The Seattle Redistricting Commission meets for its final vote to create new city council districts on Tuesday, October 25th, at noon: see agenda, here(Zoom link provided to participate in the meeting).
As reported, the Commission shocked Magnolia and other residents of the city on October 18th by voting to fracture Magnolia with the removal of the O’Sullivan-Shah map proposal and the passing of the Malaba map proposal. It was a surprise move, and unclear exactly why it was done, but the results are less than desirable for Magnolia.
We strongly urge all Magnolia residents to log on to Keep Magnolia Whole and sign thee petition in support of keeping Magnolia in one council district. As of 9:00 am on Monday, October 24th, Magnolia has just over 600 signatories to the petition. It is vital that the Commission hear from Magnolia residents, both in written testimony and by signing the petition.
On Tuesday, October 18th, the Seattle Redistricting Commission voted 4-1 to support the so-called Malaba Map that fractures Magnolia into two separate districts. Former Mayor Greg Nickels cast the lone “no” vote.
In a surprise twist, the O’Sullivan-Shah Map that kept Magnolia whole in a newly configured 6th District was pulled from consideration by both Commissioners O’Sullivan and Shah, the map’s proponents and authors. The reasoning was that the map placed Fremont into the 7th District, and the outcry from the Fremont neighborhood was persuasive. Four Commissioners also believed the Seattle Redistricting Justice group effectively demonstrated city-wide support for the RJS map. The draft Malaba Map can be accessed here.
The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce continues to support the O’Sullivan-Shah Map and wants it back into consideration for the final vote on October 25th. Notably, the final map must be reviewed, edited as needed, approved by King County Elections and other auditing departments and personnel, and filed with the city clerk. To see the timeline remaining in the redistricting process, please click here.
Magnolia residents and businesses who want to keep the neighborhood, Interbay along 15th Avenue W., and all three bridges that provide access in and out of Magnolia, MUST continue to advocate the Commission for the O’Sullivan-Shah Map. We have one week to advocate for “One Magnolia.” Comments supporting the O’Sullivan-Shah Map are simple: please reconsider the O’Sullivan-Shah Map, as it best recognizes Magnolia as a community of interest. Provide your comments here.
Thank you for your ongoing interest in this issue and your advocacy for keeping Magnolia whole and as “One Magnolia.”
The Seattle Redistricting Commission is marching ahead to finalize a city council map by mid-November. Please support the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map to keep Magnolia in one council district.
Background. On October 18th, the Commission will vote on three different draft redistricting maps. The map that receives the MOST votes from the Commission’s five members will be the preferred council district map. There will be one more round of public comment on the preferred map, and the process will be finalized no later than November 15th.
Members of the Redistricting Justice Coalition strongly favor splitting Magnolia. Indeed, the coalition’s preferred map fracturing Magnolia is one of the three maps being considered by the Commission. The coalition has achieved its redistricting goals for newly designed Districts 1 & 2, which we support. The two proposed districts ensure better equity and justice in representation for the BIPOC communities in south Seattle. However, they continue vigorously lobbying to crack Magnolia into two districts.
TAKE ACTION. Support the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map. One of the amended maps that the Commission will discuss on Oct. 18th keeps Magnolia whole. Please support the “O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map” that keeps the entirety of Magnolia and Interbay in a newly refigured District 6.
Below are suggested talking points for your comments:
I support the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map that keeps Magnolia whole in one council district. I favor a redistricting outcome that makes Seattle a more equitable, just, and inclusive place for residents to engage with their elected council members. A unified Magnolia aligns with this vision for Seattle while also recognizing other communities’ needs and the redistricting charter’s goals.
The O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map acknowledges that Magnolia is a definable “community of interest” consistent with redistricting rules. Residents of our close-knit community depend solely on three bridges built and maintained by the city of Seattle and funded by the Seattle City Council. Please recognize the unique geographic circumstances, Magnolia’s ongoing bridge maintenance needs, and its need to stay connected in one council district to the Interbay area and 15th Ave W.
Thank you for your hard work and public service. Redistricting is an essential tool in representative democracy and an important milestone in the evolution of the Seattle City Council.
We join the Magnolia Community Council recommending you submit your positive, supportive comment online, any time through this portal.
Even if you have previously sent in comments, share your thoughts about how the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map helps Magnolia remain a neighborhood.
Share this information with neighbors and friends. Urge them to submit positive public comments too.
If you have questions, please call Jason at 206-618-1589 or email jason@discovermagnolia.org
Crib Notes! The Seattle Redistricting Process in a Nutshell. The Seattle Redistricting Commission is tasked with redrawing the city’s seven Council districts and is expected to vote on a final amended draft map on October 18th. Redistricting occurs every decade and accounts for population shifts measured by the Census. The Seattle Redistricting Commission has received hundreds of written and oral comments since the Spring of 2022.
The map drawing process will end no later than November 15th, and the new lines will go into place for the next seven City Council elections in 2023.
The council lines determine how Seattle’s communities and neighborhoods are grouped and represented by the seven City Council members (two council members are at-large positions and voted on by the entirety of the city’s electorate) with implications for decisions about city funding, land use, and legislation. A preliminary map was first released in August. It triggered many passionate responses from all corners of Seattle, especially Magnolia residents who shared concerns that Magnolia was fractured in the first draft map and our voting power diminished.
A new draft was proposed on September 27th that kept Magnolia whole and moved into District 6. The Commission debated the map’s merits and held public hearings to seek input and guidance. Following a public forum on October 8th, the Commission offered three proposed changes to the September 27th map. We strongly support the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map.
To support the O’Sullivan/Shah Proposed Changes Map, review our suggested talking points above and PROVIDE WRITTEN COMMENTS HERE
The Magnolia Community Council released a statement and provides analyses and information regarding the Seattle Redistricting Commission’s recommendations to split Magnolia into two separate city council districts.
The Magnolia Community Council’s comments coincide with the Seattle Redistricting Commission’s regularly scheduled public meeting on Tuesday, September 6th starting at 12 noon through 1:30 pm. The meeting can be accessed by visiting the Redistricting Commission’s website.
We note that the Commission’s website continues to offer ever-changing dates for public forums. Today’s regular meeting of the Commission will hopefully finalize dates and times for public forums so more of the public can be engaged in the redistricting process.
Access the Magnolia Community Council’s comments by clicking here.
Win-win opportunities abound this August for the new family, individual, or business members who join the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce. You become a part of Magnolia’s inner circle AND receive a $30 in-store credit as you shop Modele’s for unique high-end brands and gently used furniture, home accessories, and one-of-a-kind gift items.
Modele’s Home Furnishings, located in the heart of Magnolia Village, and the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce are teaming up from August 1 to the 31 to encourage Magnolia Chamber memberships while showcasing one of Magnolia’s most beautiful retail stores in our community. Modele’s is a proud member of the Chamber and knows the value of membership firsthand.
“I receive so much support from the Magnolia Chamber,” says Modele’s owner Deb Bluestein. “It is because of the Chamber’s networking opportunities, business resources, and ample opportunities for meaningful community involvement that I am excited to sponsor the ‘Chambership has its privileges’ membership drive and offer a $30 store credit to those who join the Chamber this August.”
“With Summerfest back this year on August 5-7th, I want to encourage all families, individuals, and businesses to participate in the “Chambership has its privileges” membership drive and join the Magnolia Chamber right now; this month,” says Deb. “Please join as soon as possible and then stop by Modele’s while you’re enjoying Summerfest and make great use of the $30 store credit!”
Every Magnolian is welcome to join, be a part of the inner circle of our community and support the Magnolia Chamber. Families or individuals pay only $60 per year to be a member and support or help promote community events such as Summerfest and the Chamber’s Vino in the Village, Winterfest, Trick-or-Treat in the Village, and more. Family and individual members receive local event discounts and invitations to special member-only events. Chamber family and individual memberships are also a great way to support our local businesses like Modele’s and help you engage in the community we call home.
Based on your organization’s size, we have four membership tiers for new business members, including non-profits. All membership levels allow business members to increase visibility and connect with other merchants and our local community. If you are a business with 15 or fewer employees, you also automatically receive FREE membership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber. Value-added benefits include the Chamber’s revamped website and continuously improving business listings. The business listings now consist of an interactive, searchable directory of member businesses that you can maintain with descriptions, logos, contact information, and images. Business members also have ample opportunities to meet potential customers by participating in the community’s Vino in the Village and as we help to promote Summerfest events.
To learn more about the “Chambership has its privileges” August membership drive and Modele’s $30 store credit offer to reward new members, please call Jason Thibeaux, Magnolia Chamber’s executive director, at 206.618.1589. You can also visit Modele’s at 3220 W. McGraw St., in the heart of Magnolia Village, join the Chamber in the store, and start shopping!
