Cultural Resilience in Seattle: A Living Timeline

Cannery Workers' and Farm Laborer's Union Local 18257 formed under American Federal of Labor.

Jun 19, 1933

Cannery Workers’ and Farm Laborer’s Union (CWFLU) Local 18257 formed under American Federation of Labor (AFL). Source

Seattle Art Museum Opens

Jun 29, 1933

In 1931, The new president of the Art Institute of Seattle, Dr. Richard E. Fuller, and his mother, Mrs. Margaret E. MacTavish Fuller, offer the City of Seattle $250,000 for a museum building. The City agrees to service and maintain the building if the Fullers and the museum accept responsibility for its construction, operation, and collection. The opens its doors to the public on June 29, 1933.
Source

Japanese Internment

Period: Feb 19, 1942 to Mar 20, 1946

Executive Order 9066 authorizing the forced removal of 110,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans from the west coast to internment camps including more than 7,000 from the Seattle area.
Source About the Freemans and Bellevue
Source

Seattle Foundation Established

1946

Dr. Richard Fuller founds Seattle Foundation. He started also started SAM in 1930s and was one of five incorporators of the Pacific Science Center Foundation. He was a lifetime trustee of the Seattle Opera Association, the Seattle Symphony, and of PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations).
Source

Allied Arts is Formed

Oct 3, 1954

The Beer & Culture Society, a small circle of academics, architects, and artists who first met in early 1952. On October 3, 1954, they convened a Congress of the Arts that established Allied Arts, which went on to play leadership roles in promoting the creation of the Seattle Arts Commission; the development of Seattle Center; the preservation of Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and other historic landmarks; and other causes. Source

Municipal Arts Commission Founded

Aug 1, 1955

An Arts Commission was created in 1955 with support of Allied Arts to advise City government regarding the artistic and cultural development of the City.
Source

COINTELPRO Era

Period: 1956 to 1976

COINTELPRO (syllabic abbreviation derived from COunter INTELligence PROgram) is a series of covert and illegal projects conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting American political organizations. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO#:~:text=COINTELPRO%20(syllabic%20abbreviation%20derived%20from,and%20disrupting%20American%20political%20organizations.)

Seattle Open Housing Campaign

Period: 1959 to 1968

Until 1968, it was legal to discriminate in Seattle when renting apartments or selling real estate. The task of securing legislation to prohibit discrimination in housing began in the late 1950s. It turned out to be a decade-long struggle. It still isn't over. Source

Congress of Racial Equity is Formed

1961

CORE sends out their first mailing to invite interested people to send a Freedom Rider to the South. They also issue a call to action in addressing discrimination in Seattle area and begin organizing. Source

Central Area Civil Rights Committee Formed

1963

Together the coalition professed to be the predominant, unified voice on local civil rights issues. For nearly five years, CACRC was strongly influential in determining the shape of the civil rights movement in Seattle. CACRC stood for fair housing, equal employment, and integration of schools. The organization dissolved in 1968. Source

JFK is Assassinated

Nov 22, 1963

Central Area Motivation Program is Founded

1964

The Central Area Motivation Program, or CAMP, was the first recipient in the country of federal funds from the 1964 War on Poverty legislation, and formed to administer programs in Seattle's Central District neighborhood.
Source

CORE Launches Drive for Equitable Employment

Jun 9, 1964

CORE launches successful campaign to end job discrimination in downtown Seattle.
Source

Civil Rights Act Passes

Jul 2, 1964

Freedom Patrols to Monitor SPD Launched

1965

CORE & CAMP launch “Freedom Patrols” to monitor police. The beginning of Seattle’s police accountability movement. The tactic- in which community leaders walked behind and observed Seattle’s beat-cops in the Central District— began after SPD murdered Robert Reese in the Central District. Source

Malcolm X is Assassinated

Feb 21, 1965

Voting Rights Act is Passed

Aug 5, 1965

Seattle Schools Boycott & Freedom Schools

1966

1966- Seattle School Boycott and the launch of Freedom Schools Initiative.
Source

