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 guess it is easy to be an obstruction to Children’s expansion and heli-pad usage when you live so close to the hospital. Of course your children will be taken care of quickly and you will not have a problem getting your child to Children’s. What about the rest of the communities with sick children or the children in the WAMI region in which Children’s serves? It must be nice to be such selfish people. Think of the neighbors, how about think of the children!!!
Does “Laurelhurst” want roadblocks thrown up for low income housing all over the City? I doubt it.
For a real education on how out of control Jeannie Hale is, go to “Laurelhurstcc.com” and look at the issues Hale advocates on behalf of Laurelhurst. One that caught my attention was her opposition for lowered parking levels for low income housing. That is clearly opposition to low income housing – a high priority for all of us in King County.
This is not a NIMBY issue, since there is no danger of low income housing in Laurelhurst. This is a Jeannie Hale sticking her nose into issues (under the guise of LCC) that have nothing to do with Laurelhurst.
She should quit acting on behalf of “Laurelhurst.” Her actions are a great discredit to our community.
To those who are attacking the reporter: what’s the complaint, really? That Mr. Holden isn’t taking your side? Get a grip. A resident of the community has asked for information. The LCC hasn’t supplied it. It’s kind of like the Boards of Directors of so many of the companies that have now caused the American economy to tank. They made decisions in the dark, shady deals, and eventually it ended up hurting a lot of people. Kudos to Ms. Wilson for seeking information she is wholly entitled to, just as any ‘shareholder’ in a company is (and as a dues paying member of the LCC, that is what she is.)
In fact, I would argue that the article >is< in fact unbiased as it represents a heretofore unheard side of the story – those in the LCC and the neighborhood who are in favor of the hospital. As a nearby neighbor, I was under the impression from the LCC’s representatives that those people didn’t exist.
As for the hospital expansion itself, it’s hard to oppose and not look like a complete and total selfish, petty, uncaring jerk. I suppose if I lived next door, I’d have my reservations. A helicopter landing in the middle of the night would be a bit disruptive, after all), but in the larger picture, I think I would sleep better knowing that that helicopter was likely saving a child’s life.
Interesting how Dixie et all times her lawsuit and ensuing ridiculous Stranger article to hit just before the Public Hearing.
Dixie – is the Stranger the only paper that would cover your frivolous lawsuit? Their readership is very low and probably has majorly dropped off after people have read such a biased article. Not your fault – fault of the Stranger for not being more professional in reporting.
Sorry no other papers will pick up your so interesting story that has nothing to do with the Hospital Expansion but is just a petty lawsuit that is dividing your own neighborhood. Good going for someone that wants to be a leader. You’ve got my vote….not.
Oh and Dixie – have you really paid your dues for the last 10 years. Hmm…I don’t think so. LCC records are public and show otherwise. Anyone can look that up. I think you are losing your credibility.
It’s easy to tell the caliber of Stranger readers by all the bad language – really bad reflection on Dixie’s mission of taking over LCC. Doesn’t look good for you all in your quest to be leaders. Yes but it does fit in with the Stranger readership and I’m sure they enjoy your swear words. Don’t think any other reputable paper would stand for it. So Dixie – good choice of papers to cover your story. And probably none others would – it’s so lame.
Friends – please keep in mind when you bash other people that these are people no matter what you think about them. Jeannie is a person and has gone through a lot of trials personally. She recently lost her husband. So please when posting think about what you are saying. It’s easy to hide behind posts and just press send after saying nasty things – but does that really make for substantial posts or just for venting. Thank you.
I am a rep from the Friends group. Yes we are run by a PR company as someone else said. We work closely with Children’s Hospital, mainly Ruth Benfield, Desiree Leigh and Suzanne Peterson and have for several years. Children’s completely foots the bill of the Friends group and uses the services of their PR group to maintain the website, mailings etc. We are not a grassroots effort. This group was initiated by the hospital and the Chairs were recruited by the hospital to run this group. All has been carefully handpicked and orchestrated by the hospital. Dixe, Steve Rossi and Mr. Ross didn’t start this group on their own nor have they spent much time maintaining it. The PR company and hospital do that work.
The PR company reps help to write the scripts of those who have spoken at CAC meetings and we are sure to emphasize stories of children who have been healed by the wonderful doctors at Children’s. The hospital charges us with making sure there are at least 5 Friends to speak at every CAC meeting. Many have driven miles to speak for the 2 minutes. Granted they are out of touch with the issues, but we appreciate anything they have to offer.
