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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17_Mayors Newsletter_110416NOVEMBER 4, 2016 This Week from the Mayor Denis Law, Mayor Housing Resource Fair is November 10 I have some good news regarding the families relying on Section 8 vouchers to live in apartments in the city. This past week, several families were given eviction notices as their landlords made the decision to stop providing Section 8 housing. Since we learned of the issue, city staff have been working with social service groups around the area to get a sense of the options available to avoid families from becoming homeless. All their hard work has paid off. In all but one case, the landlords have relented, allowing residents to stay until the end of their leases. I want to thank the Renton Housing Authority, the Tenant’s Union, and the city’s human services staff for their efforts in working to find a solution. However, our work is not over. We have met with representatives of the landlords and the tenants and are developing options designed to take into consideration both short- and long-term effects. Short-term our concern is for the well-being of our low income families, many of whom are veterans and senior citizens. No one wants to see families forced out of housing around the holidays and children displaced from school. Long-term we are exploring possible legislative options to bring to the City Council for consideration, possibly as early as their Monday meeting. To make it easier for families to work their way through the process, the city will host our first Housing Resource Fair on November 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Renton Community Center. Representatives from social services organizations and the school district will be on site to explain housing options and services available to those using Section 8. Families will also receive help finding new Section 8 housing. Eviction and a new place to live are just two of the traumas Section 8 families face. There’s also the cost of the move and the deposits required when renting a new apartment. The welfare of any children involved must also be considered. These issues will also be addressed. This is our city and it’s our duty to protect the most vulnerable among us. VOL. 1, NO. 17 DID YOU KNOW? FEEDBACK Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in the city, please e-mail me. Thanks for reading. FREE DRUG DISPOSAL We all have unwanted and leftover medications in our cabinets. Now the city is providing a way to dispose of them. They can be deposited for free in a kiosk in the police lobby of city hall between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The kiosk accepts bottles up to 6 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall. City welcomes 11 new officers to police department I had the privilege to join Chief Kevin Milosevich, Deputy Chief Ed VanValey and members of our police command staff at graduation ceremonies for our newest police officer on Wednesday. This was the second graduation we attended at the police academy over the past week, bringing the total to 11 new officers who have joined the Renton Police Department this year. Every new police officer must successfully complete about 18 weeks of intensive training at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission followed by months of additional on-the-job training with their respective divisions. In addition to new police officers, some of our new employees have been “lateral” hires who served other police agencies from across the country. We had a lot to be proud of at the last two graduations. Each class had 32 students from police and sheriff’s departments from around the state, and our two officers, Jacob Carstensen and Daniel Lamothe, were both voted to serve as presidents of their class. Both also received special honors awarded to the top class performers. What’s really heartwarming – and frankly encouraging – is to see the quality of the officers that we are recruiting, despite all of the dangers and negative attention towards police agencies these past couple years. They are tremendous individuals, totally committed to serving the public, and we’re very fortunate to have them here in Renton. New Renton police officer Jacob Carstenson is flanked by Mayor Law and Police Chief Kevin Milosevich at his academy graduation. Kiddie Academy comes to Renton It was my pleasure to join representatives from the Renton Regional Fire Authority to officially open the Kiddie Academy in the Renton Highlands at NE 4th and Bremerton Ave. NE. The academy provides educational daycare services and programs for ages six months to 12 years. Welcome and congratulations!