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Share Your Budget Priorities on Tuesday

Do you have thoughts on the Mayor’s proposed budget for 2023 and 2024?  Please share them with me and my Council colleagues at the first budget hearing of the year on Tuesday 10/11 at 5:00pm.  Sign up to provide public comment starting at 3pm that day: Public Comment – Council | seattle.gov.

Budget public hearings last until the final person signed up for comment has spoken; if it takes four hours to get there, that’s how long we’ll be listening!  This is an important opportunity to share your priorities – such as keeping the life-saving services of the Ladder Truck at 37 and Medic Unit 26 in District 1 – with me and my colleagues.

Starting Tuesday at 9:30am, Council will spend the week in public budget discussions, where we’ll be briefed on areas of special interest – such as public safety and human services – to raise questions and begin to share our ideas for amending the proposed budget.  Follow along via SeattleChannel.org – you can stream it live or watch videos afterwards.

As I shared previously, I will propose amendments that address my two highest priorities for the 2023 and 2024 budgets:

1. Funding to keep the life-saving services of Ladder Truck 37 and Medic Unit 26 in District 1.
2. Fully funding inflationary increases for human services providers as required by law.

The City is facing a significant revenue shortfall overall, which will make this year’s budget deliberations particularly difficult.  I welcome your thoughts on where we should focus our investments.  Learn more about the budget process, and how to participate, here: Select Budget Committee – Council | seattle.gov.

Free Vaccination in District 1

It doesn’t feel like fall just yet, but we are approaching the months when public health experts expect Covid transmission to increase, and recommend a booster.  If you aren’t up to date on your Covid boosters (or initial vaccination), here are a couple of local opportunities to get vaxxed, free!

Delridge Public Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW

Tuesday 10/11 from 2:00 to 7:00pm

Vaccine Available(s): Pfizer, Moderna, J&J; Pediatric Doses for Ages 6 months and older

Southwest Public Library, 9010 35th Avenue SW

Thursday, 10/13 from Noon to 5:00pm

Vaccine Available(s): Pfizer, Moderna, J&J: Adult, Pediatric Doses for Ages 3 years and older

Vaccine(s) are FREE to everyone, regardless of income, insurance, citizenship, or immigration status.  Learn more about vaccination here: COVID-19 vaccine – King County.

If you have a disability and need reasonable ADA accommodation(s), these are available by request. Call 206.477.3977, 8am to 7pm (interpreters available) or email publichealthaccommodations@kingcounty.gov.

For language interpretation, call 206.477.3977, 8am to 7pm. (Say your preferred language in English when connected).

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

On Tuesday, I was honored to virtually present Tana Yasu, Chair of the Seattle Women’s Commission, with a proclamation declaring October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month, signed by Mayor Harrell and my Council colleagues.

On Saturday 10/15 from Noon to 4 p.m. the Seattle Women’s Commission is hosting an event at Seattle City Hall titled “Shattering Stigma through Knowledge” as a day of learning and making access and resources more easily available to those who have been affected. The event is open to the public and participants can join virtually. Food, refreshments, and childcare will be available. For more information contact: tanayasu.swc@gmail.com.

The City of Seattle invests in strategies to prevent, intervene, and hold offenders accountable while promoting healing, services, and community support for those impacted by domestic violence by partnering with more than 35 organizations to provide services to more than 10,000 survivors and their families each year.

If you’re worried about someone in your life, the most important thing you can do is listen, tell them you believe them, and offer to support them in whatever way they need.   You can learn more about domestic violence at DVHopeline.org, or call 24/7 at (877) 737-0242.  They will provide support, resources, and in-language assistance.

Spokane Street (Low) Bridge Update

Crews on the work platforms apply carbon-fiber wrapping to the exterior of the low bridge’s spans to reinforce the concrete. (photo: SDOT)

The contract for repairing the West Seattle Bridge also includes work to strengthen the Spokane Street (Low) Bridge. With the West Seattle Bridge open, work has shifted to the Spokane Street Bridge.

