Seattle City Council to host conversations on community priorities for the City budget
Let your voice be heard at one of three Mondays in May

SEATTLE – Join the Seattle City Council for one of three conversations in May about the City budget and community priorities. Participants will engage City Councilmembers and neighbors in conversation centered on five thought-provoking questions about the future of our city.

Let your voice be heard at one of the following dates and locations:

North Seattle
Monday, May 7, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way North, College Center, New location: Cafeteria

Central Seattle
Monday, May 14, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Broadway Edison Building, Room BE1110

South Seattle
Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave South

Three Mondays in May feature the World Café format and are a chance to meet and engage your elected officials and neighbors in conversation, a place to learn about the basics of the City budget and choices faced by City policymakers and an opportunity to participate in the civic life of your home community.

These conversations are not a formal public hearing and do not require extensive knowledge of City politics, policy or history. The Council will hold public hearings on the 2013 City budget and Capital Improvement Program in the fall where members of the community will be invited to advocate for specific programs and services.

A flier that can be distributed with more information is available here. Discover other ways to let your voice be heard at City Hall at www.seattle.gov/council/budget.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Three Mondays in May is part of the Council’s effort to listen to the people of Seattle about your priorities for City government. How should we be spending your tax dollars? Where should our primary focus be? If we must reduce spending, where should the cuts be focused? Your opinions are valuable to us, so come out tonight and share them with us.

North Seattle
Monday, May 7, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way North
College Center, Cafeteria (note room change)

Central Seattle
Monday, May 14, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway
Broadway Edison Building, Room BE1110

South Seattle
Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
New Holly Gathering Hall
7054 32^nd Ave South

A flier that can be distributed with more information is available here. 

The weather forecast called for rain throughout the day, yet the sun popped out and I was confident I could make it to and from City Hall on my scooter without getting drenched.

Then, on a day to celebrate the effective and necessary role of labor unions, along with a separate march celebrating the importance of immigrants and the need for immigration reform, chaotic violence and property destruction occurred downtown.

Self-described anarchists mingled with peaceful May Day demonstrators at Westlake Park, covered their faces with masks or bandanas and engaged in destructive acts of vandalism and violence.  It stopped almost as quickly as it started; the anarchists pulled off their black clothing and melted away into the larger crowd once again, though not before some were arrested. (The Seattle Times has extensive coverage of all this in today’s newspaper.)

About an hour after this senseless violence, I received a totally unrelated email from a friend who provided a link to an article in the Northwest Asian Weekly about Aoxiang Liao, a woman who immigrated to the United States from China in 2008. Liao recently graduated from a special English language training class provided by OneAmerica.

I couldn’t help but contrast what Aoxiang Liao has accomplished—moving to a new country, learning English, getting a job, getting engaged with her community—with the anarchists who committed senseless violence yesterday afternoon in our downtown.  Liao represents a hopeful, productive future; the anarchists represent destructive despair. Liao represents the other immigrants and refugees who have come to our country and those who wish to come here, people who make our larger society stronger. The anarchists shift attention to themselves, a twisted narcissism that plays on the aspirations—and legitimate protests—of others for their own self-aggrandizement.  Liao uses her skills and obvious capabilities to build her life in her new country and contribute to the common welfare. The anarchists destroy what exists and refuse to engage with our broader society.

For me, I’ll stand with Aoxiang Liao and what she represents.

As I rode home last evening, I passed Westlake Park. There were a few protesters milling about; it was peaceful. I saw boarded up store fronts and I wondered what the day’s events would cost, both in dollars and lost productivity. And then the downpour began and I got drenched; the city was being cleansed.

Queue up your questions for the Seattle City Council
Councilmembers Burgess, Licata and O'Brien to appear on
May's City Inside/Out: Council Edition

SEATTLE – Take a moment to ask your questions of City Councilmembers. What should be the top priority for Seattle Public Schools new superintendent? What's the City doing to prepare for the upcoming plastic bag ban? How can residents get involved in this year's budget process? Whatever your questions, submit them now.

The May 8 episode of Seattle Channel's City Inside/Out: Council Edition will feature Councilmembers Tim Burgess, Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien answering your questions with host Brian Callanan.

Submit your questions for the Councilmembers by noon, Friday, May 4.

• Email: contact@seattlechannel.org
• Online: http://www.seattlechannel.org/CouncilEdition/
• Twitter: @SeattleChannel
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeattleChannel

Don't miss this opportunity to put your issues before the City's lawmakers. Send in your questions now and tune in to Seattle Channel, Cable 21, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday,
May 8 to hear the Councilmembers respond.

Follow SEATTLE CHANNEL on Facebook and Twitter!

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Eric and Nick were guests on the Charlie Rose show this past week. Watch the video at http://www.charlierose.com/view/content/12324.

Let your voice be heard at one of the following dates and locations:

North Seattle
Monday, May 7, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way North
College Center, Room 1161

Central Seattle
Monday, May 14, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway
Broadway Edison Building, Room BE1110

South Seattle
Monday, May 21, 2012, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
New Holly Gathering Hall
7054 32^nd Ave South

These conversations are not a formal public hearing and do not require extensive knowledge of City politics, policy or history. The Council will hold public hearings on the 2013 City budget and Capital Improvement Program in the fall where members of the community will be invited to advocate for specific programs and services.

Discover other ways to let your voice be heard at City Hall at www.seattle.gov/council/budget.

SEATTLE - All three credit rating agencies - Standard & Poor's, Fitch and Moody's - have affirmed the city of Seattle's existing Aaa/Aa1 bond ratings. In addition, Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook for Seattle's rating to "stable" from "negative."

Steps Seattle has taken to address financial and economic challenges factored into the affirmed ratings. According to S&P, "The 'AAA' rating reflects our view of the city's:

• economic role as the center of a very deep and dynamic regional economy;
• strong income indicators and a resilient employment market that has kept the city's unemployment rate below the national average;
• strong financial management policies and practices, including robust forecasting and monitoring capabilities; and
• low-to-moderate debt burden, with rapid amortization and excellent management of the city's longer-term capital improvement plan."

In addition, S&P revised Seattle's outlook to "stable" based on steps the city took last year to fund its pension system.

"Our strong credit rating reduces the cost of borrowing for essential infrastructure improvements and saves taxpayers money," said Mayor Mike McGinn. "Last year, with the Council's help, we built up our Rainy Day Fund, a tangible demonstration of our commitment to a financially prudent city budget. I look forward to working with the Council as we work to close our budget shortfall and provide long-term financial stability for the City."

"The excellent ratings validate our actions over the past several years to maintain a solid financial foundation," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Council's Government Performance and Finance Committee. "Despite the sluggish economy and significant budget cuts, the Council and Mayor, along with the Retirement Board of Administration and city employees, worked together to keep our fiscal house in order. The excellent bond ratings strongly affirm the course we have followed."

