Late last year, Tukwila made a smart move by contracting with Global to Local (G2L) to serve as a consultant to the city’s Community Connector program. The program focuses on housing, neighborhoods, food access and transportation. G2L will utilize existing staff, community leaders and liaisons with whom they already work to serve as “bridge builders” to our underrepresented communities. They will conduct outreach and generate feedback. The Tukwila Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) will be updated to reflect what is learned.
Tukwila needs to build and maintain a continuous relationship with these community bridge builders. This contract runs through the end of 2014 with a $30,000 maximum. The program is project-based. Consequently, after the March community meetings, it is unclear what will happen for the rest of the year.
The city should ensure some continuity of activity to the end of the contract. Then, if G2L is no longer available, the city should consider working with an independent fiscal agent to compensate the liaisons and to maintain the trust of the community.
Continuous effort over a long period of time will yield better results than short-term project-based efforts.
Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish can be reached via email at chuckparrish2009@gmail.com
