:

Report a Problem
Emergencies / Illegal Activity
24-Hour Maintenance Request Line
After Hours Service Line
Report Illegal Camping
Report Discarded Needles

 

Evil Word in Seattle – TAXES

by

Updated: March 21, 2018

A recent article written by John Arthur Wilson,  Assessor at King County Department of Assessment, King County Assessor:

Countywide, the increase is just under 17% — the largest, single-year increase in decades.

This is largely due to the Legislature – under a State Supreme Court order to “fully fund” K-12 education – adopting a $7.3 billion package to pay for education. That’s roughly 67% of the increase.

Our tax system is broken. It is regressive, too narrow, and unfair. Without more tools, the Legislature turned to the property tax. So they added $1.01 per thousand dollars of assessed value to fund public schools. More information is available here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor/2018Taxes.aspx

King County taxpayers are hit particularly hard. We have significantly higher assessed values than any other county in Washington. Higher values now mean higher taxes.

At the same time, King County voters have approved ballot measures to invest in children, emergency services, schools and transportation (including Sound Transit).

So the combination of a big boost for education funding, voter-approved ballot measures, and increasing property values are all driving property taxes. And while we send the property tax bill, King County itself only gets less than 17% of the revenue collected.

Our reliance, however, on the property tax simply isn’t sustainable. Absent a significant new revenue source, there are going to be some things we’re going to have to fund near term with the property tax.

But the time has come to modernize our aging, antiquated tax system. We need a more balanced system, that’s straightforward, that doesn’t tax seniors out of their homes or create an affordability barrier to first-time buyers.

We can start with the Legislature enacting HB 2597, a local option bill developed by King County Executive Dow Constantine, the King County Council and myself to allow low-income seniors and vets to be exempted from certain ballot measures. That would help right now.

It’s a start. Taxpayers can also file an appeal to the new value you’ll be receiving later this year. By law, you can’t appeal your taxes but you can appeal your value.

Meanwhile, we’re going to keep fighting in Olympia and around the state to modernize government and how we pay for it and fight to keep seniors, disabled vets and the disabled in their homes.

We won’t give up.

Links to Common Questions:

Seniors: Can I get help paying my property taxes?

Residential: Does higher assessed value necessarily mean higher property taxes?

A link to a great article on taxes in the SeattleTimes March 19th.

Join Traffic and Parks Public Forum at Broadview Library

by

Updated: March 13, 2018

Where: Broadview Library 

When: March 15th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Over 1,000 ideas citywide were submitted to Your Choice/Your Voice program. A number of Broadview neighbors ideas were submitted too. 

Attend the public forum this Thursday to meet YourChoice/Your Voice staff and help evaluate ideas. 

Please make sure Broadview is represented in District 5. Only 8-10 ideas make it into the next round in each District. This is simply a conversation between neighbors as to what the priorities are in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

Let’s support our neighborhood school, Broadview-Thomson .

by

Updated: March 12, 2018

You are invited to Wish Night at Broadview-Thomson K-8

Where:  Broadview-Thomson K-8 Cafeteria

When: Thursday, March 15th

Time:  7:00 – 8:30 pm

This event is for teachers, parents, students, and community members interested in improving the function of the west courtyard in front of the school and brightening the overall appearance of the west face of the building.

Refreshments provided.
Drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!  

BBT_Poster-letter_030518c

 

 

 

Big-Brained Super Heroes take a field trip to Carkeek Park

by

Posted: February 28, 2018

This winter, 27 Big-Brained Super Heroes took a field trip to Carkeek Park to explore for the day. Big-Brained Super Heroes (BBSH) is an afterschool program at Yesler Community Center that motivates children in the Yesler community to participate in science, technology, engineering, art and math projects. The Environmental Learning unit of Seattle Parks and Recreation has been partnering with BBSH since April 2017.

Seattle Parks and Recreation volunteers were on-hand to teach the youth about Pacific salmon, the life cycle, and their role in protecting the salmon. Children were given waterproof iPods to capture over 700 photos and videos of their experience. Here are just a few of the photos the kids captured during their day of exploration.

BBSH staff believe that when you nurture youth and give them trust and space to explore, they will indulge in their curiosity and engage with the world around them in a deeper way. The BBSH program supports all three elements of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s mission by giving youth time to run around outdoors, teaching them how to be mindful environmental stewards, and helping them to forge new friendships by making lifelong memories together.

The article and photos are online here.

Events in Broadview this month. Come meet your neighbors.

by

Updated: April 4, 2018

Let’s get out of our homes and meet our neighbors. Get to know our issues and share yours. Something for everyone.

Carkeek Park fun work party

Date: Saturday, February 17, 2018

Time: 9:00 AM

Where: Follow the STARS directional signs to the parking lot where you will see the white trailer and people signing in.

Want to get a jump start on your plans to get outside and enjoy beautiful Carkeek Park?  Then we have a great opportunity for you. We will have our monthly STARS work party.  All are welcome.  We provide the necessary tools, gloves and water for those who do not have their own water bottles. Please dress appropriately for the weather.  Here are the primary tasks for Saturday:

  • 12th Ave.Hillclimb Trail – Reduce riser drop on some steps by adding a step below. Install new check steps in steep area that is eroding.
  • Other nearby trails – As time and volunteers permit, cover roots that are a trip hazard.
  • Forest – Remove Invasives

Broadview-Bitter Lake Community Council Meeting

Join us at Broadview-Bitter Lake Community Council Meeting! We will have an Action forum to discuss Aurora Ave N. Add your voice to the growing momentum for improvements. Bring your ideas and come hear from your neighbors advocating for pedestrian safety. 

Date:  Tuesday, February 20, 2018  

Time: 6:30pm social time, 7 – 8:30pm meeting.

NEW Location: Broadview UCC, 325 N. 125th, Seattle, 98133

Bitter Lake’s Annual Pancake Breakfast

Join your friends and neighbors for Bitter Lake Community Center’s Annual Pancake Breakfast. Bring the whole family and enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes along with scrambled eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee! Proceeds from this event will help provide scholarships for our low-income neighbors.

Location: Bitter Lake Community Center (13035 Linden Ave. N)
Date: Sunday, February 25
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Tickets: $5 (ages 4-54); $4 (ages 55+); children ages 0-3 eat free!

 

 

Let’s do something nice for our neighbors!

by

Updated: February 6, 2018

February 10th is Neighbor Day, a special day set aside to reach out to neighbors, make new friends, and express thanks to those who help make your neighborhood a great place to live.

Residents, businesses, or community groups are all encouraged to participate however they like. The main goal is simply to reach out and connect with your neighbors through generosity. Here are some ways you can be a part of Neighbor Day:

  • Do something nice for a neighbor: take them to coffee, clean up their yard, bake them some cookies, invite them for a walk.
  • Organize a neighborhood potluck, open house, or work party. It can be as big or simple as you want.
  • Need an idea? We have an extensive list to help inspire you.
  • Want to know how your local business or community group can participate? Here are some ideas! 
  • If your event is open to the public, you can post it to our online events calendar.
  • Use our flyer to post around your neighborhood or work area to remind people of the day.
  • Have your children color our Neighbor Day coloring sheet and give it to a neighbor.
  • Attend one of the many community activities listed on the events calendar. Many Seattle Fire stations along with pools, parks, and neighborhoods are hosting celebrations and work parties.
  • Share a “great neighbor” story or tell us how you are celebrating by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and using #neighborday.

Copyright © 2026 · All Rights Reserved ·

Structure v4 by Organic Themes