We, as a group, are not up to speed on what the CAC has discussed the last 2 years. Nor have we read the Final Master Plan or the EIS. We don’t have the time. Rather, we are briefed by hospital reps and go with what they tell us. We show up for public comment period and then leave immediately after we have spoken. So we are sorry if are comments are not in context of what the CAC has talked about that specific meeting.
We have not educated ourselves on the CAC process, traffic issues, land use and height issues, or any issues as set forth by the City codes of which I hear there are many.
The hospital has charged us with making sure the expansion is a go – and to the magnitude that they want. That is our mission. 100%. Regardless if this is not in keeping with the desires of the neighborhoods affected or the codes as set forth by the City.
Yes it is true most of our members are Children’s employees and the rest reside outside of the Laurelhurst/Bryant neighborhoods – the main neighborhoods affected by this expansion. We have a very very small handful of members that live in Laurelhurst. And these members do not live close to the hospital, most are south of 45th. None of our members live within a very close radius to the hospital. It would be very hard for us to recruit members from those that live within blocks of the hospital.
If you would like assistance in writing your speech for the Hearing Examiner please contact us through the website. We are happy to help. We are trying to get at least 50 people signed up in a row to go first and take up a major chunk of time. We really don’t want any residents of Laurelhurst – i.e. those living close to the hospital to be able to speak. We know they have spent hours educating themselves on the process and issues and will carry a lot of weight with their comments.
Regarding the lawsuit, we are somewhat confused by the specifics of it- as the hospital has gotten everything they want. Even though LCC has worked to lessen the magnitude of the expansion and impacts on the neighborhood, the CAC came forward with a final report granting the hospital with 2.5 milion square foot, as well as all the other requests they put forth. We do believe Council will approve the Master Plan as it stands now, thus it is unclear why Ms. Wilson is upset.
If she does get a hold on LCC we will help her fill the Board with Yes people – those that only were in favor of the expansion. We know there are many many other issues LCC works on, but making sure the hospital expansion is carried forth without any snags will be the main goal of a modified LCC if that should happen. Other issues, such as UVillage expansion, parking and traffic associated with that, crime in Laurelhurst, good neighbor awards, etc will all be put on the back burner and any community building efforts.
Also it has been heard, but not confirmed, that Ms. Wilson has received what she has summoned through her attorney from LCC. LCC is cooperative in supplying what is requested and all records do appear to be up to date and available.
We are very pleased with the CAC’s final master plan as Children’s has gotten everything they asked for. We thank the neighborhoods for allowing this expansion as big as it is as it will help many children. We will not know what you will going through the next 20 years as we don’t live in your area but are appreciative you will partner with the hospital as it grows.
We are sorry to Laurelon owners who are forced to move. We understand that you may not get all the money you are promised if the Master Plan is not fully approved by Council. However we appreciate the sacrifices you are making. I know many residents are very elderly and this move will be extremely hard for them. Many Laurelon residents were brought in by our group to speak at CAC meetings in partnership with the Laurelon lawyer. And our group also helped coordinate the buses that took Laurelon members to Olympia to get HB 3071 passed so that Laurelon could be sold. We know many Laurelon residents have not bought into being forced to sell, but we hope things will work out for you in your locations.
Kudos to all the Friends group for working hard the last 2 years recruiting fellow employees at the hospital, residents that live all over Seattle and not making too many enemies with the true Laurelhurst residents that will be affected.
We are also thankful to the CAC who worked hard the last 2 years and came out with a great product – granting the hospital all of their wishes and more. We could not be happier with the outcome.
Friends of the Hospital
I’ve lived in this neighborhood for decades. It’s time for the LCC to bury the hatchet on this one.
The CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee) did its work and we have a fine result. I know — I attended many meetings as an interested neighbor, and saw them at work. I am hopeful the Hearing Examiner and City Council will agree with their main report, and then we can all move on to the next phase.
But hey Northeast Seattle, especially Laurelhurst: let’s make this next phase actually turn into A NEW CHAPTER in good relations between the hospital and the neighborhoods. Put the bad blood of the LCC farrrr behind us, because it does not reflect the more constructive sentiments of our community. There is much work to do going forward as the design is fleshed out, but with the right combination of people (hospital and community) working cooperatively on the building plan details and management of construction, this WILL turn out to be something our region can be very proud of.
Good and talented people, good design, careful and top notch construction — that has been the case with Children’s Hospital in the past, and I fully expect it will be again.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, the region will be better able to respond to the needs of many ill children whose very lives depend on this specialized care.
