Income Inequality in King County (and America)

InspireSeattle invites YOU to join us at our Social Forum: Saturday, May 30th at 6:30PM.

Main discussion topic for this evening: Income Inequality in King County (and America)

Much has been written and said of the widening income inequality in America. But even with the press coverage the issue has been receiving recently, most Americans still don’t realize how extraordinarily unequal our country has become since the 1970s. These misconceptions are captured in this 6 minute video on Wealth Inequality in America:

This distressing trend unfortunately exists in King County as well. And the impacts extend beyond income inequality itself – race, income, neighborhood are each major predictors of whether we graduate from high school, become incarcerated, how healthy we are, and even how long we will live. Given the national and international factors leading to income inequality, is there anything we can do about it locally?

King County is working to address this through their Equity and Social Justice work (see the “King County Equity and Social Justice Annual Report”, which is found on this website http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity (on right of the page)). The county is committed to implementing our equity and social justice agenda to work toward fairness and opportunity for all and to remove barriers that limit the ability of some to fulfill their potential. Our economy and quality of life depends on the ability of everyone to contribute.

Solutions that build equity and opportunity rely on us all getting involved. Come join us for this interactive discussion on inequality and equity, and how we all can participate in a more fair and just community.

Please join us for this important discussion!

Guest Speaker:  Carrie Cihak:

Carrie S. Cihak is Chief of Policy in the King County Executive’s Office. She develops solutions for issues that are complex, controversial, cross-agency, or of particular concern to King County Executive Dow Constantine. Carrie leads a team of advisors known informally as the “policy pod” to guide implementation of the goals of the King County Strategic Plan. She comes to the Executive Office after eight years as a senior-level policy and budget analyst for the County Council. Carrie is trained as a PH.D-level economist and worked on international trade and finance for President Clinton’s Council of Economic Adviser.

Additional Info on Forum:

Earlier this week, King County Executive Dow Constantine delivered his annual State of the County address, in which he highlighted the threat income inequality poses for our region. He also announced a proposal called Best Starts for Kids that would put every child in King County on a path toward lifelong success and the ability to contribute their fullest to our region. Best Starts for Kids would fund prevention and early intervention strategies based on the latest brain science with a property tax levy costing the average homeowner about $1 per week. You can view or read his State of the County address and learn more about Best Starts for Kids here: http://1.usa.gov/1bRrqTr.

About InspireSeattle:

InspireSeattle is a progressive network of Seattle-area people sharing ideas and supporting action. InspireSeattle’s vision is to create connection throughout our community and better community through activism. InspireSeattle’s mission is to provide a fun, supportive gathering for people who care deeply about our community, our country and our planet. We embrace progressive policies that improve our society and protect our environment. We discuss current issues, share ideas and activism efforts while striving to inspire additional action. Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to InspireSeattle by visiting www.inspireseattle.org/contact.html.

When: May 30th at 6:30PM. Please try to be on time!!!

Where: Candy’s place
1140 Alki Ave SW, #505, Seattle, WA 98116
206-938-7508 (tel) 206-661-5657 (cell)
candacesullivan@comcast.net (e-mail)

Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/cF5ky

Directions: From West Seattle Bridge:

Once on the bridge move to the right. . [Avoid exits to Harbor Island and Delridge Way]

Stay in the right of the 3 lanes. There will be an exit sign to Admiral & Avalon/Harbor. (Admiral will go straight up the hill.) Move to the right lane for the Avalon/Harbor exit. It will be down an incline. When the lane ends, go right on to Harbor.

Pass Salty’s restaurant (I’m .7 miles from Salty’s). Pass a pier with the water taxi landing. You will begin to turn around a point. There will be vertical parking on the right, a mid-rise condo on the left, some cottages on the left, and then a dark brick mid-rise condo on the left. That is me – 1140 Alki – the Duwamish Head condominium. I’m in #505 on the fifth floor.

Kitty corner across the street a few yards further on the right is the Luna Park bulkhead, also known as Anchor Park. It is a small park that extends into the Bay.

Caution: Alki begins very near our condo. It is easy to get confused by the numbering on Harbor, similar to ours but no 1140.

The entrance is up some stairs. There is a phone at the door. Locate Sullivan. Ring me and I will buzz you in. [If you need handicapped access, you will need to call me so that I can let you in the rear door.

Format

It’s a potluck: so please help out and bring something to eat and to drink!

6:30 to 7:45: Social time! Eat, drink, relax, and catch up with some other local progressives

Formal discussion and guest speakers, 7:45 to 9:30

Other Announcements – got any?

Rules of Engagement!

1. So that everyone has a chance to participate, please keep your comments short

2. Raise one’s hand to ask a question in lieu of shouting out

3. Respect the points of views of others