Queen Anne News 05-01-2024

Queen Anne &Magnolia news

Queen Anne &Magnolia news

Washington taxpayers to pay more for school meals as program expands

By Carleen Johnson The Center Square

More school districts across Washington are providing free school meals for students, both breakfast and lunch, at no cost to families.

Other districts will be providing meals in the next year or so as universal school meal programs are phased in.

But as the saying goes, “There is no such thing as a free lunch."

Which begs the question, where is the funding for universal meal programs coming from, how much of that food is going to waste, and at what cost to taxpayers?

Washington taxpayers will

shell out $33 million this fiscal year for school meal programs, and Washington lawmakers have budgeted nearly $80 million for fiscal 2025.

A spokesperson from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction spoke about how the process works.

“Every month, each school district reports to OSPI how many meals they served and then we reimburse them for the meals," Katy Payne told The Center Square. "In schools with universal meals under the recent legislative efforts, state funding supplements the federal reimbursement to bring every meal up to the highest

federal reimbursement level.”

Asked if Washington taxpayers are spending more to fund universal meal programs than the prior model of only covering meals for low-income students, Payne said that data couldn't be produced in a timely manner. She did stress the importance of universal feeding programs, claiming they also reduce overall taxpayer costs over time.

OSPI cited other benefits of universal meal programs.

“It creates administrative efficiencies for nutrition staff who are no longer spending time tracking and collecting

New Seattle transportation plan hinges on voters approving $1.4B tax renewal

By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

The Seattle City Council has approved of a 20-year plan to improve transportation in the City of Seattle that heavily relies on a levy renewal up for a vote this fall.

The Seattle Transportation Plan identifies six main goals for the transportation department to achieve through 2044. The goals include safety, equity, sustainability, mobility, livability, and maintenance and modernization of roads throughout Seattle. Notably, the plan does not include specific funding. Instead, the plan is intended to guide future funding decisions by the city.

The Seattle City Council approved the plan by a unanimous vote on Tuesday.

“From filling potholes to expanding access to public transit, this 20-year vision for the future of Seattle’s roads does just that,” Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth said in a statement.

The Seattle Department of Transportation’s annual budget has been over $700 million in recent years with 20-30% of its expenditures coming through the current Levy to Move Seattle, which Seattle voters approved in 2015. This levy expires in 2024 and the city could soon consider a new levy to continue funding transportation needs.

The eight-year, $1.4 billion transportation levy was proposed by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and funds are intended to repair bridges, repave streets, connect neighborhoods to the light rail and build sidewalks.

According to Harrell’s office, the levy proposal would cost a median Seattle home valued at $866,000 roughly $36 per month, or about $435 per year, a $12 monthly increase from the expiring Levy to Move Seattle. If Seattle voters approve of the levy, the city’s newly approved transportation plan already has a list of 81 projects that would maintain critical infrastructure like bridges and roads, construct new sidewalks and work to reduce traffic deaths and injuries. According to the plan, each of the 81 projects are estimated to cost at least $10

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Queen Anne & Magnolia Worship Services

Sunday Worship at 10am Live Streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube. Simply look for Magnolia Lutheran Church.

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All Zoom Services Meeting ID: 418 806 2637 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4188062637

Sunday Services 11:00am – 12noon Pacific

Wednesday Testimonies 7:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific

Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons

Our weekly Bible Lesson Sermon may be found here: https://quarterly.christianscience.com/

Additional Healing Resources: ChristianScience.com CSWashington.com SeattleMetroReadingRoom.org

For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300 ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com

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Savvy Senior: How to find affordable internet services?

Dear Savvy Senior, I was recently notified that the Affordable Connectivity Program, which subsidizes my monthly internet bill, is about to end. What are my options for finding affordable home internet services now? I’m 71 years old and live primarily on my Social Security benefits.

Barely Getting By

Dear Barely, It’s unfortunate, but without additional funding from Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is winding down and will end in mid-May.

