Seattle, WA
OPINION | An Emerald Built on Faith | South Seattle Emerald
by Cynthia Green
Founded in 2014, today marks the 10th anniversary of this publication. We asked Cynthia Green, one of its founders and past board members, to share what reaching that milestone means to her.
Faith will take you far. That phrase was on my mind as I woke up this morning and reflected on the 10th anniversary of the South Seattle Emerald.
Ten years ago, I sat at the dining room table of my old home and watched my exhausted 30-year-old son furiously type away on a new article. I edited the one he had just finished five minutes ago, and I would soon transcribe an interview for him so he could write another story early the next morning.
Those were the early days of the Emerald. It was just the two of us and his father Phillip back then. Marcus would juggle part-time jobs at the League of Women Voters and Big Brothers Big Sisters and then go out to report, write, and post articles on the Emerald. Phillip would financially support the paper, so Marcus could pay the occasional contributor he could find $50.
I would stay up most of the night transcribing, editing, and copy editing. I’d even sometimes accompany him on interviews and assignments. Now, I think back to how strange it must have seemed to some people: a novice reporter and his 65-year-old mother showing up to press conferences and protests to represent a paper few had ever heard of, while we handed out flimsy homemade business cards we printed at Kinko’s.
But we didn’t care.
We were beyond tired and frustrated with how mainstream media constantly portrayed our community. If you believe the depiction most often found in most media outlets, then our community produced nothing but drug addiction, domestic violence, and crime.
Rarely was that portrayal challenged, and even rarer were there actual voices present in media from our community to speak for themselves, to talk about the beauty, life, and positive aspects of our collective home of South Seattle.
Too often absent from newspaper columns and television screens were the authentic voices of those who have made our community the uniquely vibrant and sensational place it is: People of Color, seniors, youth, working-class residents, activists, educators, and our immigrant, Jewish, Islamic, and LGBTQIA+ community members.
Too often, their lives were reduced to soundbites and statistics. Too often, their concerns were dismissed and deprioritized because of where they lived.
Whether the Emerald lasted 10 hours, 10 days, or, now, 10 years, we knew it needed to exist to tell the stories no one else would tell, either because it wasn’t feasible for them to do so or because they just didn’t care.
Telling those stories and doing it in a way that tells the full story, where human beings are holistically portrayed — and not the fast story that decomposes soon after you finish reading it — remains the vision for the Emerald.
That vision has led us to share the stories of people like Bill Austin. No other media outlet wanted to chronicle his years-long fight to liberate his wrongly convicted son Nathan — who was struggling with drug addiction — from incarceration. Nathan needed treatment, not imprisonment. As Bill would tell me and Marcus, most media viewed his son as “just another Black drug addict,” unworthy of any concern.
It also allowed us to tell the story of Michael Flowers, who was killed during a home invasion. Following his death, most media reports painted him, the victim of an act of murder, as a man deserving of his fate. They resurfaced negative aspects of his past, none of which had any bearing on his murder. His family was infuriated, as no media was willing to correct the record of his life — none but the Emerald.
We presented the story of Michael’s life as a full human being, not a man defined by his worst mistake. To this day, his mother Mary reads our story about Michael whenever she finds herself missing him.
This vision of the Emerald that began as late nights at a dining room table has only endured because of the contributions of so many people from our community through the years. During our early years, people wrote for us, photographed for us, edited for us, reported for us, marketed for us, and advertised for us, while either not getting paid what they deserved or not getting paid at all.
They did this because our vision became theirs: a community claiming its power to tell its own story. A community unwilling to accept falsehoods about itself anymore. A community unafraid to challenge the powerful. A community that will no longer tolerate a muffling of its voice, its concerns, and its brilliance.
This is why I’m not surprised that in our 10 years of existence, so few of our local large foundations and philanthropic organizations (with the acceptation of the Inatai Foundation) have ever given any significant support to the Emerald, despite giving to larger outlets and their proclamations of “prioritizing organizations that serve marginalized communities.”
It’s because we speak too much truth. We challenge systems that produce disparities and inequities. And we don’t pretend that wrong is right, no matter whom the wrong is being done by.
I recently saw a woman about my age while waiting for the bus. She started to talk about the Emerald and said she reads it because it’s where she can find the truth about the community she’s lived in for decades. She only had $5 to donate to us per month, but it’s people like her who have allowed us to persist.
It is our community that we have had to depend on. It is our community that has not let us down in these 10 years, even at times we may have disappointed them.
Though we founded the Emerald, Marcus, Phillip, and I were only ever stewards of its vision. We were never owners of it. The Emerald does not belong to us. It belongs to you. That is why it endures.
It belongs to all those who once lived in South Seattle and have been dispersed throughout King County and Washington but still cling to the Emerald as a point of connection to the sweetest of words: home.
