The Council passed legislation to renew and expand the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) on May 6. The Metropolitan Improvement District is a business improvement area that provides a variety of programs Downtown, funded through an assessment on Downtown properties. The programs include cleaning, safety, marketing, business development and research, and transit, bike and parking services. [...]
Category: Councilmember Licata
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Assistance from the Council for Nickelsville?
For the City to address the health and safety of current residents, address the concerns of neighbors, and support the Food Lifeline project we must work together to find a way to facilitate the relocation of the residents of the Nickelsville encampment.
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Skateable Art for Myrtle Edwards Park
Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Office of Arts and Culture, and Red Bull are inviting people to a public meeting this Wednesday, May 29th, from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Belltown Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to learn about and comment upon The Red Bull energy drink company’s commissioning of an artist [...]
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Update on Marijuana in Seattle and Washington
It’s been an eventful week or so for marijuana news in Seattle. On Wednesday, May 22nd, the Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture committee voted to move a marijuana zoning ordinance to the Full Council meeting on Monday, June 3. In addition, the Washington State Liquor Control Board has released a first draft of rules [...]
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Green Buildings Resolution
Resolution 31400 declares the City’s intent to promote developments achieving the highest level of environmental sustainability.
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Councilmembers to host discussion on Targeted Hiring for city-funded capital projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/21/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmembers to host discussion on Targeted Hiring for city-funded capital projects
SEATTLE - Join Councilmembers and a p...
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Targeted Hiring Forum at City Hall
For many families, the difference between a dead-end job and a living-wage career is a construction job.
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UP #336 Council Vote on South Lake Union Rezone
The City Council approved a rezone of the South Lake neighborhood on Monday, May 6 by a 9-0 vote. The rezone increases maximum building heights to 400 feet adjacent to Denny, and 240 feet in much of SLU to Mercer, aside from the Cascade neighborhood. Previous zoning was 65 to 85 feet in most of [...]
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Steamed Over Arts Education
Just as important as engineering and math is the innovative thinking and creativity that can allow science to be more than merely an exercise.
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City to develop outreach strategies for Affordable Care Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/13/2013
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Nick Licata
City to develop outreach strategies for Affordable Care Act
Seattle - Seattle City Council adopted a resolution today enlisting City departments to develop outreach strategies to educate and inform the public about new healthcare coverage programs made available through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Departments will coordinate with the efforts of community partners to enroll all newly eligible residents in the new healthcare coverage options.
"The City of Seattle has an extraordinary opportunity to increase the health of our residents by working diligently on enrolling folks in the health care insurance exchange,"said Councilmember Richard Conlin, sponsor of the resolution. "This is one of the most significant advances in health care since the implementation of Medicare in 1965 and it is imperative that we take a leadership role in this."
Seattle's outreach plan will include person-to-person support for individuals, particularly communities who need more intensive help with the application processes and accessing health care services. The Affordable Health Care Act requires that most members of the public enroll for healthcare coverage by January 2014. An estimated 30,000 Seattle residents will become eligible for subsidized health care coverage through Washington's Health Benefit Exchange and Council has made it a priority to enroll them all.
Councilmember Nick Licata said, "The Council action to expedite healthcare coverage is particularly timely considering this week's report that each year in the US, 11,300 newborns die within 24 hours of their birth, 50% more than all other industrialized countries combined."
"Nearly 60,000 Seattle residents are currently without health insurance,"said Mayor Mike McGinn. "I am enlisting City departments to inform and enroll people into expanded Medicaid and subsidized insurance that will soon be available through the Affordable Care Act. This is an unprecedented opportunity that will help our residents receive the care they need and lower health care costs by decreasing reliance on high-cost medical services including emergency room visits."
"We have a landmark opportunity to increase access to health care in our community,"said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "By connecting residents to coverage, we will ultimately improve the health of our community."