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January 13, 2016January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess, Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

City to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. with ‘Unity’ Events

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/13/2016

City to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. with ‘Unity' Events

Mayor, Council and Community to Celebrate MLK with Workshops, Musical Performances

SEATTLE - Mayor Ed Murray, Council President Bruce A. Harrell and members of the Seattle City Council, along with community leaders, and City employees, invite the public to celebrate Dr. King's legacy, and to live out his vision, by participating in the second annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Seattle City Hall.

Thursday's all-day event will include exhibits, workshops, remarks from the Mayor, Councilmembers and the City Attorney, as well as a reading by the City's first-ever Civic Poet, and musical performances.

The event is free and the public is welcome to attend.

WHAT: Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘Unity' Events

WHEN:  7:15 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (NOTE: A complete schedule of events is available ONLINE)

Selected highlights include:

  • 8:30 - 10:55 a.m. Workshop Presenters -Former Assistant Superintendent Erin Jones and Gerald Hankerson, NAACP Director 
  • 11:15 a.m. Walter Kilgore Memorial Color Guard - US National Anthem / Black National Anthem Medley presented by Pat Wright, Seattle's First Lady of Gospel
  • Remarks by Honorary Chair Mayor Edward Murray, Council President Bruce A. Harrell, Councilmember Tim Burgess, City Attorney Pete Holmes and Former Assistant Superintendent Erin Jones
  • Emcee Isiah Anderson,CaptainJohn Hayes (Seattle Police Department), and featuring the City's Civic Poet Claudia Castro Luna
  • Key Note Speaker - Director Stephan Blanford, Seattle Public Schools
  • Introduction of Musical Guest Josephine Howell

The celebration will close with music by Gabriel Teodros, D.J. Sureal.

WHERE: City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA

WHO: Elected officials, community leaders and the public

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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter,Facebook and on Flickr.

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December 18, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Burgess, Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Sawant, News Releases

Seattle City Council Announces 2016 Committee Assignments

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/18/2015

Seattle City Council Announces 2016 Committee Assignments

Councilmembers to elect Council President and assign committees on January 4, 2016

SEATTLE - Seattle City Council announced its tentative plan for committee assignments today, in preparation for work in 2016. Each Councilmember is responsible for chairing a Council committee and managing legislation related to the committee's focus. Councilmembers also serve as a vice-chair on one committee and as a member on another. Councilmembers can also sponsor legislation on other committees under certain conditions. Committee assignments are made official at the first Full Council meeting of the year, on Monday January 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. Councilmembers will also elect their 2016-17 Council President at the meeting. Committee assignments last for two years.

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw will chair the Human Services and Public Health Committee. Councilmember Bagshaw will oversee Council's work on issues relating to services provided by the Human Services Department, including programs that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community. The committee will also consider matters involving public health and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), which allows law enforcement officers to redirect low-level offenders engaged in drug or prostitution activity to community-based services.

Councilmember Tim Burgess will chair the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods and Finance Committee. As chair of this committee, Councilmember Burgess will focus on issues relating to housing—investing and promoting the development and preservation of affordable housing, and building strong neighborhoods through outreach and engagement. Councilmember Burgess will also chair the Budget committee, overseeing the review of the Mayor's proposed budget.
Councilmember Lorena González will chair the Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans Committee. As chair, Councilmember González will consider policies to address gender equity and help improve the lives of Seattle's immigrant and refugee residents.  The committee will also focus on fostering safe communities, improving police accountability, crime prevention, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, and fire and medical services.

Councilmember Bruce Harrell will chair the Education, Equity and Governance Committee. As chair, Councilmember Harrell will focus on issues relating to public schools and improving student success rates, intergovernmental relations, technology, ethics and elections, prisoner reentry and equity issues for underserved communities.

Councilmember Lisa Herbold will chair the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee. Councilmember Herbold's committee will manage issues relating to labor standards, civil rights, Seattle Public Utilities, and economic development. The committee will also manage issues relating to arts and culture in Seattle, which includes nightlife issues.

