8/2/2019 Urban Youth Justice 4.18.12.Letter to Seattle City Council re Yesler Terrace Housing Redevlopment

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/urban-youth-justice-41812letter-to-seattle-city-council-re-yesler-terrace 1/2

April 18, 2012

Via Electronic Submission

Seattle City Council

Sally J. Clark, Council President - sally.clark@seattle.govSally Bagshaw - sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov

Tim Burgess - tim.burgess@seattle.gov

Richard Conlin - richard.conlin@seattle.govJean Godden - jean.godden@seattle.gov

Bruce A. Harrell - bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

 Nick Licata - nick.licata@seattle.gov

Mike O'Brien - mike.obrien@seattle.govTom Rasmussen - tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

Re: Proposed Yesler Terrace Redevelopment Plan

Dear Seattle City Council Members:

On April 16, 2012, the Seattle City Council meeting agenda included presentation and testimony

from Seattle Housing officials about the proposed Yesler Terrace Housing redevelopment plan.

A month earlier, my March 19, 2012 letter to Seattle Housing Authority, Department of Planning

and Development, and Seattle Public Schools formally raised serious concerns about the

negative impact of the planned forced displacement of the vulnerable youth and families of the

Yesler Terrace, including their right to return to low-income housing; the increased risk of losteducational opportunity of displaced Yesler Terrace youth; and lost community support and

childcare services. (See March 19

th

Letter.)

Accordingly, the April 16th testimony at the council meeting was alarming in that it indicated no

sufficient affirmative steps taken within the past month to: (1) guarantee and protect the current

Yesler Terrace residents right of return; (2) safeguard against the foreseeable threat of losteducational opportunities for displaced Yesler Terrace youth; and (3) ensure ongoing community

support services, including childcare.

It is simply unacceptable to forcefully displace these vulnerable Yesler Terrace residents and“wish them luck” without a comprehensive plan to provide support and services that protect their 

fundamental rights, an approach taken with earlier Seattle public housing redevelopments.

Indeed, the April 16th council presentation touted “Lessons Learned” from earlier Hope VI public

housing redevelopments, which indicated a rate of return of pre-existing residents at New Holly,

Rainier Vista, and High Point housing sites of only 30% or less. Under astute questioning fromcouncil members, it was telling that the housing officials did not have any solid data regarding

the outcomes of the missing 70%. Again, to repeat history with the forced displacement of 

vulnerable Yesler Terrace youth and families is simply unacceptable.

8/2/2019 Urban Youth Justice 4.18.12.Letter to Seattle City Council re Yesler Terrace Housing Redevlopment

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/urban-youth-justice-41812letter-to-seattle-city-council-re-yesler-terrace 2/2

As I indicated in my March 19 th letter:

The City/Seattle Housing Authority needs to assess the Yesler Terrace

 Redevelopment Plan’s Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, Disability, Families, and 

Youth Impact at all stages of the Yesler Terrace Redevelopment to ensure that the

residents are not disenfranchised of their rights to fair housing opportunities and 

civil rights. Such an impact assessment is necessary to ensure transparency and 

accountability throughout the process. I’ve attached my March 19th letter and subsequent April 16th letter to the Seattle Public Schools,

in which I detail the moral and legal issues and responsibilities raised as a direct consequence of 

the City’s pending forced displacement of vulnerable youth and family residents of the Yesler Terrace Housing.

Thank you for your attention to these important public interest issues. I am available to discussthese matters further with you in any setting, either individually or as a group.

Sincerely,  /s/

Ernest Saadiq Morris, Esq.

Director, Urban Youth Justice Initiativewww.UrbanYouthJustice.org

Law Office: www.DefendMyRight.com

P.O. Box 45637

Seattle, WA 98145Tele/Fax: (888) 938-7770

Attachments: March 19th Letter - [3.19.12.letter.SHA_DPD_SPS_YeslerTerrace_Redevelop.pdf]

April 16th Letter - [4.16.12.Letter.SPSchools_Yesler Terrace Displaced Students.pdf]