SEATTLE — Some Seattle parents say the city’s partial hiring freeze is raising concerns about summer camp. Specifically, families want to know about Parks and Recreation Specialized Programs that serve disabled youth.
Krista Hanson is among the parents anxious for answers from the city.
Hanson's 14-year-old son, Lucas, deals with challenges every day.
"Lucas has a very rare muscle disease called myotubular myopathy and it effects just every muscle in his body,” said Hanson.
His family said summer camp has been a positive aspect in his life.
"Parks and Rec particularly and almost exclusively is one of the places where he gets to interact with peers,” said Hanson.
Lucas been going for years.
"It is one of the only programs that makes accommodations for me,” he said.
But when Krista Hanson tried to sign up for this summer, the city sent her an email stating they were "unable to confirm" registration due to the hiring freeze that could impact summer staffing.
"I know it is a maybe. It is not, it is cancelled. But just based on past experience of knowing how often kids with disabilities are overlooked and left behind, I just read it as, oh no, they are cutting this for our kids,” Hanson explained.
In January, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a partial hiring freeze to address the city's projected $229 million financial gap.
In a statement Parks and Rec said, “at this time, no decisions about the budget have been made that would impact hiring or staffing for summer 2024 programs."
"You cannot balance the budget on the backs of our kids. Our city's most vulnerable disabled kids, you cannot do that,” said Hanson.
The uncertainty has left families like Krista Hanson's in limbo.
"We don't know yet. We just still have those weeks blocked on our calendar because there is not anything else,” she said.
Lucas is hoping summer camp will happen.
"So I am not bored,” he said. “So, I have something to do this summer."
In an email, a Parks and Rec spokesperson said, “we will share an update with families as soon as possible, with ample time to make decisions related to summer care. “
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