Councilmembers released the following statements regarding unofficial reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has dismissed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes.
Category: Top Story
Councilmembers respond to Seattle Center shooting
Councilmembers released the following statements after gun violence at Seattle Center claimed the lives of three people during the Bite of Seattle annual food festival. # # #
Public Safety Chair Kettle’s statement following Sunday’s mass shooting at Seattle Center
Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, released the following statement after gun violence at Seattle Center claimed the lives of three people during the Bite of Seattle annual food festival. “Last night’s shooting at the Seattle Center was a profound tragedy, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and loved...
City Council sends updated Seattle Transit Measure to November ballot
Proposed renewal package prioritizes transit safety, reliability, and accessibility Today, the City Council unanimously passed the 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM) to fund public transit and related transportation programs over the next 10 years. The amended legislation passed out of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), on July 16. The STM...
Chair Saka unveils amendment package for Seattle Transit Measure renewal
Balances priorities related to transit accessibility, equity, safety, and oversight Today, Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), Chair of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, announced his comprehensive package of recommended amendments to the proposed 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM). Introduced following Monday’s remote and in-person public hearings, the Chair’s package aims to...
City Council passes Strauss proposal to dramatically reduce utility costs for 31,000 low-income households
Today, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the largest expansion of an affordability program in the City’s recent memory. Council Bill 121222, sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) and co-sponsored by Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), expands the city’s Utility Discount Program to include 31,000 new low-income households, saving them more than $1,000 per year,...
Public hearing for 2026 Seattle Transit Measure to be held Monday, July 13
The City Council Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, chaired by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), will host a public hearing on the 2026 Seattle Transit Measure (STM) renewal proposal on Monday, July 13, with separate sessions for remote and in-person public comment. “The Seattle Transit Measure renewal is critical legislation that will...
Councilmember Rinck hosts panels on Trump’s HR 1 impacts and City’s LGBTQ+ communities support
On June 25, the City Council held its latest session of the Select Committee on Federal Administration & Policy Changes. Chaired by Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8), the meeting highlighted the localized impacts of shifting federal regulation on vulnerable communities and devastating healthcare changes.
Councilmember Lin: We need immediate action to build more housing and protect the environment
Changes in Comprehensive Plan schedule underscore need for SEPA appeal reform Councilmember Eddie Lin (District 2) announced an updated schedule for the Council’s Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan. The new dates include a delay of Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Plan until 2027 due to litigation. “One of the best things we can do...
Seattle and regional leaders announce new actions to combat Aurora Avenue violence and prostitution
At a June 11 press conference, Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5) and Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), in partnership with Mayor Katie B. Wilson, the Seattle Police Department, City Attorney Erika Evans’ Office, and the King County Prosecutor's Office, outlined their ongoing work to address the spike in crime occurring in the neighborhoods surrounding north Aurora Avenue.







