Category: News Releases

Home » News Releases
Screengrab of the redesigned council website.
Post

Council webpages get a fresh look

New design emphasizes accessibility, popular links Beginning in late August, visitors to Seattle.gov/Council will notice something a little bit different. The website has been completely revamped thanks to a successful partnership between the Council Communications Team, Seattle IT, and Legislative Department IT teams. This effort revived a previously abandoned project to modernize the site, resulting...

Post

Mayor Harrell and Councilmember Hollingsworth Statement on August 30 Event

The following news release was published by the Mayor’s office. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3) released the following statement after Seattle Parks and Recreation issued a park use permit for a religious concert event at Gas Works Park:  “According to the law, the City cannot deny or unilaterally relocate permits...

aerial view of Lake Washington ship canal at sunset
Post

Take the Comp Plan Survey on District 6 Neighborhood Centers

Our Comprehensive Plan survey is now live! The Seattle City Council is getting ready to take final votes on the Comprehensive Plan and legislation to comply with House Bill 1110 (the “middle housing” bill), and Councilmember Strauss wants your feedback.  Background on the Comp Plan The Comprehensive Plan is the city’s 20-year roadmap for how our...

Mayor Harrell sitting, smiling and holding a pen while surrounded by a group of people standing and smiling. The group includes Councilmember Rinck, Councilmember Saka, and other stakeholders to the bill
Post

Council approves Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax rebalancing proposal for November ballot

‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ aimed at addressing City budget deficit, ensuring funding for emergency shelters and homelessness prevention, supporting food access, addressing gender-based violence, and aiding small business and worker’s rights This afternoon, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved sending the ‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ to the November 2025 ballot for voter consideration. The legislation proposes cuts...

Post

Councilmember Rivera statement on proposed B&O exemptions for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital

Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement on today’s Council vote related to the business and occupation tax proposal. “Non-profit institutions like Fred Hutch and Children’s provide comprehensive critical and life-saving care to kids and cancer patients in our city. Not only are they losing Federal research dollars, but they will also be...

Post

Council President Sara Nelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell Announce Proposals to Ease Small Business Permitting

The following news release was published by the Mayor’s Office. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson introduced two new pieces of legislation to accelerate retail occupancy by amending existing building codes and reducing time-consuming regulatory barriers and costs for small businesses seeking to activate vacant commercial storefronts.   “In Seattle we...

Post

Council approves Council President Nelson’s bill dedicating anticipated public safety tax revenue to recovery services 

Today, the Council approved by an 8-0 vote a resolution introduced by Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) to dedicate up to 25% of any proposed sales tax increase to a progressive public safety initiative that would invest in critical addiction treatment services. The goal of the initiative is to fill treatment gaps in existing...

Post

Councilmember Strauss celebrates appointment of Councilmember Juarez

Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) released the following statement after the Seattle City Council voted to appoint Debora Juarez, who was twice elected by the people of District 5, to fill the vacant seat on Council. “I’m so happy to welcome Councilmember Juarez back to the Seattle City Council. She has a track record of...

Debora Juarez raising her right hand in front of microphone while the Seattle City Clerk swears her in and a man stands next to her
Post

Council appoints Debora Juarez to fill District 5 vacancy

Twice-elected former councilmember will serve until November 2026 The City Council voted today to appoint Debora Juarez to fill the vacant position representing District 5, which encompasses north Seattle. After one round of voting, Juarez received the necessary five-vote majority for the appointment. The appointment is effective immediately and will last until November 2026, when...

Post

Housing & Human Services Committee business to be heard at full Council next Tuesday, July 29

Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released this statement following the lack of quorum at Wednesday’s Housing & Human Services (HHS) Committee meeting. “I want to acknowledge the frustration my excused absence contributed to the lack of quorum at yesterday’s HHS committee meeting and apologize to the people who took the time to show up...