Donate today in support of our community-run, volunteer-powered festival of fun
For 70 years, Magnolia Summerfest has made the first weekend of August an annual must-do, must-see community festival filled with fun activities and memories that last a lifetime. We missed the event over the last two years, but we’re excited to welcome back the neighborhood celebration on August 5-7. And the Summerfest team of volunteers is ready to welcome you to our party ranks to ensure a full array of fun family activities, all while raising funds to give back to worthy Magnolia causes.
Magnolia Summerfest is our homegrown community-run and volunteer-powered annual festival. Indeed, it is neighbors just like YOU who make the annual event a success.
Your financial and volunteer support today means Summerfest 2022 can raise the $72,000 it takes to organize, stage, manage, and permit this year’s three-day festival.
We don’t need to tell you that inflation has made the costs of almost every aspect of Magnolia Summerfest more expensive. Staging, tents, tables, permitting, and insurance fees and rates have all skyrocketed. Yet, with your generosity and donations of time and dollars today, we will work together to make up for the increases in costs and the loss of some vendors and sponsors.
Your gifts in support of our community ensure the parade, free kid’s crafts and games, food trucks and tents, beer and wine garden, live music ALL weekend, the popular outdoor movie, the bouncy houses, and so much more will rock the Magnolia Playfield and Village on August 5-7.
Remember: after the all-volunteer festival organizers and workers finish the festival, any extra proceeds go to various local entities such as the Magnolia Rotary, local schools, and a dedicated account to support next year’s Magnolia Summerfest.
Your gift todayis tax deductible under the Magnolia Better Together non-profit dedicated to supporting our community and efforts such as Reimagine Magnolia Village beautification. Our favorite event is back in 2022, and we look forward to having some fun with you and all our neighbors on August 5-7. But we would be grateful if you could volunteer and invest in what makes Magnolia a great place to live, work, and play.
Thank you for your generosity, and see you at Magnolia Summerfest August 5-7!
“Tis the season” to get informed and vote in the primary election on August 2, 2022. Mail-in ballots started arriving on Friday, July 15th, and accompanying voter pamphlets are available to assist voters. We encourage voters to visit the helpful “one-stop” virtual voting tools provided by King County elections officials.
REMINDER. Ballots MUST BE postmarked or dropped in a ballot drop box by Tuesday, Aug. 2. The two candidates with the most votes will move on to November’s general election on Tuesday, November 8th.
This is an important election cycle with several key races, including a U.S. Senate seat, Washington’s Secretary of State, and all 10 Congressional House seats.
One of the more important races in 2022 is the open House of Representatives seat in the 36th District, which includes Magnolia and areas of Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, and downtown Seattle. Current State Rep. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, announced in late January that she would run for the state Senate seat being vacated by state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, the district’s long-serving Senator, who chose not to run for re-election. This leaves Frame’s House seat open. Five candidates have announced their campaigns in a quest to serve the people of the 36th Legislative District.
Tyler Crone is an attorney who has advised government agencies on global health issues. Most recently, she was co-founder and coordinating director of the ATHENA Network, an organization focused on advocating for women’s rights in the worldwide response to HIV. Crone, who announced her candidacy in March, is running as a Democrat. In addition to a law degree, she holds a master’s degree in public health.
Gomez is the co-founder and board secretary of the Alliance for a Healthy Washington. She has lobbied for universal health care at the state Legislature and advocated for other state policies to help make health care more affordable. Gomez previously handled workers’ compensation claims and worked as a crime victims advocate. She is a past chair of the 36th Legislative District Democrats.
Manson is an administrative law judge who resolves individuals’ disputes with state agencies. As an attorney, he represented low-income clients who were appealing state agency decisions to terminate their benefits. He has lobbied the Legislature to let administrative law judges form a union. He serves on the executive board of the 36th Legislative District Democrats.
Reed, a Democrat, announced her candidacy for Frame’s seat in February. Reed was a senior policy adviser to former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the City of Seattle’s regional affairs director. Before working for the city, she had positions in the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget during the Obama administration. She chairs the 36th District Democrats and currently works for a consulting firm that helps businesses with workforce development and diversity.
In a somewhat unusual occurrence for a local race, Reed has been endorsed by both the Seattle Times and The Stranger.