For those that aren’t familiar with this program, the ACP is a government benefit that has provided millions of financially eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month toward their home internet service, or up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

The ACP was initially born out of a pandemic-era program called the Emergency Broadband Benefit in 2021 and replaced six months later by the longerterm ACP when Congress devoted $14.2 billion to the program as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

More than 23 million households are currently enrolled in the ACP which has significantly helped close the digital divide, as affordability has been the primary barrier that has kept most ACP beneficiaries from getting home internet services. But funds are almost out, and a sharply divided Congress has chosen not to continue funding the program, unless they change their mind in the 11th hour.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

A good first step in securing affordable home internet services is to contact your current provider to find out if they offer any other discounts or low-cost services that fit your budget.

If not, you should shop around. The nonprofit organization EveryoneOn has a National Offer Locator Tool that can help you find low-income

meal debts," Payne said. "With that new capacity, nutrition staff have more time to spend on activities like sourcing local foods, creating school gardens, and establishing methods for reducing and managing food waste.”

In the Auburn School District, Child Nutrition Services Executive Director Janis Campbell-Aikens said the district is constantly trying to balance nutritional needs with what kids will actually eat to avoid wasting food.

“We do our best at trying to find what kids will like, and sometimes it takes a little trial and error," she explained. “If we try it and they don’t like it, we learn that pretty fast."

The Auburn School District has 24 schools and all but one has a fullservice kitchen.

This is the second school year that the district has provided free meals for all students.

“We do a mix of things from like a speed-scratch type of production where you have some of the ingredients prepared for us, and

discounted internet services from providers in your area. Just go to EveryoneOn.org/find-offers, type in your ZIP code and answer a few questions regarding your household financial situation so the internet services you’re eligible for can be located.

Some cities and states across the country are also offering their own local versions of the ACP to help low-income households pay their internet. The best way to look for these services is by going to Google and searching for “(location) internet resources.”

CHECK LIFELINE BENEFIT

If you haven’t already done so, you also need to find out if you’re eligible for the Lifeline program. Unlike the ACP, Lifeline is a permanently funded federal assistance program that provides a $9.25 monthly subsidy that can help pay your home internet, phone or bundled services (up to $34.25 if you live on Tribal lands). Only one benefit is available per household.

To qualify, your annual household income must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $19,683 for one person or $26,622 for two. Or, if you’re receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, public housing assistance, veterans’ pension or survivors pension benefit, or live on federally recognized Tribal lands.

You can apply for Lifeline online at LifelineSupport. org, via mail or through your internet or phone provider. Or, if you need assistance call their support line at 800-234-9473.

OTHER OPTIONS

If you find that you aren’t eligible for any of the lower-income services, you may still be able to save on your internet by shopping and comparing. The best way to do this is at websites like InMyArea.com, which provides a list of internet providers in your area, along with pricing and download speeds. Most providers offer plans under $50 monthly, and you can often find additional discounts for things like bundling with a cellphone plan or signing an annual contract.

then we add fresh ingredients," Campbell-Aikens said, adding that the district's high schools are serving anywhere from 600 to 1000 meals a day.

“There are some things that are heat-and-serve, but we do as much cooking from scratch as we can," she continued. "We are fortunate being on the community eligibility program and that our state has decided to supplement the federal funding.”

Campbell-Aikens explained they count all the meals served and get reimbursed a specific amount for each meal.

“And that’s a combination of state and federal funding we get," she said.

What about the waste when students don’t like what’s being offered?

“We do the best we can to forecast how many meals we are going to need, and the kitchen managers get pretty good at knowing what entrees are more popular, and they will produce just what they think they’ll need," Campbell-Aikens noted. Extra food doesn't always go to waste.

Annual charitable donation, paper shredding event May 4

On Saturday, May 4, local residential Realtor Ken Graff will be sponsoring his annual secure document paper shredding, electronics recycling, and charitable donation event.

Donations of household goods, clothing and bedding are accepted.

This year, Graff is encouraging attendees to consider bringing and donating hygiene items such as soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes/toothpaste, and menstrual products which will be delivered Seattle Women’s Homeless Shelter – YWCA Angeline’s Day Center.

Computer/laptop drives will be wiped clean before recycling.

