In the wealthy lakeside neighborhood of Laurelhurst, residents are
launching an insurgence against the Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC),
the primary organization representing neighborhood residents. Neighbors
are retaliating against the LCC after the group filed an appeal with
the city seeking to stunt the growth of Seattle Children’s
Hospital.
According to Ruth Benfield, vice president for Facilities and
Psycho-Social Services at Children’s Hospital, the hospital foresees an
influx of sick kids over the next 20 years that will require 350 new
hospital beds. In December, the city gave the hospital preliminary
approval to expand. The hospital agreed to reduce the maximum building
height from 240 to 150 feet. But the compromises weren’t enough for the
LCC.
“It would pretty much destroy the character of the surrounding
communities with a Bellevue Square–type development,” says LCC
president Jeannie Hale. The group has asked a city hearing examiner to
deny the hospital’s permit, arguing that Children’s overestimated the
future demand for new beds and underestimated the adverse impacts of
auto traffic on the neighborhood. “They consistently refused to
compromise on the proposal to add 1.5 million square feet in a
low-density, family area,” says Hale.
In its appeal, the LCC claims it “represents the interests of the
community’s 2,800 households and businesses.”
In response, Dixie Wilson, who moved to the neighborhood in 1998,
filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court on February 24 demanding
that the LCC divulge details of its finances and records. The suit also
seeks to determine if the group has been “polling the members before
speaking publicly as though they represent the members” and to
“understand how funds are collected and how they are spent.”
Wilson, who also served as a cochair for Friends of Children’s
Hospital, a group that supports the hospital’s expansion, believes
LCC’s financial records will show the group is using member dues to
fund its legal efforts against the hospital. According to Hale, the
group has spent $34,900 in the last two years on lawyers’ fees. The
group also paid an unspecified amount to analysts who determined the
hospital didn’t really need to expand.
“They make decisions and spend money—my money—on
something that I don’t agree with,” says Wilson, who has paid $40 to
$50 in dues every year for the last decade.
Wilson’s suit alleges that the LCC’s lawyer initially stymied her
attempts to obtain financial records, which, according to the state law
governing nonprofits, are supposed to be “open at any time to
inspection by any member of more than three-months standing.”
“We are doing our best to represent the views of our community and
the majority of our members,” says Hale. She says that only a “handful”
of residents came to public LCC board meetings to support the
hospital’s growth plan.
However, residents contacted by The Stranger were
enthusiastically in favor of the larger hospital and appalled by the
LCC’s opposition.
“Nobody I know in the neighborhood has ever been asked or polled by
the Laurelhurst Community Club about any of these issues,” Wilson says.
“I thought, ‘I just can’t stand back and let these people stand for us
publicly and take legal action on issues I so greatly disagree
with.'”
Peggy Coats, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20
years, plans to speak at a separate procedural hearing on the hospital
expansion before a city hearing examiner in March. “I plan to make it
known that [the LCC’s leaders] are not speaking for the 2,800
households of Laurelhurst.”
“Most of the people who I have talked to are sort of flabbergasted
that anyone would be opposed to the expansion,” says Kevin Barrett, who
has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years.
Ingrid Savage, who has lived in Laurelhurst for 37 years, says,
“These people have been whining about every single thing the hospital
does… for years.” She adds: “I’m embarrassed to say I live in
Laurelhurst.” For example, Savage cites the community club’s successful
efforts to reduce medevac helicopter trips to and from Children’s
Hospital. (Hale says the helipad at Children’s is half a block from an
elementary school and “landing causes big gusts of wind and endangers
the kids on the playfield.”)
Meghan Quint, executive director of Northeast Seattle Cares, a group
that supports the expansion, held a meeting attended by about 40
Laurelhurst residents last week. “People became very angry that the
community club had taken their money to pay lawyers and filed an appeal
with their money without asking their opinion,” she says. Several other
residents concurred.
Considering the hospital’s expansion has undergone years of
review—both by the city and a citizens advisory
committee—the LCC’s appeal is unlikely to stop the construction.
But Wilson’s suit, and other residents’ opposition to the group, could
permanently weaken the organization’s claim to represent the
neighborhood.
“I’d love to see new leadership in the Laurelhurst Community Club,”
says Wilson. “I think many of us would.” 
I’m SO glad that someone finally did a story that allowed other members of the Laurelhurst community to speak up. Jeannie Hale has been given far too much power and someone needs to take back the conch from her. The actions of the LCC have placed a dark cloud over Laurelhurst, but hopefully with the help of Ms. Wilson and others, Children’s Hospital can finally move out from underneath that cloud. Keep up the great work!
