I’ve been reading about the city of Flint, Michigan, where local, state, and federal government agencies utterly failed to protect its population from lead in its water supply. When that city switched its water supply to the Flint River, it...
Author: Tim Burgess (Tim Burgess)
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January 22, 2016January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
The Confusion Surrounding Encampments
Once again, our city is struggling with how to best respond to the very real crisis of unsheltered people living outdoors in unauthorized encampments. The “One Night Count” on January 29, an annual survey of the homeless population, is sure...
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January 20, 2016January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Maintaining the Rental Housing Market: Regulating Short Term Rentals
Left unchecked, there is concern that online rental platforms, like Airbnb and VRBO, just might provide enough financial incentives to cause homeowners to switch long-term rentals to short-term vacation rentals. The number of short-term rentals available through these platforms has...
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January 12, 2016January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Sustainable Retirement Plan Saves Taxpayers $200 Million Over 30 Years
The City Council unanimously approved legislation yesterday afternoon that will lead to a new defined benefit retirement plan for City employees. The plan is expected to save the City $200 million over the next 30 years. This new retirement plan...
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January 8, 2016January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
2016 Inauguration Remarks
This week I was honored to be sworn in for a third term to the Seattle City Council. You can watch my speech here, or read my speech below: Thank you, Joleen, Elisabeth and Katharine. I’d also like to recognize...
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December 22, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Superior Court Upholds Gun Violence Tax
This afternoon King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson issued an order upholding the City’s gun violence tax. A copy of the ruling is available here. We established the gun violence tax as a legitimate and appropriate way to raise...
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December 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Supporting the Muslim Community, a Voice for Drivers, Labor Standards, and More
Yesterday was the last Full Council meeting of 2015 and it was jam packed: 52 agenda items, 3 ½ hours of deliberations. We started with a resolution expressing our support for Seattle’s Muslim community in the wake of increasing anti-Muslim...
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December 10, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
The Seattle Preschool Program Starts Strong
My Council committee received an encouraging report this morning about the launch of the Seattle Preschool Program. Voters approved this program with overwhelming support last year and the City had an ambitious timeline to open the first classrooms this fall....
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November 23, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
Final Decisions on 2016 Budget
The Full Council voted to adopt the City’s 2016 budget today, incorporating changes Councilmembers have made from the Mayor’s proposal over the last two months. The Mayor’s proposed budget provided us with a good start, including funding for a hospital-based...
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November 20, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess
When Fear Reigns, Extremists Win
Photo courtesy World Relief Seattle Recent rhetoric across the country hyping fear and scapegoating Syrian refugees takes our country back to earlier, dangerous moments in our country’s history. The vote in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday was a disturbing...