So, bury the hatchet, LCC.
All Sand Point residents support the hospital expansion. I know because I live in Sand Point. So there.
Funniest Line:”‘It would pretty much destroy the character of the surrounding communities with a Bellevue Square–type development’ says LCC president Jeannie Hale.”
Like U Village?
Hey I’m a Sandpoint resident and I don’t support the expansion. Have you really knocked on every single door asking. And are you affected by the expansion? That’s why you’re in favor of it. You might think again if it was in your backyard. Get your facts straight before you post, such generalizations about an entire neighborhood are without merit.
UVillage is not in a residential neighborhood! The hospital is – no secret there. Everyone knows that. Go to a UVillage meeting and get your facts straight and really I didn’t see you at any CAC meetings to figure out that laurelhurst is outside an urban village, and UVillage is. Very simple black and white. This is not comparing apples to apples.
Thanks to the rep from Friends for the great email. You summed it up great. We’re also able to help draft scripts for the Hearing Examiner. You don’t have to write your own nor know anything about the Master Plan, land-use codes, etc. Just show up for 2 minutes and leave. No biggie. Oh and don’t mention where you live when you speak as this will lose credibility. Of course those not in Laurelhurst are for the expansion right? That’s a no brainer. Except for those in Laurelhurst that don’t live near the hospital – guess you could say that. Sandpoint is good, etc.
We know members of our Friends group won’t be at all affected by 20 years of construction, traffic, emergency vehicles that will be stuck in traffic, pollution, long waits at lights, QFC expansion, 520 expansion, so we can write scripts being very objective as we don’t live anywhere near Children’s. We’ll be away from that big mess.
Let us know if we can help.
Steve and Dino
We live in Sandpoint and are not in favor of the expansion. Please note this. Thank you.
We applaud LCC for all they have done in their efforts over the years on many issues, hospital expansion being only one of them.
Their board meetings are always open to neighbors to voice concerns, and they are always open to letters, emails, etc. They are transparent in their processes.
We also give them kudos for hiring consultants to analyze all the data received by the hospital and their consultants. This helped in looking at all sides of the issue.
Of course LCC cannot reprent an entire community, that is impossible. But they deal with facts, are professional and honorable.
We are disturbed by personal attacks on any LCC Board member. It has no place on a forum and should be emailed directly to the appropriate person. It is off-topic and not in keeping with the issues at hand.
LCC has also done great work on following the UVillage expansion, NE Seattle community issues, 520 developments and workign with leaders across our city.
Thank you LCC.
Here here another Sandpoint family not in favor of the expansion.
I think everyone just needs to pause and remember why the hospital is trying to expand…to help the patients and families…listen to their radiothon going on and listen to THEIR stories…the patients!!
I think everyone just needs to pause and remember why the hospital is trying to expand…to help the patients and families…listen to their radiothon going on and listen to THEIR stories…the patients!!
Dominic my friend – I am a journalist and this article is not balanced whatsoever. No matter if you agree with the issue, are paid by Dixie, etc you gotta present both sides. No quotes from the opposition? What gives? We always give equal time to both sides. Basic journalism dude. Can’t believe this was published as is. It’s an embarrasment to The Stranger. And man – you just lost a reader. I’m not reading one more word of any more publications if articles are not presented more balanced. Plus a lot of the stuff you wrote is factually incorrect – even for those who don’t live in the neighborhoods you refer to. It’s a no-brainer.
Dude – get with it. This is a lame article, no wonder Dixie sought out your publication. Bet no other paper would run with her story. You got sucked in.
Lame. Later.
Please, please explain to me why it is bad to have employees support the hospital. The expansion will definitely effect them – as they will be the ones sitting in the traffic, listening to the construction noise, etc, while all the folks who live in laurelhurst are at work, right? Oh yeah, you get to stay at home and NOT work. How nice for you.
I have a hard time believing that all these uppity Laurelhursties regularly read the stranger. Hmmm…did someone send an email with a link and get folks all fired up? Isn’t that supposed to be the problem with Friends of Children’s?
In a city where people are getting laid off left and right – why oh why would you stop the expansion, which will bring construction jobs, transit jobs, administrative jobs, and much needed money to the city. Please look to the future and stop being such NIMBY assholes. Think about someone other than yourselves.
Hey everyone the hospital got everything they wanted in their original Master Plan they presented to the CAC. The CAC gave it their blessing a few weeks ago. They got the square footage, the height, the additional number of beds, Laurelon, etc. What’s the controvery here? Laurelhurst is going to suck it up and so is Bryant. No kid is going to die. The hospital is going to be able to expand to the magnitude they want – they are happy. They are not being thwarted. LCC is not able to shut this down.
