Dear Neighbor,

2025 was a busy year! Thank you for working with me to win some major victories for District 6 and our city as a whole. Before we enter 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on the amazing work we did together this year.  

From updating our 20-year growth plan and creating more capacity for housing to leading the charge to pass a budget that invests in making our city safer and more affordable for working families, we have a lot to celebrate. It could not have happened without your engagement, advocacy, and support. 

Over the past 12 months I have personally met with District 6 residents during office hours, town halls, and at Seattle City Hall. Those conversations are the most important part of my job. They have helped businesses get permitted, families get into housing, and shaped important pieces of legislation.  

Next year will be a time of change for our city. We will welcome a new mayor, a new city attorney, and new councilmembers. What will not change is my commitment to working with each of you to solve our city’s biggest problems and make sure our government is working for you.  

If you ever feel stuck by city government, please call me because I am here to have your back.  

Thank you,

— Dan

2025 Year-in-Review 

January

Remembered Shawn Yim  

Our buses must be safe for our operators and our riders. I attended several memorials for Shawn Yim, a King County Metro Bus Driver who was killed on the job. This senseless and preventable violence is unacceptable, and I was heartbroken to know a civil servant like Shawn was killed while serving our community. We have and will continue to work with ATU Local 587, King County, and our greater community to improve safety for our bus operators and passengers.  

Appointed Councilmember Mark Solomon 

The Seattle City Council appointed Mark Solomon as the new councilmember for District 2 following the resignation of former Councilmember Tammy Morales. It was an honor to get to work with Councilmember Solomon and learn from his expertise on public safety approaches like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Kicked off Meetings of the Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan 

The Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, chaired by Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, began consideration of the city’s 20-year growth plan. In all, the committee would meet 21 times between January and September, including hosting four public hearings.

February

Led Walking Tours to Get Feedback on The Comprehensive Plan 

I led walks with neighbors to get feedback on the proposed Comprehensive Plan. I began meeting with people in December of 2024, which led to these walking tours in areas that were proposed to become Neighborhood Centers – meaning that they could be designated for more dense housing than other areas. These tours continued through the summer and were invaluable for the final amendments I proposed and passed relating to the Comprehensive Plan in September.

8th Avenue Safety Improvements

I met with Fix 8th organizers to make safety improvements on 8th Avenue NW in Ballard. I have long shared their desire to make 8th, a street where we have seen safety issues including vehicles crashing into homes, safer for everyone. We completed a walking tour in February and ensured that planning for improvements was included in the 2025 Transportation Levy Delivery Plan. I am thankful that the Seattle Department of Transportation responded quickly to our requests for help. This year they installed additional safety measures on 8th Avenue NW at 51st, 53rd, and 70th. Making even more improvements remains one of my office’s top priorities as we move into 2026.  

Passed Stronger Regulations on Police Use of Crowd Control Weapons 

As required by the federal court overseeing the Consent Decree, which mandated improvements to the Seattle Police Department, the Council updated its policies regarding the use of crowd control weapons during protests. The Seattle City Council had passed restrictions on the use of these weapons in the past, but all of those efforts were blocked by the federal court and never went into effect. The Council considered, amended, and ultimately passed legislation that put new restrictions on police use of weapons like blast balls and tear gas. That led to the court finding that the City had fulfilled the Consent Decree later in 2025.

Celebrated Lunar New Year and making improvements at the Seattle Chinese Garden

I joined Mayor Bruce Harrell to ring in Lunar New Year at the Seattle Chinese Garden located at South Seattle College. This was the first Lunar New Year since the holiday was officially recognized in Washington state. I have worked closely with the Seattle Chinese Garden to secure funding and support from the city, state, and internationally, to build their master plan. This project started all the way back in 1999, but it stalled until I added seed funding. It’s time we finally fulfill its vision. Let’s get it done!

March

Appointed new Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Board 

I, along with my colleagues, appointed members to the new 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Committee. The committee members help keep Seattle moving by overseeing how levy funds are spent, monitor budgets, and track progress on projects. My nominee, Lisa Bogardus, was confirmed by the Council. Lisa brings institutional knowledge from the Move Seattle Levy and knows first-hand what it takes to build these projects. 

Passed legislation releasing full funding for Transportation Levy projects 

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Council worked together to approve the SDOT’s plan for the first year of the 2024 Transportation Levy. It featured around 20 projects across District 6. Among many other things, it included work to plan traffic safety improvements on 8th Avenue Northwest.

Published open letter in support of federal workers targeted by layoffs 

In response to threats by the federal government, the Seattle City Council established a special Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes. During its first meeting on March 6, I brought forward an open letter in support of federal workers impacted by indiscriminate layoffs. This letter was signed by the entire City Council. In addition to thanking those workers for all the work they do, from keeping the lights on to tracking life-threatening weather events, the signed letter committed the Council to “continuing to do what we can to support (federal workers), provide city services, and protect the American people from federal overreach.” 

Opposed SODO Zoning Changes Near the Port of Seattle 

I, along with several of my colleagues, state legislators, and the Port of Seattle, opposed Council President Sara Nelson’s bill to rezone critical industrial land near the port. This would have upended agreements made in the Industrial Maritime Strategy — long-sought, collaborative, and carefully-crafted legislation projected to create 35,000 jobs over the next 20 years. That legislation, which I sponsored, was passed by the Council in 2023 with all councilmembers voting in favor, including Council President Nelson.  

I made clear my concern that Council President Nelson’s new legislation would derail the Industrial Maritime Strategy just two years after it was passed without proper engagement with the community and stakeholders. Council President Nelson’s legislation ultimately did pass. However, in November, echoing many of my concerns, the State’s Growth Management Board found the legislation violated state law and struck it down.  

Secured a New Fence for Greg’s Garden P-Patch 

P-Patches and their gardeners are one of the things that make our neighborhoods so special. However, the P-Patch at Greg’s Garden in Ballard was in need of some help. Several years ago, I helped secure the garden with a temporary fence, but it was rented, created an ongoing cost, and it was ugly. I worked with the garden to secure funding and installation of a permanent fence to increase safety and accessibility of the garden. This request came to me through office hours, and I delivered. The fence helps the garden thrive, adds to the vibrancy our gardeners cultivate, and reduces costs to the city.

Blessing of the Fleet

I participated in the annual Blessing of the Fleet — our send off for the commercial fishing fleet from Seattle. This was the 97th annual time our community came together for this event to show its appreciation for the people that do this dangerous work and put food on our tables.  

April

Advocated for Legislation in Olympia

The Washington State Legislature held its legislative session from January through April. I worked closely with state lawmakers and Seattle’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations to support key pieces of legislation. In addition to many others, I supported two important bills I look forward to implementing in Seattle next year: legislation that modernizes alcohol laws allowing more flexibility for businesses to set up beer gardens, and “Shared Streets” legislation that allows cities more flexibility in how they use street space. The bills can help our Brewery District and Ballard Avenue be even more vibrant.  

May

Passed Traffic Safety Camera Legislation  

The Council passed legislation that will allow the city to put speed cameras in areas where they can help prevent dangerous driving. I have been asked by residents on Seaview Avenue, Commodore Way, and 8th Avenue NW — where cars have hit homes — for traffic safety cameras, and I’ve requested the city look into installing them at those locations. This is not about punishing drivers — it’s about preventing dangerous driving. SDOT reports that for similar cameras in school zones, there’s a 71% reduction in crashes and 95% of people who receive and pay a ticket never receive another citation at the same camera location.

Successfully Fought Legislation to Roll Back Ethics 

I strongly opposed legislation that would have rolled back Seattle’s ethics laws, allowing councilmembers to vote on legislation even if there is a financial conflict of interest. The City’s ethics code has been in place for 45 years and provides a critical safeguard that our community should be able to count on. The legislation was approved in committee but withdrawn before a full Council vote, due in part to my outspoken opposition. 

Celebrated Syttende Mai 

I helped ring in Ballard’s annual celebration of Syttende Mai — Norwegian Constitution Day. Each year, Ballard hosts the largest parade outside of Norway. Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway’s Ambassador to the United States, served as Grand Marshall. I worked closely with Seattle ‘s Parks and Recreation Department ahead of the event to make improvements to Bergen Place and Marvin’s Garden, including replacing plaques that had been stolen, ahead of the delegation’s visit.

Sound Transit Redmond Link Ribbon Cutting 

As a Sound Transit Board member, I was proud to join my colleagues and community members to celebrate the opening of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension on the 2 Line. This was part of the East Link Extension project. The 2 Line is scheduled to connect to Seattle in 2026.

Cheered on Salmon Bay FC 

I was beyond excited to welcome Salmon Bay FC, Ballard’s newest women’s soccer team, who play in the USL W League. They are the sister team of Ballard FC and had their first season this year. If you weren’t able to check them out, make sure to catch a game next year at Interbay Stadium. More on Ballard FC’s amazing season later.

June

Hosted a District 6 Town Hall in Magnolia 

I spent hours answering questions directly from residents and setting follow up meetings with a number of neighbors during my townhall at the Magnolia Branch of the Seattle Public Library on June 18. It was a fantastic conversation with our community about everything from the Comprehensive Plan update to how we can work together to increase safety for our immigrant and refugee communities. Townhalls, weekly office hours, and other talks with neighbors are my favorite part of the job and are often where real, impactful change in our city begins.

Saved Seattle’s Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning Program 

For decades, the Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) Department’s Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning program has provided kids and families an opportunity to visit Seattle’s parks, forests, and beaches to learn about nature. Due to the city’s budget deficit, the program was scheduled to run out of funding in 2026.  The education levy, as originally proposed, only restored about a third of the funding for the program which would have led to steep cuts. I proposed and passed an amendment that restored full funding for the environmental learning program focused on kids and families. The levy, including that funding for environmental education, was approved by 80% of voters in the November election.

Banned Algorithmic Price Fixing 

The Council unanimously approved legislation I cosponsored to ban corporations and landlords from using algorithmic price fixing technologies. These technologies, provided by companies like RealPage, are known to compile and share landlords’ confidential, competitive data and can lead to artificially increased rent prices. An investigation by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office found properties that used this technology saw higher rent increases and had higher vacancy rates. With this ban, it is now illegal for landlords to use, and for corporation to provide, algorithmic price fixing software. Seattle was the first city in Washington to pass such a law. In September, King County followed suit, passing a ban of their own.

Named Maritime Industry Public Official of the Year

I was honored to be named the Maritime Industry 2025 Public Official of the Year by Seattle Propeller Club. The maritime industry is critical to our entire city, and it plays an even more important role to our economy and culture in District 6. I have made it a point to ensure our city is supporting our maritime industry as an elected official, and this recognition meant a lot to me. I took the picture above with Lee Swanson who helps lead the Sea Scouts, a youth maritime training program.

Hosted Neighborhood Roundtables on the Comprehensive Plan 

I continued to work directly with neighbors to design amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. As part of that process, I brought people together around maps to mark up the proposals from the Office of Planning and Community Development in order to design possible amendments for the proposed new Neighborhood Centers. This, along with other intensive engagement efforts, helped shape amendments I proposed that expanded opportunities for housing, while ensuring the Neighborhood Centers are structured to best serve those neighborhoods.

Focused on Public Safety Issues in the Brewery District 

I continue to push hard for more resources to address public safety issues in the Brewery District. In June, I brought together the top public safety officials in the mayor’s office, community members, and business owners to tour the Brewery District, identify public safety challenges, and work together toward improving safety in the area. We were able to implement some changes in 2025 and are already setting up additional interventions for 2026. 

July

New Progressive Revenue

Facing both threats from the federal government and a large budget deficit, the Select Budget Committee, which I chair, approved legislation sending the Seattle Shield Initiative to the ballot. Seattle Shield was proposed by Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Mayor Bruce Harrell as a way to protect essential services while giving small and medium sized businesses tax relief by restructuring our city-level Business and Occupation Tax. We worked together, on a tight timeline, to get Seattle Shield through my committee and onto the November ballot. We were successful and the plan was approved by voters by an overwhelming 71%.

Streamlined Sound Transit Permitting to Build Ballard’s Light Rail Faster 

I supported legislation that will streamline the permitting process for Sound Transit’s expansion to Ballard and West Seattle. From Ballard to West Seattle and beyond, we need to build light rail faster. That’s what this legislation is all about — cutting red tape and delivering results. It’s about getting ourselves out of our own way and on track to fulfilling promises made to voters. This kind of commonsense action is how we build a more affordable, abundant, climate resilient city.

Supported the Seattle Social Housing Developer 

I sponsored legislation to support building social housing in Seattle. Proposition 1A, which creates a dedicated funding source for Seattle’s Social Housing Developer, was overwhelmingly approved by voters in February. However, that money will not be available to the developer until 2026. The Seattle Social Housing Developer needed funding this year to staff up and my legislation provided a $2 million loan this year for them to hit the ground running in 2026. 