Councilmember Rob Johnson will chair the Planning, Land Use and Zoning Committee. As chair of this committee, Councilmember Johnson will take up issues involving City zoning, planning, major institutions, quasi-judicial decisions, community development, and land use regulations.

Councilmember Debora Juarez will chair the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Waterfront Committee. As chair, Councilmember Juarez will focus on issues relating to City parks, community centers, and public grounds, including the Seattle Center.  Her committee will also manage legislation relating to the Seattle Public Library system.  Councilmember Juarez will also chair the Central Waterfront committee.

Councilmember Mike O'Brien will chair the Sustainability and Transportation Committee. Councilmember O'Brien's committee will handle matters pertaining to city-wide and regional transportation policy and planning. These issues range from pedestrian and bicycle programs, traffic control and parking policies, and overseeing the City's coordination with regional and state departments of transportation. The committee will also have a shared-focus on Seattle's Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon emissions.

Councilmember Kshama Sawant will chair the Energy and Environment Committee. Councilmember Sawant's committee will handle policies relating to Seattle's energy usage, as well as issues relating to alternative energy sources, air pollution regulation, energy utility rates, and Seattle City Light finances. In addition, Councilmember Sawant will take up matters that relate to climate and environmental protections, conservation programs, and green infrastructure.

 

Standing Committee

Committee Members

Committee Meeting Days and Times

Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods & Finance

Chair:  Tim Burgess
Vice-Chair:  Lisa Herbold
Member:  Rob Johnson
Alternate:  Mike O'Brien

1st and 3rd Wednesdays
9:30 a.m.

Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development & Arts

Chair:  Lisa Herbold
Vice-Chair:  Kshama Sawant
Member:  Mike O'Brien
Alternate:  Bruce Harrell

2nd and 4th Tuesdays
9:30 a.m.

Education, Equity & Governance

Chair:  Bruce A. Harrell
Vice-Chair:  Lorena González
Member:  Debora Juarez
Alternate:  Tim Burgess

1st and 3rd Wednesdays
2:00 p.m.

Energy & Environment

Chair:  Kshama Sawant
Vice-Chair:  Debora Juarez
Member:  Lorena González
Alternate:  Sally Bagshaw

2nd and 4th Tuesdays
2:00 p.m.

Gender Equity, Safe Communities & New Americans

Chair:  Lorena Gonzalez
Vice-Chair:  Tim Burgess
Member:  Sally Bagshaw
Alternate:  Debora Juarez

2nd and 4th Wednesdays
9:30 a.m.

Human Services & Public Health

Chair:  Sally Bagshaw
Vice-Chair:  Bruce Harrell
Member:  Tim Burgess
Alternate:  Rob Johnson

2nd and 4th Wednesdays
2:00 p.m.

Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries & Waterfront

Chair:  Debora Juarez
Vice-Chair:  Sally Bagshaw
Member:  Bruce Harrell
Alternate:  Kshama Sawant

1st and 3rd Thursdays
9:30 a.m.

Planning, Land Use & Zoning

Chair:  Rob Johnson
Vice-Chair:  Mike O'Brien
Member:  Lisa Herbold
Alternate:  Lorena González

1st and 3rd Tuesdays
9:30 a.m.

Sustainability & Transportation

Chair:  Mike O'Brien
Vice-Chair:  Rob Johnson
Member:  Kshama Sawant
Alternate:  Lisa Herbold

1st and 3rd Tuesdays 2:00 p.m.

                         
Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

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December 7, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Council Forms Prisoner and Community Corrections Re-entry Work Group

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/7/2015

Council Forms Prisoner and Community Corrections Re-entry Work Group

SEATTLE - Councilunanimously approved Resolution 31637 today, which calls on City departments to convene a prisoner and community corrections re-entry work group to coordinate and strengthen the City's efforts to assist re-entry. Councilmember Bruce Harrell sponsored the resolution to help formerly-incarcerated people gain access to jobs once they've paid their debt to society. The work group will identify opportunities for more effective coordination with other criminal justice agencies and develop a set of additional recommendations the City can implement to facilitate prisoner re-entry and remove unnecessary barriers to employment and housing.

