Balances priorities related to transit accessibility, equity, safety, and oversight Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), Chair of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, announced his comprehensive package of recommended amendments to the proposed 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM). Introduced following Monday’s remote and in-person public hearings, the Chair’s package aims to...
Author: City Council News Releases (City Council News Releases)
City Council passes Strauss proposal to dramatically reduce utility costs for 31,000 low-income households
Today, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the largest expansion of an affordability program in the City’s recent memory. Council Bill 121222, sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) and co-sponsored by Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), expands the city’s Utility Discount Program to include 31,000 new low-income households, saving them more than $1,000 per year,...
Public Safety Chair Kettle urges Mayor to reconsider post-FIFA community safety camera shutoff
Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement with respect to Mayor Katie B. Wilson’s announcement Tuesday that she has “turned off” cameras in the Stadium District and halted the previously approved expansion of the Real Time Crime Center program. “As local elected officials, we all take...
Councilmember Juarez proposes key safety and accessibility amendment to 2026 Seattle Transit Measure renewal
Today the Select Committee on Seattle Transportation Benefit District was briefed on amendments to the proposed 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM) package. Among the key considerations is an amendment sponsored by Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5) that will better promote and prioritize accessibility to critical transit services in Seattle. Based on direct feedback from the...
Councilmember Kettle proposes transit measure alternative with sharpened focus on service needs and affordability
Reduces sticker shock while also investing critical transit needs Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) announced that he’s introducing an affordable alternative to the Seattle Transit Measure renewal, CB 121226, proposed by the mayor and currently being considered by the City Council. The mayor’s proposal would increase the sales tax by 0.15% to 0.3%, while...
Transportation Chair Saka to introduce 5 amendments to strengthen Seattle Transit Measure proposal
Amendments focus on transit safety, accountability, and climate resilience Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), chair of the Select Committee on Seattle Transportation Benefit District, announced plans to introduce five amendments to the 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM) proposal to be discussed at the next Select Committee meeting on Monday, July 6. “Our STM amendment...
Seattle City Councilmembers Rinck and Foster and King County Councilmembers Fain and Barón release statement regarding the KCRHA Compliance and Stabilization Plan
Today King County Councilmembers Steffanie Fain and Jorge L. Barón and Seattle City Councilmembers Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Dionne Foster, who serve on the Governing Board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), issued the following statement in response to the compliance and stabilization plan announced Wednesday by King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and...
Seattle Councilmember Rivera and King County Councilmember Dembowski Applaud Mayor Wilson and County Executive Zahilay for KCRHA Announcement
Today Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski (District 1) released the following statement after Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced they will be taking back substantially all homeless service provider contracts from the King Country Regional Homelessness Authority. “Consistent with our joint call to wind down the KCRHA, we support Mayor Wilson and Executive Zahilay taking the first step by returning the bulk of...
Councilmember Kettle calls for a regional approach to address the homelessness crisis
Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) released the following statement after Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced King County and the City of Seattle’s joint plan for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). “We have a regional homelessness problem on our local streets of Seattle,” said Councilmember Kettle. “We need, in turn, a regional approach to address the homelessness crisis that we face. To abandon the...
Seattle Municipal Archives launches exhibition as part of nationwide America 250 commemorations
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the Seattle Municipal Archives (SMA) is producing the exhibition We the People of Seattle: America at 250. The free showcase, which is open to all members of the public, will be on display in the Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery on the 3rd floor from July...


