HomeMy WebLinkAbout51_Mayors Newsletter_090717I’m very proud of the strong relationships that we
have developed between our diverse community
and city leadership.
Mutually-beneficial partnerships like these are not
built overnight and they must be nurtured through
both good and bad.
In Renton we’re fortunate to have community
leaders who donate their time and talent to make
groups like the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force and
RAAP, the Renton African-American Pastoral Group,
successful. Members of the two groups have worked
hard to make Renton a great place to work, live, play,
and learn.
That’s why I’m sad to learn that Pastors George
and Sheila Houston of the Living Hope Christian
Fellowship will be leaving Renton and moving to
Detroit.
George was a founding member of
the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force and
a member of RAAP. It was Sheila’s
community forum on Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day that was the impetus
for the creation of RAAP. Her forum
brought together city, police, and
community leaders, and members of the
public to discuss issues. This meeting
demonstrated the value of a group
like RAAP, which allows frank dialogue
between religious leaders and our police
department.
Last February, during our celebration
of Black History Month, the Houstons
brought “Unspoken Truths,” Delbert
Richardson’s American Traveling
Museum, to Renton. The displays
depicted African life in the Americas and
Europe as told through a collection of
unique artifacts. It was an eye-opening experience for all of us who attended.
George and Sheila were leaders in our community; genuinely interested in breaking down barriers,
creating partnerships, and finding new ways to work together. They were proactive, caring, and
the embodiment of inclusion. I wish them the best in their next chapter and will always remember
the contributions they made to our city. We’re a better city and a better community because of the
commitment they made.
Houstons worked to make Renton a better place
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. II, NO. 29
(top) Pastor George Houston and Mayor Law at “Unspoken
Truths.” (bottom) Members of the Mayor’s Inclusion Task
Force, including George (standing far right) and Sheila
(second row, second from left) Houston.
Feedback
Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in
the city, please email me. Thanks for reading.
Appreciating our Public Works crew
I spent a couple hours today with our
Public Works crews at their annual staff
appreciation barbeque. Perhaps no other
division in the city impacts our daily life
more than these men and women. From
maintenance to transportation to utility,
they are our “first responders” when
something breaks.
Remember the slurry that was spilled
on Grady Way a couple weeks ago?
The potential was there to cause major
problems for both rush hour traffic on
Grady Way and to the environment. But
it didn’t, and that’s because of the quick,
professional job by Public Works crews.
Nearly every week, I receive emails or calls
from residents, offering praise for the efforts of our staff from Public Works, who frequently go the extra
mile to help homeowners resolve an issue.
Mayor Law and Chief Administrative Officer Jay Covington
with Public Works staff at their annual Employee
Appreciation barbeque.