The city has taken a number of steps to improve its financial position. The Mayor, working with the Council, developed a budget plan for 2011 and 2012 that closed significant General Fund budget gaps. In both cases this was done without raising general taxes. In addition, the city adopted policies to increase its Rainy Day Fund. The city also adopted a plan to address challenges to the city pension system. City officials are now studying additional changes to the pension system to ensure long-term sustainability.

- 30 -

Office of the Mayor

The celebrations will continue the next six months and many arts organizations that make their home at the Seattle Center are taking part. On Saturday, May 5, the Seattle Opera is hosting a free HD simulcast in Key Arena for the opening night McCaw Hall performance of Madama Butterfly, the final show of its season. Up to 8,000 tickets are available for what is expected to be the largest live opera audience in Seattle history. Don’t think opera is for you? Read these opera myths debunked on the Seattle Opera Web site.

The excellent ratings validate our actions over the past several years to maintain a solid financial foundation. Despite the sluggish economy and significant budget cuts, the Council and Mayor, along with the Retirement Board of Administration and City employees, worked together to keep our fiscal house in order. The excellent bond ratings strongly affirm the course we have followed.

The City, including City Light and Public Utilities, use debt financing for capital improvement programs and spend approximately $370 million per year to service this debt. High bond ratings translate into lower interest payments that save millions of dollars in debt service payments. 

In the last year and a half, the City took several steps to tighten up City financial policies to address concerns raised by the rating agencies:

• The Council adopted a new policy requiring the City to directly deposit $2 million in the Rainy Day Fund and further established that half of any year-end unanticipated General Subfund balances would be transferred to the Rainy Day Fund (Ordinance 123743). Over the next few years, the Council expects to build the Fund to approximately $40 million.
• City employees agreed to increase their contributions to the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) to 10.03% of salary and the City’s contribution was increased to 11.01%, changes designed to begin to address investment losses from underperforming financial markets (Ordinance 123482 and Resolution 31334).
• The interest rate paid on City employees’ retirement contributions was lowered to 4.47% from 5.75% based on a recommendation from the SCERS Board of Administration (Resolution 31333).

These steps were the right course of action and the bond rating agencies have confirmed that.

The Government Performance and Finance Committee received a presentation on factors affecting bond ratings on March 29, 2012. The materials and video from that meeting are available online.

Special Committee to discuss Seawall

SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council’s Special Committee on the Central Waterfront, Seawall and Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program will meet after Full Council on Monday, April 23. 

The Committee will discuss public safety and protection of the Central Waterfront, the downtown business district, transportation and public infrastructure, a possible bond measure to replace the Elliot Bay Seawall and the Seawall design, schedule, cost estimates and next steps.

WHEN:
Monday, April 23, 2012, following Full Council
(approximately 2:30 p.m.)

WHERE:
Council Chambers, Seattle City Hall
600 Fourth Ave, Second floor, Seattle 98104

View the committee agenda here.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

4   different Chief Executive Officers
4   different Chief Division Officers
5   different Chief Financial Officers
6   different Vice Presidents of HR
3   different General Legal Counsels
5   different Special Division Directors
4   different Chief Operating Officers
4   different Chief Information Officers
3   different Communications Directors
17 different Board Members

Could your company handle such disruption among key employees? That's an average of nine senior management changes in each of the six years. Nine key leaders gone each year. Can you guess the Seattle organization that experienced this level of leadership turnover in the six years ending in 2011?

The Seattle School District, the organization responsible for running our public schools. Here's the list again with the actual job titles:

4 Superintendents
4 Chief Academic Officers
5 Chief Financial Officers
6 Vice Presidents of HR
3 General Legal Counsels
5 Special Ed Directors
4 Chief Operating Officers
4 Chief Information Officers
3 Communications Directors
17 board members

Read School Board member Sherry Carr's analysis of what's going on at the school district in this piece published by Crosscut.

Historical perspective:

From Seattle Municipal Archives: In anticipation of the World’s Fair, respected designer Paul Thiry was hired as chief architect of the Exposition, designing an aesthetically adventurous cityscape intended to excite the visitor with futuristic visions of scientific progress, including the Washington State Pavilion (now the KeyArena).

From the Seattle Center: Key Arena as we know it today opened on October 26, 1995 and has entertained over 10 million guests as Seattle’s premier venue for sports, concerts and family entertainment. The state-of-the-art facility is one of the safest, most advanced and comfortable arenas in the world. Its unique design provides sports and concert fans an intimate entertainment experience with spectacular sightlines and acoustics, uncommon in arenas of similar size. Amenities include convenient concession and merchandise areas and a nearby five-story parking garage for more than 600 vehicles.

Home to Seattle’s own Seattle Storm, KeyArena at Seattle Center also hosts entertainments most acclaimed talent from music’s biggest stars to popular family shows. Since its opening in 1995, KeyArena has hosted over 130 concerts including music’s biggest names such as Aerosmith, Jose Carreras, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Celine Dion, Elton John, Garth Brooks, George Strait and Simon & Garfunkel. We have entertained thousands of families with shows from Disney On Ice, Champions On Ice and WWE.

Seattle Municipal Archives has some excellent resources on the 1962 World’s Fair.  Click to view digital files, text files.  Image files can be viewed here and here.

Seattle Municipal Archives Item #111677

Watch Seattle City Councilmembers share their
favorite Seattle Center memories

SEATTLE - In anticipation of the Seattle Center's Next Fifty celebration kick-off on Saturday, April 21, Seattle City Councilmembers sat down to share their favorite Seattle Center memories. Tune in to our Council Connection blog over the next week as they share their stories.

What:
Seattle City Councilmembers share their Seattle Center memories

When:
Morning and afternoon blog postings, April 16-20, 2012

Where:
Council Connection Blog at http://council.seattle.gov/
Subscribe to the RSS feed at http://council.seattle.gov/feed/

For more information on the Seattle Center's Next Fifty celebration, including the schedule of events, visit http://seattlecenter.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1719.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Library leaders and city officials join together in support of levy for The Seattle Public Library

Seattle Public Library Board President Marie McCaffrey, City Librarian Marcellus Turner, Mayor Mike McGinn and City Councilmember Richard Conlin announced support for a Library levy to restore cuts and improve core services at a noon press conference at Seattle's Central Library. City officials and Library leaders were joined by scores of Library patrons at the event.

The Library levy would fund increased Library hours, build the collection of books and materials, enhance computers and online services and improve building maintenance. The plan grew out of a two-year process that involved comments from more than 39,000 residents through public meetings, open houses, surveys, focus groups and forums. There were more than 14 million visits to The Seattle Public Library last year and over 11 million books and materials circulated.

The City Council is expected to vote on legislation that would authorize an Aug. 7, 2012, ballot for a Library levy at 2:30 p.m. today.

