It feels like an understatement to say that 2015 has been an incredible year. Seattle continues to be at the forefront of a bold, progressive movement in our country, continually demonstrating that cities can lead the way forward to a just economy and healthy environment. Of course, we face huge challenges too, particularly with regard […]
Month: December 2015
Home » Archives for December 2015
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December 22, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Superior Court Upholds Gun Violence Tax
This afternoon King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson issued an order upholding the City’s gun violence tax. A copy of the ruling is available here. We established the gun violence tax as a legitimate and appropriate way to raise...
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December 22, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess, News Releases
Burgess Statement on Court Ruling Upholding Seattle’s Gun Violence Tax
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/22/2015
Burgess Statement on Court Ruling Upholding Seattle’s Gun Violence Tax
SEATTLE - Council President Tim Burgess, sponsor of the City’s gun violence tax legislation, issued the following statement in response to King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson’s ruling upholding the tax:
“We established the gun violence tax as a legitimate and appropriate way to raise revenue for gun safety research and prevention programs. The NRA and its allies always oppose these common sense steps to shine light on the gun violence epidemic. They have blocked funding for basic gun safety research at the federal level for decades. But in Seattle it is different. Judge Robinson saw through the NRA’s distorted efforts to put gun industry profits ahead of public safety.”
Approved in August, the gun violence tax would require firearms dealers to pay $25 for every firearm sold and $0.05 or $0.02 for every round of ammunition sold, depending on the caliber of ammunition. The City Budget Office estimates the gun violence tax will raise between $300,000 and $500,000 a year to be used for gun violence research and prevention programs.
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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave 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.
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December 21, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Rasmussen
Connecting Neighborhoods by Lidding I-5
One of the largest and most visible structures in Seattle is I-5. Construction of the Interstate from Mexico to Canada destroyed many neighborhoods and neighborhood connections. From the day the freeway opened you could see it, hear it and smell it, but it was hard to get over, under or around. To this day it […]
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December 18, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Victory: Stronger Protections for Wage Theft
On December 14, 2015, the Seattle City Council approved legislation increasing the penalties and remedies for wage theft. Now, if you are not paid your full wages, you are eligible to get back three times what you are owed. I proposed this as an amendment to the minimum wage ordinance in 2014, but no other […]
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December 18, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Burgess, Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Sawant, News Releases
Seattle City Council Announces 2016 Committee Assignments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/18/2015
Seattle City Council Announces 2016 Committee Assignments
Councilmembers to elect Council President and assign committees on January 4, 2016
SEATTLE - Seattle City Council announced its tentative plan for committee assignments today, in preparation for work in 2016. Each Councilmember is responsible for chairing a Council committee and managing legislation related to the committee's focus. Councilmembers also serve as a vice-chair on one committee and as a member on another. Councilmembers can also sponsor legislation on other committees under certain conditions. Committee assignments are made official at the first Full Council meeting of the year, on Monday January 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. Councilmembers will also elect their 2016-17 Council President at the meeting. Committee assignments last for two years.
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw will chair the Human Services and Public Health Committee. Councilmember Bagshaw will oversee Council's work on issues relating to services provided by the Human Services Department, including programs that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community. The committee will also consider matters involving public health and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), which allows law enforcement officers to redirect low-level offenders engaged in drug or prostitution activity to community-based services.
Councilmember Tim Burgess will chair the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods and Finance Committee. As chair of this committee, Councilmember Burgess will focus on issues relating to housing—investing and promoting the development and preservation of affordable housing, and building strong neighborhoods through outreach and engagement. Councilmember Burgess will also chair the Budget committee, overseeing the review of the Mayor's proposed budget.
Councilmember Lorena González will chair the Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans Committee. As chair, Councilmember González will consider policies to address gender equity and help improve the lives of Seattle's immigrant and refugee residents. The committee will also focus on fostering safe communities, improving police accountability, crime prevention, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, and fire and medical services.
Councilmember Bruce Harrell will chair the Education, Equity and Governance Committee. As chair, Councilmember Harrell will focus on issues relating to public schools and improving student success rates, intergovernmental relations, technology, ethics and elections, prisoner reentry and equity issues for underserved communities.
Councilmember Lisa Herbold will chair the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee. Councilmember Herbold's committee will manage issues relating to labor standards, civil rights, Seattle Public Utilities, and economic development. The committee will also manage issues relating to arts and culture in Seattle, which includes nightlife issues.
Councilmember Rob Johnson will chair the Planning, Land Use and Zoning Committee. As chair of this committee, Councilmember Johnson will take up issues involving City zoning, planning, major institutions, quasi-judicial decisions, community development, and land use regulations.
Councilmember Debora Juarez will chair the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Waterfront Committee. As chair, Councilmember Juarez will focus on issues relating to City parks, community centers, and public grounds, including the Seattle Center. Her committee will also manage legislation relating to the Seattle Public Library system. Councilmember Juarez will also chair the Central Waterfront committee.