The Resolution also re-affirms the City's support for the Certificate for Restoration of Opportunity Program (CROP). CROP will help individuals with criminal histories gain access to jobs that require a vocational license. Currently, a person with a criminal record cannot attain jobs in more than 90 career paths that require vocational licenses, including barbers, commercial fishers, or dental hygienists. CROP would allow an individual to file for a civil motion certifying that the required time had passed, without any new arrests or convictions, and had met all the terms of their sentence. Councilmember Harrell intends to pursue creation of a Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity if the State Legislature does not pass one in the upcoming legislative session.

In 2015 approximately 2.2 million people are incarcerated nationally - a 500% increase in the last 30 years. Locally, 16,675 adults were incarcerated in Washington State prisons and almost 12,618 people per day are placed in local jails with 2,800 being jailed in King County. In 2014 about 20 percent of the almost 8,000 individuals released from Washington State Department of Corrections were released in King County. People of color are disproportionately represented among those released from jail in King County; a 2003 reentry study demonstrated that while African-Americans were only six percent of King County's population, 41 percent of people released from DOC were African-Americans, and while Latinos were only six percent of King County's population, 18 percent of people released from DOC were Latinos.

"We must set a new course to address the failed policies from mass incarceration," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, primary sponsor of the legislation. "The two biggest barriers for individuals re-entering society are jobs and housing. Collectively, we have failed on these two fronts and as a result, the cycle of re-incarceration often repeats itself. The failure to help these individuals has rippled through our society, impacting families, our schools, public safety, and our community. Council will work with our regional partners and lead on this effort in 2016."

Council added $136,000 in the 2016 budget to support work on Zero Detention and the Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity Program.

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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live onSeattle Channel 21,HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave and on theCity Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on theCity Council website. Follow the Council onTwitterand onFacebook.

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November 2, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Harrell’s Statement on Obama’s “Ban the Box” Announcement

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/2/2015

Harrell's Statement on Obama's "Ban the Box" Announcement

SEATTLE - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, issued the following statement regarding President Obama's "Ban the Box" announcement today:

"I applaud President Obama's order to ‘ban the box' during the hiring process for federal government employees. Statements like, ‘felons need not apply' on job applications have been barriers for employment and opportunity for millions in this country seeking re-entry into society. Research also points to racial bias and inequality for many minorities.

"Seattle has been at the forefront of reforming the criminal justice system and working to address the root causes of institutional practices that leads to recidivism. We worked with the community and Seattle's ‘ban the box' law took effect November 1, 2013. Data from the 2013 Job Assistance ‘ban the box' Legislation has demonstrated laws helping individuals gain access to jobs benefits Seattle's economy and reduces recidivism.

"The work continues and in the upcoming months we will pursue a new certificate program to help individuals with criminal histories gain access to jobs that require a vocational license. Currently, a person with a criminal record cannot attain jobs in more than 90 career paths that require vocational licenses, including barbers, commercial fishers, or dental hygienists. The Certificate for Restoration of Opportunity Program (CROP) would allow an individual to file for a civil motion certifying that the required time had passed, without any new arrests or convictions, and that they meet all the terms of their sentence. A CROP will assist a person successfully re-enter society.

"Additionally, for the 2016 budget, I am seeking $50,000 to conduct fair employment bias testing. The employment testing will seek to determine if employment opportunities are influenced by a person's perceived race, accent, sexual orientation or other protected characteristics.  Above all, I am most proud of the opportunity that we will afford people to rebuild their lives."

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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

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September 29, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember Okamoto, News Releases

City Launches Effort to Better Identify and Serve Marginalized Populations

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/29/2015

City Launches Effort to Better Identify and Serve Marginalized Populations

SEATTLE - The City launched an effort today to better identify individual ethnic populations in Seattle to accurately understand their demographic makeup to allocate resources accordingly.

