Ruth Bayan
Northwest Asia Weekly
“This is a very exciting time for our city,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (Jenny Durkan) responded on July 6 regarding the city’s Equal Community Initiative (ECI) and ECI Working Group (ECITF) Said in a recent proposal.
The City Council will vote on July 20 to approve these recommendations and a $30 million investment to improve different outcomes for the Black, Aboriginal, and Colored People (BIPOC) communities in Seattle.
“When I was the mayor, we saw a growing gap between the new innovation economy and the old service economy, which made it almost impossible for people to live in Seattle — it became more and more expensive. The impact is seen in communities of color.”
Durkan said the pandemic highlights the extent of these differences.
She said that the establishment of ECITF was “listening to those who say we want to express their opinions at the negotiating table…those who have experience in the BIPOC community and have connections with the BIPOC community and understand the solutions that the community needs Fair community afterwards.”
The 26-member ECITF’s proposal focuses on four areas or “pillars”—business, which will receive 7.5 million dollars; education, 7.5 million dollars; housing, 8.8 million dollars; and health, 6.2 million dollars.
Durkan said that during the pandemic, small businesses are the first to bear the brunt-mainly owned by people of color, and the owners of the Chinatown International District are no exception.
“In order for small businesses to survive, they must obtain credit,” she said.
ECITF member Rizwan Rizwi said that small business owners will receive loans ranging from US$7,500 to US$100,000, and it is expected that by the end of this year, the money will be in the hands of the community, waiting for the approval of the city council.
ECITF also stated that companies will receive one-on-one consulting services to help them improve their financial status and creditworthiness.
Rizwi, the executive director of Muslim Housing Services, also talked about the housing pillars recommended by ECITF.
“We want a system that is fair to everyone.” He said that one method is a lease purchase plan.
“There is an apartment, renting and working for a period of time, but when the rent becomes too unaffordable, people still have to leave… A lot of equity is generated from the stock market, the stock market and real estate. If you can never buy anything or own Ownership, it is impossible to obtain equity and shares from real estate and have a place that can be passed on to the next generation.” Rizwei added that solving the systemic conditions that hinder wealth accumulation, especially through real estate and land holdings, is not only It will affect this generation, and it will also affect future generations.
In terms of education, ECITF hopes to solve the problem of lack of culturally competent academic support and provide training, educational opportunities and employment pathways to a paid life.
Among the health pillar recommendations-address the systemic conditions that cause food “deserts” and lack of healthy food choices, the lack of representation in the healthcare industry, and the creation of culturally relevant and responsive healthcare plans.
“These pillars are not alone,” said Sharon Nyree Williams, member of ECITF and executive director of the Central District Forum.
She added: “As a casual worker, why can’t an artist own a house and run his own business as an entrepreneur? Why can’t we give small business owners the ability to provide healthcare and benefits to their employees? How do we make us do A whole becomes better and brings all these pillars together?”
Williams emphasized that these pillars are just a starting point.
“We hope to add pillars over the years and bring in more working group members to continue to shape the Seattle we can be proud of.” She said that ECITF wants to ensure that any plan based on the recommendations must be sustainable, and It’s not just a one-off.
Durkan said that reversing generations of insufficient funding and discrimination “will not happen overnight.”
“These four pillars reflect what is a safe, healthy and resilient community…in terms of establishing long-term intergenerational change.”
Ruth can be at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