Councilmember Mike O'Brien will chair the Sustainability and Transportation Committee. Councilmember O'Brien's committee will handle matters pertaining to city-wide and regional transportation policy and planning. These issues range from pedestrian and bicycle programs, traffic control and parking policies, and overseeing the City's coordination with regional and state departments of transportation. The committee will also have a shared-focus on Seattle's Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Councilmember Kshama Sawant will chair the Energy and Environment Committee. Councilmember Sawant's committee will handle policies relating to Seattle's energy usage, as well as issues relating to alternative energy sources, air pollution regulation, energy utility rates, and Seattle City Light finances. In addition, Councilmember Sawant will take up matters that relate to climate and environmental protections, conservation programs, and green infrastructure.
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Standing Committee |
Committee Members |
Committee Meeting Days and Times |
|
Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods & Finance |
Chair: Tim Burgess |
1st and 3rd Wednesdays |
|
Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development & Arts |
Chair: Lisa Herbold |
2nd and 4th Tuesdays |
|
Education, Equity & Governance |
Chair: Bruce A. Harrell |
1st and 3rd Wednesdays |
|
Energy & Environment |
Chair: Kshama Sawant |
2nd and 4th Tuesdays |
|
Gender Equity, Safe Communities & New Americans |
Chair: Lorena Gonzalez |
2nd and 4th Wednesdays |
|
Human Services & Public Health |
Chair: Sally Bagshaw |
2nd and 4th Wednesdays |
|
Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries & Waterfront |
Chair: Debora Juarez |
1st and 3rd Thursdays |
|
Planning, Land Use & Zoning |
Chair: Rob Johnson |
1st and 3rd Tuesdays |
|
Sustainability & Transportation |
Chair: Mike O'Brien |
1st and 3rd Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. |
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.
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December 17, 2015January 6, 2023News Releases
P-I Globe designated a City landmark
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/17/2015
P-I Globe designated a City landmark
SEATTLE - Today Mayor Ed Murray’s signed an ordinance designating the P-I Globe as a City landmark, culminating a process that began more than three years ago.
“Since 1948, the P-I Globe has been a familiar icon in this city,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “I’m pleased this landmark will be preserved and remembered for its place in Seattle’s history.”
The P-I Globe was designated a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Board in April of 2012 when it was nominated by three City Councilmembers at that time - Jean Godden, Tim Burgess and Sally Clark. City staff has been working with the Hearst Corporation, the Globe’s owner, to develop an agreement specifying features to be preserved by the current or future owner and clarified what changes would need to be reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation Board. Once that agreement was completed in June, Mayor Murray and Councilmembers Tim Burgess, Jean Godden and Sally Bagshaw introduced the legislation signed today.
The P-I Globe is a unique sign, designed and manufactured specifically to advertise the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and has been a Seattle icon since it was installed on the Post-Intelligencer building in 1948. The image of the Globe served as the logo for the newspaper appearing on its masthead and on each section of the paper. The Globe was later moved to its present location on Elliott Avenue W in 1986.
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December 17, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #385 – Final Urban Politics from City Hall. But the show goes on!
Urban Politics (UP) blends my insights and information on current public policy developments and personal experiences with the intent of helping citizens shape Seattle’s future. I’ve decided to continue writing Urban Politics and keeping its intent and format roughly the same. However, it will obviously no longer be hosted at city hall. For that reason, […]
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December 16, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden
Women Win in Seattle’s Budget
For once, women were the big winners in the 2016 Budget. If this were a football game, you could say that women rallied to produce solid gains few would have predicted.
While many may have missed most of the plays, I’ll replay the hard-fought wins:
- First, we will plan and build a new daycare center at, or near, City Hall. The project had the unanimous backing of all nine of the Seattle City Councilmembers. This program is important since lack of affordable daycare continues to be a barrier to women participating in the workforce.
- A second win for women was the promise by city planners to develop an “infants-at-work” pilot study. This was a suggestion from the Seattle Women’s Commission after … Continue Reading »
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December 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases
Councilmembers Rasmussen and Bagshaw to Host Panel on Lidding I-5 Near Convention Center Expansion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/15/2015
Councilmembers Rasmussen and Bagshaw to Host Panel on Lidding I-5 Near Convention Center Expansion
SEATTLE - Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Sally Bagshaw will host a lunchtime meeting tomorrow to hear concepts about the possibility of lidding portions of Interstate-5 near the Pike-Pine Corridor.
The Pike-Pine Urban Neighborhood Council (PPUNC) and the Northwest Urbanist will show potential uses of the area above the freeway, funding options and examples of other freeway lids around the country.
Interest in lidding the freeway blocks north of the current Washington State Convention Center has increased due to the Convention Center's planned expansion onto the Convention Place Station site.
The $1.4 billion Convention Center addition is expected to reinvigorate the neighborhood by bringing activity and tens of thousands of visitors to the area annually. While the Convention Center addition is an independent project from a full lid across Interstate 5, the new facility will bridge a portion of the freeway at Boren Avenue and Pine Street. Members of the Pike-Pine neighborhood want to lid the remaining gaps between Downtown and Capitol Hill.
WHAT:
Panel discussion on Interstate-5 lidding opportunities
WHEN
Wednesday, December 16
12 p.m.
WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Council Chambers, Second Floor
600 4th Ave., Seattle 98104
WHO:
Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Council Transportation Committee Meeting Members
Pike Pine Urban Neighborhood Council
Northwest Urbanist
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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave 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.