The seven-year Library levy of $17 million annually would stabilize the Library budget after four years of cuts that have eroded services. The Library has been closed for one week each year since 2009, 15 of 26 branches are closed two days a week, and the budget to buy books and other items has been cut by more than 13 percent since 2009. The levy would also provide an estimated $5 million to address anticipated cuts in 2013. The Library would continue to rely on the city's general fund for the majority of its budget. At about 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, the levy would cost the median homeowner approximately $52 a year.

"We owe a huge thank you not only to the mayor and council for their collaboration and support, but also to the people of Seattle who helped shape the plan over the past two years," said McCaffrey. "This is an important step toward completing the vision of the 1998 'Libraries for All' bond measure, which resulted in new and improved libraries across the city."

McGinn said people depend on libraries for access to information and resources they need to succeed. "Libraries are the great equalizers for people of all ages," he said. "A strong Library system contributes to the economic, educational and cultural vitality of our city." He noted that libraries are key partners in supporting his initiatives for youth and families and to bolster civic engagement. "Libraries support our residents looking for work, students needing homework assistance, and people who cannot afford a computer," he said. "Our libraries are educational centers in every community and gathering places for neighborhood meetings and activities."

Conlin initiated a study of alternative funding options for the Library in 2010 after recognizing the city's fiscal challenges and declining tax revenues were affecting services. A levy package grew out of that effort.

"At the City Council's April 3 public hearing, Library patrons spoke to how they have been impacted by the cuts and how critical it was that our libraries be open with the resources and assistance they need," Conlin said. "Libraries are particularly important in challenging economic times and it just doesn't make sense to cut services when people need them the most."

City Librarian Marcellus Turner said the plan was built to reflect the priorities of the community. "Libraries are the city's classrooms for both individuals and the community," he said. "The Library levy will help ensure we can provide essential Library services now and for the next generation of users." 

Ninety-one-year-old Eleanor Owen and local mystery writer Kathrine Beck also spoke about how the Library has helped them, and their families and friends, throughout their lives.

For more information, visit www.spl.org and select "Libraries for All: A Plan for the Present, A Foundation for the Future," or call 206-386-4636.

For more information contact: Andra Addison, communications director, 206-386-4103

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Council President Sally Clark and I visited Roxhill Elementary School last Friday morning. It was one of those visits that pump you up and get you excited.

Roxhill is barely inside the city's southern boundary, hugging the north side of Southwest Roxbury Street. It's a Level 3 school in Seattle's numeric grading system (that's a C letter grade), improved from Level 1 just two years ago. Credit goes to Principal Carmela Dellino and her staff of 29 dedicated and engaging teachers for the progress.

Roxhill's student population is more diverse than the city as a whole—27% Black, 40% Hispanic, 17% Asian/Pacific Islander, 12% White. Thirty-five percent of Roxhill's students are English language learners. Seventy-five percent of the students are enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program. Twenty-three percent of the students receive special education attention. Student achievement lags behind the school district's overall elementary school averages, but Roxhill students are getting better on their reading, math, writing and science tests. Their academic improvement rate beat district-wide averages in both math and reading in the 2010-2011 school year.

After walking the hallways of Roxhill and visiting classrooms, you can see why. The visit revealed a school focused on learning. It was orderly and clean. Students worked well together. Teachers and their helpers, including student teachers from the UW, were walking around, sitting on the floor, encouraging and drawing out the best from their students.

We saw child-focused commitment.  We saw teachers and student teachers pouring themselves into the kids. We saw the order and discipline of the building and classrooms.  We saw engaging and stimulating teaching methods being used.  We saw kids who were learning, having fun and working with each other. We sat in on a local government civics lesson for third graders.

Impressive. That's the word that kept coming to mind as I drove back to City Hall. Impressive principal and teachers. Impressive academic progress being made.

Roxhill is another example of a Seattle public school that's working.

Levy proposal addresses ongoing fiscal challenges and supports critical services

What:
After a two-year process involving the thoughtful contributions of tens of thousands of residents and collaboration between The Seattle Public Library, Mayor’s Office and City Council, a proposal to stabilize Library funding and improve Library services is complete.

Who:
Library Board President Marie McCaffrey, City Librarian Marcellus Turner, Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle City Councilman Richard Conlin will announce a proposed Library levy to address ongoing financial challenges and support key service priorities: Library hours, collections, technology and building maintenance.

91-year-old Library patron Eleanor Owen and Seattle author Kathrine Beck will also speak about the Library’s importance to the city’s educational, cultural and economic vitality.

Library and city officials will be joined by other members of the City Council and Library Board, as well as the Friends of the Library, Library Foundation and members of the public.

When:
Noon Monday, April 9, 2012

Schedule:
Noon to 12:30 p.m. – Event Remarks
Library Board president, mayor, City Councilman Richard Conlin and city librarian will talk about the levy plan and what it offers the community. Two Library patrons will talk about the importance of libraries in their lives. The press will receive copies of the proposal, “Libraries for All: A Plan for the Present, A Foundation for the Future.”

12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. - Other Broadcast Opportunities
Library officials, the mayor, City Council members, Library patrons Eleanor Owen and Kathrine Beck, as well as Library Friends and Foundation members available for further interviews. Opportunities to film baby story time, tax assistance program and poetry group and other activities happening in the building. City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed Library levy for the Aug. 7, 2012 ballot at 2:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 600 Fourth Ave.

Where:
The Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 3

Information:
Andra Addison, The Seattle Public Library, 206-386-4103, andra.addison@spl.org
Caroline Ullmann, The Seattle Public Library, 206-615-1627, caroline.ullmann@spl.org

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Back in January, I blogged about the problem of coercive, exploitive prostitution in Seattle.  We documented that 67 individuals acting as pimps had victimized more than 78 girls and women in King County in a 42-month period; the vast majority of the victims were juveniles. Here's a chart that shows each of the cases and their final disposition.  

Well over half of the juvenile victims were exploited through commercial advertising on Backpage.com or other Internet sites. Shame on Village Voice Media and their investors for supporting and encouraging sexual exploitation of our children. 

Jim Larkin serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Village Voice Media, Inc. You can write Mr. Larkin here.

Seattle City Council moves to strengthen Seattle's life sciences industry
Legislation will waive city B&O tax on government research funds

Seattle – The City Council today will introduce legislation (Council Bill 117438) to waive the City's business and occupation tax on government research and development funding of Seattle companies and nonprofit organizations in the growing life sciences sector.

"This legislation recognizes the significance of the life sciences sector and will help it grow in our City," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Council's Government Performance and Finance Committee. "Research and development funds from the federal and state governments can lead to medical breakthroughs that treat diseases and improve care in Seattle and around the world. Waiving the tax on these funds is smart and compassionate. It will create jobs and save and improve lives."

The life sciences industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the City and the greater region. Between 2007 and the first quarter of 2011, jobs in this sector grew nearly nine percent statewide.

