Comp Plan 2035 The 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the 20-year is the framework for most of Seattle’s big-picture decisions on how to grow while preserving and improving our neighborhoods. The Plan guides City decisions on where to build new jobs and houses, how to improve our transportation system, and where to make capital investments such […]

This Monday kicked off my inaugural City Budget Season as the Mayor presented his proposal to the Council (you can watch the speech here). Staff and councilmembers are in the initial stages of diving into the Mayor’s proposal, and next week the Council will be hearing more details from the various department heads. Ever since […]

Councilmember Lorena González, Chair of the Council’s Gender Equity, Safe Communities & New Americans Committee, issued the following statement regarding Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) Director Pierce Murphy’s announced preliminary investigation into the Seattle Police Department’s acquisition and utilization of Geofeedia software, which is designed to monitor the public’s social media communications: “I am disappointed […]

Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle & South Park) welcomed today’s announcement that Seattle Legacy Business Preservation was recommended by the Commercial Affordability Advisory Committee, and announced that she intends to pursue funding in the City budget to develop a small business preservation program in Seattle. “Independent small businesses often define a neighborhood, and […]

Council unanimously adopted two resolutions yesterday that advance community investments and neighborhood planning in Seattle. The resolutions support community work in Rainier Beach and neighborhoods facing high risk of displacement. Resolution 31710 recognizes the Rainier Beach neighborhood community and their coordinated efforts with the City to plan for, and advance, neighborhood priorities through the completion […]

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle) issued the following statement in response to Mayor Murray’s proposed 2017-18 operating budget: “The Mayor, in his budget speech, said that he wants 2017 to be the year of ‘good governance.’ It is outrageous that his announcement comes in a meeting where the City Council, apparently under direction […]

In 2011 my friend Rep. Cindy Ryu drafted a bill to give cities authority to reduce city street speeds. The bill was based on research coming out of the UK and our own local friends in Portland among others, confirming why a “20 is Plenty” plan reduces injuries and accidents for all modes of traffic and brings […]

Yesterday in the Human Services and Public Health Committee, Council discussed the “Sustainable Solutions for Unsheltered Residents” ordinance, and I’m writing to give an update on the Council deliberations so far. Many of the comments I’ve been hearing in the last few weeks continue to be reflected in the conversation in Committee. Some of the […]

2017-2018 BUDGET PROCESS On Monday, September 26 Mayor Murray will release his proposed 2017-2018 city budget, marking the beginning of the Council’s budget process. Budget Committee Chair Burgess has announced a revised process and schedule, which will provide for enhanced public consideration of the Chair’s proposed balancing package during November. Some of the work preceding […]

Recently, the Mayor and his staff have said that the City cannot allocate the $160 million in Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funding that was previously attached to the development of a new North Police Precinct building on affordable housing. They’re wrong. On September 22, 2016, the Legislative Department’s Central Staff published a memo which explains, at length, […]