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...
Category: News
Post
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...
Post
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...
Post
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...
Post
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.
Post
Councilmember Rivera’s statement on reported firing of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes by Mayor
Today, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has fired Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes: “It has been 24 hours since rumors started swirling about the firing of Chief Barnes, and we have not heard one word from Mayor Wilson. This is unacceptable. “If true, the impulsive and reckless...
Post
Councilmember Rinck statement on possible dismissal of Seattle Police Chief Barnes
Today Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) released the following statement: “Our community has been in mourning. This past weekend alone, 13 of our neighbors were shot, injured, or killed from gun violence. “This includes a shooting on Thursday evening that injured three women off Aurora Avenue, another that happened in Capitol Hill that...
Post
Councilmember Saka statement on reported dismissal of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes by Mayor
Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee, issued the following statement regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has dismissed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes: “If indeed, media reports turn out to be true, I am deeply disappointed by Mayor Wilson’s decision to remove Chief Barnes from his position as Seattle’s...
Post
City Councilmembers and Mayor celebrate progress for housing and environment with passage of SEPA appeals legislation
Today the City Council passed Council Bill 121215, streamlining appeals processes for zoning and planning actions by the city. The legislation impacts appeals related to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). City officials praised the passage of the necessary reform to mitigate climate change and build more homes. “We need more homes in Seattle,” said...
Post
City Council approves implementation plan for Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy
Select Committee Chair Maritza Rivera led two-year Council process to reach this milestone Today, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the implementation and evaluation plan for the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, which supports early learning, K-12 students, and the Seattle Promise. The implementation plan (Council Bill 121240) is a required component...