The “Save Ballard’s Community Centers” postcard campaign is getting city-wide attention.
This morning we met up with Amy Janas at the Ballard Community Center (6020 28th Ave NW) just as she was finishing up an interview with Chris Sullivan of KIRO-Radio. Sullivan tells us this campaign will be featured on the air Wednesday morning.
Janas says that it has been a good day so far. Before noon she tells us she’s handed out nearly 200 postcards to people dropping their kids off at Adams Elementary, driving by or heading into the community center for an activity. Up at the Loyal Heights Community Center (2101 NW 77th St), Mindy Terence tells us that she has distributed about 150 cards. Both plan to take a lunch break but will set up their tables again this afternoon. Terence says she’ll be sticking around LHCC until about 6 p.m. to get people as they’re coming home from work.
The goal of the postcards, which are addressed to Mayor Mike McGinn, is to let city officials know that the community wants both centers saved from budget cuts, Janas says. She tells us that postcards should be sent by June 1, when Mayor McGinn is expected to make budget decisions.
Updated:: Organizers have dropped postcards off at the following locations:
Sip & Ship Ballard, 1752 NW Market St. (in front of the coffee prep/coffee machine)
Ballard Community Center (tucked away in the lobby and in the tot room.)
Sunset Hill Green Market, 6405 32nd Ave NW (at the register and near the fresh bread)
Walter’s Coffee Shop, 6408 32nd Ave NW (under the window with the community info)
Sunset Hill Barber, 6404 32nd Ave NW (Ask Gene!)
Cafe Fiore, 32nd NW & NW 85th (in the community area)
Adams Elementary (in the office in the community area)
Ballard Library (in the lobby)
Larsen’s Bakery (8000 24th Ave NW)
You can reach this group via email at: saveballardscommunitycenters@gmail.com.
Just sent off a card asking that one of Ballard’s centers be closed to save one in another neighborhood where only obne exists and still may be closed.
Actually at the May 4th budget hearing held at North Seattle Community College, we asked that community centers not be closed anywhere in the city.
i would rather have the pools open.
I have to admit that I kind of agree with Mtoo. There are many areas of the city (especially in the south) that really need the one community center that they have. Of course, no closures would be ideal.
I agree with Ytoo and plan to follow suit.