First – this article is biased. As a reporter you ALWAYS get both sides of the story. You get the same amount of quotes from both sides. You get quotes from like people – if you get neighbors quotes for something, you get neighbors quotes not for that issue. Pretty standard for reporting.
Thireporter did not talk to any neighbors that are in support of the expansion but not to the mega extent that Dixie and her following are. Everyone supports the hospital and the work they do. But the city codes call for expansion that balances the needs of the community and the neighborhood. A 2.5 million sq foot expansion does not in a single family residential neighborhood. There are many many factors that go into this “balance.” Traffic, signal lights, amount of open space, parking, transportation, etc. It is not as simple as this article states.
If this reporter had followed the CAC meetings, he or she would see that the CAC weighed this policy heavily over the 2 years and came out with a final master report that really thinks about protecting the neighborhood as well as taking into consideration the needs of the hospital. The reporter fails to mention any history of this expansion or the previous 2 years of hard work done by the CAC. It is all public record. This is not a he said, she said. This is a matter of public policy.
Also Friends of the Hospital is run by a PR group and I will publish the name once I found it in my notes. It is made up PRIMARILY of hospital employees. Yes that is correct. And who is not a friend of the hospital and for the healing of sick children? That name is so divisive and Dixie is talking about LCC is divisive and spending her money.
She is divisive in trying to destroy the community of Laurelhurst and not doing work on what is actually going on. She lives NOWHERE near the hospital and NEITHER does anyone quoted in the biased article. She has attended one LCC board meeting. She has a gripe and is acting out on in, in a very immature way. Her friend that spoke at one of the last CAC meetings was incredibly rude. Sue Martin I think it was. She took the CAC’s time in telling about her “lawsuit” which has nothing to do with the CAC’s work in finalizing the master plan, absolutely nothing. It was a frivolous comment.
I know people who live near the hospital and they know exactly where Dixie lives and others that live in Laurelhurst. They live nowhere near the hospital – but on the yes as you said it reporter very “wealthy” side of Laurehlurst in huge huge mansions – the south side of NE 45th. The hospital is on the north side of 45th where the houses are very, very modest. So of course they are for the expansion – they will NOT in any way be affected by it. They are donors of the hospital and that is their member base – rallying those members i.e. employees of CH and the rest of their members who live elsewhere in Seattle, including many hwo live on the Eastside.
I attended many CAC meetings and this contrived group stood up saying where they lived and of course not one was from Laurelhurst. Not one! Also at the last Public Hearing this group signed up about 50 of its people taking up almost the entire 2 1/2 hours of the Public Hearing giving random comments, nothing substantial about the expansion, traffic, nothing that would aid the CAC in their work. And all were from outside Laurelhurst. This is all documented with DON. The neighbors that had actually prepared their thoughts together with their families commenting on specific issues from the EIS had very very little time to comment.
And the Friends group on their website said they would help right the speech for you. Yes that’s true. I have email supporting that that was received. They sent out tons of emails getting people to show up at the Hearing examiner meeting and several CAC meetings. They are doing anythign to get the expansion approved. How ethical is that!
And Mr. Reporter – Laurelhurst is not made of up ALL wealthey people. You should be ashamed of your biased, unfactual reporting. If you drive around the streets around the hospital – the houses are very small, very. I know several people who live in houses less than 1000 sq. You can see this for yourself if you drive the streets above the hospital. Those are the ones that will be affected and have really done their homework and gone to CAC meetings and offered substatial input. Not Dixie who has only griped at every meeting and probably not read a word of the Master Plan.
She should be ashamed for what she is going. LCC is not going down Dixie. Spend all the money you want, tell all the lies you can, but you’re not going to bring down LCC and destroy our neighborhood. You’re wasting time. But I’m sure you have lots of time on your hands. And really how can you live with yourself and your friends that are so rude to people and you say you are a friend. Isn’t a friend someone who is kind, mature and professional in no matter what situation is.
Srossi – you live on the south side of 45th – nowhere near the hospital in a big house with a view of the water. Of course you want the biggest expansion possible. You will not be affected by traffic, by 20 years of construction. How hypocritical you are.
Dixie – you are wrong. Many Laurelhurst residents do not want to see new leadership. And it would be extremely scarey to have you be a leader in the neighborhood as you are so biased and you say Jeannie is. You would destroy the community that so many many past LCC presidents have spent tireless hours building.
It’s not such an easy job as you think. LCC is involved in many many many issues in the area, not just the hospital. Do you have the background to do this? If so – what is it? Just being a pissed off neighbor who is a major fundraiser for the hospital. That won’t get you elected.
LCC works with many community councils on a huge array of issues. The hospital is a very small part of the work LCC does. And how are you going to represent the community fairly by your ugly comments? Who will have faith in you? You don’t live near the hospital, you haven’t walked around the streets around the hospital getting input on your crusade to be the new LCC. You have a built in membership of employees, and wealthy friends.