Sacrifice, labor, and, most of all, faith — in and from our community — is what built this home we call the Emerald. And this home will never be for sale, never displace you, and always keep the light on for you.
It has for 10 years. It will for so many more.
The South Seattle Emerald is committed to holding space for a variety of viewpoints within our community, with the understanding that differing perspectives do not negate mutual respect amongst community members.
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the contributors on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the Emerald or official policies of the Emerald.
Cynthia A. Green is a lifelong South Seattleite. She currently works as a kinship care navigator for Catholic Community Services, helping King County kinship caregivers (including grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and others caring for family members’ children when circumstances prevent their parents from caring for them) find resources and support. Cynthia is also a volunteer tutor with the Lake Washington Youth Tutoring Program. Extremely modest, she will never tell you that the Cynthia A. Green Family Center in Skyway is named after her.
📸 Featured Image: Cynthia Green managing the raffle table at the Emerald’s first anniversary party in 2015. (Photo: Hannah Letinich)
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Seattle weather: Driver conditions on Tuesday
If you are traveling over the passes the next few days, here is a look at the forecast. Snow overnight through early Tuesday, with several new inches for Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass. We will see drier conditions Tuesday and then a mix of rain and snow for Wednesday.
SEATTLE – Strong winds are sticking around Western Washington into Christmas Eve, but Christmas Day is looking quiet.
There’s a low chance of high-impact windstorms around the region tomorrow. There’s still a considerable amount of uncertainty in the wind speeds due to extreme differences in the various weather models.
Be prepared for possible tree damage and power outages by Wednesday evening. Otherwise, you can plan on occasional scattered lowland rain and mountain snow tomorrow.
Possible windstorm on Christmas Eve
What’s next:
There’s a high wind watch posted for many locations around Western Washington for Wednesday morning to evening. The first round of winds is likely to happen in the morning (however, stick with us for updates as to the timing) with east/northeast gusts to 30 mph.
In the morning, the strongest winds will likely be focused over the Cascade gaps (e.g. North Bend and Enumclaw).
By the afternoon, there’s a chance for more forceful winds — this time, coming from the south. The second period of winds will have a higher impact with gusts potentially reaching 50-60 mph. Should this forecast pan out, there would be widespread tree damage and power outages.
Big picture view:
However, it’s important to note that the various weather models we analyze are presenting a broad range of possible outcomes on Christmas Eve. It’s rare to have this level of uncertainty about a forecast barely 24 hours in advance. Some suggest an intense windstorm while others indicate winds would barely reach 10 mph.
Keep in mind: there’s an elevated ‘bust potential’ for this forecast — meaning, the winds could be a dud, barely blowing — or gusts could be highly damaging. I recommend preparing for the worst-case scenario and being pleasantly surprised if conditions are quieter.
What you can do:
As a meteorologist, this is what I recommend you do with high winds possible:
- Don’t spend time outside during this windstorm if at all possible (in the event that weak trees or tree branches fall).
- Limit time on the roads during the peak of the in case trees fall! With this particular windstorm, I’d recommend traveling in the morning (unless the timing changes) before winds peak in the afternoon and early evening.
- First, make sure you keep your phone charged in the event of a power outage.
- You can also download the FOX Local app on your phone so you can watch our weather coverage and forecast. Remember to keep the fridge shut during a power outage to maintain the cool air there.
The weather models are split as to the path of this storm: the impacts of this system depend on where it moves. You better believe our weather team will be watching how things develop. If the low pressure moves over the coast and the Olympic Peninsula, the winds would be more damaging. However, if it moves into Eastern Washington, the winds would likely be weaker.
This storm serves as a reminder as to the importance of humans as meteorologists — because most weather apps can’t express the range of possible outcomes and various scenarios.
River flood threat decreasing
Except for the Skokomish River in Mason County, the threat of river flooding is over this week. Even the risk of river flooding next week has decreased substantially. Stay tuned in case anything changes!
There may be minor coastal flooding at times this week.
Local perspective:
Beyond the winds on Christmas Eve, you can expect scattered lowland rain and occasional minor mountain snow.
On Christmas Day itself, the morning will be about the aftermath of any tree damage and outages. Quieter weather is expected on Christmas.
Take good care,
Meteorologist Abby Acone
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The NFC West is a crowded mess, with three of the NFL’s best teams vying for both the division crown and the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
And it just got messier.
The 49ers’ win over the Colts on Monday night improves their record to 11-4, tying them with the Rams and putting both teams one game behind the 12-3 Seahawks.
Are Seahawks now the NFC favorite? Sheil Kapadia’s take
What does it mean for Seattle? I’ll be using The Athletic’s 2025 Playoff Simulator to navigate through the next two weeks…
First, the basics. What’s next for these three teams?
