Author: City Council News Releases (City Council News Releases)

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July 30, 2026July 30, 2026Councilmember Hollingsworth, Councilmember Juarez, Councilmember Kettle, Councilmember Strauss, Hollingsworth, Juarez, Kettle, News, News Releases, Strauss

City Councilmembers react to Police Chief Barnes’ departure, voice major concerns

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Today Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5), Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7, Public Safety Chair), released this statement following an official announcement from Mayor Katie B. Wilson that Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned.  “Our city faces profound public safety challenges, from youth gun violence destroying lives to drug markets and human trafficking plaguing our neighborhoods. After the Seattle Center shooting, our focus should be on the lives lost and how...

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July 30, 2026July 30, 2026Councilmember Rivera, News, News Releases, Rivera

Councilmember Rivera’s statement on reported firing of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes by Mayor

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Today, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has fired Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes: “It has been 24 hours since rumors started swirling about the firing of Chief Barnes, and we have not heard one word from Mayor Wilson. This is unacceptable. “If true, the impulsive and reckless...

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July 30, 2026July 30, 2026Councilmember Rinck, News, News Releases, Rinck

Councilmember Rinck statement on possible dismissal of Seattle Police Chief Barnes

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Today Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) released the following statement: “Our community has been in mourning. This past weekend alone, 13 of our neighbors were shot, injured, or killed from gun violence.   “This includes a shooting on Thursday evening that injured three women off Aurora Avenue, another that happened in Capitol Hill that...

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July 30, 2026July 30, 2026Councilmember Saka, News, News Releases, Saka

Councilmember Saka statement on reported dismissal of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes by Mayor

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Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee, issued the following statement regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has dismissed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes: “If indeed, media reports turn out to be true, I am deeply disappointed by Mayor Wilson’s decision to remove Chief Barnes from his position as Seattle’s...

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July 28, 2026July 28, 2026Councilmember Foster, Councilmember Lin, Foster, Lin, News, News Releases

City Councilmembers and Mayor celebrate progress for housing and environment with passage of SEPA appeals legislation

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Today the City Council passed Council Bill 121215, streamlining appeals processes for zoning and planning actions by the city. The legislation impacts appeals related to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). City officials praised the passage of the necessary reform to mitigate climate change and build more homes. “We need more homes in Seattle,” said...

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July 28, 2026July 28, 2026Councilmember Rivera, News, News Releases, Rivera

City Council approves implementation plan for Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy

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Select Committee Chair Maritza Rivera led two-year Council process to reach this milestone Today, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the implementation and evaluation plan for the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, which supports early learning, K-12 students, and the Seattle Promise. The implementation plan (Council Bill 121240) is a required component...

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July 28, 2026July 28, 2026Councilmember Foster, Councilmember Hollingsworth, Councilmember Strauss, Foster, Hollingsworth, News, News Releases, Strauss

Mayor, Councilmembers agree on plan to improve food access for Seattle students

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Seattle City Councilmembers and the mayor announced agreement today on a unified strategy to improve food access for Seattle students. The proposal would fund both universal free school meals, as proposed by Mayor Katie B. Wilson, and six-years of food support for students in need outside of the classroom, as proposed by Council President Joy...

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July 28, 2026July 28, 2026Councilmember Saka, News, News Releases, Saka

Councilmember Saka introduces amendment to preserve land use appeals while expediting process for more housing

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City Council will consider at today’s meeting Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1) today announced that he’s introducing an amendment to Council Bill 121215, legislation aimed at expediting the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) appeal process, to preserve the public’s ability to appeal certain determinations to the Seattle Hearing Examiner. Amendment B also seeks to make...