Black Panther Party Founded in Oakland

1966

Joe Brazil founds Black Academy of Music

1967

Garfield Alum jazz great established the Black Academy of Music in 1967 with guitarist George Hurst. The faculty included trumpeter Floyd Standifer, saxophonist Jabo Ward, and bassist Milt Garred. The Black Student Union demanded that he be hired by the UW's School of Music andvwent on to co author their first Black Music curriculum. Source
Learn more

CAMP Launches the Trumpet Newspaper

1967

CAMP Launches Trumpet newsletter to keep community informed on vital issues.
Source

Generation Gaps on School Integration

1968

CORE and CACRC took a stance against black control of schools in the Central District in favor of closing the schools and “forcing integration” by busing black students. To many residents of the Central District and a new wave of activists, this would disadvantage CD children and was a single-minded focus on integration as a principle, rather than an emphasis on empowerment within Seattle’s black community.
Source

Black and Brown Solidarity at UW

1968

In the summer, BSU at the UW travels to the Yakima Valley and recruits the first major group of Chicanos to the University of Washington. An United Mexican American Students and Brown Beret Chapter was founded at UW that same year.
Source

1st Black Bank in Seattle: Liberty Bank

1968

Seattle's first Black bank is established in the Central District. Source

Seattle Black Panther Chapter Founded

1968

Seattle Black Panthers Chapter is founded by the Dixon brothers after Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Toure) speaks at Garfield High. It is the first chapter outside of CA.
Source.

Fair Housing Act is Passed

Apr 11, 1968

BSU Protests at UW

May 20, 1968

The UW Black Student Union occupies the administration building, demanding the implementation of recruitment programming and the establishment of black studies courses. Source
Learn More

Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated

Aug 4, 1968

Seattle Activist Elected to National Black United Front

Sep 9, 1968

UBF was created in the late 1960s as a coalition of 50 black power organizations seeking to challenge white supremacy and build Black empowerment. David Mills, the director of the Seattle Central Area Registration program, was elected president in September 1968. The UBF set up 13 committees to address issues such as political action, youth, labor, housing, education, and others. Source

Edwin Pratt is Assassinated

Jan 26, 1969

1969- Edwin Pratt, ED of Urban League, civil rights leader and housing activist is assassinated outside his Shoreline home. Black community and Pratt’s surviving colleagues suspect police collusion. Despite public records request from community and government officials in 1997, the Pratt files are still closed and inaccessible to this day. Source

BSU Protests at SCCC

Feb 26, 1969

SCC faced boycotts, demonstrations, and uprisings in protest of disparities which began on February 26 with a five-hour sit-in by the Black Student Union (BSU) at the office of College president Dr. Ed Erickson. Source

Asian Coalition for Equality is Formed

Jun 3, 1969

Rev. Mineo Katigiri forms the Asian Coalition for Equality (ACE) in 1969, and student activists (some members of ACE) formed the Oriental Student Union (OSU) at Seattle Central Community College and the UW Asian American Student Coalition (ASC) soon after, that organizations promoting a pan-Asian identity sparked a specifically Asian American movement in Seattle. Source
Learn more

Stonewall Rebellion

Jun 28, 1969

The Stonewall Rebellion is often thought of as the first act of collective queer resistance, and the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement. The rebellion was not organized, and there were no particular leaders. Within a few months, Gay Liberation Front organizations sprang up across the nation, including the first politically active LGBTQ groups in Seattle. Source

Youth Square off with Police on the Ave

Aug 13, 1969

Summer, 1969: Thousands of teenagers converge on the 'AVE' in Seattle's University District and battle with Seattle Police during two nights of rioting and looting. The disturbance subsides only after SPD retreats. Source
Source

Mayor Blocks Raid on Panthers

1970

Mayor Ulhman blocked a planned federal raid on the Seattle offices of the Black Panther Party, an action that earned national headlines in February 1970 along with the permanent enmity of the Nixon White House. Source
Learn more

Natives Reclaim Daybreak Star

Mar 8, 1970

Native American Activists, under the leadership of Bernie Whitebear take over decommissioned Fort Lawton. 18 month’s later Daybreak Star would become the first indigenous cultural center to be established through militant protest. Source

Did the FBI set up Larry Ward?

