Advocacy Update: AIA Seattle Homelessness Task Force, Capital Budget, & Advocacy Opportunities
Join AIA Seattle’s Homelessness Task Force
AIA Seattle is calling on members to join our Homelessness Task Force. Interested members will be invited to help shape AIA Seattle’s response to this issue. Meetings will be held on a monthly basis with other opportunities to participate as our work continues. Initial activity will focus on education, advocacy and action. Please join us as we shape AIA Seattle’s response to this prevalent and pressing problem. For additional information, visit our Homelessness Task Force page.
Advocacy Opportunities
Become an AIA Champion for Change! Check out the Champions for Change page of our website for opportunities to advocate by commenting on local policy issues, taking advantage of opportunities for action and participating in upcoming events.
Capital Budget Remains Unfunded
Washington’s two-year Capital Budget remains unfunded, impacting architects working on public building projects across the state. The budget itself has wide agreement, but it has yet to receive a vote due to strong disagreement on a separate issue, a state Supreme Court decision on water rights known as Hirst. Republicans have refused to allow a vote on the Capital Budget until a permanent resolution on the water issue is achieved. Much of the disagreement is over approval of new wells and the role of mitigation projects related to water use (whether it should be required, at what level – regional vs. well by well – and who makes those decisions). An additional area of disagreement is the role of the tribes in the approval process – under Hirst, the tribes have veto power over water use in their areas. AIA Washington Council members have been meeting with key legislators across the state to press for a solution that will allow the budget to be passed. Democrats are likely waiting to act until after the November election because they expect the Democrat in the 45th district (Redmond) to win the open seat there, flipping the Senate to Democratic control. If she does win, she would take office on Nov. 28 rather than January because of the open seat. While it is possible that Governor Inslee could call a special session in December to pass the budget with only Democratic votes, the budget would still need a separate vote to be funded. Because approximately half of the funding mechanism is in the form of bonds, Democrats would need some Republican votes as bonds need a 60 percent vote to be approved. A more likely scenario is that the budget will be voted on in January after the new session begins.
AIA Washington Council’s Advocacy Summit
The 2017 AIA Washington Council Advocacy Summit is a day-long advocacy conference open to all members of the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region. Members will receive training on how to advocate for issues of importance to the architectural profession. The goals for this event are:
- To train AIA members how to conduct a campaign in support of or in opposition to legislation or initiatives affecting our profession;
- To understand the importance of advocacy to our profession;
- To learn communication techniques that can help with advocacy (as well as normal business relationships); and
- To learn how best to get to know and be supportive of your local or state legislators.
Thursday, October 26, 2017, Registration 10am / Program: 10:30am -5:30pm
Mayflower Park Hotel, 405 Olive Way, Seattle
$35.00 (includes a light lunch)
Apply to Join the Seattle Planning Commission
The City of Seattle is looking for candidates to serve on the Seattle Planning Commission. Commissioners must reside in Seattle and they serve without compensation. Persons of color, women, persons with disabilities and sexual minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Planning Commission members advise the mayor, city council and city departments on citywide planning goals, policies and plans and provide them with independent and objective advice on land-use and zoning, transportation and housing issues. The Commission is the steward of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, the citywide vision for how Seattle grows. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume by October 13, 2017. Download the Position Announcement for more information.