"We appreciate the City's efforts to ensure that Seattle's tax policy supports, not hinders, our efforts to increase jobs and medical research and advancement in Seattle," said Dr. James Hendricks, president of Seattle Children's Research Institute and Chair of the Board of the Downtown Seattle Association. "The life sciences and biotech sectors are big bright spots in Seattle's economy and with this legislation we are well positioned to attract additional government funding and expand medical research."

Government funds helped researchers at Children's validate that a single dose of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine was effective, a finding that essentially doubled the amount of available vaccine since it was originally believed that double dosing was necessary. Government funds are also allowing Kineta, Inc., a Seattle biotech company that advances treatments for autoimmune diseases and viral diseases, to collaborate with scientists at the University of Washington to develop a broadly acting anti-viral drug that may be the future penicillin for viral diseases. It is one of several lines of research for Kineta, which has grown from 8 to 22 employees since 2007.

The Council is moving to clarify the City's tax code after confusion arose last year on whether government funding received by life sciences companies and nonprofit organizations was subject to local taxation.

"Seattle is in the vanguard of biotech innovation and should put every available dollar of these research funds toward improving and saving lives," said Council President Sally J. Clark. "We're fortunate to have so many global health leaders so close."

"In life sciences, government funds are an all-but-essential bridge between basic research and private capital support," said Erik Nilsson, president of Insilicos, a company that conducts biomarker analytics of laboratory data. "Removing the B&O tax on these funds will help startup companies grow past their early, most vulnerable phase."

The proposed bill is the first step in the Council's review of City tax policies to ensure fairness and effectiveness. Further study will focus on steps that simplify business reporting and compliance with the tax code and maintain City services while improving the business climate in Seattle.

The Government Performance and Finance Committee will first consider the life sciences tax waiver legislation at its meeting on Wednesday, April 4, at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Feedback sought on proposed Seattle Public Library Levy

SEATTLE – Providing funding stability for the Seattle Public Library is a priority for the City of Seattle. Seattle City Councilmembers invite members of the public to provide their feedback on the proposed Library Levy legislation before the Council. 

WHAT:
Public Hearing on the proposed Library Levy

WHEN:
Tuesday, April 3, 5:30 p.m. (Sign up will open at 5 p.m.)

WHERE:
Council Chambers, second floor
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle 98104

Over the last two years, the Library has involved over 39,000 residents in strategic planning for the Library's future and setting priorities for Library services. In community surveys, focus groups panel discussions, five open houses, and three community meetings, the people of Seattle came together to identify the priorities for the Library's work now and in the future. Please take this opportunity to share your feedback on the proposed seven year Library Levy.

For more information on the proposed Library Levy, please visit the Council's issue page.  The proposed legislation will likely be voted on at the April 9, meeting of the Special Committee on the Library Levy at 2:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Businesses can be a powerful resource in the fight against trafficking. For example, in the area of sex trafficking, cabs, restaurants, bars, hotels and motels, and even retail malls are often locales used by traffickers. Businesses can educate employees about the problem, train employees to identify and report suspicious activity appropriately and make their premises and operations unwelcoming and risky to human traffickers.

The Washington BEST initiative is the latest great example of how Seattle and Washington State continue to be national leaders in the fight against human trafficking. Since 2002, we have passed a number of critical laws to counter this scourge:

• Expanded the definition of criminal profiteering to include human trafficking and adopted criminal penalties for human trafficking.
• Banned sex tourism.
• Established commercial sexual abuse of a minor as a criminal offense with increased penalties for “johns” and the predators who promote the prostitution of children.
• Enabled police, prosecutors and the courts to treat prostituted children as crime victims and divert them out of the criminal justice system.
• Supported police and prosecutors by allowing one-party consent voice recordings in investigating cases involving the commercial sexual abuse of minors.

I am particularly proud that we opened The Bridge in 2010, the only facility in Washington where children who have been sex trafficked receive intensive services in a residential setting. A few weeks ago, the state legislature adopted a ground-breaking bill that prohibits advertisers from knowingly publishing “escort” ads involving minors. It also requires advertisers—including online advertisers like backpage.com—to keep records of the identification used to verify ages of persons in these types of ads.

Finally, the Center for Children and Youth Justice is working in communities across the state to develop victim-centered protocols for first responders, police, the courts, and social service providers that will make Washington a leader in establishing a statewide coordinated response to victims of sex trafficking.

A few cities around the U.S., including Seattle and San Francisco, are trying new on-street parking management techniques to reduce cruising for open parking spaces and ensure one or two available spaces on each block. Today's New York Times has an article about how San Francisco's experiment is going. Just like here in Seattle where Councilmember Mike O'Brien and I led the effort to switch to demand-based parking management, San Francisco's effort shows promise.

Read my earlier posts on better on-street parking management strategies here.

Seattle City Councilmembers Clark, Burgess and Godden nominate PI Globe as official landmark
Hearst Corporation donates Globe to Museum of History & Industry

SEATTLE – Seattle City Councilmembers Sally J. Clark, Jean Godden and Tim Burgess, Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) Executive Director Leonard Garfield, and the Hearst Corporation today announced plans to forever keep the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe in Seattle as a recognized historic landmark.

When the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (PI) newspaper announced its decision to stop the presses and move to an internet-only format in 2009, the three Councilmembers, all former journalists, began working with representatives of Hearst Corporation, MOHAI and the staff of the Landmarks Preservation Board to make sure that the Globe would continue to stay in Seattle as a beloved icon.

Council President Sally J. Clark said, "The PI Globe is like an old friend. Seeing it atop the PI Building not only makes us smile, it also serves as a reminder of the important role that the Post-Intelligencer has played in the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region."

The Globe has been a fixture on Seattle's waterfront on top of the PI Building since it was moved from its original location at Sixth and Wall in 1986.  Hearst Corporation, which owns both the Globe and seattlepi.com, moved most of the pi.com operations to another building last year and does not plan to maintain a long-term presence in the PI Building.

In a letter to Councilmembers Clark, Godden and Burgess, Mark Aldam, president of Hearst Newspapers, thanked the Councilmembers and MOHAI for their work to honor the Globe and celebrated this historic moment in its existence.

"Following the designation of the Globe as a City of Seattle landmark, Hearst will donate the Globe to MOHAI, and MOHAI and the City of Seattle will together work to identify a suitable new home for it," Aldam said. "Hearst is deeply grateful for your dedicated efforts on behalf of the Globe and all it represents, and for the willingness of MOHAI to accept the important role as its new steward."

MOHAI is making plans to refurbish the Globe and to find a new permanent location for it to reside. The Globe will be taken to a temporary storage site for cleaning and maintenance, likely sometime later in 2012.

MOHAI's Executive Director, Leonard Garfield, announced that a campaign will soon be launched to find a new home for the Globe and to fund its restoration and provide for its long-term care. He said, "We thank Hearst for its generous and thoughtful gift. The Globe is one of Seattle's signature icons and we are thrilled that our community will continue to enjoy the Globe for many years to come. We are honored to become the steward of this cherished symbol of Seattle's journalism and our local history."