May 15, 1970

Larry Ward is killed by SPD for trying to set off a bomb that FBI recruiter Alfie Burnett gave him after Burnett failed to recruit a Seattle Black Panther for the job. Source
Source

FBI Infiltrates, Provokes Chicano Orgs

1971

1971- Cointelpro infiltrates and provokes Chicano organizations. COINTELPRO is unveiled as files are retreived from an FBI office. Source

Oriental Student Union Sit-in at Central

Feb 9, 1971

Inspired by successful actions by BSU, OSU staged a sit-in on February 9, 1971, and took over SCCC offices more forcefully on March 2, 1971. This unfortunately included tensions with new Black President BSU helped install. Source

FBI Publishes Report on New Left in Seattle

Apr 12, 1971

Read Report

Nixon Declares "War on Drugs"

Jun 1, 1971

In June 1971, President Nixon declared a “war on drugs.” He dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. Source

Seattle Arts Commission is formed

Jun 1, 1971

On June 1, 1971, the Seattle City Council approved (via Ordinance 99982) the formation of this commission that would, in part, "initiate, sponsor or conduct, alone or in cooperation with other public or private agencies, public programs to further development and public awareness of, and interest in, the fine and performing arts". The ordinance allocated the new arts commission a budget and office space at Seattle Center. Source

1st City-Funded Arts Festival: Bumpershoot

Aug 13, 1971

At the time Seattle was beginning to suffer from massive layoffs at The Boeing Company – shockingly, more than 67,500 of the 100,000-plus jobs there evaporated in just two years -- and the impact would ripple through the local economy, causing many business closures and prompting waves of locals to move away. Uhlman needed to find ways to jolt the area out of its economic doldrums and the associated emotional and cultural malaise. Source

Mandatory Busing to Integrate Seattle Schools

Period: 1972 to 1999

In 1972, the Seattle School District launched the first phase of what became a decades-long experiment with mandatory busing to integrate its schools. Initially limited to a few thousand middle school students, by 1981 nearly 40 percent of all the district's students were being bused for racial reasons. It continued till 1999. Source

Chicano Activists Reclaim El Centro

Oct 11, 1972

October 11, 1972, Chicano activists led by Roberto Maestas occupied the abandoned Beacon Hill School and found El Centro de la Raza. Over the next three months, protesters also staged demonstrations in the chambers of the Seattle City Council and at the offices of Seattle Mayor. The leaders of the protests were arrested. Ultimately, the Seattle School District and the City of Seattle agreed to lease the property to El Centro for $1 a year. Source

Asian Youth Protest Kingdome

Nov 2, 1972

The Groundbreaking was supposed to be a public celebration. But Asian youth, upset that the stadium was located immediately next to Seattle's International District (ID), disrupted the event. Less than two weeks later, a march on the (HUD) offices kicked off the neighborhood's preservation movement.
[Source](

1% for Arts Established

Jan 24, 1973

Seattle Arts Commission proposed and passes one of nation's earliest 1 Percent for Art programs. Source

Association of Seattle Prostitutes Publishes 1st Newsletter

Jun 1, 1974

The Seattle chapter of Coyote, the first sex workers advocacy group, publishes its first newsletter. Source

Committee for Corrective Action March

Feb 3, 1975

73-75, Asian activists put heavy pressure to secure mitigation money to the International District to offset the effects of the Kingdome. These efforts culminated in a on KC executive Spellman’s office to demonstrate community support for an “8 point program” to preserve the ID. It was organized largely by Asian youth activists. Source

George Jackson Brigade is Founded

May 31, 1975

Taking its name from a Black Panther party member who had been killed by guards at San Quentin prison in 1971, the George Jackson Brigade sought to draw attention to abuses within the criminal justice system and to spark a guerilla war that would lead to capitalism's overthrow. The intersectional leaderless formation founded by Mark Cook operated from 1975-1978. Source

Office of Arts and Culture Founded

1976

The Seattle Arts Commission is elevated to city department status by Mayor Uhlman.

