I have a grumpy neighbor who hates bicycles. We are surprisingly good friends despite our differences, and we regularly debate this issue. He drives his BMW to go a few blocks to the grocery store, and he thinks all bicycles should be banned from city streets. I remind him that I am a bicycle rider, and I pay […]
Category: Councilmember Bagshaw
Homelessness – Addressing the Immediate Crisis and the Path Forward
I frequently meet with neighborhoods to talk about what we are doing to end homelessness. This post — albeit lengthy — offers updates you can share with your neighbors. If you read this to the end and follow the hyperlinks, you may be surprised at how much is really happening and the scope of the efforts to […]
Success! New Firearm Surrender Laws are Working
Names are changed but the situations are real: Elizabeth from Magnolia, Marguerite in Queen Anne, and Shaun in Pioneer Square have something in common. They are all victims of domestic violence. A partner, a wife, a husband — people of all ages and incomes in our community are impacted by intimate partner violence. Tragedies like […]
Building Connections and Offering Work
I have received many emails from friends and neighbors asking “Why don’t we do what Albuquerque and Portland, Maine are doing – HIRE people who are homeless?” Good news, we do. In Albuquerque, New Mexico the city started a program called “There’s a Better Way” which reaches homeless people and connects them to jobs throughout Albuquerque. […]
Age Friendly Seattle: Moving people of all ages, reducing congestion.
Recently I spent a week in Washington DC with the National League of Cities members. One of my primary goals was to learn what other cities are doing to address the needs of our senior neighbors, and as a tangential bonus I met transportation engineers who are addressing traffic congestion in the DC area for […]
A Bystander’s Guide to Standing up Against Islamophobic Harassment (and Other Types of Harassment, Too)
This post is not original to me but is especially well done. It was written by a Paris-based illustrator and filmmaker who goes by the handle Maeril on Tumblr . She has posted a short and helpful illustrated how-to guide for bystanders who want to help someone being bullied in a public place. I found it first in […]
Paid Family Leave Program for City of Seattle Employees
On Friday, February 17, 2017, Mayor Murray signed legislation assuring that no City employee will have to choose between taking care of a loved one or earning a paycheck. When a new child is born or adopted, City of Seattle employees will now have a minimum guaranteed twelve weeks of paid assistance, and when a […]
Moving forward with the first Seattle Navigation Center
Last week the Mayor announced that our first Navigation Center will be housed in the International District in the Pearl Warren Building. I have heard some concerns about location, and I will say that nearly every neighborhood initially has concerns about the location of human service facilities. That said, we have seen in Seattle over the past […]
Connecting With the Library’s Daily Readers
The Seattle Public Libraries (SPL) offer a lifeline for people who are experiencing homelessness. Libraries offer community spaces to get warm, rest, access the internet, use the bathroom, and read without being disturbed. SPL has also worked hard to reduce barriers to using the library, like issuing library cards to people without a permanent address […]
Reversing the heroin and opioid crisis
I fully support of the Heroin and Opioid Taskforce recommendations and appreciate all the work and time the Taskforce put into the report. To reverse the opioid crisis, we must approach heroin and opioid addiction holistically, compassionately, through a public health lens and implement proven best practices. This is exactly what the Heroin and Opioid […]