- Jan 05, 2010 - Memo to Mayor McGinn’s staff
- Cedar River Group partner John Howell and co-author Bob Royer write in Crosscut with candid and constructive tips, staffer-to-staffer, for the staff of new Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. Based on their experience in the administration of Charles Royer, which began in 1978, John’s and Bob’s timeless advice includes “Work hard to keep your boss in touch with the [City] Council,” and “Avoid owning success,” among other small gems.
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- Nov 01, 2009 - Hearing from the People: Lessons at the intersection of sustainability and social justice
- American Institute of Architects Seattle’s Fall ‘09 “Forum” article by Cedar River Group partner Tom Byers and Trang Tu of Trang D. Tu Consulting describes our work in helping to develop “green” housing options for seasonal farm workers. Led by the Seattle Archdiocesan Housing Authority and Mithun Architects, the project team developed the designs based on discussions with farm worker advocates and growers about what their current needs are for housing. The team will further refine the designs based on the advice of farm workers and growers who will use the units during the Spring 2010 growing season.
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- Aug 01, 2009 - Guest Commentary/Washington State Ferries: System on firmer footing for the future
- An Everett Herald column by Senator Mary Margaret Haugen describes the State Legislature’s recent actions to improve the ferry system. She notes: “Moreover, we will see a return of $1,398 for every dollar spent on a two-year study by the Cedar River Group that identified ways to save costs over the course of the ferries’ long-range plan.”
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- Apr 08, 2009 - More seniors using vehicles as shelter
- This article about seniors who are reduced to living in their cars refers to the senior housing needs assessment study that Cedar River Group conducted for Seattle and King County agencies. “A King County/city of Seattle study released in February predicted the number of poor seniors will double by 2025, said Stephen Norman, executive director of King County Housing Authority.” The article includes a sidebar with key points from the study.
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- Apr 07, 2009 - Study of energy use by low-income residents demonstrates benefits of green building: High Point residents spend at least $200 less per year on water and energy
- Cedar River Group’s study of the beneifts of green building in a Seattle Housing Authority building is featured in SHA’s newsletter. The article quotes Tom Byers of Cedar River Group: ” ‘The thing that struck me most was the realization that three elements will be needed to achieve the nation’s goals for conservation and greenhouse gas reduction: 1) capital investment by property owners and developers; 2) day to day actions on the part of those who live and work in the buildings; and 3) wise public policies that bring these forces into alignment.’ “
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- Jun 10, 2008 - Children’s Hospital launches groundbreaking bike program
- Cedar River Group is assisting Children’s Hospital in creating a progressive transportation management plan emphasizing “green” alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle trips, and strategies for affordable housing near the hospital. The launch of Children’s loaner bike program for employees made the news in the summer of 2008.
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- Apr 24, 2008 - Pierce County Housing Affordability Task Force receives VISION 2020 Award
- The Puget Sound Regional Council honored the Pierce County Housing Affordability Task Force with a VISION 2020 Award for 2008. The PSRC commended the Task Force for “[bringing] together diverse interests to identify a broad range of solutions, from financial tools and incentives, to inexpensive building design.”
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- Feb 24, 2008 - Indian Health: Cuts continue a shameful legacy
- A letter to the editor from Cedar River Group partner Tom Byers, published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (scroll down to the 4th letter), urges Congress to continue funding the Seattle Indian Health Board and its sister agencies nationwide—despite the President’s proposed cut. A recent study by the Seattle-based Urban Indian Health Institute (see: http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=23193) showed that diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression are near epidemic among urban Indians. The Seattle Indian Health Board relies on the federal funding to provide medical services and train physicians. The government needs to fulfill the obligations it took on when signing treaties with the tribes.
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- Feb 12, 2008 - Washington State and Cedar River Group working together for better ferries
- Cedar River Group continues its work for the Washington State Legislature to improve the ferry system both now and in the future. Cedar River Group has a vital role in long-range planning efforts for the system that are a collaborative effort among the Washington Dept. of Transportation Ferries Division, the legislature and the Governor’s Office. In the 2008 legislative session, Cedar River Group presented a report to the legislature on vessel preservation recommending changes to Ferries’ maintenance practices, budgeting and priorities. The article linked below states: “State engineers are embracing advice from the Cedar River Group.” This work was incorporated into a bill signed into law by the governor.
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- May 07, 2007 - Washington State Legislature passes new transportation legislation
- The 2007 Washington State Legislature passed two important pieces of legislation changing the state’s transportation budget process, following the work and recommendations of Cedar River Group. In the first, the Legislature took recommendations of Cedar River Group, in partnership with Lund Consulting and working with the Transportation Performance Audit Board (TPAB), to establish transportation goals that are aligned with state transportation planning, capital planning and budgeting, and requiring annual performance reporting on those goals. In the second, the Legislature enacted legislation following a Cedar River Group study on Washington State Ferries’ planning, capital terminal projects, and operating and capital budgets. As the study recommended, the Legislature will base its ferry financing decisions on a financing model that will include a comprehensive review of Ferries’ ridership projections, service level standards and operating and pricing strategies. For more information on both projects and to see a copy of the legislation, please visit their respective case studies.
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- Apr 18, 2007 - Coverage for All Kids
- On March 13, 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire signed landmark legislation to create a new, unified Children’s Health Program to ensure that every child in Washington has health care coverage and a “medical home” by 2010. In partnership with the Children’s Alliance, Solid Ground and other stakeholders, Cedar River Group helped to shape progressive features of the bill that will combine several different children’s health programs into one, streamline eligibility and administration, and link provider payment to services that have proven effective in improving health status. The bill was to extend care to 38,000 more children in the state who were uninsured when it took effect. Cedar River Group and its allies are currently raising funds to continue their work with stakeholders as the bill is implemented to assure that the new health plan achieves its full potential.
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- Mar 16, 2007 - Bands of Green
- Bands of Green, a report originally authored by Cedar River Group and updated by our firm in 2006 at the behest of the Seattle Parks Foundation, is featured on the front page of the February 12, 2007, Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The plan calls for Seattle to develop a green network of trails, boulevards and linear parks for the city by 2025. The report, with more than 50 specific projects touching nearly every Seattle neighborhood, is supported by city officials and the editorial board of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
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- Jun 20, 2006 - Statewide farmworker housing survey
- The Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust launched what may be the most ambitious survey of farmworker housing and health care needs ever attempted in Washington state. Teams of bilingual interviewers armed with clipboards and survey questionnaires fanned out across rural Washington with the goal of completing 2,400 surveys that represent a complete cross-section of the state’s agricultural workers. The Trust released the results of the survey in 2008. (See their Web site at http://www.farmworkerhousingtrust.org/voices.html )
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