Seattle's 1st Municipal Arts Plan

1977

In an effort to monitor and summarize the status of all its active 1 Percent for Art projects, and a means of establishing standardized policies guiding the interaction among various departments including Parks, Engineering, and Arts. In Dec, city zoning rules were revised -- with the input of Independent Creative Arts Project leadership -- to allow living and working spaces for artists in areas previously restricted from residential use. Source

Mandatory Busing Program Expanded

1977

Source

Seattle's Fat Tuesday Riots

Feb 18, 1979

Police confront youth, who pelt them with bottles and rocks, during Fat Tuesday festival in Pioneer Square. The melees result in dozens of injured officers and spectators, and in charges of police brutality. More than 90 persons were treated at area hospitals and some 29 police officers were injured. Source

Hip Hop goes Mainstream

Sep 16, 1979

Sugar Hill's "Rappers Delight" is released, launching Hip Hop to international landscape. Source

Seattle Artist Housing Handbook Released

1980

Source and limited content

1st West Coast Hip Hop Show "Freshtracks" Debuts in Seattle

1980

Nasty Nes debuted the West Coast’s first ever all rap radio show “Freshtracks” on Seattle’s 1250 KFOX. Source

An African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in the Central District is Proposed

1981

The Community Exchange, a multi-racial coalition, proposed an African American museum to Mayor Charles Royer. Three years later, a task force was formed to establish such a museum and included community members Omari Tahir Garrett, Mona Bailey, Esther Mumford, Ann Gerber, P. Razz Garrison, and Janice Cate. Source

Graffiti Begins Making a Mark

1981

Specs art recalls graffiti scene emerging in Georgetown with Smash tags as well as Keep and Mr. Clean. He also cites the legendary DC3 from New York for helping spread the culture in Seattle. This year, a huge DC3 piece appeared on Pike or Pine on 2nd which was an impactful moment for the culture, and graffiti soon became widespread from the CD to West Seattle. [Source: Interview Michael "Specwizard" Hall

Reagonics & The Crack Era

Period: 1981 to 1989

The presidency of Ronald Reagan marked the start of a long period of skyrocketing rates of incarceration, largely thanks to his unprecedented expansion of the drug war. Soon after Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, his wife, Nancy Reagan, began a highly-publicized anti-drug campaign, coining the slogan "Just Say No." This set the stage for the zero tolerance policies implemented in the mid-to-late 1980s. [Source] https://drugpolicy.org/issues/brief-history-drug-war

Pinoy Labor Activists Assassinated in Seattle

Jun 1, 1981

Silme Domino & Gene Viernes assassinated while attempting to reform the Local 37 of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) & challenging the Marcos’ dictatorship. Source

Seattle Hip Hop Expo Draws Media Attention

Feb 19, 1984

Local Hip Hop Expo at Seattle Center garners major media attention. Source

Seattle NBUF Chapter Organizes Against Apartheid

Mar 21, 1985

Below is an event program from "Sharpeville Day" published by Seattle's Chapter of National Black United Front. Source

Seattle Teen Dance Ordinance Era

Period: Jul 29, 1985 to Aug 12, 2002

The Teen Dance Ordinance (TDO) was conceived and passed by Seattle City Council to stop abuses at underage clubs. However the cost and restrictions that resulted for any gathering of young people outside of school were so prohibitive they essentially stopped all dances and concerts for underage youth. It wasn't until the star power of grunge brought about the music lobbying group JAMPAC that it was replaced in 2002. Learn more

