FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/3/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmembers to host economic development meeting in Rainier Valley
SEATTLE - Join City Councilmembers for a meeting in Rainier Valley to discuss economic-oriented development ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/31/2013
Community celebrates expansion of Smith Cove ParkKing County, Port of Seattle, city of Seattle join neighbors, park advocates
With Mount Rainier and Downtown Seattle as their backdrop, residents of Magnolia, Inter...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/30/2013
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
EVENT DATE
June 4, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Councilmembers Harrell and Rasmussen call second community meeting on honorary street naming to recognize Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney
SEATTLE - Councilmembers Bruce Harrell and Tom Rasmussen announced the second public meeting to hear public feedback on plans for an 'honorary" street naming of sections of 19th Avenue after Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney. The legal name of 19th Avenue would not change nor would the official addresses on the street. The honorary name change would designate the secondary name for 19th Avenue between E. Union St. and E. Republican St. as 'Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Avenue."
Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee stated, 'I am very pleased to listen to members of the community who began the dialogue about honoring Rev. Dr. McKinney. For over 40 years, he has been a civil rights leader, as well as a minister who has positively influenced all of Seattle. Rev. McKinney has been the conscience of our city and has made a lasting mark on race and social justice issues. Rev. McKinney and his late wife, Louise, have made a lasting impact on 19th Avenue in Seattle and beyond."
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Council's Transportation Committee, stated, 'Seattle should honor Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, and I support Councilmember Bruce Harrell's proposal for the honorary designation of 'Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Avenue' on 19th Avenue between E. Union and E. Republican Streets."
Councilmember Rasmussen continued, 'Rev. Dr. McKinney has dedicated his life to his church and community. He is a man of many achievements, serving as one of the original members of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, lecturing and teaching at colleges around the nation and opening a church-run Credit Union which strived to assist community members who were unable to open bank accounts and conduct financial transactions in traditional banks. I hope to see his legacy live on through the years."
The second community meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.
WHAT: Community Meeting on Honorary Street Naming of 19th Avenue
WHEN: Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122
WHO: Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/30/2013
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
King County Council Chair Larry Gossett
Join Sally Bagshaw and Larry Gossett for coffee and conversation
Seattle - Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and King County Council Chair Larry Gossett will be at Cafe Racer in the University District this Saturday morning, June 1, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for a conversation with the community. Come for the coffee and stay to chat about various issues.
"Sally Clark and I host these community chats all the time, so I'm excited to mix things up with a special guest," said Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. "I try to bring people together in every aspect of my job. Saturday's coffee is an extension of that-- the City and the County working together."
"I was excited to hear that Coffee with the Sallys was being hosted in my district this month. I'm glad Sally Bagshaw extended the invitation," said King County Councilmember Larry Gossett. "I am looking forward to spending the morning meeting with old friends and making some new ones."
"I'm unable to attend June's edition of Coffee with the Sallys, but I have full faith that Larry Gossett will represent the 'Sally' name well," said Council President Sally J. Clark, one half of the Sallys.
WHAT: June "Coffee with the Sallys" with Larry Gossett
WHO: Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett
WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Cafe Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way NE, University District
The regularly occurring community coffee chats have no set agenda, and are an opportunity for residents to converse with Councilmembers on whichever topics they choose. Coffee and pastries will be available for purchase (support your local coffee shop) and all questions and topics are on the table. For more information, or to RSVP (recommended, but not required), please visit http://www.seattle.gov/council/clark/coffeewithsallys_form.htm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/28/2013
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Councilmember Harrell's Statement on SPD violating state law
SEATTLE - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, released the following statement, in response to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) admitting to violating the state's Public Records Act by withholding an internal May Day 2012 memo. SPD has agreed to pay $20,000 to the Seattle Times and its attorneys to avoid a lawsuit over the issue:
"The action and decision by Police Chief John Diaz to not respond openly to a public records request is completely unacceptable. This is how not to do business. The public expects openness and transparency. Without any hesitation, the department's senior level officers must adopt a culture of a learning organization - they must own up to mistakes, work collaboratively to identify a solution and then institute the changes. This is the only way for SPD to build trust and confidence with the public."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/21/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmembers to host discussion on Targeted Hiring for city-funded capital projects
SEATTLE - Join Councilmembers and a p...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/20/2013
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
City Council improves access to
low-income electricity rate assistance
Tenants in qualified low-income housing can now be automatically enrolled in
City Light's Utility Discount Program
SEATTLE - Seattle City Council adopted electricity rate assistance legislation today to simplify access for low-income City Light customers. Seattle City Light will partner with low-income housing providers to get tenants into the program more quickly and with less hassle.