Robert has lobbied in Olympia to encourage the legislature to provide more money for libraries in cash-strapped counties. He has been a fundraising coordinator for the City of Hoquiam, as well as for Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez, U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, and King County Councilmember Larry Gossett.
Summerfest 2022 is coming this August, and we hope you will help make it a big success. Once again, there will be live music, a beer garden, bouncy houses, vendors, our Magnolia parade, and more. But we need to have a volunteer workforce to make it happen.
The misperception from some is that Summerfest is run by some outside event organization or a paid entity. This could not be further from the truth. This Magnolia-run event is only made possible by volunteers from our community. It is dependent on our friends and neighbors working together to make the festival one to remember!
We ask YOU to give back and volunteer to make this year’s Summerfest a well-run event. There are untold opportunities to make a difference and enjoy the camaraderie and satisfaction of volunteering at our local festival.
Join us on Monday, June 27th at 6:30 pm for an informational meeting with members of the core planning team of Summerfest. Starbucks and its hardworking staff will be our meeting host in the heart of Magnolia Village (3300 W McGraw St). Enjoy some light appetizers and tasty bites from our friends at Metropolitan Market. Starbucks will also donate an array of beverages for meeting attendees.
Please join us to learn more about Summerfest, our community’s iconic summer event, and how you can volunteer and help spread the word to recruit others to be a part of the celebration. Remember, no paid group runs Summerfest – It depends upon Magnolians to make it happen. See you at Starbucks on Monday, June 27th at 6:30 pm – we’ll have some fun!
Are you on TikTok? Maybe you’re just figuring out video and livestreaming and you have written off TikTok as a site for kids.
While you aren’t wrong about that (32.5% of users are between 10 and 19, while 41 percent of TikTok users are between 16 and 24 years old), the TikTok adult audience has grown at a rate of about 5.5 times in just 18 months.
The app now boasts 1 billion active users. TikTok videos are becoming a way to pass time for many people and the average user spends about 52 minutes per day on the app. It also has huge reach. 167 million TikTok videos are watched in a minute on average.
So, if you’re looking to reach an under 35 audience in your business, TikTok might be the avenue for you. Here’s what you need to know as a beginning user:
TikTok Basics for Business
If you’re new to TikTok or are considering it for your business, it’s a little different than other social media platforms.
Premise
TikTok is a video platform. Some people lip sync, act, create short video blogs, or showcase their products. Humor is a popular driver for likes on this platform.
Before creating anything, think about visuals and short, punchy ideas. This is not the place for a long diatribe. The audience is constantly swiping and liking. Comments will tend to be shorter and emoticon driven.
There are lots of editing options in app, but some people still prefer to use other programs (like Canva) to create videos and then upload them to TikTok. Going viral on this platform seems a little easier than Facebook or YouTube.
Business Accounts
Like most social media platforms, you can—and should—create a business account, instead of a personal one. The main reason for this is that it will keep you out of trouble. A creator account is a copyright infringement waiting to happen because the app allows users to attach music (and not the safe royalty-free kind either) to their videos. While Kenny Chesney may not sue a parent for adding his latest song to the background of a video of their kid’s first step, you can be certain he’s not going to want people associating his music with their product (not that he has anything against your product, of course. It’s just that he—and any other music creator—is going to want to be compensated for his music. While I don’t speak for Kenny, proving me wrong about how he feels regarding your product by using his music without permission could be quite costly for your business). It’s just too easy to get yourself in copyright troubles with a creator or personal account.
Business accounts have music available as well but none of it will get you in trouble with rights holders. The music available on the business side is royalty-free. A business account also has analytics that personal accounts don’t.
Links
Like Instagram, website links are a bit of a challenge at first. TikTok doesn’t let you have a link in your bio until you reach 1,000 followers. It used to allow businesses to add a link before the 1,000-follower mark but that changed in January. These days, you must meet the follower threshold for links and the ability to go live.
Hashtags
TikTok is another hashtag driven site. There are very specific hashtags used here. For instance, for writers there’s #BookTok, #writertok, and #authorsoftiktok. There are hashtags for business like #biztock and #smallbiztok. Take some time to research these. They are very specific but will help you find your ideal audience.
Filters and Film-Ready Face
If you’re like me, you may have some hesitancy being in front of the camera. Heck, most of us barely make it out of pajamas these days, let alone put on makeup or look presentable on camera. To this challenge, there are several solutions:
You don’t have to show your face. People do a lot of things with babies, pets, products, etc and subtitles.
