Council Bill 121215, my legislation related to SEPA appeals, will expedite Seattle’s ability to address our most pressing issues, from mitigating climate change to building more homes. If we work together and plan strategically, we can have abundant and affordable housing, alongside a robust urban tree canopy with clean air and water. But this is...
Three Seattle City Councilmembers announced a proposal today to fund universal free school meals for all Seattle Public School students starting this fall, while maintaining new investments aimed at ensuring low-income students have food on their tables at home. The proposal is sponsored by Councilmember and Budget Chair Dan Strauss (District 6), Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), and Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9). It...
City Council will consider final passage on July 28 Today, the Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee passed legislation (Council Bill 121259), introduced by Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9), that will safeguard homeowners’ privacy and protect them from predatory homebuyers. The bill creates a City-managed ‘Do Not Solicit” list, shielding property owners from unwanted sales...
Today Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4), chair of the Select Committee on the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy, celebrated the passage of the implementation plan out of committee. “For 35 years, Seattle voters have consistently invested in setting our kids up for a lifetime of success. This includes high-quality early learning all the...
Amendment addresses food inequity for struggling families during weekends and school breaks Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3) and Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9), supported by community advocates, are co-sponsoring an amendment to the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Implementation Plan. The amendment will provide food support for low-income families when students need...
Proposed renewal package prioritizes transit safety, reliability, and accessibility Today, the City Council unanimously passed the 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM) to fund public transit and related transportation programs over the next 10 years. The amended legislation passed out of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), on July 16. The STM...
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) shared the following observations, following a letter he sent to Mayor Katie B. Wilson on Monday, July 20. As the City Council gears up for the upcoming fall budget process, the City of Seattle is facing a projected $175 million budget deficit next year. There’s a narrative that West Coast blue cities are incapable of being well run. We must push back on that narrative, starting with prudence around our budget, spending, and taxes. Every day,...
My two amendments to secure better bus service for our neighborhoods passed in the Seattle Transportation Benefit District Committee! They are now part of the Seattle Transit Measure that will be on the ballot this November. We need better transit now more than ever. With Ballard, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, Phinney Ridge, and Magnolia all...
Balances priorities related to transit accessibility, equity, safety, and oversight Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), Chair of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, announced his comprehensive package of recommended amendments to the proposed 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM). Introduced following Monday’s remote and in-person public hearings, the Chair’s package aims to...
Today, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the largest expansion of an affordability program in the City’s recent memory. Council Bill 121222, sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) and co-sponsored by Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), expands the city’s Utility Discount Program to include 31,000 new low-income households, saving them more than $1,000 per year,...