Let’s move on. This is a closed issue. Enough with the personal attacks. Let’s support the hospital in their new expansion and the neighborhoods affected.
Thank you.
Children’s Hospital works miracles. I am proud to have such a world-class organization in my backyard. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to learn about this project and voice an informed opinion. Thank you to all the residents of Laurelon Terrace who are willing to move. Thank you to all the Northeast Seattle residents who are willing to tolerate construction and increased traffic. THIS IS A WORTHY CAUSE.
Let’s not pit neighborhoods against eachother – like Sandpoint is in favor of the expansion, Windermere is not etc. It really doesn’t matter.
As the previous post, said this is a done deal. The hospital is getting what they want, the CAC approved it.City Council will most likely approve it.
This issue should not be used to divide neighborhoods. It’s not effective nor productive. People stepping in now to voice input on which side they are on are too late. It’s over. It went on for the past 2 years and it’s done. CAC is adjourned. Comments now are just frivolous and don’t go anywhere except this blog.
Wow. I don’t know a lot about this issue (I’m from Wedgwood), and even though the article seems slightly biased, I’m shocked by the amount of immature, incoherent, grammatically flawed rants residents of Laurelhurst have posted in response. I’m fairly certain it’s not The Stranger or the writer of this article that should be embarrassed.
It seems there are two threads running here: one is the hospital expansion (a done deal) and the other is the issue of LCC’s expenditure priorities.
I’m sure LCC has done things to enhance the neighborhood, but there are areas that need flushing out, like where the money earmarked for the “Sidewalk Safety” project disappeared to. It appears very little has been spent on actually improving the community of Laurelhurst, other than projects spearheaded by individuals outside of LCC.
You people are crazy. Let the damn hospital help sick kids.
Just fyi…since the hospital has acquired Laurelon – Laurelhurst is not affected. So when people say Laurelhurst people are whining or assuming it is Laurelhurst people – it is not as that neighborhood is not affected as it was initially going to be.
Bryant is now heavily affected as they will look straight across Sandpoint at the very tall towers. So sorry to deflate your Laurelhurst bashing – but it’s Bryant. Laurehlurst is out of the woods.
LCC is just still doing due diligence with ensuring city codes are followed. Ravenna – Bryant Community Council is also following this.
Maybe they also want to have one of their residents start a lawsuit against them?
Thanks.
So I’m confused on Dixie and possy’s motivies. The hospital expansion is a done deal. Check.
She seems to want to know where her dues have been spent. So when she paid this supposedly over the last 10 years – that would be 10 times – did she ever ask this before? I’m sure there are other issues she hasn’t agreed with. Yes she let those slide.
And where does it say in LCC by-laws that they have to poll on every single issues. Are those Dixie’s new rules? How can a community council poll on every issue. That’s why there are Board meetings and residents can speak or even send email.
No other community councils poll over issues, not one.
Dixie – check all of them or just ask NE Community Council. They can help you.
You don’t have a lawsuit here. Get over it. You got what you wanted with the expansion.
Move on to something where your skills will be more useful and effective in serving your community.
Fuck your rich-ass hood, build the expansion to a goddamn hospital for children already.
Dixie???? By that name, I’m guessing her great grandfather owner around 25 to 30 slaves.
What is at issue here is not, really, the Children’s plan. It is about TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY on the part of the LCC, and whether or not the manner in which they’ve managed themselves can truly be considered representative of the neighborhood.
If you lived here, you’d understand that. This has been a long time coming. A number of communities in Seattle have councils that operate somewhat like the LCC, and in fact the City of Seattle Auditor’s office is doing an audit of community councils.
These community councils are homegrown; they are not city-sanctioned or mandated or have any official status with the city, yet they wield great power. It’s important that these groups be held accountable and be transparent in their dealings as “representatives of their neighborhoods.” They owe THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS that much.
Do you get it now? This is an issue all over Seattle.
It’s about time someone calls out Jeanne Hale and the Laurelhurst gang for their nimbyism.
JF, your comment about a grandfather and slaves has been flagged as abusive.
get a life, dude.
move the neighborhood into lake washington.
then expand the hospital.
solution!