As a community member you are destroying the neighborhood. And that will never be forgotten or forgiven. Ever.
LCC’s role is much bigger than what you are describing and brainwashing the reporter, your lawyer and community members. Unbelievable. YOu want to be a community leader – but look at what you are doing to spearhead your quest. What an embarassement for Laurelhurst, the real Laurelhurst living around the hospital dealing with the expansion issue, reading tirelessly all the documents handed out, attending meetings, commenting on the issues at hand, not your random comments that have nothing to do with specifics on the master plan.
You and Srossi – Steve Rossi – are an embarrasment to Laurelhurst.
You set up a phony group called Friends of the Hospital run by a PR company. How grassroots is that. Will you run LCC in such a sneaky, manipulative, unethical way? You say you have tons of members – well they are employees and those living outside of Laurelhurst. You don’t tell the true story, now do you?
So Dixie – you say that no one has been polled about the expansion but you held a group meeting under the auspice of North something Cares – a major donor to the hospital and being a Laurelhurst resident I did not receive notice of this meeting!
Now isn’t that calling the kettle black! You held a meeting of 40 people obviously hand picked that are like-minded as you are. Hmmmm…now isn’t your main gripe that LCC doesn’t represent everyone.
When is the next Laurelhurst meeting you are holding in which everyone is invited so that it is not rigged? Let me know!
To the Stranger:
You contacted neighbors…..in favor of the expansion. Did you contact any not in favor? How is your article fair and balanced? You got your list from Dixie – of course they were all in favor of the expansion.
Good work Mr. Journalist. Journalism 101 – fair and balanced reporting. Thanks.
Kevin Barrett – your comment is inaccurate. Everyone supports the expansion, but not to the extent that the hospital is asking. You must move in like-minded circles and not live in Laurelhurst, well not near the hospital that is. So of course you personally are flabbergasted. And of course by your ridiculous comment you did not follow the CAC meetings. It’s not a matter of emotions and flabbergasted and the like – it’s a land use issue my friend. Obviously you and your people haven’t studied the land use issues so of course being totally ignorant you would say such a comment. How embarrasing for you to be on the record with such a ridiculous commemnt and really have no solid ground to stand on not living near the hospital or being up on the issues. Pathetic.
Ingrid – obviously you did not do your work on the medivac issues. It was found out and is on public record that the hospital used their helicopters for business meetings – such as lunches etc. LCC and many other groups worked on the right amount of landings in a neighborhood. This is the same for any neighborhood in the nation where a helicopter lands. It is standard to do a review, etc. The helicopter lands at the UW and in Laurelhurst as much as is needed. LCC did not put a stop to those needs that are warranted. Do your work please before you make an ignorant comment.
And if you look at history between LCC and the hospital over the many years it has always been amicable. When the new CEO came in all that changed. He brought in a new team, very ruthless and they no longer wanted to work as partners with LCC. This is all documented. The current president and past ones all had amicable partnerships with the hospital.
The new team is not forthright with information, is manipulative with data, is not respectful in dealings with the neighbors. It was found out just a couple of weeks ago that the hospital was not honest about the square footage and how it was documented. Contact DOH – Steve Sheppard for more information on this. It’s all documented.
LCC is doing their work, reading all the documents, attending every single meeting, and much much more. It’s not just a board that is out to get another entity. They as other neighborhood community councils – of which ALL support LCC – are in support of the expansion but one that fits with the neighborhood.
Again this is documented. NE Seattle Community Council spoke many times at CAC meetings on behalf of all the community councils and clubs that again all supported LCC, all of them.
There was a public comment period at every meeting in which the public could express their views. Dixie spoke up several times with nothing substantial, except the I’m in favor of the expansion line. Pretty lame. She showed no backbone with supporting data, or information reflecting she had done any work on being up to speed on the master plan, eis etc.
Of course LCC can’t represent the entire neighborhood. But Dixie – you only attended one Board meeting – you didn’t get involved before you started your so called lawsuit a few weeks ago. LCC Board meetings are always open to neighborsa and it was then you could have said – I don’t agree with the representation – how can we fix it? You are taking the manipulative route doing a lawsuit.
And look at all the other community Councils – Ravenna, UDist, etc – of course those councils don’t all represent their communities. But it should say somethign if every community council in NE Seattle supported LCC shouldn’t it?
And your bogus Friends of the Hospital group is being exposed? It’s made of hospital employees, Eastside residents, northgate residents. I heard you all speak at meetings and hijack the Public Hearing.
I wouldn’t want you and your people representing Laurelhurst with your abuse of power and misinformation and misrepresentation.
