Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle) and Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) applauded the Biden Administration for rejecting the pending sale by the U.S. government of the National Archives facility in Seattle. The two also thanked Attorney General Bob Ferguson, local tribal nations, and community activists for their support in bringing this issue to light and advocating for keeping the facility open, recognizing the negative impact moving the archives would have had on tribal community members, researchers, and many others.
Councilmember Juarez, who has been monitoring the issue and how it impacts tribal consultation, said:
“I am thrilled to see the Biden Administration take this step and affirm their commitment to meaningful tribal consultation. Congratulations to the tribes, the people of Seattle, and all the plaintiffs that joined together for this historic win.”
Councilmember Pedersen, who has been monitoring this issue as his district in Northeast Seattle is home to the national archives building, said:
“I applaud the Biden Administration’s decision today to cancel the hasty and irresponsible sale of the national archives and records building, a treasure of histories so vital to so many people in the Pacific Northwest. I am thankful for the strong leadership by our Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the many tribal leaders, our congressional delegation, researchers, nonprofits, and other stakeholders who advocated for our shared goal of protecting the histories here where they happened in the Pacific Northwest. I hope the Biden Administration and congressional leaders invest the federal dollars needed to preserve the historic archives here in the Pacific Northwest where they belong and, regardless of next steps, we look forward to a proper public process and the required tribal consultation. ”
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced in late 2020 that his team was moving forward with the lawsuit to stop the expedited sale of the National Archives facility on Sand Point Way in North Seattle. The City of Seattle, under the leadership of City Attorney Pete Holmes, joined as a plaintiff in the lawsuit earlier this year, joining the state of Oregon, 29 northwest tribes and numerous community organizations that had joined the lawsuit as well.