The City of Seattle is working with MOHAI and Hearst during the transition of ownership, and is in discussions with MOHAI to the Globe to be stored in a former airplane hangar at Magnuson Park during its restoration.

"MOHAI is the perfect caretaker for this historic Seattle icon," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "We will continue to work with Hearst and the museum to find a permanent home for this landmark. It will forever be a reminder of the importance of a free and independent press."

This afternoon the Globe will be nominated for recognition as a landmark. Historian Mimi Sheridan will make the presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Board on behalf of the Councilmembers. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 4060.

"This is truly a great day for the citizens of Seattle. Today we're not only honoring the iconic globe but also decades of high-caliber journalism. For more than 100 years the P-I has been a trusted source of news and chronicler of life here in the Northwest. On behalf of my colleagues on the Council and the citizens of Seattle I want to say thank you to Hearst Corporation and MOHAI for preserving this wonderful gift to our community," said Councilmember Jean Godden, who worked for the Post-Intelligencer as a reporter and columnist.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Seattle City Council to announce update on Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe
Council working with MOHAI and Landmarks Preservation board to save PI Globe

SEATTLE –  On Wednesday, Seattle City Councilmembers will announce developments in preserving a Seattle treasure, the Seattle PI Globe. Joined by leadership from MOHAI and the Hearst Corporation, Councilmembers will discuss the Globe’s future.

WHAT:
Status update for Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe preservation

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 7, 11:30 a.m.
                       
WHERE:
Near Seattle City Council Chambers
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Second Floor
Seattle, WA 98104

WHO:
Seattle City Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Jean Godden
Leonard Garfield, MOHAI Director
Historian Mimi Sheridan
           
For more information view the Seattle PI globe’s landmark preservation application.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Seattle City Council approves implementation strategy for Families and Education Levy
Plan raises the standard of accountability for City-funded programs

Seattle – The Seattle City Council voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the Families and Education Levy Implementation and Evaluation Plan (Council Bill 117395). Through the use of performance-based contracts, competitively awarded investments and required data reporting, the Plan emphasizes accountability and results.

"The Levy has been the City's most effective tool for helping struggling schoolchildren. This legislation strengthens it further," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Council committee that reviewed the legislation. "It focuses squarely on student academic achievement and directly links the City's funding awards to student performance."

The Levy is a partnership between the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools; it has three central goals:

• Promote school readiness and learning;
• Support academic achievement and reduce the academic achievement gap; and
• Prepare high school graduates for college and/or the career of their choice.

Recognizing the importance of an early start, the Levy significantly increases resources for pre-kindergartners and children in elementary school. Furthermore, it will focus on students who are underachieving academically in schools with a large population of students with academic challenges, or in schools with an overall low performance record.

To better integrate Levy resources with existing school efforts, the schools will be asked to identify the strategies or programs that will best align with ongoing work in classrooms. To help schools identify effective resources, the City will develop a list of providers, through a Request for Qualifications process, that have the ability to successfully help children improve academically. Schools may only use providers from that list for their Levy funded strategies.

The Levy was approved by 64% of Seattle voters in November. Programs will receive funding for the school year starting in September. The Families and Education Levy Oversight Committee, appointed in December, will meet monthly to review Levy processes and results.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

While these debates continue, Seattle is purposefully moving forward with an initiative predicated on a fundamental tenet of education reform—that we measure student academic performance and adjust our strategies when performance lags.

This afternoon, the City Council will vote on legislation establishing the implementation and evaluation plan for the Levy. Seattle voters approved this measure by a 64% margin last November, agreeing to tax themselves $232 million over the next seven years to fund special interventions to help the city’s most academically at risk students and schools.

Frankly, the Levy is a radical departure from the status quo in public education. While the argument about linking teacher evaluations to student performance continues, the Levy takes the step of linking funding of our partners (schools and nonprofit organizations) to student performance. The focus is on student academic achievement, not the good intentions of the adults or school administration. At the same time, it does honor the crucial importance of effective teachers, strong principals and family engagement.

The Levy is meticulously managed by the City’s Office for Education, not the School District. Levy funds are awarded on a competitive basis to community-based nonprofit organizations and schools that demonstrate an ability to achieve specific academic improvement targets. Twenty percent of contract dollars are tied directly to achieving outcomes, meaning these funds can be withheld if the desired outcomes are not met. Program interventions that don’t work are canceled.

Levy investment decisions are based on what works to improve student academic achievement. For example, the new Levy will invest much more heavily in pre-kindergarten education and elementary schools since research evidence strongly demonstrates that such early interventions pay huge dividends in student success.

The ultimate goal of the Levy, in partnership with the School District, is that all Seattle schoolchildren will graduate from high school prepared for college or some form of post-secondary career certification.

Some schools in Seattle have consistently failed to provide a quality education to their students. Many of these schools have high concentrations of students living in poverty and students of color. The City is particularly focused on improving these schools. But, the City will not invest in these schools if we have insufficient confidence that the principal and faculty will wisely and effectively use the Levy’s funds.

Recognizing that sometimes new thinking and strategies are needed to address persistent failure, state law allows for “innovation schools” to adopt different governing rules. They have greater flexibility in setting curriculum, extending class periods and school days, and in hiring teachers, as well as a host of other options for modifying standard operations. Over the past two years, as we developed plans for renewal of our city’s Levy, we had the “innovation school” option clearly in mind. The implementation and evaluation plan we will vote on later today is designed to provide significant funding to a few of our weakest schools.

However, on February 15, the School Board approved a memorandum of agreement with the teachers’ union that will govern how and when innovation schools can be utilized in Seattle. Besides changing the name to “creative approach” schools, the agreement requires 80% of a school’s faculty to approve switching to innovation school status. This unusually high threshold will likely be impossible to meet in the very schools our Levy is designed to help.

I fear that as a consequence, only schools already providing a quality education, with stable and unified faculties, will be able to take advantage of the latitude offered by the state’s innovation school provisions. And I fear that for our struggling schools, the 80% threshold will maintain the status quo, blocking them from unique opportunities to implement approaches that help their youngsters succeed. I hope I’m wrong and that our principals and teachers will continue to embrace innovation for the sake of our children.

The new Families and Education Levy is a strong, bold and very necessary tool designed to help those Seattle schoolchildren most in need. Let’s not put obstacles in the way of the Levy or of the schools and students it seeks to serve.

(This post was originally published earlier today at PubliCola.com.)

Seattle City Councilmembers Bagshaw, Burgess and Rasmussen to appear on this month's City Inside/Out: Council Edition
Email your questions now for Seattle City Councilmembers

SEATTLE – What needs to happen to bring NBA and NHL to Seattle? How can residents be involved in this year's budget process? What are the next steps for making Third Avenue safer for residents and visitors? Is the Volunteer Park Conservatory really facing closure? Whatever your questions, submit them now.