Iran-Contra & CIA Drug Trafficking Scandal Era

Period: Aug 20, 1985 to Mar 4, 1987

Reagan officials secretly facilitate the sale of arms in Iran during an embargo to fund the Contras in Nicaragua who are also trafficking cocaine in the US. Many have alleged the CIA's involvement. Though a senate investigation found that Contra drug links included payments to indicted drug traffickers by the U.S. State Department, the CIA has found itself innocent of these allegations twice. Source

1st Colman School Occupation

Period: Nov 24, 1985 to 1996

In protest of the city taskforce that was moving too slow, Black activist occupy Colman school and would stay for over 8 years, one of the countries longest running acts of civil disobedience. Source

Seattle Brings Hip Hop to NBUF Compilation

Aug 1, 1987

DI-RA Boys become only rap music featured on a NBUF compilation album "Frontliners '87". The featured song "The Times" discuss Reagan & Iran-Contra Scandal. Source Hear it

WA Creates Drug Nuisance Abatement Laws

1988

Established by Mark Sidran in 88 during his time at the legislature, Sidran would later apply these laws in a string of cases in late 90s as City Attorney of Seattle to target and close Black businesses and seize land from Black elders. Source

Feds fail to prosecute Freeway Rick for Seattle Crack

Apr 1, 1988

In 88, the Rick Ross organization was the most important group distributing crack in Seattle-Tacoma. Derrick Hargress was prosecuted for supplying Seattle gangs with LA coke passed through OK that Ross was sourcing. The Seattle case failed, and Ross was not prosecuted. Hargress was made to write an open letter by the judge. Source Letter

Source of Labor is Formed

1989

Wordsayer, Negus I, DJ Kamikaze, and later, Vitamin D, played their first shows at Langston. The squad and work would evolve into Jasiri Media Group. The group was active from 1989 to 2004. Jonathan "Wordsayer" Moore's passed in 2017.

Steve Sneed Funds Langston with Hip Hop Theater

1989

One of Seattle's "Godfathers of Hip Hop", Sneed's career at the helm of Langston began with saving the black arts theater from the chopping block by convincing the city with a hip-hop-infused youth musical. As cofounder of Sneco Productions with Reco Bembry, their team of artists provided direct generational through lines to youth empowerment through arts that is part of the regions rich lineage to this day. Source

Olisa "Spyc-E" Enrico Begins Writing Rhymes

Jan 2, 1989

Spyc-E started writing to the beats of her sister Cynthia Johnson at the age of 12, beginning a long career that is still active through her master teaching artistry, storytelling, and cultural organizing work. Source

Hip Hop Theater Production "Peer Pressure" Launched

Jul 1, 1989

Here is a musical selection from the Peer Pressure production featuring more than 70 youth from Seattle, many who went on to be foundational and influential artists, educators, and cultural workers who are active locally to this day. The song is called "Let's Make a Statement" and addresses issues youth face in their everyday lives. Watch Now

Vitamin D Hired at Langston

1990

Rumor has it he had rigged his keyboard to answer phones in the office. [Source: Interview]

Mark "Rudy Giuliani of Seattle" Sidran Era

Period: 1990 to 2002

After a decade as a Prosecuting Attorney for King County, Sidran serves three consecutive terms as Seattle City Attorney. He is known for his "civility laws" which included legislation that criminalized poverty, expanded the powers of police, and limited accessibility of public spaces. He also is known for racist enforcement of drug nuisance abatement and property seizure law in the CD. Source

Criminal Nation drops "Release the Pressure"

Feb 10, 1990

D-Rob, Spade, Bumpy, MC Deff/Wojack, D-Wiz, Clee-Bone and Eugenius form Criminal Nation in Tacoma, dropping this first album on NastyMix. The single charted 17 in the nation.

