Great News for D1 in the Vacant Building Monitoring Program Report I last wrote about this program in June 2019. As a quick refresher, this program requires monthly inspections for vacant buildings, which (1) have received three notices of violation, (2) are located on a lot for which a master use permit or building permit […]

New Legislation Makes Explicit OPA and OIG’s Subpoena Powers in Investigations and Creates Process to Enforce Subpoenas Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Councilmember Lisa Herbold today announced new legislation to strengthen the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) and Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) power to subpoena those who may have been involved in or witnessed […]

Letter Text: November 30, 2020 “Dear Interim Chief Diaz, We are writing to urge you to expeditiously compile and release all Seattle Police Department (SPD) records regarding the death of Herbert Hightower Jr., who was fatally shot by Seattle Police in 2004 while experiencing a mental health crisis. These public records were requested in August […]

Approach cuts through ‘red tape’, creates more housing units  Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (District 7 – Pioneer Square to Magnolia) announced he will introduce land use legislation exempting permanent supportive housing from several development mandates, such as design review and onsite bike storage, allowing Seattle to quickly and affordably create more housing options for our […]

Sawant: ‘Even with the victories of our movement, the Democrats’ austerity budget deeply fails working people and marginalized communities, including working-class and poor communities of color’ Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Council’s Sustainability and Renters Rights Committee, today issued this statement in response to the City Council adopting the 2021 City […]

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide), Chair of the Budget Committee, issued the following statement following the final full Council vote on the 2021 Budget: “My colleagues and I have this year — not once, but twice — reviewed, evaluated and adjusted the City’s Budget to reflect this city’s needs and values.  Working with Seattle […]

Sawant: ‘Even with the victories of our movement, the Democrats’ austerity budget deeply fails working people and marginalized communities, including working-class and poor communities of color’ Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Council’s Sustainability and Renters Rights Committee, today issued this statement in response to the City Council adopting the 2021 […]

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales issued the following statement after final budget vote/passage of the amended version of the Mayor’s budget: “For far too long, the interests of the District I was elected to represent were not reflected in the city’s budget.  That has come to an end today, as reflected in the wins we’ve secured […]

West Seattle Bridge Update, November 20 Mayor announces decision to pursue repair for West Seattle Bridge Yesterday Mayor Durkan announced the City will proceed with a repair for the West Seattle Bridge. Her statement is linked here. I released this statement: “I agree repairing the bridge is the best approach to restore safe access as […]

‘We brought forward fresh ideas, informed by our communication with residents, to ensure health, safety, and housing in the midst of pandemic’ Following nearly eight weeks of discussions in the Council’s Budget Committee Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide), Chair of the Budget Committee, and her colleagues reviewed more than 169 amendments to the Mayor’s […]