This episode of City Inside/Out: Council Edition features Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Tim Burgess and Tom Rasmussen answering your questions with host Brian Callanan.

Submit your questions for the Councilmembers by Friday, March 2, at noon.

• Email: contact@seattlechannel.org
• Online: http://www.seattlechannel.org/CouncilEdition/
• Twitter: @SeattleChannel
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeattleChannel
• Simply reply to this email

Don't miss this opportunity to put your issues before the City's lawmakers. Email now and tune in on Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. to hear the answers to your questions.

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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

The State House of Representatives unanimously passed ESSB 6251 this afternoon. The Senate passed the bill earlier without dissent. The legislation prohibits knowingly publishing advertisements for a commercial sex act involving a minor and requires that advertisers—including online advertisers like backpage.com—keep records of the identification they use to verify the age of the person depicted in the advertisement or else face prosecution.

The unanimous bipartisan support for this bill signals that local and state policymakers continue to be united in our efforts to stop the horrific violence against children through coercive prostitution.

Read earlier posts on this issue here.

In the fall of 2010, the City Council adopted new on-street parking management policies.

These new policies were designed to (1) keep one or two spaces available on each block in our neighborhood business districts, (2) reduce congestion and environmental harm from cruising for an open space, (3) and shift from a revenue-based orientation to an outcome-based orientation. (I wrote extensively about these new policies when they were being developed.)

Now, there are new concerns that the parking policy changes made in 2010 are adversely impacting businesses, essentially driving customers away. There are specific concerns about the decision to extend pay periods from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in certain neighborhoods. (As a clarification, the Mayor sets the times of day for paid parking; the City Council determines the days of the week.) However, collected occupancy data shows the new policies are working as they were intended.

In the Chinatown-International District, a study of occupancy this past fall by SDOT showed that

"Data collected in September 2011 showed that the new evening parking hours in Chinatown/International District are achieving the intended results.  The City Council approved policy calls for parking spaces to be occupied between 65% and 83% of the time. Parking occupancy at 7:00 PM was measured at 78%, right in the target range of one to two open spaces. Data from our pay stations also shows transactions per day have been consistent in Chinatown/International District since September.  This preliminary data is consistent with data we’ve seen in the other neighborhoods where parking was extended to 8 PM in 2011."

SDOT will soon complete another citywide assessment of parking occupancy and further divide neighborhood parking areas into smaller zones which will allow even more precision in setting meter rates and hours to achieve the desired outcomes. Later this year, we'll all be able to pay on-street parking meter fees by cell phone.

Seattle City Council Government Performance and Finance Committee to hold hearing on Families and Education Levy implementation plan

Seattle – The Seattle City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee, chaired by Councilmember Tim Burgess, will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to receive comments on the 2012-2018 Families and Education Levy implementation and evaluation plan. The hearing will follow a briefing and discussion of the proposed plan during the committee meeting.

Who:
City Council Government Performance and Finance Committee

What:
Briefing and public hearing on 2012-2018 Families and Education Levy implementation and evaluation plan

When:
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 9:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
(View meeting agenda)

Where:
Council Chambers (600 Fourth Ave, 2nd Floor)

In November 2011, Seattle voters approved by 64 percent a $231.6 million levy to provide education support services  in order to improve academic achievement in public schools. This is the fourth Families & Education Levy passed in the City of Seattle.

The implementation and evaluation plan sets out the criteria, methodology and required program outcomes for the Levy investment areas.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

Seattle City Council establishes Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
Coordinated efforts will provide easier to use services to immigrant and refugee communities

SEATTLE – Seattle City Councilmembers today approved 7-0 Council Bill 117394 establishing the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs as an executive department. By creating one location for immigrant and refugee services, this office will coordinate the City's efforts in reaching and providing services to immigrant and refugee communities.

"The City of Seattle has better invested in the way we serve all residents – including immigrants and refugees," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the committee that will oversee the new Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. "This new office will improve how the City integrates new immigrants and refugees into the civic life of Seattle, as well as help all residents benefit from the diversity of immigrant and refugee cultures. It will be mutually beneficial to all."

The bill recognizes Seattle is home to many immigrant and refugee communities and that language and cultural barriers can compromise equal access to government services and programs. These barriers combined with the complex nature of issues that impact immigrant and refugee communities, resulted in this Council action to strengthen the relationship between government and these communities.

"Immigrant and refugee communities contribute to the vitality of Seattle in countless ways, but they can also have trouble accessing city services," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "The Council created this office because we saw the need to provide a more coordinated welcome to these individuals and families."

"The Immigrant and Refugee Commission is excited about the new City of Seattle's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.  Seattle's Immigrants and refugees have quickly become part of the city's economic life, from the bustling International District downtown to the polyglot scene that is the South East, the most diverse zip code in the nation," said co-chair Devon Abdallah. "What a great way to show commitment to continue to advocate for immigrant and refugees," said co-chair Jesus Rodriguez.  "We are looking forward to having an office coordinating efforts across City departments and a central point of contact for individuals requiring City assistance."

"I am thrilled that we were able to create an office that will reach out to newcomers and serve as a one-stop place to access information and services," stated Councilmember Jean Godden.

"The Office will make city government more accessible and responsive to Seattle's immigrant and refugee communities, which now represent 17 percent of the City's population," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "I look forward to working with the new office to better include these communities, our newest residents, in our civic process and life."

"OneAmerica applauds the Council's leadership in creating this office which will help streamline access to services and create innovative ways to recognize and encourage immigrant and refugee communities to participate in city life. The office also provides a clear signal that city government values the input and contribution made by immigrant communities," said OneAmerica Executive Director, Pramila Jayapal.

The bill also renames the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board to the Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Commission.  The Seattle City Council created the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board and developed an Immigrant and Refugee Action Plan in 2007. The Immigrant and Refugee Commission will work with the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative to integrate principles of social justice and ensure consistency with the Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

So, we invited the City departments that report to our Committee to give Ignite presentations about their work.  Take a look and see what you think: 

• City Budget Office
• Finance and Administrative Services
• Personnel
• Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System
• Office of City Auditor
• Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission
• Office for Education

The protection of view corridors to and from Roosevelt High School is especially important and we achieved that with today's vote. After this bill passed out of committee, neighborhood representatives met with the developer and made a joint proposal for further setbacks to protect views, which the Council adopted in its final legislation. Under existing zoning across from the school, a builder could build a 40 foot high structure from lot line to lot line, essentially blocking all of the views to and from the school. Our final legislation, while allowing some higher height, opens up and protects views from 15th Avenue Northeast and along 14th Avenue Northeast.  (Because the blocks across from the school are not level actual building heights are guided by alternative measurement methods.  Review potential heights in this illustration.)

