Washington State OKs Appropriationfor Seattle BetsuinArson Repairs

Capital Budget Approves Non-Reimbursable Repairs

FYI

The Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple has established an Arson Restoration and Building Fund. To make a donation online, go to: https://donate.stripe.com/7sIcNfdwRdi59TW8wy

Donations can also be made via check. Please make checks payable to “Seattle Buddhist Church” and include “Arson Restoration Fund” in the memo line. The address is: Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, 1427 S. Main St., Seattle, WA 98144.

For more information about the Arson Restoration Fund, visit the Seattle Betsuin website at: https://seattlebetsuin.org/

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Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee’s capital budget has authorized $225,000 in non-reimbursable repairs to the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, which suffered extensive damage because of an arson fire on New Year’s Eve.

Specifically, the 2023-2025 biennial capital budget for Washington state includes an appropriation for the Seattle Betsuin, recognizing it as a historic community gathering place. The capital budget was approved in April 2024.

Tara Tamaribuchi, Grants Coordinator for the Seattle Betsuin’s Arson Restoration and Building Fund, credited the following individuals and organizations for being instrumental in the appropriation: state Sen. Bob Hasegawa for getting the Seattle Betsuin into the state budget and for additional funding; state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos for getting the request form; Joseph Lachman, policy manager at Asian Counseling Referral Services, and the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, a statewide, grass-roots lobbying group of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander nonprofits and communities.

She specifically cited Seattle Betsuin Sangha members and “our ancestors for making this an easy request to write. I think sometimes we get down on ourselves as membership is waning throughout BCA. But I think we can look at what we have been doing for over 100 years and let people know. Apparently, people outside of our community recognize that we are worth funding.   

“I would say that the public benefit almost wrote itself thanks to every generation that has built up the temple and Sangha,” Tamaribuchi said. “In summary, there is Japanese American history, historic preservation of rare hybrid architecture, support of Buddhists throughout the state as a Betsuin, the only all-ages Dharma School, and only Jodo Shinshu temple in Seattle, and secular access — Obon as an annual free public event for 100 years — and all of the organizations sponsored by the temple — Scouts, Camp Fire, taiko, and a Japanese-speaking playgroup. 

“My last point was an emotional case for Nisei elders who can't come to the temple because of the arson, and that this is a meaningful home — the one place they could be social and do activities after World War II,” she said. 

Tamaribuchi and other Seattle Betsuin representatives will be meeting soon with the Washington state Department of Commerce to ascertain how to receive the funds. The appropriation is by reimbursement, so the temple will need to spend first to receive the funds. 

The capital budget is for construction only, and cannot be used for repurchasing Obon or Dharma School supplies lost to the fire, Tamaribuchi said. She said she is applying for other grants. 

“We are in a situation where we will be needing a lot of funding beyond our insurance reimbursement because insurance factors in depreciation and sometimes will only reimburse for a base level of building supplies,” she said. “There are other issues that come up, where it's a preexisting condition that wasn't affected by the arson — asbestos or electrical work. They weren't impacted by the arson, but they have to be fixed in order to do the reconstruction.”  

Meanwhile, the temple is continuing the process of asbestos abatement and cleaning, including work where there was smoke damage, as well as damage to the walls and ceiling. 

The arson was set by a man who is accused of breaking into the basement of the Seattle Betsuin during a mental health crisis and setting fire to the building. He was later arrested on Dec. 31, 2023, after breaking into a nearby home by authorities. The arson caused extensive damage to the temple’s basement, where historical documents and Seattle Bon Odori materials were stored, as well as gear of Boy Scout Troop 252, the longest operating historically Japanese American troop in Seattle.

The Seattle Betsuin remains closed for services, memorials, funerals, and events. In the interim, services and events are being held at Densho, Seattle Koyosan Buddhist Temple, White River Buddhist Temple, the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, Wisteria View Manor, and the Nisei Veteran’s Committee Memorial Hall in Seattle.