Music Inner City is Launched

Dec 1, 1990

Gordon Curvey debuted Music Inner City TV on public access before moving to Comcast-Xfinity On-Demand/Western Washington state/24-7/"get local" and then "around the sound", Music Inner City News Magazine, and Sports Inner City Online. [Source]

Ghetto Children is Formed

1991

Vitamin D and B-Self form legendary group in midst of civic resistance to Hip Hop. Source
Source

CooloutTV Network Debuts

Apr 4, 1991

Georgio Brown launch a weekly program on Seattle public-access channel SCAN. Today, Coolout TV is one of the nation’s longest-running hip-hop video series, mashing up interviews and concert footage from the best artists in the local scene. Georgio's Coolout Academy opened in 2020 in Washington Hall. Source

Central District Protests Weed & Seed Plans

1992

Community members raise concern and opposition to Weed & Seed, which would bring, harsh sentencing guidelines, risk of state benefits, housing, and other civil liberties loss to the CD. Source

Hip Hop Conference at Festival Sundiata

1992

Seattle's first Hip Hop Conference is held at Festival Sundiata [Source: Interview]

Silas Blak hired at Boys & Girls Club

1992

The Black Stax/Blakwizard emcee begins youth service work at Boys and Girls Club right around time of Squire Park resign when trees were getting installed as a part of the Weed & Seed program. [Source: Interview]

Seattle Commons Committee Formed

1992

Local committee is formed to fund a public park project called Seattle Commons in South Lake Union. This would be catalyst to Paul Allen/Vulcan's first property in South Lake Union which was purchased for this park. Vulcan Timeline

Moore Paine is Formed

1992

The two brothers have their first debut at a show at Mt. Zion. [Source: Interview Ariel Paine]

The Flavor Magazine Era

Period: 1992 to 1996

The Flavor was an internationally distributed, volunteer-ran Hip Hop magazine that was founded by Allison Pilmer in Seattle and ran from 1992-1996. It had a circulation of 70,000 at its peak. Learn more

Seattle gets Weed & Seed

Apr 6, 1992

Seattle Police Department is included in federal Weed and Seed grant program. Black community begins to organize to mitigate impact in what will be a decades long struggle for justice and cultural/community preservation in place. Source
Source

Rodney King Uprisings

Apr 29, 1992

Unrest erupts in Seattle following the acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers for the beating of Rodney King. The unrest continues the following night. A total of 150 persons are arrested in the next two nights. Source

Youth Late Night Programs Established

May 1, 1992

What became a nationally adopted model of youth cultural service began at Garfield Community Center when Reco Bembry and James King recognized young people they served on the news at the Rodney King uprisings in Seattle. Seattle Parks launched the model which got adopted all over the country. In 2019 Seattle celebrated 30 years of success for this program. Source

Sir Mix-A-Lot Releases "Baby Got Back"

May 7, 1992

The single spends 5 weeks on the top of the charts.

Downtown Shooting at Ice Cube Show

Dec 31, 1992

A brawl and shooting at an Ice Cube Show in Paramount quietly leads to the ousting of hip hop from downtown Seattle Source

Tribal Music is Formed

1994

Vitamin D founds Tribal Music. Artists include Ghetto Children, Infinite, Narcotik (The Note and Tizzy-T), Phat Mob (D-Uneek, E-Wreck & Poetry), Samson S, Shahrazad, Sho Nuff, Sinsemilla (H-Bomb & Topspin), T.H.C., Truth, and Union of Opposites. Source

Jasiri Media Group is Founded

1994

Jonathan "Wordsayer" Moore, Erika “Kylea” White, and Tookas found Jasiri Media Group, a label that would release local music and produce Hip Hop events including the famed "Sure Shot Sundays", and act as unofficial interface between civic entities and Hip Hop.

Alpha P is Formed

1994

By Drew Pollock and others at Washington Middle School. The loose squad would become well known for cyphers at Westlake on 4th and Pine.