The Spokane Street Bridge saw additional heavy vehicle traffic during the last two and a half years. The techniques to strengthen the bridge are similar to the work on the West Seattle Bridge, including epoxy injections and carbon-fiber wrapping to reinforce the concrete.

Carbon fiber wrapping was completed on the exterior of the bridge last week and is continuing inside the bridge.

Fauntleroy Terminal Project Update

Washington State Ferries (WSF) provided a significant update at a recent meeting of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal replacement project Community Advisory Group about which options will be moving forward for consideration.

WSF is conducting a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study and released the Level 2 Screening Summary.

They eliminated from consideration a proposal that would have expanded the dock toward the north, into the Children’s Cove Park area. This is a significant victory for the groups campaigning to maintain this park. Other proposals that involved redirecting traffic on Fauntleroy Way were also removed.

There are two proposals that will continue into the Final PEL study report: 1) to replace the terminal with the existing footprint, which holds up to 80 vehicles, potentially in combination with the use of the Good to Go system used for tolls on highways and advance ticketing; and 2) to expand the size of the terminal outward to between 124 and 186 vehicles.

While the PEL study report is being completed, Ferries will also carry out a study on the use of the Good To Go system. After the PEL study is completed, the NEPA/SEPA environmental review process will begin, next year.

Here’s the description by WSF of the two alternatives that are advancing into the environmental review process:

• Replace existing terminal (previously alternatives A-1, A-2 and A-3) – WSF replaces the terminal at the same size and location as the existing facility. The dock holds up to 80 vehicles and the shoulder holding lane accommodates up to 186 total vehicles.
• Expand terminal (previously alternatives B and C) – WSF replaces the existing terminal and expands the dock to hold up to 186 vehicles. WSF needs to avoid or minimize permanent impacts to nearshore habitat and recreational areas, including Cove Park. Depending upon the final dock size, WSF may manage some vehicles along the shoulder of Fauntleroy Way. The project team will no longer consider Alternative C: widening the dock as shown in Level 1 to accommodate 186 vehicles. WSF will refine Alternative B to avoid or minimize permanent environmental impacts while providing on-dock holding for 124 to 186 vehicles.

These alternatives are not advancing from Level 2:

• A-4: Replace dock at same size and location and add two-lane holding on Fauntleroy Way
• A-5: Replace dock at same size and location and add two direction approach for holding
• A-6: Replace dock at same size and location and add remote holding at 47th Avenue and Fauntleroy Way
• A-7: Replace dock at same size and location and add remote holding at Lincoln Park

Additional information is available in the Level 2 Screening Summary; a chart on page 5 of the report shows the criteria used, and the results.

Alternatives in other locations were eliminated during Level 1 screening. Locations considered were Lowman Beach, Colman Dock Downtown, Southwest Elliott Bay (e.g. Jack Block Park, Seacrest Park, Terminal 5 area), Burien, and Des Moines.

I continue to have concerns about the impact of any expansion of the terminal. The Fauntleroy terminal is one of the few in a neighborhood residential area, and expansion would bring more single-occupancy vehicles onto West Seattle streets.

Apply for Paid Job Readiness Programs By 10/18

The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) helps young people pursue meaningful careers that pay well.  If you’re aged 16 to 24, from a qualifying-income household or a community that experiences racial, social, and economic disparities, you’re eligible!  Apply here before 2pm on Wednesday 10/18.

Foundations: for participants with limited or no previous job readiness training or background and who need pre-employment training and mentorship. Get paid to attend trainings while preparing for your first or next job and making new connections.

Pathways: for participants who have had previous job training experiences but need intermediate or certified trainings, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship internship opportunities. Participate in professional training and programs to gain skills & credentials for specific career tracks, which can lead to professional level internship(s).  There are tracks for those interested in nursing and software development/UX design.

