Author: Mike O'Brien (Mike O'Brien)

Today the City Council voted 8-0 to adopt Resolution 31380, joining more than 100 municipalities and at least two states (Hawaii and Vermont) asking Congress to overturn the Citizens United ruling. Specifically, the City of Seattle calls on the United States Congress to take steps to amend the United States Constitution to make clear: Corporations [...]

Today, Puget Sound Sage released a new report calling for Seattle to move racial justice to the center of our transit oriented development (TOD) planning and policy. This report is a must read for all of us struggling with what we can do about gentrification and how to make light rail a “success” in the [...]

I was on Seattle Channel’s Inside/OUt: Council Edition last week with my colleagues Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Nick Licata. We discussed the May Day demonstrations, the proposed SODO sports arena, my ideas for some elections reform and more.

(Note: This article was written for the CityBeat newsletter by our Spring policy intern, Chris Rule, who is in his second year of a Master’s program at the Evans School of Public Affairs) Visitors to 15th Ave E on Capitol Hill this Monday (4/23) got a special surprise to go with 75 degree weather. On 15th [...]

As part of the Next Fifty celebration kicking off this weekend at Seattle Center, City Councilmembers were asked to record our favorite Seattle Center memories. Here is what I had to say:

Last Friday I visited Ross Lake and Dam–one of Seattle City Light’s own hydroelectric dams in the North Cascades–along with Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. It was a great opportunity to see where our energy comes from, and as you can see in the pictures below it was a beautiful day.    

Last night I had the opportunity and the privilege to speak at the graduation ceremony for One America’s English Innovations program. The ceremony last night was held here in City Hall and aw some more than 80 students graduating. Here is a shot of some of the graduates with me, Councilmember Richard Conlin and Mayor Michael [...]

The topic of money in politics has received a lot of attention over the past year. Between the issues raised by Occupy movement and the impacts of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that we are witnessing in the Presidential race, many of us have become increasingly alarmed by the influence of money in politics. [...]

Help support local businesses and discover some delicious new independently owned ethnic eateries by visiting one of the participating restaurants in Plate of Nations. Below is some information on the event from the website: www.plateofnations.com. MLK Jr. Way South is home to some of Seattle’s best, independently owned ethnic eateries. Hankering for some Halal Asian [...]

Reminder, tonight in South Seattle and tomorrow in North Seattle we will have two public forums for you to learn more about the Seattle City Light Strategic Plan and provide feedback. South Seattle: March 19 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Avenue South (map) North Seattle: March 20 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. Northgate [...]