Governments use demographic data, including the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey, to allocate resources and set policy, however, disparate ethnic groups are often bundled into broad categories which can result in skewed data. Currently, for instance, 25 countries represent the "Asian American and Pacific Islander" (AAPI) category in the City's data collection process, however, there are many differences among the unique groups within the AAPI classification as it relates to educational attainment, income, and health. At the State level, only 13% of Asian American adults lack a high school diploma, but disaggregated data finds that over 30% of Cambodian and Vietnamese adults lack a high school diploma.

The resolution signed today by Mayor Murray establishes a task force to recommend improvements to the City's data collection process, including standardized data collection among all City departments and utilizing disaggregated data.

"Based on the way data is collected, certain populations in our city are invisible and are often overlooked when it comes to important resource allocation and service delivery," said Councilmember John Okamoto, co-sponsor of the resolution. "Seattle will be one of the first cities in the nation to undertake this data disaggregation effort, if not the first, and I'd like to thank engaged community members for bringing this issue to my attention."

"Seattle must be a more equitable City. We can achieve that by breaking down the generalizations that have underrepresented our communities of color and immigrants," said Mayor Ed Murray. "More accurate and specific data will help the City deliver better services and improve outcomes for our residents. I applaud Councilmember Okamoto for his leadership on this issue

"I understand the broad strokes we sometimes place on our ethnic communities," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. This work takes an inclusive analysis in refining the data to help us do a better job of providing services and resources where they are needed. It is time we look at specific demographic information to help us achieve targeted solutions."

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Most press conferences and meetings are broadcast live to the web by Seattle Channel at either seattle.gov/mayorlive or seattle.gov/councillive

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September 16, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Councilmember Harrell to Pursue Proposal Allowing Formerly Incarcerated People Access to Vocational Jobs

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/15/2015

Councilmember Harrell to Pursue Proposal Allowing Formerly Incarcerated People Access to Vocational Jobs

Seattle - Councilmember Bruce Harrell will introduce a draft resolution Wednesday to pursue a new certificate program to help individuals with criminal histories gain access to jobs that require a vocational license. Currently, a person with a criminal record cannot attain jobs in more than 90 career paths that require vocational licenses, including barbers, commercial fishers, or dental hygienists. The Certificate for Restoration of Opportunity Program (CROP), which is being pursued by Councilmember Harrell, would allow an individual to file for a civil motion certifying that the required time had passed, without any new arrests or convictions, and had met all the terms of their sentence. 

The CROP proposal expands on Council's efforts to improve public safety and access to jobs.  Data from the 2013 Job Assistance "Ban the Box" Legislation has demonstrated laws helping individuals gain access to jobs benefits Seattle's economy and reduces recidivism.

Legislation to enact the CROP program statewide was introduced during the 2015 State Legislative session. House Representative Brady Walkinshaw was successful in unanimously passing HB 1553 out of the House, but the bill did not pass out of the Senate Committee.  The bill will be re-introduced in 2016.

 

WHAT:
Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity discussion at the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee

WHEN:        
Wednesday, September 16
2:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Council Chambers, 2nd floor
Seattle City Hall
600 Fourth Ave., Seattle 98104

WHO:
Councilmembers
Mayor's Office
Columbia Legal Services

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August 11, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember Licata, News Releases

New tool created to track enforcement of minimum wage, paid sick leave, job assistance, and wage theft laws

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/11/2015

New tool created to track enforcement of minimum wage, paid sick leave, job assistance, and wage theft laws

SEATTLE - Today Mayor Ed Murray, along with the City Council and the newly-created Office of Labor Standards (OLS), unveiled a website that allows the public to track enforcement of Seattle’s minimum wage, paid sick and safe leave, wage theft, and job assistance ordinance. The dashboard compiles data collected by OLS and presents the information in a digestible format.

“The public needs to be able to see how the new Office of Labor Standards is working effectively to ensure workers are paid and treated fairly under Seattle’s strong labor laws,” Mayor Murray said. “This new tool allows employers and workers to access readily-available data to show the progress we’re making with enforcing our labor standards and historic minimum wage increase, and where we still need to improve.”

Councilmember Nick Licata said, “This dashboard helps bring to light that employees are being denied wages in Seattle. I’m heartened to know that workers have access to these statistics and that there’s a City agency dedicated to investigating and remedying the situation.”