There is much in the legislation the neighborhood can be proud of and pleased with. The rezone package prepares Roosevelt for the changes that will inevitably come with the arrival of light rail. It will create attractive, pedestrian-friendly green streets, allow for more affordable housing for individuals and families and encourage the growth of a vibrant neighborhood business district.  

What we adopted today is a pro-neighborhood package of changes and incentives that will achieve the core values identified by the neighborhood, advance our city’s concentrated density strategy and lead to a family-friendly quality of life for the residents, students and workers of the Roosevelt neighborhood.

You can read my blog post explaining my vote for this legislation in committee here.

By the way, I went out to Roosevelt last night and walked and drove around the neighborhood, then had dinner at Pies & Pints on Northeast 65th Street. Great food! Check it out.

Nicholas Kristof wrote an illuminating article yesterday in The New York Times that described how the Internet has become the primary marketing tool of those who "sell" young women for profit.  It's not a topic we will likely raise at dinner tonight, that's for sure.  But, the commercial sexual exploitation of our children demands moral clarity and a keen focus.

So what are the facts of sex trafficking in our region?

Yesterday, my office completed a compilation and review of criminal prosecutions in Seattle-King County over a 42-month period ending in August 2011.  We found that 67 offenders had been charged and prosecuted over the 42 months.  These 67 individuals had victimized more than 78 girls and women in King County.

We have gathered together key documents from these cases in one place so the public can gain a sense of the psychological abuse and violence committed against these women. As a warning, the documents contain graphic and disturbing information. Details on the cases and links to the case stories are available in this table.

The remarks I will be sharing with our legislators this afternoon follow the jump. 

Good afternoon, Senators.  Human trafficking, including the sexual exploitation of children, is a difficult topic. It demands moral clarity, careful examination, and the kind of bipartisan purposefulness you have demonstrated in your sponsorship of the package of bills you have under consideration.

Nearly 10 years ago, the Washington State Legislature led the nation in passing laws to criminalize human trafficking, but unfortunately the problem persists and is growing. There are some, however, who don’t believe we have a problem and accuse us of exaggerating and sensationalizing, so we set out to get the facts.

Yesterday, my office completed compilation and review of a select set of criminal prosecutions in Seattle-King County involving some of the most serious offenses related to human trafficking—commercial sexual abuse of a minor, promoting prostitution in the first degree, rape of a child in the first degree and sex trafficking.    We examined prosecutions stretching over a 42-month period ending last August. It is all documented in these notebooks I will leave with you. 

Here’s what we found.  Sixty-seven offenders were charged and prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney in this 42-month period.  These 67 offenders victimized more than 78 girls and women.

There is a common practice or pattern running through all of these cases—debilitating psychological abuse, threats of violence and acts of violence against each of the victims to destroy their self-respect and instill pervasive fear, all for the purpose of keeping the victims trapped in prostitution. This entrapment means they can be sold over and over again, providing a lucrative business for their pimps.

About 30% of the victims in these cases were 18 or older. Most were juveniles—many 16 or 17 years old, but a sizeable number as young as 13, 14 or 15.  Nearly 60% of the juvenile victims were exploited through commercial advertising on backpage.com or other Internet sites.   

Included in these notebooks for each case is the sworn “certification for determination of probable cause.” I encourage you to read a few of these. They document the pattern of abusive and violent behavior that is routinely used to keep victims in submission. What you’ll read is chilling. The legal terms we use for these offenses, like “commercial sexual abuse of a minor,” only hint at the stark and bitter truth of what these victims live with on a daily basis. 

Their suffering demands our attention and action. These girls and women are modern day slaves.  

Remember, these extreme crimes are not limited to my city and county.  There are similar cases across our state in Snohomish, Pierce, Spokane and Yakima counties. The extent to which these crimes are occurring in our communities is shocking and sobering

I join with Mayor McGinn, Chief Pugel, and the others who have come to the capitol today to support your bipartisan efforts to stop this exploitation. Please act quickly to put an end to the commercial sexual exploitation of our children through online advertising. Increase fees and require mandatory restitution by offenders. And let’s help the victims vacate their prostitution convictions more quickly and collect damages from those who exploited them.

Please provide our police officers, prosecutors and judges the additional tools and authority they need to arrest and penalize those who prey on the vulnerable.

Join your Seattle elected officials at Saturday's City Hall Open House
Office tours and civic education available for visitors

SEATTLE – Mayor Mike McGinn, City Attorney Pete Holmes and members of the Seattle City Council invite residents to City Hall this Saturday for a day of Seattle-centric festivities.

City Hall Open House
Saturday, January 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
600 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
(enter on Fifth Avenue)

The open house will include tours of the Mayor's Office, City Council offices, and Office of Intergovernmental Relations, a Q&A with Mayor Mike McGinn, and workshops on the legislative process and interpreting credit reports. All departments will be on-hand to answer resident questions and provide information on City-sponsored programs. City Attorney Pete Holmes will be present along with the four new police Precinct Liaisons. The Seattle Animal Shelter will have adoptable animals available at their booth.

Details are as follows:

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.      

City Hall open for visitors, department tabling

City Council offices available for self-guided tours
(Second floor)

Pai's food truck available on Fifth Avenue

Pike Place Farmer's Market available on Fifth Avenue

"How a bill becomes a law" civic education exhibit
(Council Chambers, second floor)

10:15 a.m.                

Remarks by Council President Sally J. Clark
(Bertha Knight Landes Room, first floor)

10:20 – 11:15 a.m.  

Q & A with Mayor Mike McGinn
(Bertha Knight Landes Room, first floor)

11:15 a.m.

Mayor's Honor Song, Arlie Nakeshi, Native American
(Bertha Knight Landes Room, first floor)

12:00 – 12:30 p.m.  How a bill becomes a law workshop
(Council Chambers, second floor)

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.     Financial Empowerment Workshop: Unraveling the mysteries of credit reports/scores by Becky House, American Financial Solutions, a member of the Seattle-King County Asset Building Collaborative
(Floor L2, Room L280)

The following local musical acts will perform from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.:

• The Fred Hoadley Trio (Latin Jazz; lobby)
• Arlie Neskahi and Eagle's Jump (Native American Music; seventh floor lobby)

The Farmer's Market on Fifth Avenue will include the following local vendors:

• Martin Family Orchards (apples)
• Sidhu Farms (frozen berries, honey, jam)
• Full Circle Farms (organic winter vegetables)
• Garden Flowers (pickled beets and winter vegetables)
• Alm Hill Gardens (fresh tulips)
• Sammamish Valley Farm (dried flowers and winter vegetables)
• Neng Farm (dried flowers and winter vegetables)
• Xai Cha Farm (dried flowers and winter vegetables)

For more information on tomorrow's Open House, visit www.seattle.gov.

