Hearing Today on Wawona Budget Proviso Re Demolition

Wawona supporter and volunteer organizer Alice Winship has alerted her network to a hearing this morning on the future of the schooner Wawona. The budget hearing before the city council will examine a proviso proposed by Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck that, if approved, would prevent the city from using $400,000 budgeted for moving the ship from South Lake Union Park as funding for dismantling or demolishing her. Currently, the budget language says the Parks Department "may" use it for cutting the ship up for display, essentially allowing Parks to potentially use public money to destroy a city landmark and one of the few ships on the National Register of Historic Places.

A majority of the Council must vote to approve this budget proviso, otherwise the budget will stand as written. The meeting of the budget committee will be at City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 600 4th Avenue, at 9:30 a.m. today. There will be a public comment period at the beginning of the meeting. The public can also send e-mail or call council members to express their views. See the previous entry for a list of contacts or visit the council website.