HomeMy WebLinkAboutStrasbaugh 12.14.20From: Krysta Strasbaugh <krystastrasbaugh@gmail.com>
To: eprince@rentonwa.gov; rcorman@rentonwa.gov; rmcirvin@rentonwa.gov; Armondo Pavone <apavone@rento
nwa.gov>; Julia Medzegian <Jmedzegian@rentonwa.gov>; Ruth Pérez <RPerez@rentonwa.gov>
; CityClerk <CityClerk@rentonwa.gov>; vohalloran@rentonwa.gov; kvan@rentonwa.gov; abenedetti@r
entonwa.gov
Date: 2020-12-14 19:56
Subject: Ordinance #5996
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Good evening Mayor Pavone, President Perez and Council members,
My name is Krysta Strasbaugh, and I am a Renton resident. I’m speaking tonight to ask that before passing “emergency” ordinance #5996, you ensure it
thoroughly demonstrates the regional collaboration, compassion and antiracist values that many of your constituents hope our city will embody.
As a community member, I’ve been listening too and would like to share a couple expert quotes from folks who work and live connected to homelessness.
First, from Noah Fey the Director of Housing Programs at DESC:
“One of the hardest things about serving people experiencing homelessness is to truly meet people where they’re at while also retaining hope that
people can get better. The effects of homelessness and the ensuing trauma are profound and often take years to unwind. But what people truly need to
recover are supports that don’t give up on them and always accept them for who they are (and where they are). When that happens, people really do get
better, but we need to recognize that healing takes time.”
And now from Mark Royal, a resident of the Red Lion hotel shelter:
“I look around and see so many people doing so much better than when they came in, taking up exercise, eating well, feeling safe, having dignity
restored and becoming part of the Renton community. Where will we go if this place is shut down? Where will I go? This hotel has been so important to
me and the people I know — we don’t want to face an uncertain future. At the end of the day, if this facility closes down and we are forced to vacate, I’d
have to scramble to start over, to find suitable accommodations somewhere I can feel safe and warm again. It would be absolutely devastating to me
and all of the residents here.”
And finally, as I said a couple weeks ago in this forum—if Renton aspires to anti-racism, we cannot ignore race and racism as key factors in this discussion and
ultimately your decision. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
“Most minority groups, especially African Americans and Indigenous people, experience homelessness at higher rates than Whites, largely due to
long-standing historical and structural racism.
The most striking disparity can be found among African Americans, who represent 13 percent of the general population but account for 40 percent of
people experiencing homelessness and more than 50 percent of homeless families with children. This imbalance has not improved over time.
From slavery to segregation, African Americans have been systemically denied rights and socioeconomic opportunities. Other minority groups, including
Indigenous and Latinx people, share similar histories. The disproportionality in homelessness is a by-product of systemic inequity: the lingering effects of
racism continue to perpetuate disparities in critical areas that impact rates of homelessness.”
Renton has participated in this historical systemic harm and is not immune to perpetuating it today. So again and in closing, please do not pass the ordinance
until you are SURE it will provide the regional collaboration, compassion and antiracist values we all need.
Thank you,
Krysta Strasbaugh
LR - 000925