The 49ers have two at home. They host the 11-4 Chicago Bears (the league’s leader in takeaways and coming off back-to-back wins) for Sunday Night Football and then host the Seahawks. The date and time on that one is TBD, usually settled late Week 17, but it’s a favorite to be another primetime matchup.
The current NFL playoff picture
The Seahawks have two on the road. They head to Carolina to take on a hungry 8-7 Panthers team, also coming off a win, that can clinch the NFC South for the first time in a decade with a victory and a Bucs’ loss to the Dolphins. Then the Seahawks head to Santa Clara to face the 49ers.
The Rams have the easiest slate, facing two teams already eliminated from the postseason. They head to play the 6-9 Falcons and then host the 3-12 Cardinals in the regular-season finale.
What are the Seahawks’ current odds of clinching the No. 1 seed?
The Seahawks entered Monday with 53% odds to clinch the No. 1 seed. There’s not a big hit from the 49ers’ win: Seattle’s odds dip to 48%, but are still the highest of the three (49ers at 27% and the Rams at 11% before games are played this upcoming Sunday).
The only thing eliminated by virtue of the 49ers’ win was the Seahawks’ ability to clinch the top seed this Sunday.
If all three NFC West teams win in Week 17, the Seahawks’ odds are right where they were: 53%. That’s how monumental Week 18’s game against the 49ers is.
Best-case scenario in Week 17: Easy. The Seahawks are the only team of the three to win this Sunday. Their odds would jump to 74%. They get the No. 1 seed one of two ways after that: beat the 49ers, or lose to the 49ers + a Lions win over the Bears.
Worst-case scenario in Week 17: The Seahawks lose, while the Rams and 49ers win. Seattle’s odds would drop to 7%. But they’re not done; in this scenario, they could still get the top seed with a win over the 49ers + a Cardinals win over the Rams.
How would the Rams clinch? The Rams’ loss to the Seahawks last Thursday night took L.A. out of the driver’s seat. The Rams’ simplest path is to: win out + the Seahawks and 49ers lose one game each + the Lions beat the Bears. The Rams need the Seahawks to lose to make up for the one-game lead, and need the Bears to lose to win a tiebreaker (conference record).
What else should we know?
Oh, that’s right, the Bears.
There’s another team here still fighting for the top seed. Chicago’s Saturday night comeback win over the Packers wasn’t just a thriller; it also added some new playoff implications.
The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed. But they have a better conference record than both the Rams and the Seahawks, so keeping a game ahead is massive.
Again, all Seattle has to do is win out. It doesn’t matter what any other team does if that happens. But things become tricky if Seattle drops a game.
In that case, if the Seahawks lose to the Panthers, root for the Lions and Cardinals. And always root against your NFC West foes.
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The Seattle Mariners have signed veteran Rob Refsnyder to add depth both in the outfield and at first base.
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The team announced a one-year contract with the free agent on Monday afternoon. The contract is worth $6.25 million with a potential extra $250,000 in incentives, according to Boston Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
Refsnyder, 34, played 70 games in 2025 for Boston, finishing with 1.2 fWAR. At the plate, he hit .269 with a strong .354 on-base percentage and .838 OPS. He had nine home runs, 12 doubles, 30 RBIs and three stolen bases.
“Rob has been one of the most productive hitters against left-handed pitching over the last four seasons and provides balance and impact offensively to our lineup,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in a press release. “We are excited to welcome Rob and his family to the Mariners.”
Refsnyder hit .302 against lefties with a .399 on-base and .560 slugging last season. Seven of his nine homers and nine of his 12 doubles came against lefties, which he faced 138 times as opposed to 71 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
Born in South Korea, Refsnyder attended Laguna Hills High School in California and played in college at Arizona. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Refsnyder is a 10-year MLB veteran, having spent time with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Red Sox. He had been with the Red Sox for each of the past four seasons.
Refsnyder has never played more than 93 games in a single MLB season but has solid offensive numbers with a career .255/.343/.387 slash line for a .730 OPS.
While the Mariners listed Refsnyder as an outfielder/first baseman, he has just 29 career appearances at first, and he last played the position in an MLB game in 2020. Refsnyder has 356 career appearances in the outfield, as well as 43 career appearances at second base.
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Refsnyder, who hits right-handed, gives the Mariners a backup option behind one-time All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor, who Seattle re-signed to a five-year contract early this offseason.
The Mariners add Refsnyder to a list of additions in free agency that includes Naylor and backup catcher Andrew Knizner. Seattle also added left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer in a trade with the Washington Nationals.
Seattle Mariners offseason coverage
• Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh receives another award
• What would a Brendan Donovan trade cost the Mariners?
• Two 2025 Mariners pitchers reportedly join new teams
• Jorge Polanco sends impassioned message to Mariners fans
• Seattle Mariners sign backup catcher to one-year deal
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