Seattle City Council approves marriage equality resolution
Councilmembers unanimously support state legislative efforts

SEATTLE – Seattle City Councilmembers today unanimously approved Resolution 31356 declaring full support of state-wide marriage equality, urging the Washington State Legislature to swiftly pass Senate Bill 6239. This bill is explicitly intended to end discrimination in marriage based on gender and sexual orientation, while respecting the religious freedom of religious institutions to determine for whom to perform marriage ceremonies.

"I'm sure it's no surprise that the Seattle City Council favors marriage equality," said Council President Sally J. Clark. "We've long been on record in support, and many of my colleagues and I have actively lobbied for the cause. It's heartening to hear the legislature has the support to turn the measure into law."

"As chair of the committee that oversees Seattle's Office for Civil Rights, I wish to thank the members of the Washington State Senate, House of Representatives, and Gov. Gregoire on fighting for marriage equality in our state," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. "Families come in many forms and all families in our city and state should enjoy equal rights and opportunities.  We all benefit from an environment that promotes equality."

The Council resolution also recognizes that all people are created equal and should be treated as such by their government and provides a formal declaration of support to the state legislature and Gov. Gregoire.

"I'm thrilled to support this resolution urging State Legislators to take the final step toward marriage equality. It's about time we lived in a state which recognizes everyone's equal rights under the law," said Councilmember Jean Godden.

"It's long past time for all people in same-sex relationships to be allowed to marry. Washington's 'everything but marriage' law has served its purpose yet I'm glad that many agree that it still falls short of what right and fair," stated Councilmember Nick Licata. 

"The elected leadership of Seattle stands united in support of the marriage equality legislation," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "Washington should no longer make distinctions based on sexual orientation. I encourage my colleagues and friends in the state legislature to pass this bill."

In February 1997, the City of Seattle adopted Resolution 29535 opposing discrimination against same-sex couples in Washington State and supporting legal recognition of civil marriages for same-sex couples. Supporting marriage equality is also in the City of Seattle's 2012 state legislative agenda.

"I am so pleased this day has come," stated Councilmember Sally Bagshaw.

"If two people are ready to commit to spend their lives together, they should have the option to get married," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "Marriage equality is the civil rights issue of our day, and I fully believe we must grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights and privileges before the state as straight couples."

"As a licensed officiant, I look forward to the opportunity to celebrate and perform wedding ceremonies as soon as this legislation is approved and I can legally sign the papers," added Councilmember Richard Conlin. "Let's make it happen!"

"The City of Seattle has long prided itself on its commitment to equality and diversity. Marriage equality should be afforded to all consenting people," stated Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. "Equality and fairness is good for people and business, and marriage equality will make Washington state more attractive to those who would move here. I applaud the efforts of Gov. Gregoire and the Legislature to pass these bills in this session.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

First, Judy Lightfoot, writing over at Crosscut.com, makes the case for SPD's Crisis Intervention Team and the hundreds of officers with advanced training for dealing with people with mental health challenges.  It's a good piece that showcases the exemplary work done every day by Seattle police officers.

Second, when you think of Central Park in New York City do you shudder and think of runaway crime and disorder?  Would you walk your dog or jog in Central Park after dark?

You may be surprised by what's happened in Central Park in recent years.  A couple of weeks ago, The New York Times reported on a nearly crime-free Central Park.  Smart policing can produce amazing results; it proves that urban crime is not something we must shrug our shoulders over and accept.

And here's another believe it or not factoid out of New York City.  The High Line, an elevated park extending over a mile and designed by James Corner—the same urban designer working on our central waterfront—has been crime free since it opened two-and-a-half years ago.  Crime free!  There hasn't been one reported major crime on the High Line. (Seattle will begin work later this year on our ground-level version of the High Line on Bell Street between Fifth Avenue and First Avenue in Belltown.)

Criminologist Franklin Zimring argues in his new book, The City That Became Safe, that the long-held belief that large urban cities will always have a minimum threshold level of crime is false. He says New York City's experience since 1991—they have eliminated 80% of major crime—proves that smart policing can produce amazing results, even in areas where crime has flourished for years. It will be difficult and require intense focus, but we can do the same here in Seattle.

Local elected officials highlight solutions to region's human trafficking problem

SEATTLE – King County Councilmember Jane Hague, Port of Seattle Commissioner Gael Tarleton, Mayor Mike McGinn, City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess today recognized national Human Trafficking Awareness Day by joining together with community advocates and law enforcement leaders to announce new tools and solutions to prevent human trafficking locally.  

"Sexual exploitation, forced labor, and other forms of human trafficking will not be tolerated here, and I applaud these new strategies to prevent modern-day forms of slavery," said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

"As a major trade center, our region is a natural staging area for human trafficking," said Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Jane Hague.  "I am very proud of the work that King County has done to help eliminate this dehumanizing crime, including the first successful prosecution in Washington State.  It is critical that we continue to shine a light on this issue, and work together with other local governments to increase the pressure on offenders."

"Prosecutors and police see the damage of human trafficking every day on the streets of our community. State and local governments are recognizing the problem and giving law enforcement new tools to combat human trafficking, particularly in the area of the sexual exploitation of minors. We can and should do more to protect our children from those who would abuse them for profit," said Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sean O'Donnell.    

"A strong coalition is already working together to eradicate trafficking," said Port of Seattle Commission President Gael Tarleton. "But we can't do it alone, and that's why we hope to educate the millions of passengers who pass through the airport each year about this crime and recruit them, as partners in the fight."

"A critical tactic for fighting human trafficking is raising the public's awareness of the issue," said Mayor Mike McGinn. "Exploiting people for any reason – whether it be for sex, labor or profit – is unacceptable in this city. That's why I will continue to work with my fellow elected officials and law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors this month in Washington D.C., to protect Seattle from this violation of basic human rights."

"My office, in collaboration with the Seattle Police Department (SPD), is already reallocating existing resources to attack the demand side of the sex industry, said Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. "Where SPD typically referred – and we prosecuted – female prostitutes and male johns at roughly a 60-40 ratio, we are seeking to reverse that ratio. Prostitutes are more often than not victims, and in most instances, Seattle Community Court will be an option for them, coupled with appropriate services. Johns will not have this option, and even first timers will face prosecution and tougher sentencing."

"Our state has made significant progress in the fight against sex trafficking and we can all take pride in what has been accomplished in the last few years," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "More needs to be done—and I'm pleased that more is being done—to help the victims of these crimes."

"It is critical to the work of service providers and law enforcement and, most importantly, to the identification of victims, that the community recognize and understand human trafficking in all its forms," said Jaimie Driscoll a spokesperson for the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN).  "WARN thanks the King County Council, the City of Seattle, and the Port, for their work in bringing awareness of human trafficking to its constituency and for its recognition of local efforts to combat trafficking in Washington State."

Earlier this week, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the City of Seattle each brought awareness to the issue of human trafficking by issuing proclamations. 

Read the King County Council proclamation here.

Read the Port of Seattle proclamation here.

Read the City of Seattle proclamation here.

Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.