Changed Council Rules to Improve Public Comment 

I passed legislation to make public comment better. Public comment is one of the few reliable opportunities people in our democracy have to stand before their elected representatives and make their voice heard on critical issues. In recent years, public comment at Council meetings has become more irregular, with the times given to public commenters being limited, condensed, or eliminated without any clear rationale or process for doing so. To create a fairer process, I proposed and passed an amendment to Council rules that creates a more standardized process for establishing and protecting how long each person will be able to speak during public comment. Moving forward, each person will get two minutes if there are 30 people or fewer, one minute if there are 60 people or fewer, and if there are more people, the chair of the meeting can make adjustments to maximize the time for public input, while ensuring that the Council has time to get its work for the City done.  

Welcomed back Councilmember Debora Juarez 

The Council appointed twice-elected Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez to fill the District 5 seat, which was vacant due to the resignation of former Councilmember Cathy Moore. I was very happy to welcome Councilmember Juarez back and have great respect for her track record of getting things done for District 5. Just to name a few of Councilmember Juarez’s accomplishments during her prior Council tenure, she: 

• Chaired the committee to redevelop the Climate Pledge Arena, without using taxpayer dollars, and helped bring the Kraken Community Iceplex to District 5 
• Completed the building of the John Lewis Memorial Bridge at the Northgate Light Rail Station and accelerated the opening of the Pinehurst Station years ahead of schedule 
• Tirelessly advocated for Indigenous peoples, creating Seattle’s first Indigenous Advisory Council, helping lead the City of Seattle’s first Tribal Summit in 2023, and brought partners together to build a Seattle Indian Health Board medical clinic in Lake City

Passed Mid-Year Supplemental Budget and Carryforward 

I led the Council’s approval of annual pieces of budget legislation, including the Mid-Year Supplemental Budget and Carryforward. That included supporting an amendment from Councilmember Rinck that provided funding to the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugees to support our city’s immigrant population and provide legal assistance to people facing deportation. 

August

District 6 Town Hall in Green Lake 

More than 50 people showed up to spend the evening talking about critical issues in District 6 at a town hall I hosted at the Green Lake Community Center on August 7. The Comprehensive Plan continued to be a top topic of interest, as well as the plans to rebuild the Green Lake Community Center.

More than 1,170 People Respond to my Comprehensive Plan Survey

My office continued our extensive outreach regarding the Comprehensive Plan. Earlier in the year, we led walking tours around proposed Neighborhood Centers in District 6. Feedback I received from the community helped me develop amendments to the Comp Plan. From those conversations, I developed options for final amendments. In August, my office opened a community survey where people were able to further shape those amendments and signal their support for options for Neighborhood Centers. That survey was incredibly successful, with more than 1,000 people responding and helping shape our final amendments which were adopted by the Council.

Ballard FC wins Western Conference Championship

Ballard FC continued to make our city proud! They won the Western Conference Championship and made it to the USL League 2 National Championship for the second time in the past three years. I was rooting them on at Reuben’s in the Brewery District as they played against Vermont Green Football Club in Vermont. We ultimately lost the game in heart-breaking fashion, but I still could not be more proud of our team.

September

Passed the Comprehensive Plan in Committee 

The Select Comprehensive Plan Committee approved an amended Comprehensive Plan and HB 1110 legislation. I proposed nearly 20 amendments to those bills focused on building more housing, combatting climate change, protecting Seattle’s tree canopy, and creating more opportunities for small businesses. My amendments also fine-tuned many of the Neighborhood Centers in District 6 to better fit the geography of the neighborhood without sacrificing the density we need to address our housing crisis. All of those amendments were influenced by the extensive community engagement and feedback we heard from community members throughout the year, and the vast majority of them were approved.  

Making good on my promise to propose legislation that better protects Seattle’s tree canopy, I submitted five amendments directly-related to trees. Those included:  

• Amendment 92: This amendment would help us meet both our tree canopy and housing goals by giving a density bonus to a stacked flat project if it protects a Tier 1 or Tier 2 tree.  
• Amendment 100: This amendment requires a minimum planting of trees on parcels being developed.  
• Amendment 103: This amendment would protect large trees outright that are located within 5 feet of the corner of a property.    
• Amendment 104: This amendment would protect large trees by reducing other city requirements that would otherwise make removing a tree inevitable.    
• Amendment 106: This amendment would have reverted the tree protection area to what was originally proposed in the 2023 Tree Ordinance. 