"The single best way for any City Light customers to manage their bills is to conserve energy. But we know that some customers are still struggling to make ends meet, and this legislation makes rate assistance more accessible for people who really need it," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien, sponsor of the legislation. "Many customers in low-income housing are eligible for utility rate assistance by the fact that they qualify for the type of housing they are in. This fix simplifies the process for the customer and the utility and will help get more people enrolled."
Seattle City Light's Utility Discount Program reduces electricity rates by approximately 60% for eligible low-income customers. The legislation approved by Council allows the utility to use information from certain affordable housing providers to enroll eligible customers, rather than requiring those tenants to proactively apply for the discount. Simplifying the application process is expected to help enroll customers who were previously unaware of this benefit.
"With the City Council's action today, City Light will streamline the application process for customers who are most in need, allowing them to apply for the rate discount program at the same time as they apply for affordable housing," City Light General Manager Jorge Carrasco said. "This is just one part of the major effort underway as part of our Strategic Plan to assist customers who are having difficulty with their bills. In addition to increasing enrollment in the rate discount program, we are also helping them better manage their energy use through home energy visits and other conservation measures."
Non-profit affordable housing groups must meet federal and / or state guidelines for low-income operations, each agency must enter into a signed agreement with Seattle City Light, and the program will undergo periodic audits.
City Light customers interested in applying for the Utility Discount Program can also do so here: www.seattle.gov/humanservices/benefits/udp.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/20/2013
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Citizens' Advisory Committee created to help shape possible 2014 Parks Levy
SEATTLE - Seattle City Council created the Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens' Advisory Committee today, which will help develop a potential 2014 ballot measure for Seattle's parks. The citizens' committee will evaluate options for a potential package of parks and recreation projects, ongoing maintenance and operations, and programs and to identify strategic funding options for the levy.
"Our previous parks levies have leveraged enormous private and public funds to help our parks," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Chair of the Council's Parks and Neighborhoods Committee. "This is an investment, and I'm excited to work with the citizens committee to help shape the future of our parks system".
The current Parks and Green Spaces Levy, approved by 59% of the voters in 2008 will expire next year. The committee will issue a final advisory report to the Mayor and City Council by March 2014.
"I'd like to thank everyone involved in this work, especially the volunteer advisory committee," said Councilmember Bagshaw. "Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work."
The Department of Parks and Recreation has responded to reductions in its general fund budget support by finding greater operating efficiencies, embracing new management systems, reducing services and deferring routine and major maintenance. The Seattle Parks Asset Management Plan identified a backlog of nearly 300 projects with an estimated total cost of $267 million for major maintenance, including building renovations, ballfield and lighting replacements, forest and landscape restoration, roof replacements, and improvements of play areas and tennis courts.
The Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens' Advisory Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; David Namura; and Erika Nuerenberg.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/15/2013
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Tim Burgess responds to NBA Board of Governors Decision
SEATTLE - City Councilmember Tim Burgess issued the following statement today after the NBA Board of Governors vot...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/13/2013
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Nick Licata
City to develop outreach strategies for Affordable Care Act
Seattle - Seattle City Council adopted a resolution today enlisting City departments to develop outreach strategies to educate and inform the public about new healthcare coverage programs made available through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Departments will coordinate with the efforts of community partners to enroll all newly eligible residents in the new healthcare coverage options.
"The City of Seattle has an extraordinary opportunity to increase the health of our residents by working diligently on enrolling folks in the health care insurance exchange,"said Councilmember Richard Conlin, sponsor of the resolution. "This is one of the most significant advances in health care since the implementation of Medicare in 1965 and it is imperative that we take a leadership role in this."
Seattle's outreach plan will include person-to-person support for individuals, particularly communities who need more intensive help with the application processes and accessing health care services. The Affordable Health Care Act requires that most members of the public enroll for healthcare coverage by January 2014. An estimated 30,000 Seattle residents will become eligible for subsidized health care coverage through Washington's Health Benefit Exchange and Council has made it a priority to enroll them all.
Councilmember Nick Licata said, "The Council action to expedite healthcare coverage is particularly timely considering this week's report that each year in the US, 11,300 newborns die within 24 hours of their birth, 50% more than all other industrialized countries combined."
"Nearly 60,000 Seattle residents are currently without health insurance,"said Mayor Mike McGinn. "I am enlisting City departments to inform and enroll people into expanded Medicaid and subsidized insurance that will soon be available through the Affordable Care Act. This is an unprecedented opportunity that will help our residents receive the care they need and lower health care costs by decreasing reliance on high-cost medical services including emergency room visits."
"We have a landmark opportunity to increase access to health care in our community,"said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "By connecting residents to coverage, we will ultimately improve the health of our community."