Use a filter. You can alter the way you look using filters. I understand there’s even a perfect skin and makeup filter (I’m still looking for that one.).
Record your videos on “shower day.” You can make yourself camera ready and record several at once.
Sponsored Toks
TikTok, like other apps and social media platforms, allows for sponsored videos. They appear in a user’s stream marked as sponsored but they blend in quite well. Most businesses that pursue this option also use either influencers to record the video or create their own. This is not the place for a formal commercial. You want to think about fun entertainment, not a salesy pitch.
Video
The best way to figure out TikTok is to go in and start playing around. (Here are the app’s directions for video creation.) If you’re older than 40, you may feel like you’re crashing a kid’s party at Chuck E Cheese at first. But stick with it. Scroll through until you find a video you like. When you do, you can use the same effects they use by clicking on the links in the video.
On TikTok, imitation is the sincerest compliment. No one thinks anything of copying someone else’s Tok (unless that someone else is your competitor. You might want to avoid that.)
You can create, like, and share content on this platform. If you entertain and are true to yourself and your business, you’ll quickly amass followers and likes (they are counted separately as are your video views). Keep in mind the social rules you use on other platforms should be used here too. When people comment on your Tok, respond back. Don’t simply publish. Like other people’s work and comment on their posts as well.
If you want to learn more about using TikTok for your business, check out TikTok’s business page.
Christina R. Metcalf (formerly Green) is a marketer who enjoys using the power of story and refuses to believe meaningful copy can be written by bots. She helps chamber and small business professionals find the right words when they don’t have the time or interest to do so.
Christina hates exclamation points and loves road trips. Say hi on Twitter or reach out on Facebook.
Do you want people to think about your business before all others? Of course, you do. The first step to patronizing your business is remembering it exists.
Imagine you have a free evening, and you want to go out to eat. It doesn’t matter how amazing the food is at the new place down the street; if it doesn’t pop into your mind, you won’t be going there.
The same is true of your potential customers. They need to think of you to spend money with you.
So how do you ensure you’re top of mind and that they will think about your business over the competition? You need to find a way to stand out and be memorable. A good product or service is the first step. Good customer service is also a solid choice. But to truly stand out you must do something slightly different.
Ways to Ensure Your Business Is Top of Mind
Events
Hosting an event at your business is a great way to help people remember you. It also provides an experience, and many individuals admit to enjoying them over physical purchases. When you host an event encourage people to share the occasion on social media for even greater reach.
There are several types of events that draw crowds:
Sampling your offerings or services. You can host an event that is directly related to what you do. For instance, a restaurant may have an invitation-only, special tasting night to sample its new menu.
Education event. You could also offer an evening out based around something that you sell. For instance, a yarn store may hold classes on how to knit.
Block party. Celebrate your customers and potential customers by throwing a party outside your store. A patio furniture store held a parking lot party every weekend with a band and hot dogs. It drew a crowd and people lingered. It was a nice tie in with the product they sold—outdoor furniture. It helped people imagine hosting their own parties later with their new furniture.
A Facebook Group
Depending on the nature of your business, and the things your ideal customer/target audience may have in common, a Facebook group can connect your buyers to you and to one another. This idea works well when you can find a connection or mutual interest among your customers. For instance, a bookstore might create a Facebook group for writers or for fans of a specific genre. In a Facebook group you can share information and flash sales, stream events, and invite your audience to talk about their favorite books. The online community will keep your brand center stage while uniting and engaging your audience.
Savings Clubs/Subscriptions
Have you noticed that a lot of companies are charging their customers a monthly fee for some sort of discount or benefit? It began with Amazon Prime, where customers paid an annual fee for free shipping. The program has expanded beyond that now, but you can certainly start with one benefit like that.
Panera has created an unlimited coffee subscription where coffee lovers are auto-charged a fee each month and given a free cup of coffee daily. Both programs drive sales (and loyalty). When people pay for something, they want to get their money’s worth. Often, that means buying from one store over another because they’re part of a savings club.
However, like gift certificates, there may be people who pay every month and don’t use your services. That’s OK too as the subscription (even if it’s only a few dollars) is a source of revenue you did not have before.
If you want strong sales at your business, you need to ensure that your target market thinks about you. You can do that through email marketing, social media participation, or these three ideas. But whatever you do, make sure you use consistent branding and tone. After all, you want them to remember you, not question who you are.
