‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ aimed at addressing City budget deficit, ensuring funding for emergency shelters and homelessness prevention, supporting food access, addressing gender-based violence, and aiding small business and worker’s rights This afternoon, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved sending the ‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ to the November 2025 ballot for voter consideration. The legislation proposes cuts...
Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement on today’s Council vote related to the business and occupation tax proposal. “Non-profit institutions like Fred Hutch and Children’s provide comprehensive critical and life-saving care to kids and cancer patients in our city. Not only are they losing Federal research dollars, but they will also be...
The following news release was published by the Mayor’s Office. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson introduced two new pieces of legislation to accelerate retail occupancy by amending existing building codes and reducing time-consuming regulatory barriers and costs for small businesses seeking to activate vacant commercial storefronts. “In Seattle we...
Today, the Council approved by an 8-0 vote a resolution introduced by Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) to dedicate up to 25% of any proposed sales tax increase to a progressive public safety initiative that would invest in critical addiction treatment services. The goal of the initiative is to fill treatment gaps in existing...
Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) released the following statement after the Seattle City Council voted to appoint Debora Juarez, who was twice elected by the people of District 5, to fill the vacant seat on Council. “I’m so happy to welcome Councilmember Juarez back to the Seattle City Council. She has a track record of...
Twice-elected former councilmember will serve until November 2026 The City Council voted today to appoint Debora Juarez to fill the vacant position representing District 5, which encompasses north Seattle. After one round of voting, Juarez received the necessary five-vote majority for the appointment. The appointment is effective immediately and will last until November 2026, when...
Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released this statement following the lack of quorum at Wednesday’s Housing & Human Services (HHS) Committee meeting. “I want to acknowledge the frustration my excused absence contributed to the lack of quorum at yesterday’s HHS committee meeting and apologize to the people who took the time to show up...
Public Forum with finalists on Monday, July 21 Today, in a special meeting, the City Council named six finalists to fill the vacancy representing District 5, left by former City Councilmember Cathy Moore. A list of 22 eligible applicants with completed application materials was made available to the public on the Council Vacancy webpage on...
Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) voiced her support of the Washington State Attorney General’s decision to join litigation against the U.S. Department of Education and Office of Management and Budget for the Trump administration’s withholding of $7 billion dollars in education grants. “As an elected official and a public-school mom, I am so proud that...
Civil fine option aimed at deterring property crimes Today, by a 7-1 vote, the City Council approved a new amended ordinance to combat graffiti on a new level, on both public and private property throughout Seattle. The legislation, sponsored by Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle (District 7) and proposed by City Attorney Ann Davison, would...