FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Tim Burgess Councilmember Richard Conlin Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmember Mike O'... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Tim Burgess Councilmember Richard Conlin Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmember Nick Li... [Full Post]

Women’s charities used to be funded by the farmer’s wife contributing egg money to overseas missions. That’s definitely not true today — not since the YWCA began its tradition of Inspire Luncheons 25 years ago.

What began modestly a generation ago has become a three-venue production, raising somewhere around $1 million annually to empower women and families. This week’s 25th anniversary event at the Washington State Convention Center first paid tribute to the late KOMO Anchor Kathi Gertzen who would have celebrated her 55th birthday that same day, April 29. For 24 … Continue Reading »

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/30/2013 City Councilmembers to vote on gun safety public health funding Seattle - The City Council's Government Performance and Finance Committee will consider tomorrow morning an amendment to budget legislation to fund ... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/30/2013 Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmembers Bagshaw, Godden, Harrell to appear on May's City Inside/Out: Council Edition The opportunity is yours:... [Full Post]

Last week I broke bread with a delegation from 15 countries across the globe, 16 women and one lone man. The visitors came to this country to participate in the U. S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

What I learned from these visitors is invaluable. I heard how they have been working on behalf of women and children in their countries to combat violence against women, counter human trafficking and address child sexual abuse.

At the dinner event, sponsored by the Center for Women and Democracy, I was lucky enough to be seated next to Daniella Misail-Nichitin from … Continue Reading »

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It’s National Volunteer Week and few groups have a better excuse to celebrate than Gilda’s Club Seattle.

One of 28 groups nationwide, the club takes its name from the late Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner. After Radner contracted ovarian cancer, she was helped by friends. Her wish was that people everywhere could enjoy such support.

Although Gilda’s Club Seattle maintains a hard-working core staff, much of the support work –  hosting support sessions, teaching yoga, art, cooking and exercise – is done by dedicated volunteers.

Sunday afternoon, Executive Director Anna Gottlieb handed out more than a dozen “we couldn’t do it without you” awards recognizing the service of those volunteers. The large audience was seated in the comfortable mismatched easy chairs and … Continue Reading »

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/22/2013

Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

City Council Strengthens Affordable Housing Program
in South Lake Union
Consensus built around the need for more affordable workforce housing in the neighborhood

Seattle -- The Seattle City Council South Lake Union Committee voted unanimously on an amendment to produce more workforce affordable housing in the South Lake Union (SLU) neighborhood by strengthening the incentive zoning program. The agreement is a compromise between two existing amendments offered by Councilmembers, which were introduced in last week's SLU Committee meeting. Consensus was built around the need to strengthen the incentive zoning program without discouraging development.

"Today's decision is an important, modest step toward securing more affordable workforce housing in South Lake Union, so that people at all income levels who work in the neighborhood have a chance to live there," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "This is a community of opportunity where the city is investing over $500 million in public infrastructure, and I think it only fair that the benefits of this redevelopment are shared more broadly."

The legislation to strengthen incentive zoning includes a 43% increase in the residential pay-in-lieu price (from $15.15 to $21.68), effectively immediately, and a 33% increase in the commercial price that will be phased in over eighteen months (to $29.71). These prices are paid on a percent of square-foot basis in exchange for additional height and building capacity. Collectively, these provisions will produce an estimated 733 units of workforce housing in and near the neighborhood. The original legislation would have created an estimated 406 units.

"After collaborating with local businesses and affordable housing advocates, we crafted a sensible solution that goes far beyond the Mayor's status quo proposal and brings affordable workforce housing to the City's hottest real estate market," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "Now many more nurses, school teachers, construction workers and other working families can call this booming neighborhood home."

"The Council's adjustments in this legislation and the overall commitment to seeing workforce-priced units actually built in these developments will  help more working people find homes in South Lake Union near jobs and transit," said Council President Sally J. Clark. "That's good for employees and good for employers."
              
"The new Affordable Housing Amendment reflects a collaborative and inclusive decision-making process with developers and affordable housing advocates. The Council applied the Race and Social Justice Initiative lens to ensure we were having an honest debate on equity. Council honored its promise of delivering on-site affordable workforce units in this neighborhood," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell.

"These amendments strengthen one of our tools to generate more workforce housing in South Lake Union," said Councilmember Richard Conlin, chair of the Special Committee on South Lake Union. "I look forward to working with stakeholders and housing experts to both refine our incentive zoning program and also increase the supply of affordable housing city-wide."

"It all goes back to why so many people come to Seattle -- they come because we are a city of inclusive neighborhoods, not just a copy of someplace else. A strengthened incentive zoning program reaffirms our commitment to inclusive and affordable neighborhoods," said Councilmember Jean Godden.

"These amendments, while not a bold leap, are reasonable steps in the right direction. This is only a modest beginning for making housing in Seattle more affordable for average folks," said Councilmember Nick Licata. "We cannot continue to see workers forced to move ever further from the city and drive long distances to work here. The solution is clearly to require developers to provide substantially more affordable housing."

The Council last updated the incentive zoning program in 2008, establishing the goal of producing 5% of affordable workforce residential units in the neighborhood of the development. The Council will also consider similar fee adjustments to the downtown incentive housing program to take effect in 2014.

"Even with this step, we need to go further by engaging in the process laid out in Resolution 31444 to review and update of Seattle's incentive zoning and other affordable housing programs, so we can begin to bridge the gap between our affordable housing needs and the amount we are currently producing," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien.

City Council plans to vote on the full South Lake Union rezone proposal at the May 6 Full Council meeting at 2:00pm in Council Chambers.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/22/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Tim Burgess Councilmember Richard Conlin Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmember Nick Licata Cou... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/16/2013

Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Mike O'Brien

Councilmembers Godden and O'Brien
release statement on white pages directories ruling
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission removes phone book mailing requirement

Seattle -- The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) today issued new rules regulating to the distribution of white pages telephone directories in Washington.

The UTC removed the requirement that white pages publishers deliver directories to every resident in the state. White pages publishers must ensure its directory is accessible online and deliver a physical copy to anyone who requests it. In situations where publishers continue to distribute the directories to entire communities--for example in rural communities more reliant on white pages directories--the publishers must create and advertise an opt-out system for customers who do not wish to receive a book. 

Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Libraries, Utilities and Center Committee, and Councilmember Mike O'Brien, Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee, issued the following joint statement today in response to the new rules.

"We applaud the Utilities and Transportation Commission for their decision and think it is a great step in our waste reduction efforts. This new ruling allows the publishers to deliver directories only to people who wish to receive them. By keeping unnecessary waste out of our landfills and recycling centers we save money and help the environment. By eliminating the delivery requirement we free up more space on our roads and burn less fossil fuels. The UTC estimates that this decision could lead to a reduction of 300 tons of paper statewide, including 150 tons saved in Seattle alone, and prevention of 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions."

[View in Council Newsroom]

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