SEATTLE – Following their recent designation of illegal drag racing zones, the Seattle City Council passed two additional pillars of the traffic camera enforcement strategy, as sponsored by Councilmember Alex Pedersen for safer streets. The suite of new legislation will create safer streets throughout the city by authorizing the addition of automated traffic cameras in hospital zones and...
Category: Pedersen
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Innovative Strategy to Maximize Permanent Affordable Housing and Transit Access to Address Homelessness Crisis Passes Seattle’s Transportation Committee
SEATTLE – The Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Committee passed today legislation sponsored by Councilmember Alex Pedersen, which will increase the space for low-income housing by creatively rerouting a public alley in the heart of the University District. Centrally located on NE 45th Street between Roosevelt Way and 11th Avenue NE, the alley currently splits two parcels that, when combined by the legislation, will enable dozens of additional housing units permanently available to low-income residents. Under an innovative arrangement crafted by Councilmember...
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Councilmember Pedersen urges reduction of harmful regressive taxes as part of City Hall’s emerging ideas for new revenue
SEATTLE – Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) issued the following statement in response to today’s release of the report by the City of Seattle’s Revenue Stabilization Workgroup. “To this day, Seattle has never replaced a regressive tax with a progressive one. While I appreciate the hard work of City Hall’s revenue group, I am concerned that their search for new...
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Councilmember Pedersen Celebrates Agreement to Save Luma, the Magnificent Cedar Tree in Northeast Seattle; Much Work to do to Protect Trees Throughout the City
SEATTLE – Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) issued the following statement celebrating today’s announced agreement to save Luma, the magnificent cedar tree in Northeast Seattle, so it is not cut down as part of a development project: “Today we celebrate the agreement to save the magnificent Luma cedar tree in Northeast Seattle, and tomorrow we have much work to do to improve tree protections throughout our...
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Seattle City Council passes transportation safety legislation that discourages dangerous drag racing with automated enforcement
The Seattle City Council passed legislation today to reduce drag racing and dangerous driving. The ordinance, sponsored by Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle and South Park) and Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle), kickstarts the city’s plans to install speed enforcement cameras in key areas of the city that are...
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Councilmember Pedersen launches bold tax reform to make the system more fair for Seattle
Pedersen’s fiscally responsible tax reform legislation would, for the first time, eliminate a regressive tax for everyone and offset that water tax revenue with a local 2% capital gains excise tax. SEATTLE – Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle) announced today a bold tax reform to make our system more fair for Seattle with legislation eliminating...
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Statements by Councilmembers Nelson & Pedersen and City Attorney Davison on the Possession and Public Drug Use Bill Vote
Councilmembers Sara Nelson (District 9, Citywide) and Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle), and City Attorney Ann Davison issued the following statements today following a vote on Council Bill 120586, which failed by a vote of 5 – 4 today in Full Council. The bill would have made the knowing possession and public use of illegal drugs...
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New Survey of Seattle Residents Reveals 75% Support for Impact Fees to Pay for Transportation Infrastructure
Councilmember Pedersen Urges Policymakers to Listen to Results of the Survey SEATTLE – Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) released new survey results revealing the views of Seattle residents on pressing transportation and related topics, including 75% support for impact fees to help pay for transportation infrastructure. Conducted May 5 through May 13, 2023, the survey asked several...
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City Attorney Ann Davison, Councilmember Sara Nelson, Councilmember Alex Pedersen announce new legislation to improve public safety and discourage the public consumption of controlled substances
City Attorney Ann Davison proposed legislation with City Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen to prohibit the use of drugs in public places including parks, sidewalks, bus stops, and public transit. This legislation is modeled after a similar ordinance passed this month in Bellingham. This legislation acknowledges the public health crisis of substance use disorder...
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Councilmember Alex Pedersen Not Seeking Re-Election for 2024
Councilmember Alex Pedersen (D-4 Northeast Seattle) issued the following statement regarding his decision about re-election: “Striving to serve the public as a voice of reason during tumultuous times has been an honor, but I am not a career politician. While I appreciate the encouragement from several neighborhood leaders from Wallingford to Wedgwood, I have decided...