Amended legislation includes added data and privacy safeguards SEATTLE – Today the City Council voted 7-2 in favor of two crime prevention bills which authorize the installation of cameras in three new public places (Capitol Hill, the Stadium District, and areas near Garfield High) and allow Seattle Police to access Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) traffic management camera footage at...
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
Public Safety Chair Kettle and Council President Nelson on protecting Seattle from federal public safety threats
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released the following statements in response to unprecedented actions by the federal government involving ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Army National Guard. “Seattle is facing many challenges from the federal government with respect to public safety, particularly with federal law...
Council webpages get a fresh look
New design emphasizes accessibility, popular links Beginning in late August, visitors to Seattle.gov/Council will notice something a little bit different. The website has been completely revamped thanks to a successful partnership between the Council Communications Team, Seattle IT, and Legislative Department IT teams. This effort revived a previously abandoned project to modernize the site, resulting in a platform that is...
Mayor Harrell and Councilmember Hollingsworth Statement on August 30 Event
The following news release was published by the Mayor’s office. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3) released the following statement after Seattle Parks and Recreation issued a park use permit for a religious concert event at Gas Works Park: “According to the law, the City cannot deny or unilaterally relocate permits for public spaces based on...
Take the Comp Plan Survey on District 6 Neighborhood Centers
Our Comprehensive Plan survey is now live! The Seattle City Council is getting ready to take final votes on the Comprehensive Plan and legislation to comply with House Bill 1110 (the “middle housing” bill), and Councilmember Strauss wants your feedback. Background on the Comp Plan The Comprehensive Plan is the city’s 20-year roadmap for how our city grows and updating it...
Council approves Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax rebalancing proposal for November ballot
‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ aimed at addressing City budget deficit, ensuring funding for emergency shelters and homelessness prevention, supporting food access, addressing gender-based violence, and aiding small business and worker’s rights This afternoon, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved sending the ‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ to the November 2025 ballot for voter consideration. The legislation proposes cuts to Business and Occupation (B&O)...
Councilmember Rivera statement on proposed B&O exemptions for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital
Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement on today’s Council vote related to the business and occupation tax proposal. “Non-profit institutions like Fred Hutch and Children’s provide comprehensive critical and life-saving care to kids and cancer patients in our city. Not only are they losing Federal research dollars, but they will also be hit hard by the Trump...
Council President Sara Nelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell Announce Proposals to Ease Small Business Permitting
The following news release was published by the Mayor’s Office. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson introduced two new pieces of legislation to accelerate retail occupancy by amending existing building codes and reducing time-consuming regulatory barriers and costs for small businesses seeking to activate vacant commercial storefronts. “In Seattle we are committed to building a...
Council approves Council President Nelson’s bill dedicating anticipated public safety tax revenue to recovery services
Today, the Council approved by an 8-0 vote a resolution introduced by Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) to dedicate up to 25% of any proposed sales tax increase to a progressive public safety initiative that would invest in critical addiction treatment services. The goal of the initiative is to fill treatment gaps in existing services to support Seattle’s public...
Councilmember Strauss celebrates appointment of Councilmember Juarez
Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) released the following statement after the Seattle City Council voted to appoint Debora Juarez, who was twice elected by the people of District 5, to fill the vacant seat on Council. “I’m so happy to welcome Councilmember Juarez back to the Seattle City Council. She has a track record of getting things done for District...
Council appoints Debora Juarez to fill District 5 vacancy
Twice-elected former councilmember will serve until November 2026 The City Council voted today to appoint Debora Juarez to fill the vacant position representing District 5, which encompasses north Seattle. After one round of voting, Juarez received the necessary five-vote majority for the appointment. The appointment is effective immediately and will last until November 2026, when voters will have the opportunity...
Housing & Human Services Committee business to be heard at full Council next Tuesday, July 29
Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released this statement following the lack of quorum at Wednesday’s Housing & Human Services (HHS) Committee meeting. “I want to acknowledge the frustration my excused absence contributed to the lack of quorum at yesterday’s HHS committee meeting and apologize to the people who took the time to show up for the committee vote on...