FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/27/2014
Councilmember Jean Godden
Council authorizes action to rectify Gender Pay Gap
SEATTLE - City Council authorized an action plan today to close the Gender Equity Gap at the City of Seattle. The action plan was de...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/27/2014
Council President Tim Burgess
Survey of Seattle parents finds wide support for high-quality, affordable preschool
SEATTLE - City Council heard findings today demonstrating wide support for elements included in the Seattle Preschool Program based on a survey of over 1,300 Seattle parents. Conducted by EMC Research, the survey found 96% of the parents believe that every child should have the opportunity for high-quality preschool regardless of family income, and 90% agree that government should help families pay for high-quality preschool.
The survey also found only 33% of parents had their children in full time preschool and Hispanics, African-Americans, and parents living in lower income communities were less likely to have sent their children to preschool.
"We found that, regardless of background or neighborhood, affordability and quality are what parents most want in a preschool program, which directly aligns with the outcomes the Seattle Preschool Program will deliver," said Council President Tim Burgess. "Closing the opportunity gap for those most in need should be a top priority."
The survey was conducted to obtain substantive input from a wide range of parents and guardians. The Council also sought to discover why the respondents' children do or do not attend preschool and how many of those whose children do not currently attend preschool would likely enroll their children if high-quality preschool were available and affordable. The survey, authorized by City Council Resolution 31478, was part of a comprehensive outreach strategy to inform the development of the Seattle Preschool Program, which included input from stakeholder workgroups and other feedback from the community.
The findings were based on a live telephone survey of 1,301 of parents/guardians with children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade enrolled in Seattle Public Schools conducted March 4-23, 2014. The margin of error for the overall results is ±2.7 percentage points at a 95% confidence interval. Unlike most surveys of only 400 or so residents surveyed in English, this preschool survey surveyed three times that number and conducted interviews in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali and Cantonese. Nearly one-third (32%) of the respondents were born outside of the United States.
The complete poll results are available here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/22/2014
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Police Chief confirmation schedule updated
SEATTLE - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, announced an up...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/15/2014
Mayor Murray and Council President Tim Burgess announce Seattle Preschool Program
SEATTLE (May 15, 2014) - Seattle Mayor Ed Murray was joined by Seattle City Council President Tim Burgess and members of the education community this morning to announce their proposal for expanding access to high-quality early learning throughout the city.
"At a time when disparities in education reinforce the widening gap between those who fill the high-wage jobs of the future and those who struggle to make ends meet, one of the most important questions we face as a society is: what can we do to build a school system that works equally and fairly for all of our children," said Murray. "The answer starts long before our children show up for their first day of kindergarten."
"High quality preschool is proven to be a game-changer that prepares our children for success in school and in life. Preschool will boost not only the children but also our city with a stronger workforce and safer neighborhoods," said Burgess. "The evidence already shows us what to do; we just need to muster the will to do it."
The proposed Action Plan calls for a four-year property tax levy, raising $14.5 million annually to fund a demonstration program to begin closing the preparedness gap for Seattle's three and four year olds. The cost to the average homeowner in Seattle will be $3.63 per month – about the cost of a latte – over the next four years. The Seattle Preschool Program will be voluntary for providers and participants and will build toward serving 2,000 children in 100 classrooms by 2018.
The Action plan is anchored in evidence-based practice, acknowledging that program quality is vital to success and will be provided through a mixed-delivery system, with classrooms offered by Seattle Public Schools and community providers. The program will have the ultimate goal of serving all eligible and interested 4-year olds and all 3-year olds from families making less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in Seattle. Tuition will be free for children from families earning less than the 200 percent of the federal poverty level, while tuition for families earning more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level will be offered on a sliding schedule with some level of subsidy for all families.
"High-quality preschool for all children will change life outcomes for our youngest learners," said Jose Banda, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools. "We all want each of our kindergartners to walk through the door on the first day of school – bright eyed, backpacks on – with the confidence that they are ready for school. We look forward to working together in a meaningful partnership with the City of Seattle to create the implementation plan that will change the trajectory of our children's lives."
"We at the state level are so happy that the City of Seattle is prioritizing its youngest learners," said Washington state Department of Early Learning Director Bette Hyde. "What is particularly exciting about Seattle's preschool initiative is that it aligns with the statewide system of high-quality early learning we are building. By using the same definition of quality, we are all measuring and encouraging high-quality programs in a consistent way. This is good for kids, families and early learning professionals."
"The foundation of a strong middle class, a thriving economy, a prepared military and a well-educated workforce depend on our youngest learners getting a strong start in life," said Representative Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle. "Research tells us that universal, high-quality preschool puts our youth on a path to success. I look forward to working with my colleagues here in the city of Seattle and the state legislature to increase the quality of early learning, and expand its availability and affordability to all our children."