Public Comment for New Alki Elementary School

The city is seeking public comment by October 14th on proposed code departures for the new Alki Elementary School. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is proposing to build a new multi-story addition at Alki Elementary School. The existing gym and Alki Community Center will be renovated to remain while the remaining school structures, including portable, will be demolished and replaced by the proposed addition.

The proposed code departures include:

• Greater-than-allowed building height
• Reduced vehicular parking quantity
• Bus loading and unloading
• New curb cut to service area without vehicular parking
• Increased curb-cut width
• Increased curb-cut flare
• Reduced bicycle parking (long-term) quantity
• Amended bicycle parking performance standards
• Signage/changing-image sign

For more specific information about the proposal, you can see SPS’ presentation here.

SPS anticipates starting construction in the Summer of 2023, with the building opening in the Fall 2025.

If you would like to comment, please submit them on the requested departures, including any mitigation measures or conditions of approval, by Friday, October 14th to:

Nelson Pesigan: nelson.pesigan@seattle.gov

You can also mail in comments here:

City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods
ATTN. Nelson Pesigan
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

There will be three events on Monday, October 10. The day will begin with a celebratory march in the morning at 9:30am at Westlake Park with a march down 5th Avenue. There will be a celebration at City Hall between 11:30am and 1:30pm and the keynote speaker, Tleena Ives, will speak and there will be entertainment and celebration of our first recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official holiday.    The evening will wrap up with an evening celebration at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.

My colleague Council President Juarez likes to remind us that the responsibility to oppose the systematic racism towards Indigenous people in the United States requires “more than a land acknowledgement.”  If we truly want to honor the fact that Seattle is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region and if we sincerely want to demonstrate that we cherish the many contributions made to our community made by Indigenous Peoples, then we must combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination stemming from colonization. “More than a land acknowledgement” means we commit to addressing the harms of poverty, disproportionate health, lack of access to education.

Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial

Last Friday I attended the annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial. Located in Occidental Park, next to the Fire Department Headquarters, is the Fallen Fire Fighter’s Memorial. The four statues are inspired by the fire fighters that passed in the line of duty while fighting a warehouse fire in the Chinatown International District in 1995, the memorial is a tribute to all Seattle fire fighters that have died in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1889.

In 2021, two Seattle fire fighters, Lt. Luis Batayola, a 37-year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department, and Lt. William “Willy” Cababat, Jr, a 31-year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department, lost their lives due to line-of-duty injuries or illnesses. Here are my comments from the memorial:

Thank you.  I want to first recognize the family members and friends of Lt. Batayola and Lt. Willy Cababat, who are here with us; I am deeply honored to join the Seattle Fire Department today in honoring their legacy, and that of all Seattle firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

To you, Senior Deputy Mayor Harrell, Chief Scoggins, President Kenny Stuart, I am grateful for your presence here today as well.

Although I didn’t know Lt. Batayola or Lt. Cababat, I can tell by the company they kept – the people in this room who served alongside them, day to day – and the family and friends who miss them deeply – what kind of person they were:  hard-working, and loyal, to be sure.

In my role as Chair of the Public Safety committee, among my areas of focus is ensuring firefighters get the resources they need to perform their life-saving duties.  I want to take a moment to pay our respects to those life-saving duties.

Over time, I’ve had the honor and privilege of hearing stories firsthand about fire fighters doing their ‘best work’, which for anyone who runs TOWARD the fire – when we all run AWAY – means putting their lives on the line.

Any time of day or night.  In every imaginable circumstance.  From all walks of life.  For people you do not know, and may never see again.

As our population continues to grow, it’s critical that we reevaluate the need for people who are WILLING to serve in a public safety capacity – to leave their families so we can get home to ours.

Thank you to the family members of friends of Lt. Batayola and Lt. Cababat for making the ultimate sacrifice and supporting his commitment to serving us ALL.