Regarding this quote – “The group also paid an unspecified amount to analysts who determined the hospital didn’t really need to expand.”
This is not correct – the analysts – who were land use analyst, hospital analyst – determined the hospital DID need to grow but not by 600 beds. This information is all on the LCC website. Your statement is completely false, completely.
Obviously Dixie and Steve Rossi fed you this information and others in their close circle.
Shouldn’t a reporter due his due diligence and research the facts before publishing his article. That’s embarrasing I’m sure for The Stranger.
Dixie – have you really paid your dues for the last 10 years? Didn’t you just pay them a few weeks ago – one day before you started your lawsuit so that your lawsuit would have more weight? If you hadn’t have paid your dues so very recently – how could you say LCC is using your money – your main issue in your lawsuit? So you thought that up quickly about how LCC is using your money. Then you remembered oops I haven’t paid my dues. That won’t look good. So you quickly paid the dues only a mere few weeks ago so that you were set to go to start your lawsuit and had your ducks in a row.
Hmmm…something doesn’t look right here. Why didn’t you pay your dues months ago when the mailings went out. Oh right – you thought I don’t want to pay but then – “Oh I think I’ll start a lawsuit so now I’ll pay. Hurry honey send in the check. I’ve got a lawsuit I want to start up. Otherwise my lawsuit won’t hold ground. Get that check in fast! I know nothing about the expansion, haven’t read the EIS, the Master Plan, nothing but I’m 100% for the expansion. Why – just because! I haven’t offered any valuable input in 2 years at a CAC meeting. Oh I’m a major donor for the hospital. I haven’t done any due diligence as a Laurelhurst resident in reading the documents. I’m just spoon fed information and I believe it all. And people I want to be President of LCC”
“Then I’ll have my lawyer contact the LCC lawyer and then I’ll tell the Stranger that LCC’s documents are not in-line” Yet you have received all documents as requested and in the time-line you requested. Something doesn’t add up here. Something’s fishy. And you want to be a community leader? That doesn’t look good on your resume Dixie.
Oh no – I think you are being outed Dixie. Hurry – what can you think up next? Better get your “friends” group together…I mean your PR group you are paying to run the “Friends” group.
I’ve lived a few blocks from the hospital since 1991. I live in a typical Laurelhurst house, not a mansion on the water. I support the hospital expansion and I’m dismayed by the LCC position. I quit paying dues to the LCC several years ago because it too often took stands I disagreed with. The LCC represents a vocal minority, but I truly don’t know how much of the rest of the neighborhood it represents, and I don’t believe the LCC knows, either.
@ neighbors) The article makes clear that LLC position is that that the hospital “overestimated the future demand for new beds and underestimated the adverse impacts of auto traffic on the neighborhood,” not that it didn’t need to expand at all.
Let’s get the emotion out of this and look at the facts. The CAC meetngs were well attended by the LCC, who had representatives speak at every meeting. After 2 years the CAC made a decision that; is very similar to DPD’s recommendation to the Hearing Examiner. The only problem is the LCC didn;t like the decision so they appealed the EIS and worked behind the scenes to get minority reports added to the CAC report. By the way, Jeannie should check her facts, the hospital’s heliport is more like 3 blocks away from the elementary school, making a big gust of wind highly unlikely. Better to save a child’s life than occasionally inconvenince the neighborhood.
So what is the problem with the expansion exactly? Ruin your views? Cause shadows? Traffic? I have news for you – if traffic is your concern, you should leave Seattle. It’s only getting worse. How can it be a bad thing to treat MORE sick children?
And WHO CARES if the Friends of Children’s group is made up primarily of employees? Doesn’t that speak well of Children’s if their employees are willing to stand up for the company? Do you think Microsoft employees give a crap about thier companies’ anti-trust suits? They don’t. If employees will support the hospital, shouldn’t the community?
I’m glad that we have finally outed Dixie, a neighbor who is fed up with the LCC fighting everything that comes down the pike. Let’s list a recent few; new ball fields at Magnuson Park-nope too much traffic and brigth lights, UW driving range expansion-nope migratory birds couldn;t fly over taller fence, Tacoma Narrows Bridge-toll structure might impact 520 tolls???, Third runway at SeaTac-nope more noise in Laurelhurst. Who cares if Dixie paid dues or not, read the LCC bylaws she is a LCC member dues paying or not, only requirement is residing in Laurelhurst. Sounds to me like Dixie is in the club whether she likes it or not. By the way she has not received one thing she requested from the LCC. What’s really fishy is why the LCC refused to provide any information and hid behind their attorney, pit bull Peter Eglick.
Hey Marvi – you’ve actually never given a penny to the hospital. Unless you spelled your own name wrong.