Voters Reject Seattle Commons

Sep 19, 1995

Seattle Voters rejected the $111 million property-tax levy that would be required for the park project, some fearful it would gentrify the area, and Paul Allen went on to develop the South Lake Union land into millions of square feet of office space, including Amazon's headquarters, through Vulcan Source

Street Level Records Founded

1996

Street Level Records, founded in 1996 by owner and in-house producer David Severance III (aka D-Sane), got its start with the formation of the label’s first signature group, “Full Time Soldiers” (F.T.S.). Source

Clinton Signs Telecom Act

Feb 8, 1996

The first overhaul of media in over 62 years, this single piece of legislation eliminated diversity of media ownership and has resulted in more and more corporate consolidation. Independent media would have to struggle to exist forever more. The result was and still is devastating. Source

Vulcan Starts Planning South Lake Union

1997

Vulcan begins planning South Lake Union. The Art bar was popping in this era. Source

14 Fathoms Deep is Released

Jan 28, 1997

Tribal releases 14 Fathoms Deep Compilation with Loose Groove/Sony. Source

Self-Tightld Drops 1st Album

1998

Self-Tightld drops first album, another in 2000, then again in 2002. Source

Seaspot Media is Founded

1998

Since 1998, the staff and founder of Seaspot Magazine (part of The Seaspot Media Group) located at the edge of the comforts of the international district just outside of downtown Seattle, have delivered the image, news, substance, culture and vibe of the Pacific Northwest's urban community

Vulcan Announces Downtown Plans

Mar 13, 1998

Vulcan announces move to co-purchase and move to Union Station. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980313&slug=2739413
https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Seattles-historic-Union-Station-to-become-Sound-Transit-headquarters

HUD Funds Pacific Place

Jun 17, 1998

As part of his “Downtown Revitalization” legacy, Mayor Norm Rice pays 73 million for Pacific Place, 23 million over its value, 22 million of which was siphoned from HUD money (as Yesler Terrace was deteriorating) a move so grimy that it would later dead his chance at being Obama’s HUD director year later on in his political career. Source

Who Really Runs Seattle? Expose

Oct 9, 1998

Mark Worth writes “Who Really Runs Seattle?” Expose, an interesting power map of the city
.
Source

Poetry Experience is Founded

Dec 20, 1998

Poetry Experience was co-founded in 1998 by Randee Eddins (founder of AAWA Afrikan American Writers Alliance) and Rajnii Eddins as an all ages writing and sharing circle. Originally it was hosted at Douglass Truth Library and then moved shortly after to Langston. Many of Seattle's poets, teaching artists,singers songwriters and and emcees found in PE an open space to share and grow together. Source

JAMPAC and Music & Youth Taskforce Begin Meetings

1999

JAMPAC and Music and Youth task force met for 18 months, and get city council to dead the Teen Dance Ordinance, but this is vetoed by Mayor Paul Schell. Source

Old Dominion Founded

1999

In infamous Bothell house in Portland

Felony Ent. hosts 'The Creep Show'

1999

At the non-alcoholic teen club. The Back 40. One of the few clubs that they had where teens could perform at in Tacoma, WA. It was a sober club.

Hip Hop 101 is Founded

1999

MadKrew launches Hip Hop 101 on public access television, and the show would continue in some iteration for 20 years. Source

Jasiri brings Sureshot Sundays to Sit-n-Spin

Feb 1, 1999

Jasiri Media group begins producing SureShot Sundays at the Sit n Spin in Belltown featuring local artists and cyphers. Dave Meinert is booking agent at the time. This joint pizzeria, laundry mat, coffee shop, and all-ages performance venue became major galvanizing point for Seattle's Hip Hop community. Source

Allied Arts Mediates Development Beef

Aug 12, 1999

Allied Arts mediates dissent between small and big business in Pacific Pike/Pine E. Source

WTO Uprising

Period: Nov 30, 1999 to Dec 3, 1999

So much to say. Source

Vulcan Real Estate is Born

2000

Source

Mayor Blames Hip Hop, Community Rallies

Oct 1, 2000

Seattle Hip Hop organizes rally downtown after Mayor Paul Schell blames hip hop for the Bohemian shooting. Source