As of June 2015, the dashboard shows that City has responded to over 3,500 employer and 800 employee questions about Seattle’s labor standards. Since the beginning of the year, OLS has opened 72 new investigations and closed 47 cases.

“The dashboard demonstrates the work we are doing to enforce Seattle’s labor standards, makes our work accessible and transparent to the public, and helps us better track our progress,” said Dylan Orr, Director of the Office of Labor Standards. “We hope this inspires employers to contact us with questions about their obligations, and workers to contact us with questions about their rights and to report violations.”

Every month, OLS will update the dashboard with information, including employee and employer inquiries; new, open, and closed investigations; employees receiving remedies; and the total amount of remedies recovered for employees.

“This new online tool transforms the way the city provides labor enforcement data to the public,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. “Providing information in real-time and transparently ensures that we hold everyone accountable in order to protect our workers.”

OLS encourages questions about the dashboard and Seattle’s labor standards, including reports of violations, by email (laborstandards@seattle.gov), phone (206-684-4500) and walk-in appointments at the downtown office (810 Third Avenue, Suite 750 Seattle, WA 98104). Information about Seattle’s labor standards can be found at www.seattle.gov/laborstandards.

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August 10, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden, Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Joint Mayor & Council Statement on Passage of All-gender Restrooms Legislation

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/10/2015

Joint Mayor & Council Statement on Passage of All-gender Restrooms Legislation

SEATTLE – Today Mayor Ed Murray and City Councilmembers Jean Godden and Bruce Harrell issued the following statements after the Council unanimously passed legislation requiring all City-controlled and privately operated places of public accommodation to designate existing and future single-stall restrooms as all-gender facilities. The legislation also clarifies existing law allowing individuals to use the restroom of their chosen gender identity or expression. The legislation was a recommendation from the Mayor's LGBT Task Force and the City of Seattle's LGBTQ Commission.

"The action taken today by the City Council will make Seattle a more welcoming place for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation," said Mayor Murray. "No one should live in fear when they use basic accommodations most of us take for granted. That's why we sent this legislation to the Seattle City Council. I applaud the Council for taking this important step to provide respect and safety for members of the transgender community."

This legislation will provide for all-gender restroom facilities and amend the Seattle Municipal Code so that single-occupant restrooms will no longer be restricted to a specific sex or gender identity. Single-occupant restrooms in City facilities and all public accommodations (including restaurants, coffee shops, stores, etc.) must have signage that makes it clear that they are not gender exclusive and allow use by any person regardless of sex or gender identity, rather than just "men" or "women." The Seattle Office of Civil Rights (SOCR) will be responsible for enforcing these changes.

Despite existing laws protecting a person's right to use a restroom consistent with their gender identity, transgender and gender nonconforming people are frequently excluded from using facilities consistent with their gender identity, and use of gender-segregated restrooms can create unnecessary risk for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

"Everyone, regardless of gender, deserves the ability to meet their most basic needs. All-gender single occupancy bathrooms are practical and help ensure everyone has equal access to a quality life," said Councilmember Jean Godden. "This small step represents acceptance and freedom for many. I'm proud Seattleites are as dedicated as I am to pursuing equality and eliminating inequity wherever it exists."

"Enacting this civil rights legislation that requires all single-stall restrooms as all-gender restrooms should not be understated," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology committee. "This is an inclusive and progressive measure that ensures all individuals have equal access to take care of their health needs. Let's be defined by our compassion and inclusiveness."

In July of this year, the Mayor and his LGBT Task Force released an action plan to support LGBTQ safety. The Task Force was convened in response to anti-LGBTQ hate crimes or incidents reported to Seattle police. The plan is organized into four areas: Public Safety, LGBTQ Youth, the Built Environment, and Public Understanding. One of the key Built Environment proposals was for the City to clarify that individuals have the right to use a restroom appropriate to their gender identity or expression.


Most press conferences and meetings are broadcast live to the web by Seattle Channel at either seattle.gov/mayorlive or seattle.gov/councillive

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Office of the Mayor

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