Hey Marvi – you’ve actually never given a penny to the hospital. Unless you spelled your own name wrong.
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Geez, a neighborhood group has the temerity to oppose a proposal that would have imposed 240′ buildings in a single-family neighborhood and that evidently makes them child molesters.
The whole personal vilification of Jeannie Hale thing is way over the top, and makes the Stranger look like a bunch of petty bullies.
I’m sure there are Laurelhurst residents who disagree with LCC’s work on Children’s Hospital, but lawyers cost money, and LCC wouldn’t have been able to hire one without a fairly broad base of community support (particularly financial).
By the way, Ms. Hale has done lots of great work for progressive causes, not least of which was getting the League of Women Voters to support Initiative 75 to make marijuana possession the lowest enforcement priority in Seattle, as well as her longstanding efforts to support marriage equality (which date back to a time when even Seattle politicians were nervous about the issue).
The Stranger might want to take it down a notch – or risk being accused (rightly) of being a bunch of wanna-be Frank Blethens – ie – bullies with a pulpit.
Hey Marvi – you have actually never given a penny to the hospital. Unless you spelled your own name wrong.
Geez,How about a neighborhood group that only loves the Seattle process when it works for them! It’s OK to sue when the LCC doesn’t get their way but not OK when they refuse to be open and transparent with one of their members. Take a look at the LCC website and dig down though the issues and interests I think you’ll be amazed to see how much litigation this “community club” has been engaged in over the past 10 years. It’s about time someone asked them to be accountable.
Dominic –
Thank you for finally exposing the dirty truth behind Laurelhurst Community Club that many in Seattle have known to be true for so long: Jeanne Hale and her gloomy band do not represent the greater Laurelhurst community. They represent their own personal anger, irrationality, and obsession with control. They have caused a lot of pain to many people and it is time for a new generation of leaders at LCC.
Dixie –
I applaud you for taking this story to the press and for speaking truth to assumed power. Go forward and create a true community run organization. You have many who will stand beside you and support you in your work.
Laurelhurst Community Club is a small, isolated, and vocal private organization–not a community cauncil. Since, to the best of my knowledge, they had 581 dues paying neighbors last year (not the 2,800 they claim,) which would account for $29,000 of dues, they do need to account for their enormous expenditure. This expenditure may not be paid to LCC directly but rather to a separate special-purpose fund controlled by the president of LCC. It is possible that LCC Board Members themselves may not know the sources of that funding. The LCC officers certainly have the right to express their point of view. Active discussion contributes to a balanced outcome. However, most of us in Laurelhurst feel that the LCC president does not represent the views of the community in either style or substance.
This is silly! YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY DUES TO THE LCC!!! The woman suing the LCC wins the sofa king (we Todd did) award for being silly.
I think the LCC is protecting their right for what is really a pretty big development (2.5 million square feet is pretty big, right?) It’s a neighborhood surrounded by water.. so you stick this big development near the entrance to the neighborhood and you have massive traffic problems. This is not like capitol hill where you have a complete street grid and arterials leading out on all directions.
Last, this expansion is about money and big business. The same reason that Children’s hospital fought expansion of a children’s hospital by Swedish.
The issues are deep here and the surface barely scratched. We all have a right to our opinion.. but to sue a volunteer group for spending volunteer dues incorrectly? I might not always agree with the LCC, but I don’t sue them nor do I pay them dues.
As for the monster complex in a single family neighborhood, we’ll let the city and the courts sort that out.
I just hope that this urban sprawl doesn’t make our city look like Taipei or some of these other cities in the world where neighborhoods went the way of the skyscraper…these buildings are forever and the agenda has been set forth by paid people of childrens NOT volunteers.
If you don’t support the LCC than start your own alternative club, you can call it friends of Laurelhurst.
If that is actually the case, Kin, then you all ought to show up at meetings and vote the current leadership out.
I’m not holding my breath (and most community groups would kill to have 581 dues paying members).
I agree, it’s time someone asked the LCC to explain themselves. Seems they’ve had a free ride for quite a while. They collect money, call it “dues” (when in fact their own bylaws do not specify any dues be paid in order to be a “member” — all one must do is live within their self-defined boundary for 3 months). They take this money and then do what with it?? Hire lawyers and experts to fight what many would characterize as frivilous, overly nitpicky lawsuits.
It seems the point of Ms. Wilson’s lawsuit is to gain access to what is already defined as due her as a member of the LCC. These are normal, everyday documents that are no big deal. But the LCC is withholding them. Why would they do that? What do they have to hide?
She is within her rights to request these documents! So stop dumping on Ms. Wilson.
It is fair to ask: what percentage of these funds are being spent on litigation and related experts, and is that what the community wants? Is it 20 percent? 40 percent? 60 percent? The neighborhood deserves a full and open accounting, and many explanations.
