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Home My WebLink About10/04/2016 15 Other Business Distributed at the Meeting i O- 91 '0' 1`i.'%`� OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL Kathy Coffey, Mayor . 1 "�� , ''� 12 North Second Street Carmel[ Mendez, Assistant Mayor ' ` • � Maureen Adkison a i, � s City Hall, Yakima, Washington 98901 , � ,� , � .: Holly Cu[rsens �� ,, , k ,' 's Phone (509) 575 - 6050 o Fax (509) 576 - 6335 �:,+ k; Avina Gutierrez D[rlce Gutierrez Bill Lover October 4t 2016 Ui L ` 4 FT Lowel Krueger Executive Director Yakima Housing Authority 810 North 6 Avenue Yakima WA 98902 Re Letter of Support for Homeless Veterans Project DHHS Federal Property Assistance Program Dear Mr Krueger, The City of Yakima is pleased to provide this letter of support for your proposed project to provide housing and services to veterans in the Yakima area that are experiencing homelessness Your plan to convert the Yakima Marine Armory into a multi- faceted service center for veterans would fill an unmet need in the community, namely a one -stop facility that would include a hygiene center for homeless vets, program space for services such as counseling, case management and crisis intervention, and on -site permanent affordable housing specially designed to meet the needs of veterans The City of Yakima specifically supports your application for federal property disposition through the Department of Health and Human Services Federal Property Assistance Program for the Homeless Your proposed program is certainly the type envisioned under Title V of the McKinney- Vento Act, which makes excess property available to local governments and non- profit organizations to assist persons experiencing homelessness By combining federal surplus property with available resources such as the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers, this project will have the capital and operating funds necessary to succeed On behalf of the Yakima City Council and the City of Yakima, I wish you success in your efforts Sincerely, Mayor Kathy Coffey City of Yakima, Washington Yakima uikumdu 'e 2015 1994 Distributed at the Meeting /0• - 4y Indigenous Peoples Day • I am David Powell. I have lived in Yakima for over 20 years. • I support and encourage changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day in the City of Yakima. • I have a BS and MS in Anthropology and my expertise is in archaeology and cultural anthropology • I have over 37 years experience in the Pacific Northwest and the privilege of working with indigenous people • I grew up celebrating Columbus Day - "In 1492 Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue" I learned that Columbus "Discovered America" • Now we all know that it is not true. Millions of indigenous people were living here with multiple diverse languages and cultures with trade networks stretching across the continents for over 10,000 years, • Columbus did not discover America. He - began the European invasion. • His journal says he forcibly captured indigenous people to learn where he could find gold and other resources. • Columbus' arrival began colonialism and genocide. It should not be celebrated. • My ancestors immigrated to Virginia at the beginning of colonialism over 400 years ago The indigenous people welcomed my ancestors before Europeans overran the continent. • We cannot change the past but we do not have to pretend it did not happen. • We live in the City of Yakima, in Yakima County, on the Yakima River - all named for our indigenous neighbors, the Yakama Nation. • There was a Yakama Village right here. • Celebrating Columbus Day is celebrating colonialism and genocide • Let's celebrate our indigenous neighbors who welcomed strangers into their lands. • 22 US cities have already changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, including Seattle, Olympia and Portland. The state of Alaska has changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day and a couple of Universities. • Have Yakima join the 21st century and make it a unanimous vote for Indigenous Peoples Day • Thank you. U S. Political Entities that have changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day Minneapolis, Minnesota April 2014 Seattle, Washington April 2014 Minnesota State University October 2014 Grand Rapids, Minnesota December 2014 Traverse City, Michigan February 2015 Newstead, New York May 2015 Akron, New York May 2015 St. Paul, Minnesota August 2015 Olympia, Washington August 2015 Lewiston, New York September 2015 Anadarko, Oklahoma September 2015 Anchorage, Alaska October 2015 Portland, Oregon October 2015 Carrboro, North Carolina October 2015 Albuquerque, New Mexico October 2015 State of Alaska October 2015 San Fernando, California October 2015 Belfast, Maine December 2015 Durango, Colorado January 2016 University of Utah January 2016 Asheville, North Carolina January 2016 Eugene, Oregon March 2016 Cambridge, Massachusetts June 2016 Boulder, Colorado August 2016 Santa Fe, New Mexico September 2016