In good faith, the Community Taskforce worked diligently to collect and advocate for the needs and concerns of the community. A draft of the Community Response Plan was released to the City in mid-June with a promise to discuss and respond to the community concerns. On Monday, July 10, 2017, Mayor Murray emailed the Navigation Center Community Taskforce his response and supporting documents outlining the City’s plan in regard to the Chinatown/International District’s concerns about the safety, public health, economic and cultural impacts posed by the Navigation Center. The following outlines the events leading up to the engagement process:
- Feb. 8: Sudden notification of the location of the Navigation Center at the Pearl Warren Building, 606 12th Ave. S.
- Feb. 20: Friends of Little Saigon sent letters to the Mayor’s Office and City Council to pause the Navigation Center to engage the community.
- Feb. 28: Friends of Little Saigon published press release, “Little Saigon Community Demands Response from Mayor Murray”.
- Feb. 28: City of Seattle hosted a Navigation Center public meeting where community members were invited to express their concerns.
- Mar. 6: Friends of Little Saigon and community partners led protest at City Hall.
- Mar. 10: Meeting with Mayor Murray and his advisers to discuss a pause.
- Mar. 24: Community partners and allies formed a temporary Community Taskforce to develop a Community Response Plan.
- Apr. 23: Community Taskforce published press release, “Mayor Pauses Navigation Center for Community Engagement”.
- Apr. 23-Jun. 2: Community Taskforce conducted public meetings, reached out to community organizations, developed subcommittees, and drafted a response plan.
- Jun. 12: Draft Response Plan distributed to the City of Seattle and community partners.
- Jun. 27: Community Taskforce published press release, “City Rushes Community Process: CID Community Continues to Address the Navigation Center’s Occupancy”.
- Jun. 29: Navigation Center Open House
- Jun. 30: Final Response Plan, was submitted to Mayor’s Office and City Council.
- Jul. 10: Mayor Murray’s Response to Navigation Center Community Taskforce Plan sent to Community Taskforce.
- Jul. 12: Navigation Center Opening.
- Jul. 24: Community Taskforce meeting with City to follow-up on Mayor’s Response.
- Jul. 31-Aug. 16: FLS meetings with City to develop communication materials, community engagement and hold accountability to the Response Plan.
- Aug. 16: Community Taskforce and DESC meeting to discuss community engagement opportunities.
- Sep. 26: City hosted Navigation Center public meeting.
- Oct. 24: Press Release: “Community & City Engagement Continues to Disappoint: A Breakdown of the Navigation Center Response”
- Oct. 31: Current progress report on Navigation Center engagement process.
- 2018: Dept. of Neighborhood and Human Services Dept. facilitating on-going discussions around addressing homelessness in the CID.
All community meetings, press releases, and information around the Navigation Center will be available online at here or follow FLS on Facebook for updates about other advocacy activities.
Community Resources:
- 2-1-2 (866-427-4747) – Crisis Clinic (website and customer service available in five languages including English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and Amharic)
- 206-223-3644 – Evergreen Treatment Services – Reach Program (City designated outreach team – Navigation Team
- 206-322-1763 – DESC Navigation Center
- CID Public Safety Contacts
- How is the City addressing homelessness?
Supporting Documents & Information:
- Municipal Boundaries Impacting Little Saigon
- CID Public Safety Taskforce Report
- CID Healthy Community Action Plan
- UW Navigation Center Evaluation
- Navigation Center FAQ
- DESC Management & Service Plan
- HSD RSJI Analysis
- HSD Community Engagement Efforts
- HSD Response to Homelessness Matrix
- Navigation Center 80 Day Data Report (Sept. 2017)
- City Supported CID Staff Job Descriptions
- UW Navigation Center Evaluation Report – Part I
- Navigation Center One Year Report
Friends of Little Saigon (FLS) is a nonprofit organization that is facilitating community conversations around the Navigation Center. FLS received funding from the Human Services Department to continue to engage the community and develop a Response Plan. However, we do not work for the City of Seattle. We stand to advocate for the community.