It is fair to ask: how does the LCC go about asking its ‘members’ for the okay to file lawsuits on their collective behalf? And also, are they unbiased in their communication with the neighborhood? Or is their slant counterproductive to helping the neighbor-members have any ability to make informed, reasoned decisions?
It is fair to ask: In the absence of polling members, how does the LCC make decisions as a body when it comes to lawsuits?
These are fair questions, irrespective of the issue surrounding Children’s Hospital’s plans for growth.
Go Dixie.
I would also add,
it is fair to ask: Who comprises the group, Children’s Action? (The web-based group fighting Children’s Hospital). It appears to be a shadow group to LCC, although they claim their independence. Is that truly the case? LCC simply must come clean on this one. Who makes up this group? Neighbors want to know.
From the minutes of the August 11 08 meeting posted on the LCC website:
Treasurer’s Report: Marian Joh prepared a report that was passed out at the meeting.
As of 7/31/08, of the 1,380 families, businesses and others within the LCC, 591 have
paid their 2008 dues. This represents about 43 percent of LCC members, an increase
from last year’s dues payments. We have a significant balance, but our expenses going
forward could be very high.
Maybe Jeannie can explain how she represents 2,800 when the treasurer seems to think it’s 1380? How come only 591 paid? By Jeannie’s math that leaves 2,100 unpaid. I guess not too many people want to pay for the “expenses going forward (that) could be very high”!!!!
From the minutes of the August 11, 2008 meeting posted on the LCC website:
Treasurer’s Report: Marian Joh prepared a report that was passed out at the meeting. As of 7/31/08, of the 1,380 families, businesses and others within the LCC, 591 have paid their 2008 dues. This represents about 43 percent of LCC members, an increase from last year’s dues payments. We have a significant balance, but our expenses going forward could be very high.
From the June 11, 2007 minutes:
Treasurer’s Report: Joh distributed the monthly Treasurer’s report. As of May 31, 2007, of the 1,318 families, businesses and others with Laurelhurst, 632 have paid their 2007 dues. Joh pointed out that our stationary and newsletter indicates 3,000 households and business within LCC’s geographic boundaries year’s dues payments.
Perhaps Jeannie can explain how she “represents” 2,800 households in the neighborhood yet her treasurer claims only 1,380 or is it 1,318?? Funny how only 591 have paid dues this year. So who does the LCC really represent? Dues payers maybe? If only Jeannie could collect from the other 2,200 maybe she could pay those “expenses going forward (that) could be very high.”!!!
Your questions about LCC are good, fairquestions.
I went to the LCC Website and read the Board of Trustees Responsibilities. Nowhere did I see the words “term limits.” Don’t other community clubs have term limits? Can the current LCC president control the neighborhood indefinitely?
Ok let’s think about this. It appears that Dixie and her “friends” are very pro expansion – anything the hospital wants they will give them. They do not question anything, they believe everythign they are told, they are very tight with hospital reps and employees. Is this getting seeking out fair and balanced information on such an important issue. Just because you love the hospital as everyone does, does not mean you shouldn’t question, analyze information and data presented. If this were a factory in the neighborhood, people would question it. This is an institution and follows all the same policies as all the others do in the city. They are not exempt because they are a hospital.
So when people criticize LCC – it is hard to understand under what basis? LCC analyses all the information. They hired 3rd party consultants who have analyzed the data and presented that back to LCC who in turn passed on the information to the CAC. Now what is wrong with that?
People that don’t question and just go along with everything are hard to understand. And certainly would not be good leaders for the community.
I want leaders who look at all sides of the issues, not just one side and call it good. People who attend meetings and speak informatively and intelligently ON the issues, the specific issues at hand – like the various aspects of the Master Plan and EIS. Not one like Dixie, who gives very vague comments, nothing having to do with what the CAC is discussing, nothing that helps the CAC in making decisions nothing. She and her Friends wasted tons and tons of the CAC’s time giving comments of no substance, non whatsoever.
So just as we have a President, or any leaders in our nation and in our community before we cast our vote we see if they are honorable, not biased, not afraid to look at and analyze all sides of an issue even though they already have an opinion. This is an outstanding leader. One who does not run from information but looks at it, reads it, thinks about it.
Just because it is a hospital does not mean time should not be spent reading all the documents. Did Dixe read one document? No the PR company offered to write people’s comments for them! That is insulting to the true neighbors and the CAC who spent hundreds of hours reading, digesting and educating themselves on the issues at hand. It was evident Dixie and her following did not spend one minute of their time reading any documents whatsoever. They took the easy road and commented randomly.
