Category: Councilmember Bagshaw

Creating parks that are accessible for all abilities has been a goal of mine for years.   In 2011 when I chaired the Parks and Seattle Center Committee I wrote:   “At the core of Seattle Parks & Recreation’s mission statement is a vow to provide all citizens with safe and welcoming opportunities to play, […]

“Collaboration will be the key to figuring this all out.” Thus concludes a recent article by my colleague Dave Gering from Seattle’s Manufacturing and Industrial Council (MIC).  Although he and I approach the problem of permitting Shell Oil to do business in Seattle very differently, his conclusion is the right one for a decision as […]

Biking through Vancouver B.C. last summer I enjoyed its many greenways and became enamored with the bright, lush and creative street side gardens. Its Green Streets Program encourages neighbors to adopt a planting area; some are marked as “available for adoption”, and other sites are created by the individual community members themselves. The gardens aren’t […]

On a windy, overcast evening in February, a group of business owners, human services providers, community advocates, Seattle Police Officers, Economic Development experts, and other community members gathered at Ancient Grounds on First Avenue to discuss economic development in our Downtown Community. This meeting, called the First Avenue Mainstreet Meetup, brought together a variety of […]

In my Council Committee, I oversee both Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and Department of Neighborhoods (DON). Although it is one of our smaller city departments, DON is mighty. It offers many possibilities to “strengthen Seattle by actively engaging all communities.” DON’s work has far reaching benefits, including crime reduction, one of the most important issues […]

  Earlier this week four of my colleagues, the Mayor and I signed a letter that we sent to Dr. Deborah Jensen, the President and CEO of the Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ). While everyone wants the best for the elephants, our letter encourages the Woodland Park Zoo Board to follow the recommendations of their 2013 Elephant Task […]

Earlier this month I attended a meeting of the South Lake Union Community Council, a very well organized and committed group of people who work and live in the rapidly growing South Lake Union community. Thanks to chairman Mike McQuaid, and more than a dozen residents from Mirabella alone, I appreciated the turnout and involvement […]