The Seattle Preschool Program proposal is built on the high-quality parameters of the BERK recommendations (attachments can be found here and the outreach summary report can be found here), as well as the work of the City Council.
The Seattle City Council has studied voluntary pre-school programs since June 2013 and in September 2013, unanimously adopted Resolution 31478, which establishes the City Council's goal of making voluntary high-quality preschool available and affordable to all of Seattle's children and outlining an initial plan toward achieving this goal.
Seattle City Council Select Committee on Preschool will review the Action Plan and take action to place the proposal on the November General Election ballot by August 5.
-MoS-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/19/2014
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Councilmembers Licata, Sawant Announce Proposal to Maintain Metro
SEATTLE - Councilmember Nick Licata and Councilmember Kshama Sawant and individuals representing working people, elderly, disabled, students, and people of color announced their plan today to address proposed cuts to Seattle Metro bus service. The proposed plan would use a Commercial Parking Tax increase and an Employer Head Tax to prevent devastating cuts to transit.
With the failure of Proposition 1 on April 22, King County Metro will implement the first of four planned rounds of bus service cuts. If all of these cuts happen, 16% of bus service, or 550,000 annual service hours, will disappear.
"If approved by Council, the Mayor’s proposal will go to the ballot in November, but not in time to prevent the first round of cuts. These initial cuts, and the funding that would kick in if ‘Plan C’ were approved, places a burden on poor and working people," said Licata. "There are other options, and they are options that don’t expose our most vulnerable populations to more regressive taxation. The City Council has the ability to implement an Employer’s Head Tax and increase the commercial parking tax to fund public transportation," Licata added. "If the City Council moves on this, we can prevent devastating cuts. I have asked our policy staff to research exactly how much revenue could be raised through these means, and to begin drafting legislation to introduce to the City Council."
During the past 25 years, Metro has increased its reliance on regressive taxation five times through raising the sales tax and Vehicle Licensing Fees. In addition, fares have also been raised four times in the past six years, with another proposed increase in 2015. Sales tax has proven to be an unstable revenue source: the dot-com crash in 2001 reduced sales tax revenue and forced Metro to scale back plans to increase service, and in 2009 Metro lost more than 15% of its sales tax base due to the recession.
"A functioning transportation system is critical to the working people who make Seattle and the wider region run. The ongoing cuts to Metro disproportionately affect low-wage workers, the elderly, the disabled, and people of color," said Sawant. "As a regular bus rider, I stand with all the commuters in King County who are opposed to the looming cuts to these services. I am also in solidarity with Metro workers who are threatened with layoffs and a proposed wage freeze. Seattle’s poor and working people not only need the service to be maintained, they need a world-class mass transit system for this city to remain livable for them," Sawant added.
"I support the most equitable and least burdensome revenue source(s) on lower income users when considering the critical funding for our Metro bus system," said Rev. Paul Benz, Faith Action Network.
"Working people should refuse to accept that increasingly regressive taxation is the best we can do," said Philip Locker, Social Alternative. "The only reason that no progressive funding options currently exist is because there is a lack of political will at the state, county and city level. Local elected officials have an obligation to fight to stop regressive taxation and to implement policies such as taxing big business and the super-wealthy, ending direct and indirect subsidies to large real estate developers, capping excessive government executive salaries, and ending corporate handouts to generate the revenue necessary to fully fund and expand mass transit."
"With the findings recently published in the Third National Climate Assessment, it is clear that the US is already experiencing serious effects of climate change. The City of Seattle has the responsibility to act decisively to reduce our carbon impact on the environment," said Jess Spear, 15 Now. "Maintaining and expanding public transportation has proven to be an effective strategy for reducing emissions and combating climate change."
"We must organize and build our forces until we can wage an effective fight for new public transit funding and progressive taxation in Olympia," said Katie Wilson, Transit Riders Union. "Until then we will continue to be driven by the logic of artificial scarcity, cornered into the false choices of austerity: Service cuts or regressive taxes?"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/19/2014
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Statement by Councilmember Harrell on Mayor's appointment of Kathleen O'Toole as Chief of Police
Seattle - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Mayor's appointment of Kathleen O'Toole as Chief of Police:
"I had the opportunity to meet Ms. O'Toole during the preliminary interview process, and she impressed me with her proven record in changing and reforming a department, her confidence, and her ability to lead and inspire officers.
"The Council's Public Safety committee will now conduct a thorough and transparent confirmation process and consider public feedback at each committee hearing. Council will turn over every rock to ensure this is the bold, transformative leader Seattle is looking for in its next Police Chief. The committee will move with a sense of urgency, and I anticipate that Council will vote on confirmation by the end of June.
