The board of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society voted this month to urge public support for the “Access for All” measure that will be on the King County ballot on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
The measure, promulgated by Cultural Access Washington and supported by King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Council Chair Joe McDermott, both of West Seattle, would increase the county sales tax by one-tenth of 1 percent – in other words, a 1-cent increase on a $10 purchase.
The funds would create a Cultural Access Fund from which local nonprofits, including our historical society, could receive funding, through a process distributed by 4Culture. The aim is to improve access to arts, science and heritage experiences for children, families and underserved communities at a time when state support for state support for such experiences has dropped sharply over the past 10 years.
“Our organization has represented the pioneer footprint of this city and is a community leader in heritage work,” says Tia Hallberg, secretary of the historical society board, who made the motion to support the ballot measure. “Our stated mission, ‘to promote local heritage through education, preservation and advocacy,’ is exemplified by the Cultural Access Program.”
The ballot measure also is in line with a policy proposed by the historical society’s founder, the late Elliott Couden, and adopted by the board in 1995, stating that the organization’s highest priority is “the needs and interests of young people.”
“Access for All would invest public funds in the fundamental need to ground young people — and people of all ages — in our rich heritage,” says Clay Eals, outgoing executive director of the historical society.
For more information on Access for All, visit this website.