Vera Project is Founded

Jan 27, 2001

The Vera Project's first event was held at the IBEW Local 46 and featured local artists The Murder City Devils, Botch and The Blood Brothers. Almost 1,000 people attended including local press and city officials. It would move to Seattle Center campus in 2007. Source

Seattle Mardi Gras Riot

Feb 27, 2001

Seattle Mardi Gras riot broke out in the Pioneer Square during Mardi Gras celebrations. About 70 people were reported injured. One man, Kris Kime, died of injuries sustained during an attempt to assist a woman. Responses during and after the event by both the Mayor and Chief of Police were met with intense scrutiny. News coverage was racist as hell. The incident resulted in new permitting laws for events in Seattle. Source

SPD Murders Aaron Roberts

May 31, 2001

Unarmed Aaron Roberts is killed in the CD by police. The CD protests for three days. Source

Yesler Terrace Demolition is Announced

Sep 27, 2001

Community receives first word that Yesler Terrace is to be demolished. Source

Rise of the Creative Class Published

2002

This book by Urbanist Richard Florida on “Creative Cities” becomes very influential in municipal policies across US. Seattle will become one of most studied examples of the double edged sword this becomes. The disparity in economic growth that resulted from his theory was so atrocious he attempted to follow up 15 years later with "New Urban Crisis". Source

Seattle Hip Hop Summit Action Network Founded

2002

Wyking Garrett first convenes Seattle's Hip Hop Summit Action Network and youth council. [Source: Interview]

Mudede Apologizes to Hip Hop

Dec 19, 2002

Source

Concuss Creations is Founded

2003

Concuss is founded by Rob Castro at Monkey Loft in SODO. [Source: Interview, Castro]

Nas and Kiya serve on Mayor Nickel's Youth Council

2004

206 Zulu is Founded

Feb 14, 2004

206 Zulu is founded by Khazm with original members from Madk, Alpha P, Project Mayhem, and Coolout Network. [Source: Interview, Khazm]

Larrys Nightclub Draws Scrutiny

Jun 10, 2004

Closing time fights at Larry's, Pioneer Square's only Hip Hop club, begins to draw scrutiny from neighbors, police, and liquor control board. [Source] https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/pioneer-square-off/Content?oid=18410

Vulcan Snags Amazon

2005

Amazon solves Vulcan's most daunting challenge: figuring out a business plan in one of the worst commercial real-estate climates in history, by committing to lease in South Lake Union. Source

Keblas Leads Office of Film and Music

2005

James Keblas, one of the co-founders of Vera Project, becomes director of Office of Film and Music. Launches “City of Music” Initiative. He would be in this position until 2014. Source

Major School Closures Announced

Apr 21, 2005

Citing budget deficits, Seattle School District proposes closure of 10 schools in 2006-2007. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/10-seattle-schools-targeted-for-closure/

206 Proof Launched

2006

Larry Mizell and Cancer Rising crew launches 206Proof message board, which would be a hot mess of utility until 2009ish when servers crashed and all was lost. [Source: Interview, Mizel]

Hidmo Opens on Jackson

2006

Rahwa and Asmeret Habte open Hidmo on 20th & Jackson. The space would be transformative for the art and culture community for years to come. Source

Hip Hop Rallies for DJ DVOne

Mar 19, 2006

Hip Hop community rallies behind DJ DVOne after he and his daughter were attacked by SPD, hold huge photo shoot of support. Source

Hip Hop Coalition Meetings at Langston

Aug 13, 2006

A young Julie-C begins organizing with 206-wide Urban Arts Community Meeting at Langston Hughes. Source

Weak Promises from SHA about Yesler Terrace

2007

Head of SHA Tierney promises to replace all existing apartments within two blocks of Yesler Terrace, saying this was “good enough”, despite the notes from citizen committee meetings on SHA website. Source

Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center is Estalbished

Feb 1, 2008