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Front view of Seattle City Hall on a rainy, cloudy day
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Seattle City Council unanimously approves emergency moratorium on detention centers

Rinck-sponsored bill similar to other regulations adopted throughout the region and beyond Today Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) celebrated the passage of emergency legislation that establishes a one-year moratorium on permit applications for development, expansion, or conversion of existing structures to detention centers. The bill, championed by Councilmember Rinck, represents the City’s...

Councilmember Rivera speaking at a podium in Seattle Public Library Central Branch
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Councilmember Rivera receives Mayor’s 2026 Seattle Library Levy renewal proposal

Levy proposal continues 2019 investments in open hours, books and materials, technology access, and children’s programming Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) joined Mayor Katie Wilson, Seattle Public Library’s Chief Librarian Tom Fay, and Library Board of Trustees President Yazmin Mehdi to receive the transmittal of the Library Levy proposal to the City Council. The 2026...

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Public Safety Chair Kettle: Setting the record straight on misconceptions about technology used by Seattle Police Department for crime prevention

Ahead of Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting Councilmember and committee Chair Bob Kettle (District 7) released this statement following recent news coverage about technology used by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for purposes of community safety and crime prevention. These issues relate specifically to Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, SPD’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) public...

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Rivera bill prohibits ALL City employees from sharing sensitive information for use in civil immigration enforcement

Council approves bill 8-0 The City Council today voted 8-0 to approve a bill sponsored by Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) that prohibits City employees from sharing non-publicly available personal information for use in the enforcement of civil immigration laws, unless required by law or court order. The legislation codifies the state’s Keep Washington Working...

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Councilmember Rinck and regional leaders take action to prevent new immigration detention centers in King County

Emergency legislation to be heard by full Council February 24 Today Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8), in partnership with King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa, and SeaTac Deputy Mayor Senayet Negusse announced support for emergency legislation in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) potential moves...

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Seattle City Council approves legislation to begin funding voter-approved social housing 

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved legislation today, co-sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) and Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9), to fulfill the will of Seattle voters and begin funding the Seattle Social Housing Developer. Seattle voters approved Proposition 1A in February 2025, with more than 63 percent voting in favor, to help combat...

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Rivera introduces bill prohibiting City employees from sharing sensitive data with immigration enforcement

Legislation to be heard in Public Safety Committee Tuesday Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) has introduced a new bill (CB 121158) that amends Seattle’s Municipal Code to explicitly prohibit City employees from sharing non-public information for use in the enforcement of civil immigration laws, in the absence of a judicial warrant, and strikes old code...

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Councilmember Juarez statement on federal immigration enforcement activity in Seattle 

Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5) released the following statement after Mayor Katie Wilson’s announcement to address federal immigration enforcement in Seattle. Councilmember Juarez’s statement also comes after recent activity in her district by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.  “Our country is no stranger to crimes against humanity. Now ICE in the 21st century is continuing this deplorable, inhumane practice. There is no longer time for performative pearl clutching and...

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Councilmember Rivera commends Mayor’s initial steps to prepare for potential increase of ICE enforcement

Today, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4), issued the following statement supporting Mayor Katie Wilson’s proactive measures to prepare the city for the possibility of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. “The Federal Administration is not only acting with brutality, but I believe it is also acting outside constitutional law. When our own government operates...

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Councilmember Saka praises Mayor’s actions on ICE activity in Seattle

Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), released the following statement in support of the Mayor Katie Wilson’s announced actions to protect Seattle community members from the ongoing escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity nationwide.  “I want to commend Mayor Wilson for her announcement today and for the direct actions she’s taking to protect...