They called in people from all over the city to just drive up to a CAC meeting – speak for 2 minutes and leave. They had no idea the history of the CAC meetings, specific topics being discussed at each meeting, nothing, or how the process works. Pretty easy road to take. And very transparent to the CAC and neighbors. People said “oh it’s just another one of those Friends babbling about nothing.” Yup.
Before you hijack the next Hearing – do your homework please. And write on your own stuff. Open the Master Plan and the EIS – educate yourselves. The CAC did for 2 years. Can you not take even 5 minutes to understand what is going on, and not just talk about something, usually totally emotional with no substance.
LCC’s 2007 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (501c4) is posted on GuideStar.org. It lists total revenue of $79,270 consisting of $44,311 of direct public support and $33,803 of other income (plus some interest income.) Of this revenue, $45,565 was accumulated and added to net fund balances of $49,160 for an end-of-year balance of $94,725 on December 2007. This is not your ordinary community council!
To Get Educated Before Posting:
“So just as we have a President, or any leaders in our nation and in our community before we cast our vote we see if they are honorable, not biased, not afraid to look at and analyze all sides of an issue even though they already have an opinion. This is an outstanding leader. One who does not run from information but looks at it, reads it, thinks about it.”
What a bunch of BS! Can you really say this with a straight face about “your” President Jeannie Hale?
How come she is “running” from the request for information and transparency from the LCC that Dixie requested?
Can you really claim that she is “not biased, not afraid to look at and analyze all sides of an issue even though they already have an opinion”. I think Jeannie’s track record in the community would suggest otherwise.
How do you know that Dixie didn’t read the same information and arive at a different conclusion?
How many CAC meetings were held? How many so-called friends of chidren’s “disrupted” those meetings?
In how many meetings did the LCC or LCC members speak or submit documents for consideration? Perhaps some would consider those comments disruptive as well.
The CAC meetings were a public process, perhaps you need to get educated to that! FYI Not everyone has the same opinion that’s why they held the meetings and asked for public comment!!
At the end of the day a zillion meetings were held, Children’s Hospital made many compromises and the CAC report agreed as did the DPD. The LCC held fast and made no compromises, lost their case and is now appealing! What’s wrong with this picture? Jeannie, you gave it your all, you lost NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
…hmmm, very interesting tax returns– piles of money from concealed, anonymous “public” sources, no reporting of any revenue contributions from their so-called membership…somebody call the state auditor!
Highly amusing to watch Laurelhurst residents attempt to take one another out on the pages of the Stranger. Speaking of PR, I think it might be helpful for all of you to take a step back and realize what you look like to the rest of the city: No matter what the impact of the hospital expansion will be on your homes and lives, you appear to be a bunch of petulant, over-priviledged ninnies who think you’re more important than a lot of dying children. Would be wise at this point to figure out a way to settle this business amicably, hmm?
more expansion huh?
…..well there is always the courthouse story on steroids.
Although the Laurelhurst Community Club represents themselves on the Website of the Seattle Community Council Federation as a Community Council, I believe that this is untrue. They are a private club (501c4). They provide no financial reporting on their Web site and, to the best of my knowledge, did not publish a financial statement at their 2008 Annual Meeting. Their next Annual Meeting is scheduled for an unannounced date in May. This would be a good opportunity to request a financial report of both revenue and spending priorities. I was surprised, too, that LCC’s 2007 income report on form 990 revealed $79,270 of revenue and $94,725 of accumulated fund balances. It was even more distressing to observe that they appeared to spend almost nothing for the benefit of public community needs. Once LCC discloses the date of their Annual Meeting in May, I am sure that members of the community will ask for a discussion of their sources of revenue and their spending priorities, if they are allowed to speak.
Good for Dixie Wilson and others who are ending the anonymity of LCCJeanne Hale.
Perusal of LCC’s minutes and corporate documents (finally being updated on the web thanks to Wilson) makes it clear that he directors of this group make decision after decision to oppose things all over the region.
They never consult the members. Then they say “Laurelhurst” opposes this or that. It is obvious that they only represent themselves. They have been misrepresenting to the community at large that they represent all of Laurelhurst.
The way their “membership” works, they do not even know who their “members” are. Incredible.
LCC’s comments on anything should be seen for what they are: the comments of a group of eight or nine people. Their credibility is at the level of any other group of eight or nine people.
Sounds like LCC won’t be satisfied until Children’s Hospital moves away.
Maybe LCC should get to work on Laurelhurst’s new slogan: “No sick kids here.”
Mr. X you suggest that those that are unhappy with LCC leadership show up and vote them off. The Hale ingrown breed prohibits that. Take a look at their by-laws. Hales Trustees control who can be a Trustee. The members have no say at all, except to vote for a handpicked group.Remind you of some countries we know of and despise for their lack of democracy. LCC is a perfect American example.