"I look for the new Chief of Police to 1) embrace and implement new technologies like body cameras to enhance police accountability and public safety; 2) implement a new Business Intelligence System that will function as a police performance management tool and early intervention system, with centralized software tools for data-driven policing to reduce crime and predict where crime is likely to occur; 3) review and assess the Department's management, organizational structure, and resource deployment; and 4) communicate and engage with minority communities and ensure the diversity of Seattle's neighborhoods are well represented in the department.
"Most importantly, the Chief must bring the department to full compliance with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement and translate the DOJ policies into the routine of the day-to-day operations of the officers.
"The police department must commit to be a learning organization; a department willing to admit its mistakes and be honest and transparent with the public and proactively police their sworn duties under the new use of force policies.
"The Mayor, City Council, and City Attorney are all committed to working together and providing the necessary resources that will help the incoming Chief bring the department into the 21st century.
"I would also like to thank all the candidates who saw Seattle as an exciting and extraordinary opportunity to be its next Police Chief."
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Chief of Police Webpage
Tentative Schedule (subject to change):
Wednesday, June 4, 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee
Kathleen O'Toole will appear, make opening comments, and respond to initial questions from Councilmembers. Public comment will be accepted at the beginning of the meeting.
Thursday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. at offsite neighborhood location, TBD
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee Public Hearing on appointment
Wednesday, June 25, 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers
Kathleen O'Toole will appear and complete final round of questioning from Councilmembers.
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee meeting and vote on confirmation.
Monday, June 30, 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
Full Council Final Action on Confirmation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/19/2014
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Licata Statement on Seattle Police Chief Announcement
SEATTLE - Councilmember Nick Licata issued the following statement this morning in response to the Mayor's announcement regarding Seattle's Police Chief:
"I thank Mayor Murray for conducting a thorough search for our new police chief. I hope the Council can confirm Kathleen O'Toole as expediently as possible. I strongly support the Mayor selecting who he thinks will best serve the city. The Council's role is to hold the Mayor responsible for that decision and the new chief's performance."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/16/2014
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Public Hearing on Micro-housing Regulations Announced
Seattle - Councilmember Mike O'Brienwill host a Public Hearing on the proposed micro-housing regulations proposed by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development. The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee is considering legislation to improve how micro-housing (also known as "aPodments") fits into neighborhoods and make the housing more livable for renters, while continuing to support innovation in housing design to create affordable choices.
Each member of the public will have up to two minutes to address the committee, and public comment sign-up sheets will be available at 5 p.m. The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee will meet again to discuss the legislation on Tuesday, June 3 and could vote on the legislation as soon as June 17.
WHAT:
Public Hearing on proposed Micro-Housing legislation
WHEN:
5:30 p.m., Monday, May 19
WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Council Chambers, Second floor
600 Fourth Ave, Seattle 98104
WHO:
Seattle City Councilmembers Mike O'Brien, Tim Burgess and Nick Licata
Public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/13/2014
Murray unveils Seattle transit financing plan
SEATTLE - Standing with members of the Seattle City Council, King County elected officials, members of the Seattle legislative delegation and community leaders, Seattle ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/9/2014
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Councilmembers Rasmussen, O'Brien, Bagshaw Pledge to Give Seattle Voters Chance to Save Transit Service
Seattle - Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Mike O'Brien and Sally Bagshaw issued the following statement today:
"Metro bus service is critical to the people of Seattle. It is necessary for those who cannot afford cars and depend on buses to get around. It is essential for our environment that people have multiple options for mobility and it is essential to reducing traffic congestion as well. Too many buses in the city are at capacity, and with ridership at an all-time high we simply cannot afford to lose bus service.
"Seattle voters deserve a chance to preserve bus service in the city and we are committed to giving them that opportunity in November. We are exploring every option available to keep the busses running in Seattle in cooperation with our colleagues on the City Council and Mayor Ed Murray. We are also committed to working with King County Metro and cities in our region to ensure that we preserve and build a strong regional transit system.
"We commend Mayor Murray for his leadership in developing a proposal, which will be released next week. We also commend Keep Seattle Moving for keeping public momentum going to ensure we do not lose the bus service we so critically need in Seattle.
"On Monday, May 19 we will have a briefing in City Council Chambers at 9:30 a.m. to learn more about the impacts of the potential loss of bus service in the City and to learn more about the Mayor's proposal. We will convene additional City Council meetings as needed throughout the summer to develop a proposal to send to the voters for the November ballot."
Editor's note: The City's deadline for submitting a ballot measure to King County Elections for the November election is August 5, 2014.