This represents my package of fixes to the 2023 Tree Protection Ordinance, and if we had a standalone process we could have had a more productive conversation. Alas, that did not occur, and at this time I will pass the baton to someone else to take up tree policy from here.

Helped Host Seattle Tribal Nations Summit 

I helped host Seattle’s second-ever biennial Tribal Nations Summit. The summit brings together Tribal leaders to work directly with City officials to better uphold sovereignty and treaty rights, strengthen government-to-government relationships, and set shared priorities for the future. It was an honor to meet with them. I knew it was important that Seattle committed to more than words – we need to put our money where our mouth is. To that end, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced more than $10 million in new investments, including in the Thunderbird Treatment Center being reopened by the Seattle Indian Health Board, a permanent Tribal Interpretive Center on the Seattle Waterfront, and redevelopment of the Seattle Indian Services Commission’s Pearl Warren Building. We will work over the next year to deliver on the outcomes we committed to.

Passed Legislation for Better Staffing and Resourcing Work to Expand Light Rail 

Following up on earlier legislation to speed up permitting for light rail expansion to Ballard and West Seattle, I worked with Mayor Harrell to sponsor and pass legislation to staff and resource Seattle’s work to build those projects faster. I also joined Mayor Harrell and other elected leaders at a news conference in Ballard to urge Sound Transit to keep our light rail expansion on track.

Voted Against Expansion of CCTV Surveillance Program 

I voted against legislation to allow the Seattle Police Department to expand the use of surveillance cameras. While I understand and support the use of technology to combat crime in specific areas, I found this legislation to be too broad in its use of surveillance technology in some sensitive areas, especially with the looming threat of federal overreach. The legislation ultimately passed. This is issue requires us to balance public safety and defending against federal overreach. I still support cameras in specific areas where they have been shown to be needed: near the stadiums, on 3rd Avenue downtown, the Chinatown-International District (CID), and on Aurora Avenue. I simply viewed this legislation as too broad.  

New murals in the Brewery District 

I won funding for new murals in the Brewery District in 2025. Throughout the year, my team worked closely with businesses, the Department of Arts and Culture, and muralists to get the new art up. This area is a major economic hub, not just for our district, but for our city. As more and more people come to the Brewery District, this effort is important to help breathe life into the industrial area. I won additional funding in the 2026 budget to keep this program going next year to continue making this part of our neighborhood more vibrant and activated.

October

Led the Council’s Budget Process 

Mayor Harrell submitted his proposed budget to the Council on September 23, officially kicking off the Council’s budget process. The process, which I lead as chair of the budget committee, lasted for two months and included 17 committee meetings and feedback from thousands of Seattleites. After meeting with community members, department leaders, and our analysts, Councilmembers submitted nearly 200 amendments to the mayor’s proposed budget. As budget chair, I worked my colleagues to create a balanced budget package with a focus on making Seattle safer and more affordable for working families.

Helped Host First-Ever Seattle One Ocean Week 

Seattle’s blue, maritime economy is central to the fabric of our city, and we have a chance to be a world leader in ensuring that our economy works to improve ocean health. I helped host the first-ever One Ocean Week in Seattle. From October 20 – 26, nearly 1,000 ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, educators, and policy makers came together to talk about ocean sustainability and the blue economy.

We also welcomed the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a tall ship, on its voyage around the world to promote ocean sustainability. During One Ocean Week Seattle, it made its way to Elliot Bay, and I got to welcome the crew to Seattle. A huge shoutout to Maritime Blue for their hard work organizing this incredibly successful event. 

Skagit Dam Site Visit 

I made a site visit to the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. This dam supplies around 20% of Seattle City Light’s electric power, while also controlling floods, focusing on downstream fish protection, and preserving recreation and environmental learning opportunities. It was great to get to spend some time with the crews there, who literally keep the lights on in Seattle. We are continuing to work with federal partners, state agencies, tribes and other organizations to reach a long-term agreement on relicensing the Skagit Project. I regularly visit the Skagit Hydro Project to keep a boots-on-the-ground understanding of our utility infrastructure

November

Passed the City of Seattle’s 2026 Budget

On November 21, the Council unanimously passed the City of Seattle’s 2026 budget –— the first unanimous approval of the city’s budget in more than a decade. I was proud to lead that process and incredibly thankful to my colleagues and the community for their close collaboration.  