Jeanne Hale has created a vicious inbred group of people, who purport to speak for those of us in Laurelhurst. Thanks to Dixie Wilson’s pushing, the truth is starting to come out.
The directors totally control who is allowed to be considered for a director. The directors control the nominating committee. Dissident members have no means of having a voice. They cannot nominate a director at their annual meeting. They are stuck voting at an annual meeting for those the existing directors want in their little cabal.
Then they never solicit input from all the “members” before they take stands on a myriad of issues all over the City, purporting to represent “Laurelhurst.”
LCC DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF LAURELHURST. LET THE TRUTH RING OUT.
Next time anyone LCC says: “Laurelhurst thinks X, “translate that to: “ Jeanne Hale and a couple friends think X.”
” “They consistently refused to compromise on the proposal to add 1.5 million square feet in a low-density, family area,” says Hale. “
Yes, let’s put a hospital out in the boonies, i.e. a “low density” area! Why on earth would we put a hospital in a high density area, where the people are? After all, it’s just kids we’re talking about. I’m sure they won’t mind the extra travel time, especially when their lives are at stake, and neither will their parents!
Can anyone say “Road Trip?”
Hale’s days representing Laurelhurst are numbered. She’s been pushing her own agenda on that community for years.
It is time for Meanie Hale and her hand selected, self perpetuating directors to have some respect for the Children’s Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee which met 27 times and heard from all those from Laurelhurst who took their time to come and testify on the Hospital.
I was there.
The majority of Laurelhurst residents, who spoke, supported exactly what the CAC recommended – careful expansion of Children’s hospital with substantial mitigation. If Hale wishes to represent “Laurelhurst” then she should drop her appeal against the CAC’s recommendation and get on board with the people in Laurelhurst.
Dixie Wilson has done a wonderful service standing up for the residents of Laurelhurst, who are being tainted by LCC’s misrepresentation of the Laurelhurst community.
This is great commentary. Dixie Wilson has shown the underbelly of “Laurelhurst” politics. She either speaks for a very large silent majority or for an almost 50% underrepresented minority. What is clear is that LCC does not speak for Laurelhurst. It should be abolished based on its misrepresentations and secrecy. LCC should get its nose out of other people’s business and drop its opposition to the Children’s Hosptial expansion which is recommended by DPD and a very transparent community group the CAC which held 27 public meetings where everyone could speak. LCC in contrast did not hold even one meeting of its members before deciding to use an obsene amount of money on an expensive downtowm lawyer to fight what the community wants.
I am relieved to see that there are people willing to stand up to the LCC and support what they know is right. Thank you Dixie and Friends for being good neighbors.
To Get Educated Before Posting
“So when people criticize LCC – it is hard to understand under what basis? LCC analyses all the information. They hired 3rd party consultants who have analyzed the data and presented that back to LCC who in turn passed on the information to the CAC. Now what is wrong with that?”
What’s wrong with that?
The LCC analyses the information, doesn’t like what they see, and hires their own private consultant.
Everyone knows in an issue as big as this, consultants are hired to ‘side’ with those who HIRED them.
Its funny listening to rich people complain about a hospital for children. You would all crap your pants if you had to deal with what the south side of seattle gets. Where is your waste transfer station? Where is your sex offenders housing units? Where is your jail? You are so lucky that you are only getting a hospital, it could be a whole lot worse.
As a health care professional, albeit retired, I am concerned that the children are being lost in these back and forth vituperative NIMBY comments.
Disclaimer: Childrens Hospital is not in my backyard.
Childrens Hospital is a life saving resource that all can be proud of. Can it’s expertise and resources be readily duplicated at our community hospitals?
Is the major point of contention the impact on traffic rather than the impact on views or property values? If so, would perhaps the analysis and debate be most profitable if focused there?
Isn’t it how we treat the most vulnerable in our society, in this case very ill children, the metric to strive for?
I quote (from a Laurelhurst resident who spoke at a CAC meeting this summer), “Children’s is destroying our neighborhood. They are buying up all the houses in Laurelhurst and filling them with rowdy renters. For example, on the 4th of July, the renters across the street from me had a party with cars parked up and down the street, loud music and people coming and going until 11 PM at night!!!” What jerks having a party on the 4th of July until 11 PM at night! How completely unreasonable!
And another comment from a CAC meeting this fall, “Think of the children that live in Laurelhurst. Last time Children’s expanded, the construction was just on the other side of a buffer from backyards where kids were trying to play. It is unacceptable for these children to have construction noise that close to their backyard.” Yea, poor Laurelhurst kids. They should move the construction next to the wing where the neurosurgeon patients are. They already have headaches anyway, right?