Updates on Coronavirus

Friends and Neighbors,

With our Governor’s order this week to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” our response to the coronavirus pandemic enters a new hunkering-down phase.  These are trying times, but we are…

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2, South Seattle and the CID), put forth a resolution calling on Gov. Inslee, federal legislators, and the Trump administration to use emergency powers to place a moratorium on commercial and residential rent and mortgage payments, providing necessary relief to thousands of Seattle residents and business owners struggling with the […]

Below is a letter I sent to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee calling for a suspension of Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Payments through 2020 in response to the devastating impact facing workers and renters from the Covid-19 crisis. Please read the letter and sign the petition! Dear Governor Inslee, As vulnerable renters in Seattle and […]

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), sent a letter  to Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday (March 26) outlining the need for statewide rent control (rent freeze) through the rest of this year, as well as suspension of rent, mortgage, and utility payments during the Coronavirus crisis.   In her letter, Sawant cites calls received by […]

West Seattle Bridge Closure SDOT announced the abrupt closure of the West Seattle Bridge on Monday, March 23rd at 7 p.m., after a bridge inspection showed expanding cracks. SDOT’s notice says “complete closure is required to maintain safety as our top priority.” I received notice of this when the Mayor called me to let me […]

This week, I voted against a City Council bill that takes money away from low-income affordable housing and puts those funds towards small business pandemic relief. As I said in my remarks during the meeting, working people, struggling small businesses – the majority marginalized in a system that prioritizes extreme wealth for a few – […]

Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle – South Park) issued the following statement after the Seattle Department of Transportation announced the immediate closure of the West Seattle Bridge to all traffic, after finding accelerated concrete cracking that was observed during a regular bridge inspection: “Starting tonight, the West Seattle Bridge will be closed to […]

March 23rd, 2020 PRESS RELEASE EXCERPT: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced today that it will close the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge effective 7:00 PM tonight (March 23, 2020) to all traffic due to accelerated concrete cracking that was observed during a regular bridge inspection. A comprehensive assessment […]

PRESS RELEASE EXCERPT: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced today that it will close the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge effective 7:00 PM tonight (March 23, 2020) to all traffic due to accelerated concrete cracking that was observed during a regular bridge inspection. A comprehensive assessment has already begun […]

Council President M. Lorena González (Position 9, Citywide) announced two pieces of legislation today intended to provide relief for residential tenants during the coronavirus crisis.  González is sponsoring the two bills, which appear on today’s introduction & referral calendar:  The first bill, Council Bill 119761, extends protections for residential tenants, complementing Mayor Jenny Durkan’s 30-day […]