The budget included record investments in housing, affordability programs, and doubling the size of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department’s crisis response teams. I published a deeper dive into what’s included in the 2026 budget on my blog. In addition to the citywide improvements we made, I was proud of the investments we won for District 6, including:  

• Increasing resources to address homelessness in District 6 
• Increasing Seattle’s shelter capacity 
• New resources to help people living in RVs enter housing or shelter 
• Funding a social worker at the Ballard Food Bank 
• Piloting a summer bus from Ballard to Golden Gardens   
• Investing in safety barriers at year-round farmers markets 
• 8th Ave NW safety improvements   
• Extending of the 6th Avenue Greenway 
• Initial design of 14th Ave NW corridor improvements   
• Design funding for freight planning on Leary Way 
• Increased cleaning in downtown Ballard 
• Investing in the development and activation of the Leary Triangle   

Planned for the Rebuild of the Green Lake Community Center

One of our biggest budget wins was funding to rebuild the Green Lake Community Center. I have been working to get the city to renovate the nearly 100-year-old community center since I took office. Due to budgetary constraints and other hiccups, the renovation almost got scaled back to something that would not have met our community needs. Now, with new funding in the budget, we have the opportunity to do this project right. Earlier this month, I attended a community meeting hosted by the Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) Department to help shape the rebuild of the Greenlake Community Center. I will continue to work closely with SPR to make sure the project meets our community’s needs and will serve our city well for another century.

Celebrated a New Safety Crossing on 15th Avenue NW

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) completed the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project. That included a new pedestrian crosswalk at NW 51st and 15th Avenue NW that I fought for. As you likely know, there have been very few safe pedestrian crossings near the Ballard Bridge. With the opening of this one, we will be able to increase safety and connection between downtown Ballard and the Brewery District. This is part of a long-term vision for the neighborhood that better connects Ballard east to west from 17th to 6th and 14th to Ballard Avenue.

December

Approved Seattle’s State Legislative Agenda 

The City Council approved Seattle’s State Legislative Agenda for 2026 — a document that outlines the state law changes our city will advocate for in Olympia. I proposed and passed an amendment that added three priorities:  

1. Provide local municipalities more revenue options so we can respond to emerging challenges, sustain our fiscal health, and rely less on regressive tax options.  
2. Strengthen metal recycling legislation to hinder the selling of stolen copper wire and other metals.  
3. Support policies and investment to fight climate change, assist climate adaption, and assist local government removal of fish passage barriers.

Passed New Contract Allowing for Expansion of Police Alternatives 

The Council approved new contracts with its police union. State law requires that we bargain with police unions, not just on wages and benefits, but on issues like police accountability and police alternatives as well. Seattle has urged Washington state to change that law, but the state has not done so. That has led to a system where our CARE Department’s Community Crisis Responders (CCRs) are unable to respond to calls directly and instead have to wait for police to grant them access.  
These police contracts lift many of those restrictions, greatly expand the number of CARE CCRs, the types of calls they can respond to, and allow them to respond directly to many. The contracts also make some important accountability improvements. To be clear, those accountability measures alone are insufficient and need to be strengthened. However, for the first time since Seattle passed the 2017 Accountability Ordinance, this agreement creates a pathway for us to go to interest arbitration, rather than continuing our near decade-long direct negotiations with the police union, to pursue stronger accountability measures.

Approved Comprehensive Plan (Phase 1) and HB 1110 Legislation 

Following more than a year of outreach and dozens of amendments by my office, the Council passed Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Plan and legislation bringing us into compliance with state law that requires denser zoning in areas that are currently zoned neighborhood residential.  

Sound Transit Expansion to Federal Way 

I joined community members and colleagues throughout the region to open the Sound Transit’s Federal Way light rail expansion. This expansion added nearly eight miles to our light rail system, including three new stations: Kent Des Moines near Highline College, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown. 

Want to Talk? Join me for Office Hours

We have a lot of work ahead of us, and I hope we can work together to make the change our city deserves.  

Next year, I am planning to schedule even more office hours to meet directly with people living in District 6.