FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/21/2015
Burgess Statement on Council Vote to Approve Local Control for Rental Housing
SEATTLE - Council voted today to support efforts by the State Legislature to allow local governments to increase the supply of rent-res...
This morning City Council’s housing committee passed two pieces of legislation I sponsored and introduced earlier this year related to affordable housing preservation and tenant protections. This bills will go to the Full Council on Monday. One bill requires that,...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/16/2015
Council Committee to Consider Ban on Limiting Rent Increases
SEATTLE - Council's Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee will consider a resolution on state prohibition of rent control tomorrow, which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata. The resolution urges state legislators to change the Washington State law restricting local governments from instituting rent control or regulating rents. If the state ban were lifted, Seattle would have the option to pursue rent regulation legislation locally. Current state law does not allow cities to limit rent increases. Seattle has seen rent increases of up to 145% during 2015.
Councilmembers Sawant and Licata support having rent control as an option as part of a bold and comprehensive set of solutions to preserve affordable housing in Seattle.
Members of the public are encouraged to share their perspective during the public comment period at this Thursday's 9:30 a.m. meeting. This will be Council's first discussion on the resolution. Councilmembers Licata and Sawant debated the concept earlier this year at Town Hall Seattle in front of hundreds of spectators.
The committee is expected to vote on the proposal at the following meeting on Thursday, September 24 at 9:30 a.m. The resolution will then be considered at Full Council.
Councilmembers Licata and Sawant will be available after the committee meeting to respond to media inquiries.
WHAT:
Initial rent control discussion at the Council's Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee
WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Council Chambers, Second Floor
600 4th Ave., Seattle 98104
WHEN:
Thursday, September 17
9:30 a.m.
WHO:
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Members of the Council’s Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee
I want to thank the 43rd Legislative District Democrats for voting unanimously last night to pass a resolution in support of legislation Councilmember Sawant and I are sponsoring to ask the state legislature to repeal or modify the state prohibition on restricting rent increases. I give a special thanks to Colin Maloney for submitting the […]
I want to thank the 43rd Legislative District Democrats for voting unanimously last night to pass a resolution in support of legislation Councilmember Sawant and I are sponsoring to ask the state legislature to repeal or modify the state prohibition on restricting rent increases. I give a special thanks to Colin Maloney for submitting the […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/15/2015
Council to host Public Hearing on SR 520 West-End Design
SEATTLE - Council's Transportation Committee will host a Public Hearing Wednesday evening to hear public feedback regarding Seattle's goals for the proposed design of the west-end of the SR 520 bridge replacement project. In July 2015, the Washington State Legislature approved funding for remainder of the 520 project. Council is preparing to adopt a resolution which outlines the City of Seattle's priorities and principles as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) moves forward to finish design and begin construction on the West Side of the SR 520 bridge replacement project.
The resolution under consideration concurs with the 2015 Final Design Concept Report, which calls for a box girder style bridge including a bike and pedestrian path over Portage Bay, redesigned highway lids with a new land bridge, and multimodal connectivity improvements. The City is also asking WSDOT to consider an additional bike and pedestrian bridge across the Montlake Cut, transit priority enhancements, intelligent transportation system improvements (ITS), improved pedestrian safety at the Montlake interchange, and neighborhood traffic enhancements.
Each member of the public will have up to 2 minutes to address the committee, and public comment sign-up sheets will be available at 5:15 p.m.
For more information, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/I5toLakeWa/default.htm
WHAT:
Council Public Hearing regarding the west-end design of the SR 520 Bridge
WHERE:
University Christian Church
4731 15th Ave NE, Seattle, 98105
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 16
5:30 p.m.
WHO:
Seattle City Councilmembers
Public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/15/2015
Council President Burgess' Statement on Disciplinary Decision by Chief O’Toole
SEATTLE - Council President Tim Burgess issued the following statement in response to the decision of Seattle Police Department Chief Kathleen O'Toole to fire Officer Cynthia Whitlatch:
"The Chief of Police has sent a strong and appropriate signal. Officer behavior that compromises public trust is not acceptable in Seattle.
"When the Council confirmed Chief O’Toole last year, we expected her to set a high bar for our officers. Since that time, Chief O'Toole has taken strong measures to create a culture of effective and constitutional policing and to restore pride within the department.
"Public trust and confidence in the police is necessary for effective policing and public safety. Respectful and responsible day-to-day encounters between police officers and the public are the basis of this trust.
"I appreciate the Chief's strong and decisive leadership and I value the efforts of the women and men of the police department who work every day to keep our community safe."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/9/2015
Licata to Push for Public Pension Coal Divestment in Seattle
SEATTLE - Following the California Legislature's vote to divest their 2 public pension systems from coal earlier this month, the Seattle City Employees' Re...
BREAKING NEWS Yesterday, the California State Assembly voted to divest the state’s public pension funds, from coal. I have been asking Seattle’s own public pension board to consider doing the same. In support of the bill, pro tem Senate President Kevin de León said: “Coal is losing value quickly and investing in coal is a […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/31/2015
Mayor, Councilmember Rasmussen Announce Support of SR 520 West Side Design
Seattle’s Design Preferences Expressed in New Resolution
SEATTLE -- Today Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmember Tom Rasmussen introduced a resolution outlining the City of Seattle’s priorities and principles as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) moves forward to finish design and begin construction on the West Side of the SR 520 bridge replacement project. The resolution incorporates years of feedback and engagement from the local community and stakeholders, and represents a unified policy position from the City on the major design elements of the project.
“The 520 bridge is a critical transportation corridor and economic lifeline for the region. The final design must improve the flow of the roadway and the livability of the communities that surround it,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “This resolution represents an important next step as we work with our state partners to complete the project so that it is seismically safe and works for all modes – cars, transit, bicycles and pedestrians. For the first time, we will have a unified City position on the design of the project.”
“After more than a decade working on SR 520 issues, I am eager for this project to be completed. The design includes features that create more usable and integrated spaces for the community, provide safe connections for bikes and pedestrians and keep cars and transit moving,” said Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen. “This resolution affirms the commitment of the Council to work with the Mayor to ensure a successful outcome.”
In July 2015, the Washington State Legislature approved funding for remainder of the 520 project, which has been named the “Rest of the West” by WSDOT. The City’s resolution concurs with the 2015 Final Design Concept Report, which calls for a box girder style bridge including a bike and pedestrian path over Portage Bay, redesigned highway lids with a new land bridge, and multimodal connectivity improvements. The City is also asking WSDOT to consider an additional bike and pedestrian bridge across the Montlake Cut, transit priority enhancements, intelligent transportation system improvements (ITS), improved pedestrian safety at the Montlake interchange, and neighborhood traffic enhancements.
“We are pleased by the progress so far and look forward to continuing to work with the City and WSDOT to ensure the highest quality final design,” said Lionel Job, of the community group Montlake Neigborhood Greenways.
WSDOT and the City previously agreed to the following design framework through the Seattle Community Design Process in 2013:
Council will host a Public Hearing to hear community feedback on the resolution. The hearing will be held at University Christian Church located at 4731 15th Ave. NE on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. Full Council is expected to vote on the resolution in late September.
To read the full resolution, click: www.seattle.gov/council/attachments/SR520Resolution.pdf
For more information, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/I5toLakeWa/default.htm
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