What Fair Questions said about LCC’s and other community club’s need for transparency and accountability caught my eye. There are fine and effective clubs, like the Montlake Community Club. It appears, from the Montlake Website, that officers may serve no longer than two years, I assume to keep individuals from wielding too much power. It is my understanding that the current LCC president was elected to a two-year term last May, so she is not up for re-election.
On the LCC Website: “By-laws:Section 1 – Amendment by Trustees. The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the board of trustees, so long as written notice of the proposed bylaw changes has been provided prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of trustees.”
Does this mean that only two-thirds of LCC trustees can instate term limits or make other changes and that these proposed changes must be brought to the Board prior to the meeting?
And the current LCC President has been in that same position for at least 10 years, maybe more.
That’s a great question, seems to me Jeannie has been president since time began. Anyone know the facts?
It is easy for “Mr. X” to taunt the neighbors with the phrase, “If you don’t like it, vote the officers out.” This writer knows that the By-Laws of LCC provide that the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer are elected by the Board of Trustees, not the membership. The Board of Trustees includes 13 individuals, including the four officers themselves. Moreover, the Board of Trustees controls access to the Board. Nominations to the Board must be submitted to a Nominating Committe selected by the Board and presently chaired by the Vice-President, but the officers refuse to accept candidates that have not been chosen by the Board itself. No nominations to the Board of Trustees may be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting. Furthermore, no Amendments to the By-laws can originate from the membership. The By-Laws can only be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board, contingent on written notice being provided before a regularly scheduled meeting. So, the LCC Board is self-contained, self-perpetuating,and immune to community input. Thus, a court case may be the only way to get a detailed accounting of revenues and expenditures.
Rather than fighting an adversarial despot, many of the constructive members of the community organize small, cooperative, neighborhood-based projects to improve our neighborhoods and our environment. We are able to work effectively with our neighbors, with governmental agencies, and with the University in a problem-solving spirit as long as LCC does not seize control.
At the moment, we are powerless to elect new officers for LCC, but we do have the ability to give our donations to productive volunteer activities instead of spending them on divisive legal battles funded by opaque financing that obstruct problem-solving and compromise.
Great comments regarding the length of time that people serve on community council boards. There are a few community councils/boards in Seattle where one or two strong personalities have served on the board for decades or more. This is also true with Seattle City Neighborhood Council and the many District Councils. There should be open, public election or term limits on these positions. Otherwise, these groups do not represent the communities that they purport to represent.
This is what makes Seattle such a delight: the never-ending reviews and committees and whining fucking neighborhood shits. Expand the fucking hospital. Fuck the whining neighbors.
Although I am a Laurelhurst resident, I am learning a lot of mind-blowing information from the discussion of Laurelhurst Community Club governance,above, even when it is punctuated with obscene interjections. (I assume that each person contributes the best that they have to offer.) Judging from the information about LCC By-Laws posted here, it appears that the LCC officers have absolute power to control the membership of the Board of Trustees and the Board has absolute power to elect the officers without any possibility of input from the community. It appears that the only opportunity for the community to express their approval or disapproval is their ability to suppor or reject the re-nomination of members of the Board at the Annual Meeting. I think that I need to learn a lot more about the positions of the Trustees before they re-nominate themselves this May.
From SmarterNeighbors.com:
Not happy with your community council (or club), why not join it as a trustee or start your own.
August 28th, 2008
2 Diane // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:56 am
I have questions regarding a group called Children’s Action. I went to http://www.childrensaction.com but could not determine who sponsors the site. Is the group an arm of LCC? Are LCC board members also members of Children’s Action? I checked LCC’s by-laws and assume if LCC board members belong to both groups, they have a conflict of interest and should not be allowed to vote on LCC/Children’s Hospital related topics.
As President of the Seattle Community Council Federation, LCC’s president, Jeannie Hale, has perhaps presented these studies to that umbrella organization and gained their support. If she is a member of Children’s Action is this a conflict of interest?
Finally, who is paying for Children’s Action Coalition’s professional work? Is LCC funding it with community dues or other contributions?
3 Karen // Sep 3, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Members of the Laurelhurst Community Club are behind Children’s Action. LCC doesn’t want you to know that, so they keep the domain registration and hosting clouded in secrecy. LCC has made no recent report of finances to the community, nor detail about its lobbying efforts. With a lack of integrity comes a lack of transparency.
LCC is a group that Texan’s call “All Hat and No Cattle.” They aren’t elected, aren’t governmentally recognized, aren’t publicly authorized. They are simply a small, hyper group that the neighborhood has ceded representation to, over time. I understand there was a meeting last evening, and things are underway to charter new representation of our community to Seattle. It is time.
