Thanks to the community for turning out for our last regular meeting of 2026! There was a lot of information covered by our speakers and a lot of discussion afterward, continuing after the meeting.
Eduardo Rojas, Seattle Office for Economic Development covered a surprisingly broad number of programs to help small businesses, and also small non-profit organizations. He warned us at the start that it would be hard to believe everything that they do! Community members have in the past expressed concern for issues affecting our beloved local businesses, such as vandalism, break-ins, business closures and vacant storefronts. The Back to Business program includes a Storefront Repair Fund, Storefront Security Fund, and a Tenant Improvement Program. There were several questions and a lot of discussion around the Seattle Restored Program, initially implemented in Downtown Seattle. They work with landlords to activate vacant storefronts with pop-up shops, art installations, artist residency programs, or with long-term leases. This works best if you know or make contact with the building owner and establish a community relationship. OED can also help extend an invitation. Seattle Restored has open invitations right now and the application window will be open for a few more weeks. There were many other programs mentioned, including free hours of consulting services, which FNC has utilized this year. To see all they have to offer visit the OED website. They also offer Know Your Rights training for businesses!
Brent Low, Staff Attorney for ACLU-WA went into depth on knowing our constitutional rights when witnessing ICE actions. ICE arrests are surging and the tactics have shifted. Around 700 people were arrested per month this summer in Washington, the majority through traffic stops using profiling and license data. He talked about First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendments with the important caveat that this is general information on what you “can” do under the law, not what you “should” do, it is not legal advice, and you have to consider the context when choosing to take action. No one can tell you what you should do in these situations. It can be dangerous and unpredictable. The best you can do is understand what legal rights you should have in that situation and make informed choices for yourself. The First Amendment, the right to free speech, gives you the right to record law enforcement actions in public and to share that information. The Fourth Amendment is the right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. This also applies to data on your phone or camera. The Fifth Amendment is the right to silence. You have the right to refuse to answer questions from law enforcement agents.
First Amendment: Does not protect civil disobedience. Don’t violate laws.
Fourth Amendment: Say “I do not consent to searches”. Law enforcement cannot legally access data on your phone without a search warrant. Secure passcodes are safer; they might use your biometric data if that is how you access your phone. Recording ICE actions can be useful in holding them accountable, but ICE agents may not respect your right to do so. Context matters, and risk tolerance is personal.
Fifth Amendment: It is not rude to refuse to talk to agents. You can also request an attorney, and state you do not consent to searches.
There was a question about what non-citizens might do during an ICE action. Brent said that this goes far beyond the topic he came to cover today, but everyone in this country, citizen or not, has the same constitutional rights. Green card and visa holders might be required to show documentation. Non-citizens should take into account their vulnerabilities when assessing their risk. If you are subject to an ICE action, hope that your response network shows up quickly, use your right to ask for an attorney and don’t willingly submit to searches. Other questions concerned rights on private property (same rights but ICE might trespass anyway); what to do if you see unmarked masked people abducting someone (you can always call 911 to be safe but if it is ICE local law enforcement can’t intervene); and a longer discussion of whether whistles hurt or help (they constitute free speech unless you are using them to deliberately interfere with enforcement, but the law is not settled on this issue).
There was a great deal more to these presentations. The meeting was recorded on Facebook Live so you can watch it in its entirety.
Announcements
Kelpe: You can pick up Know Your Rights cards at local libraries.
Paul: I have hundreds of whistle packets with Know Your Rights cards in Spanish and English, see me if you want some or a lot of them.
Chris: We also have some rights packets here, and in businesses around Fremont.
Josh: Some of us have started a Fremont Rapid Response group. We will be at Shawn O’Donnell’s after the meeting, come and get signed up. [see more on the Rapid Response group at Fremont Neighbor]
Kelin: FNC is creating a grants platform for Fremont projects. Art projects, neighborhood parties/block parties, general beautification. Projects that bring people together, build community connections, improve quality of life, supports an inclusive and welcoming community. No political campaigns or parties, or benefit to individuals without community impact. We will accept applications for grants up to $2,500 until our yearly cap of $10,000 is reached.
Evgeny: FNC Membership renewals begin again in January.
Board Business
A large portion of the business meeting time was spent in discussion about whether FNC should be making any kind of endorsements. The argument against is that FNC membership is too low (around 100 members) to represent the community at large, that divided opinion has created issues in the past, and that 12 Board members taking a vote does not represent the community. Currently our Bylaws allow us to make an endorsement on a community issue (as a nonprofit FNC cannot make political endorsements) with a supermajority vote of the Board, if the entire Board was notified in advance and given the opportunity to vote. A more robust endorsement strategy was discussed, having more community outreach, or a vote of the full membership. There were concerns about disagreements dividing the neighborhood or turning people away from Council involvement; the other side of that was that if people disagree with decisions they should join the Council and participate in healthy democratic argument. There was discussion of revisiting the bylaws for the next Annual General Meeting. The particular endorsement up for vote, in support of the Reconnecting Fremont proposal for improvements on Aurora, was voted on by the 11 of 12 board members present and passed with a supermajority of 9 in favor, two opposed. Other business: September minutes tabled until November for further review; Treasury Reports up through September approved.
November Potluck
November 17th will be the FNC Potluck at the Doric Lodge, and our last official get together of the year, with no meeting in December. Bring your favorite dip or other item to share!
Still Time to VOTE
I you haven’t yet, be sure to drop off your completed ballot before November 3rd! Find a King County ballot drop box location here.
Fabulous Funky Fremont Happenings
Fremont is full of fun events and volunteer opportunities in October!
This Thursday, October 29th SDOT is having a Route 40 Celebration from 2:30 to 3:00pm on Leary in Ballard. From there you can ride the bus to Fremont for a get-together at Triangle Spirits. Then enjoy the last Fremont Evening Market of the year!
Fremont Neighbor has a great write-up of the Awards Gala for the Hunt the Universe event on October 10th. There was Happy Hunting in Fremont!
Did you know that Halloween is the Fremont Troll’s birthday? Come to the party! Visit the Fremont Arts Council website for information on Trolloween, and the calendar including volunteer opportunities. Become a member, sign up for the newsletter, get involved!
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce has a map of over 70 Fremont businesses participating in Trick or Treat this Halloween! They also have a calendar of Fremont Events and are planning the second annual Holiday Mingle and Jingle on December 3rd!
The Fremont Creative District will be at the Sunday Market on November 22nd with a special hands-on activity. Find out about volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved here. Watch for news on a special Fremont Flurry event in December!
Fremont Neighbor has a Digital Light Pole (think flyers everywhere) that aggregates ALL of the events. Check it out!
