This afternoon Mayor Murray unveiled his framework for a new Department of Education and Early Learning in city government. I fully support this move and will work for its inclusion in the City’s 2015 budget. The City Council called for...
Category: Past Councilmembers
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UP #356: Seattle Park District Next Steps
After hearing residents complain they weren’t sufficiently involved in the Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) development of the initial proposal for a Seattle Park District, I proposed a short term 3-year parks levy in its place. My intention was to continue the previous levy’s level of parks funding while allowing more time to involve […]
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Gender Wage Gap: A Report Card
It’s taking time, more time than anyone would like, but we’ve rolled up our sleeves and are laying the ground work necessary to address the region’s jumbo-sized gender wage gap.
Last year, the National Partnership for Women and Families reported that the Seattle area has one of the widest wage gaps in the nation: on average, women make 73 cents for every dollar men earn. City leaders, responding to a request from the Women’s Commission, studied our own gender wage gap and learned we’re not off the hook: the City’s gender wage gap is 99 cents on the dollar and much worse in certain departments.
As chair of the Seattle City Council’s first committee to oversee the work to … Continue Reading »
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Councilmember Godden Statement on Acting Parks Superintendent Williams
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/20/2014
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Godden Statement on Acting Parks Superintendent Williams
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Gender Pay Equity Committee, released the following statement in response to Christopher Williams stepping down as Acting Superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation:
"When I became Chair of the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries, and Gender Pay Equity Committee in January, Christopher Williams reached out and was a great help to me.
"His job as Parks Superintendent is a very visible and stressful one. I have been a great admirer of how well Christopher has handled responsibilities, especially during the great recession, when the Parks Department lost about 20 percent of its general fund support. Even in difficult years, there were some amazing successes – the opening of a Belltown Community Center, the renovation of Kinnear Park and the Maple Leaf Reservoir, just to name a few.
"I look forward to continue working with Christopher in his role as Deputy Parks Superintendent to build a strong Seattle Parks District and to secure the future of our great parks system for generations to come."
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First Look at the West Seattle Route of the Seattle Bicycle Plan
Often I meet with people to learn more about their traffic and transportation concerns. For example, I have ridden in a large oil tanker truck to experience the challenges of freight from Ballard to Harbor Island. I have gone out on boats in the Ship Canal to learn more about maritime and industrial concerns and […]
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Women in the Workplace: Marination
What do you do when the world hands you a lemon? Folk wisdom says you make lemonade. The Marination duo had a different answer: Make Hawaiian-Korean tacos.
Marination is a crazy, runaway success story that co-owner Kamala Saxton likes to talk about. The story began five years ago when Kamala and co-owner Roz Edison, had some financial reverses, like many of us who weathered the Great Recession.
Roz and Kamala became acquainted while both were working in educational programs in Boston. Kamala, a one-time Seattleite who grew up in Hawaii and California, has degrees in education and public policy and a professional background at the Gates Foundation. Roz, who was born in Greece and has lived in Romania, is Chinese and Filipina and … Continue Reading »
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UP #355: My letter to Congress regarding the Gaza crisis
Since the beginning of last week, over 1,000 people have contacted my office expressing their thoughts and concerns about the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and whether it is within the role of a Seattle City Councilmember to express their opinion on these kinds of issues. I believe that it is important for Councilmembers to […]
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Women in the Workplace: Joanne Ort CPA
When Joanne Ort went off to the University of Washington in the 1980s, she thought she’d emerge as a doctor. That was before organic chemistry. The college class left her scratching her head. Instead she enrolled in accounting and discovered a perfect fit.
The switch shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Joanne’s dad and one of her sisters were CPAs and she was about to become one. She graduated with a business degree, later acquiring a master’s with a tax concentration. 
She says, “I always knew I wanted to have my own practice.” And, after raising two children and working for three accounting firms, she has reached that goal with Joanne Ort CPA. Hers is a small business with one … Continue Reading »
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Council Urges Federal Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Help Seattle Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/11/2014
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Council Urges Federal Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Help Seattle Families
SEATTLE - City Council unanimously adopte...