The event takes place on the shores of Lake Union, in the lower parking lot at the AGC Building at 1200 Westlake Ave N. Follow Ken Graff’s Open House signs down the ramp; parking is free.The event time is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and custom coffee drinks and donuts will be hosted. Most electronics are acceptable, but the vendor is unable to accept alkaline batteries, vacuums, CRT TVs, and CRT monitors as part of this collection event.

For a detailed list of what electronics can be donated, or for any questions regarding the event, contact Ken Graff at Ken@ KenGraffHomes.com.

million. Therefore, over the course of 20 years, the 81 projects could cost at least $810 million if they are all fully implemented.

The levy renewal is scheduled to be considered by the city council’s Select Committee on the 2024 Transportation Levy on May 7.

“Sometimes we can cool it properly and save it, but not always," Campbell-Aikens said. "Sometimes we can repurpose the food in a different way, but there is unfortunately a little bit of waste at times."

She went on to note, “We do have the share tables in many, but not all of the schools. The kids do have to select some form of a fruit or vegetable and sometimes they’ll say they won’t eat it anyway, so that type of thing will often go to the share table."

The share table is open for anyone to take what they want, if the packaging has not been opened.

One of the reasons for potential food waste is students having other options like a student store, where they can purchase what they want, including things like quesadillas, cookies, and energy drinks, all items sold at Auburn Riverside High School's student store.

Campbell-Aikens said DECA, formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America, programs and other groups that sell food in student stores are supposed to

follow nutrition standards, “but it’s difficult to enforce those standards.”

The Seattle School District provided some statistics on school meals.

A district spokesperson said the district provides free meals at 51 out of their 111 programs and prepares 20,000 meals for students every school day.

The district started providing free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, when buildings were closed and meals were made available for pickup at various community locations.

A recent study from King County reported the average school throws away or composts 30 pounds of food a day.

In a 2019 study of school cafeteria waste as reported in the Nevada Independent found that 27% to 53% of the food served in an American school cafeteria was thrown away.

Another study estimates American schools waste approximately 530,000 tons of food annually — about 39 pounds of food waste and 29 cartons of milk per student per year — costing $1.7 billion nationally.

PLAN from Page 1Æ

MEALS from Page 1Æ

Proposed Seattle vacant building demolition bill could cost city up to $500K

By Spencer Pauley

The Center Square

An emergency bill to allow the Seattle Fire Department to conduct demolition of unsafe vacant buildings in Seattle would cost the city up to $500,000 this year before potential reimbursements.

The emergency legislation was proposed by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on Thursday. The Seattle Public Safety Committee was briefed on the proposed bill on Tuesday.

Harrell’s emergency legislation comes as a result of the number of fires in vacant buildings surging in recent years. According to Harrell’s office, there were 77 vacant

building fires in 2021, 91 in 2022, and 130 in 2023. Three of the 130 fires were deadly. Through April 15, there have been 30 fires in vacant buildings in 2024.

According to a fiscal note, the city would have to develop a blanket contract with several vendors if the bill is passed and the city fire code is amended. The costs associated could range from $350,000 to $500,000 this year.

According to Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, the legislation would push owners of the vacant properties to comply with the city’s fire code and reimburse the city for the associated

LOCAL AGENTS

expenditures. Scoggins noted that some property owners fail to comply with the city.

“It is our hope that this legislation will help property owners come into compliance, but we are realists also because we have been managing this challenge for quite a while,” Scoggins said at the committee meeting. “We do have some properties that we just don’t hear from.”

If property owners do not pay for the costs associated with demolition, the city will place a title lien on the property to cover abatement work costs, which can vary significantly depending on the size of the building, degree of damage, the presence of asbestos and other conditions.

According to a fiscal note, revenues may not be received in the same fiscal year as

expenditures occur, and could require multi-year support for the bill until reimbursement is received.

“There is not currently a guarantee of financial recovery,” the fiscal note states.

Vacant buildings that do not meet city standards or are in the development process currently get placed in a vacant building monitoring program. If the city cleans up or closes a property on behalf of the property owner, they are billed for the costs. Fees for monitoring vacant buildings range from $271.85 to $542.60 per month, depending on condition.

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