On Monday morning, current and former members of the Seattle Black Firefighter Association (SBFFA) and the Northwest Retired Black Firefighters (NWRBFF) held a press conference to address the ongoing legal battle over the legacy property at the corner of 23rd Avenue and Pike Street.
The event took a contentious turn when the buyer of the property, who was not a participant in the press conference, interrupted the proceedings. The buyer voiced allegations and protests, creating a scene that escalated very quickly. Despite efforts by SBFFA representatives to continue the conference, the buyer persisted in her disruptions, appearing intent on derailing their message.
During the exchange, the SBFFA maintained that the courts should determine the matter, while the buyer insisted her purchase was legitimate.
In 2022, King County Superior Court ruled that the property could not be sold without a majority vote from both active and retired firefighters. The SBFFA board of directors, along with its president, appealed the decision but ultimately lost.
Current SBFFA President, Douglas Johnson and the board of directors have faced accusations of using procedural tactics to block retired firefighters from maintaining membership, effectively denying them voting rights when it came to the sale of the property. Despite the court’s ruling, the board listed the property for sale in July 2024, and the house was sold in October 2024.
A court date has been set for January 8 to address the dispute. However, tensions remain high as the buyer has begun demolition of the property, drawing strong protests from retired firefighters.