4 Dan // Sep 4, 2008 at 8:36 pm:
Better yet :
The Children’s Action site lists its own opinions about the DEIS.
Then the site separately references the LCC’s comments about the DEIS.
The site then references the Seattle Community Council Federation’s opinions of the Children’s DEIS.
You would think there is a phalanx of opposition to hospital expansion, right?
Guess again. All THREE organizations are headed/chaired by the SAME person! It’s public opposition by Xerox. Policy formation by ’search-and-replace’ phrasing. A fakery.
You’ll notice that on most issues, the Federation’s Chair (Hale) signs the organizations letters. But on issues related to Children’s expansion they are signed by the VP (Barrett). Using more names (selectively) creates a thin veneer of broad community support.
Is this the level of integrity and transparency that we want and expect from our community representatives?
Laurelhurst will remain beautiful after the expansion. The wretched stink of deceit lingers.
Parker:
Lot’s to ponder isn’t there. Maybe the Texan’s have it wrong, in this case it looks like “Many Hats-Same Tired Horse” Game of smoke and mirrors is becoming much clearer now isn’t it? Sure wish you Laurelhurst folks coud make a change or two on the Board, but it looks like the Board has its bases covered in that regard.
ParkerMadison –
The Smarter Neighbors posts were very good, especially when no other media would touch this topic. The scariest post, to me, though, was when Greg acknowledged that Jeanne Hale had forced the PI and him to remove reader comments that she did not like.
I have a hard time believing a majority of Laurelhurst, Windermere, View Ridge, Hawthorne Hills and Bryant/Ravenna residents would encourage the expansion that was put on the table of Childrens Hospital. A 250 foot hospital tower is the equivelant of the Washington Athletic Club, (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=wash… )but nestled in a family community off of Sand Point Way. One might see why this would be an issue for anyone in the surrounding community, let alone the LCC.
Bryantblast,
Your information is out of date. Your building heights are way off. The hospital and CAC have brought them way down from 240 to 140 feet. and after purchasing the Laurelon property (which an overwhelming of their residents approved, btw), they can move the structure somewhat down the hill and take advantage of the slope to provide more of a transition between the hospital and the neighborhood. They will also completely take out the proposed street entrance on NE 45th (which is right in the neighborhood) and move it out to Sand Point Way, a major arterial.
These are just a few of the many compromises Childrens has made.
So, please, read up before you comment. Yeah, when it began it was tall. But through the city-mandated process (the CAC) there has been much good work done.
The hospital expansion is settled, but Dixie Wilson’s questions about LCC’s funding and expenditures still need answers. The LCC By-Laws on the Web say that the Treasurer must present a Financial Statement of revenues and expenditures at the Annual Meeting in May. I hope that this report will explain how LCC received $79,270 in revenue and accumulated $94,725 in fund balances in 2007 and, apparently, more than that in 2008. Their only expense in 2007 was $33,706 for management and a newsletter. Who are the anonymous donors who are funding LCC’s activities? What are the quid-pro-quos, if any, that the LCC officers provide to these donors? Why is so little spent on services to the community and support of community infrastructure?
Good questions Still Puzzled.
How about this, in 2005 expenses were $35,584 and of that $19,124 (53%) used to pay legal fees and consultants to fight Battelle/Talarus.
Sketchy info for 2004 but looks like a $5,000 loss for the year plus $17,000 in unpaid bills (no doubt legal fees for 2004 carried forward). I’d say that’s another $22,000 in legal and land use consulting fees.
LCC described these expenditures on their tax return as “Follow important community issues and educate neighbors”
I guess they educated their neighbors at Talarus with a lawsuit!
Forensic Accountant, What do you think of the fact that LCC did not treat the private security service as unrelated business income and subject to federal tax? Also, what do you think of the fact that they don’t pay B&O tax on these services? They compete against for-profit businesses, so this should not be an exempt function income item.
It is just amazing how so many people commenting on this article could be selfish enough to want to block an expansion of a children’s hospital in order to protect “community character.” I hope the morons responsible go down in flames.
I am a Laurelhurt resident (one who will be directly impacted by the expansion) and an employee of Children’s. Thank you for questioning the structure of the LCC. My family is 100% behind the Hospital expansion. All of my initial and ongoing questions and concerns about the expansion have been immediately addressed by the hospital and their advisors.
As it is not clear that the LCC speaks for all Laurelhurst residents, it is my hope that the LCC will take a serious look at their internal structure and activities and share this information with the broader community.
Thank you