On Tuesday, the City Council passed the mid-year supplemental budget including an amendment from Councilmember Lin that invests $500,000 in a Northern District 2 community fund. The City Council directed these funds to the Human Services Department (HSD) to provide two neighborhood outreach positions focused on North Beacon Hill and North Rainier. “North Beacon Hill...
Category: News Releases
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Public Safety Chair Kettle shares his experience of the night of the Seattle Center shooting
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) released the following statement on his constructed timeline the night of the July 26 mass shooting at Seattle Center. The timeline was discussed earlier today at the Public Safety Committee. “After receiving a call about the mass shooting from Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, I immediately went to Seattle Center. I...
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Councilmember Kettle Bite of Seattle Timeline
(Approximately 6 p.m. – preliminary reports of gunfire to SPD) 6:10 p.m. – Multiple notifications from the community (6:29 p.m. – First X/Twitter post from SPD investigating shooting at Seattle Center) 6:38 p.m. – First of series of texts to CMBK office staff 7:05 p.m. – Deputy Mayor (DM) Surratt call 7:09 p.m. – Councilmember...
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Public Safety Chair Kettle calls for systematic review of Seattle Center shooting incident
On Monday, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) delivered a letter to Mayor Katie B. Wilson, calling on her office to collaborate on a procedural review of the handling of last month’s Seattle Center mass shooting, including potential lessons learned. “The tragedy that recently unfolded during the Bite of Seattle at Seattle Center on July 26...
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Councilmember Strauss announces legislation to create pathways to housing for people living in their vehicles
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) announced six new pieces of legislation today, called the Vehicle Resident Assistance Program (VRAP), aimed at creating pathways to shelter and housing for people who live in their vehicles. “One out of every four people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our region is living in their vehicle. Right now,...
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Councilmember Rivera thanks Seattle voters for strong Library Levy renewal support
Today Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4), chair of the Libraries, Education and Neighborhoods Committee who helped oversee the levy renewal process, thanked Seattle voters for overwhelmingly approving the ballot measure. Initial results showed voter support at over 70%. The $480 million Library Levy will fund a number of critical services for the Seattle Public Library’s...
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Councilmember Foster champions successful youth homelessness prevention program for Seattle
City, philanthropy, and community partners unite to keep young people safely housed Today Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9) announced a proven public-private partnership that will bring Washington state’s nationally recognized Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) to Seattle, helping young people remain safely housed and preventing youth homelessness. Enabled through the City’s 2026 Mid-Year Supplemental Budget, the partnership leverages City investment and philanthropic funding from the Washington Acceleration Fund, which is matching the Seattle Human...
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Sound Transit announces timeline for building light rail to Ballard
Sound Transit announced today that the Ballard Light Rail Extension could begin service to Market Street in Ballard by 2042 if it is able to close the project’s funding gap by 2033. “As a board and an agency, we are united in our commitment to deliver the full Ballard Light Rail Extension and all voter-approved ST3 projects,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay (Sound Transit Board...
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City Councilmembers react to Police Chief Barnes’ departure, voice major concerns
Today Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5), Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7, Public Safety Chair), released this statement following an official announcement from Mayor Katie B. Wilson that Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned. “Our city faces profound public safety challenges, from youth gun violence destroying lives to drug markets and human trafficking plaguing our neighborhoods. After the Seattle Center shooting, our focus should be on the lives lost and how...
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Councilmembers respond to reported dismissal of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes
Councilmembers released the following statements regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has dismissed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes.