Let us know if our letters will help!
Sail Sand Point Sailors and Supporters:
*We need your help.*
Sail Sand Point
We were informed this afternoon that, despite 3 years of negotiations with the City and individual meetings with 6 City Council Members over the past few weeks, Council Member Tom Rasmussen - the head of the Parks Committee - is ready to kill our proposal to renovate Building 11 and thus evict - **almost immediately** - Sail Sand Point, Seattle Raft & Kayak, Hobie Cats NW and all the other tenants of Building 11.
Apparently, there is absolutely no support on the Parks Committee to even forward our proposal to the full Council for a vote.
It seems our City Council Members have no idea about the impact our programs and services have on the community.
The only way we can conceivably get a supporting vote is for our supporters, sailors, kids, neighbors, etc. to pack the house and make the Council realize that we are not happy with this decision.
While both the committee and time are working against us, we believe that, with the steadfast support you all have shown in the past, we can make them see that we are an integral part of our community.
This is a very real threat to all of us here in Building 11 and we need your support more than ever, now that the impending meeting is scheduled for this *Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 9:30 am*.
Again, we realize it is late notice, but please mark your calendars for this upcoming *Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 9:30 am* and make an appearance at Seattle City Hall to show your support for Sail Sand Point.
The meeting will be held at the Seattle City Hall, second story Council Chamber (at the top of the grand stairway).
The official City Hall address is 600 4th Avenue, but the building takes up the entire block bounded by 4th, 5th, James and Cherry. There is a convenient parking garage on 6th between Cherry and James - City Hall is a block west (toward the water).
If you are coming from Magnuson Park, take I5 south and get off at Exit 165A towards James Street. Merge on to 6th Avenue. The parking garage is just past Cherry (see attached map).
Please arrive a little early (at least 9 am) and if you can speak in support of the programs at Building 11 that would be fabulous. Even just showing up in support would be greatly appreciated. The more kids the better!
Let's show the City Council how important saving Building 11 and Sail Sand Point is!
Why do they want to close it down (Where is the money)?
Have this been sent to xsracing.org and sailinganarchy.org as well?
SA is where I spotted the post looking for some feedback on the Race to Solomons last night.
This sounds like a local issue where there is not much we can contribute outside of the region though.
Do what you said in your letter: Pack the house with members as well as supporters of the Clubs that use that facility, including teens and pre-teens. Have a number of well spoken adults as well as the younger attendees sign up to speak before the council. Have at least a few of the adult speakers make it known to the council that the adult members of all these clubs/groups are registered voters (do not assume that they assume that, always best to point this out to politicians). Invite the media to attend this
Important Meeting
and speak to them before the meeting so they have your side of things first. As each speaker addresses the council, present your side in an organized, thought out manner.
You CAN get things your way, you just have to present it in a way that will seem to make sense to the council as well as how it benefits the community (can help at-risk youth, after school programs, etc, etc - even if some of these programs are only in the planning stages). Be creative but make it all sound like worthwhile benefits to the community.
You don't think developers and others that want the council to vote their way do the same thing? Its politics.
I know, I've gone to many meetings in the past and have addressed councils and committees. The better you make it all sound, the council may like it also because they can then say they support these benefits and the positive role you all are doing for the community.
Anyway, that's my suggestion.
What I ment to ask was was wether the story had been submitted to the editors. It can not hurt to submit them and perhaps get the story on the front page.
I think Marshal gave good advice, if anybody from Sail Sand Point visit this forum.
What is building 11 - is it the beach access point or an office?