In the last week, we wrote a lot about class politics: First, news editor Vivian McCall wrote about the annual medical clinic at Seattle Center, where many of the patients either didn't have insurance, or had it, but couldn't afford to use it; and then staff writer Hunter Pauli wrote about unionized McClatchy journalists that are threatening to strike to try to earn a wage that keeps them above the poverty line.
And then, as a treat, we have a story about deputy news editor Nathalie Graham's disagreement with a bus driver, which stoked a robust conversation about what actually serves people with disabilities on our public transit system.
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Once a Year, Seattle Center Becomes a Medical Clinic
The line for the free Seattle/King County Clinic starts the night before it opens, treating thousands of patients.
By Vivian McCall
Four days a year, Seattle Center becomes the largest free community-driven health clinic in the country. By Sunday afternoon, volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, ophthalmologists and other medical specialists at this pop-up see between 3,000 and 4,000 patients. Demand was high this year, and the patients were largely people who either didn't have insurance, or had it, but couldn't afford to use it.
What You Had to Say:
From nowhannahwon on Instagram:
From skussssss on Instagram:
From ellian.aster on Instagram:
Impoverished Journalists Threaten Strike Across Pacific Northwest
Media Workers in Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham, Tri-Cities and Boise Say Newspaper Owner McClatchy Media Won’t Pay Living Wage
By Hunter Pauli
Unionized workers at McClatchy newspapers (The Tacoma News Tribune, The Olympian, Tri-City Herald, Bellingham Herald, and Idaho Statesman in Boise) have voted overwhelmingly to approve a strike after 11 months of contract negotiations. At this point, the fight is over pay. Their salary floor is currently $48,000 for people who were on staff when the Washington and Idaho contracts were ratified, and $45,000 for anyone hired after that. About 75 percent of them are classified as working poor.
What You Had to Say:
From jenthesponge on Instagram:
From samantha.emeraldcity on Instagram:
From smthejournalist on Instagram:
Schrödinger’s Bus Stop
What Is and Isn’t a Stop Is a Point of Contention for Me
By Nathalie Graham
Earlier this month, Nathalie Graham was waiting for the Route 2 bus in the Central District in the bus shelter. When the already-late bus arrived, it blew right passed her. She chased, she yelled, and the bus driver told her that the bus shelter is not technically the bus stop—you have to be at the sign. Surely that couldn't be true, she thought, so she reached out to King County Metro. But according to the handbook, the bus driver was right. You have to board at the sign, in part, because it’s where passengers with disabilities can board.
What You Had to Say:
From artclub.seattle on Instagram:
From isabel.pdx on Instagram:
From scoppola9 on Instagram:
From 47n.120w on Instagram:
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