Councilmember Marita Rivera (District 4), chair of the Select Committee on the Library Levy, will host a public hearing beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday to hear from constituents about the 2026 Library Levy proposal. Members of the public can participate in two ways: The 2026 Library Levy proposes a $410 million investment in critical funding for The Seattle Public Library...
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
City Council passes immigration inquiry rule fix to protect local communities
Councilmember Lin bill cleans up outdated language Today the City Council passed Councilmember Eddie Lin’s (District 2) bill aimed at updating an outdated local law that provided the Seattle Police Department with the authority to inquire about residents’ immigration status. Council Bill 121180 updates the City Code to bring it in line with state law that prohibits local law enforcement...
Councilmember Foster introduces Library Levy amendments focusing on children and families
Proposals include much-needed renovation funds, English learning programs, Central Library support and community services Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9) today introduced three amendments in the proposed 2026 Library Levy renewal process that the Select Committee on the Library Levy is considering. The amendments, including one cosponsored with Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5), will expand access to education and opportunity, promote...
Councilmember Rivera calls for audit of Seattle Human Services contracts
Following her comments at Monday’s Council Briefing, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) announced today she is calling for an audit into the City’s Human Services contracts after a recent King County audit found a lack of oversight and potential misuse of funds within the County’s own human services contracts. “The City works with many of the same human service organizations...
Public Safety Chair Kettle: Audit of camera and real-time crime center tools needs to be completed by June World Cup events
‘Public safety ecosystem must be ready to go by the time the world comes to Seattle’ Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), who serves as chair of the Public Safety Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing community discussion of Mayor Wilson’s announced audit and the use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and other crime prevention tools. “This past Tuesday,...
Comprehensive Plan Town Halls and Public Hearing #1
What is the Comprehensive Plan? The Comprehensive Plan (“Comp Plan”) is a twenty-year roadmap for Seattle, deciding on where and how to build more homes, create jobs, and improve transportation. It helps plan and direct investments in public utilities, sidewalks, libraries, and neighborhood connections. The Comp Plan gives us a great opportunity to develop the safe, accessible, affordable, and welcoming neighborhoods,...
District 6 Town Hall
Councilmember Dan Strauss will be hosting his next town hall on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ballard Community Center. Community members can register and pre-submit questions by filling out this form. It’s a great opportunity to have a conversation about the issues our city faces.
Councilmember Rivera’s statement on Mayor Wilson’s surveillance policy and announced audit
Today, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released the following statement on Mayor Katie Wilson’s announced audit of the City’s Real Time Crime Center CCTV camera program. The pilot program is a tool used by Seattle Police for evidence gathering in criminal investigations “I appreciate Mayor Wilson’s understanding of the value of the existing CCTV cameras, and the Real Time Crime...
Public Safety Chair Kettle welcomes Mayor’s audit of CCTV program
We must continually look for ways to improve this tool’ Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, released the following statement after Mayor Katie Wilson’s announced audit of the Seattle Police Department’s Public Space Cameras (CCTV) program. “I welcome the audit and policy review of the CCTV program. We must continually look for...
Councilmember Foster calls on Sound Transit to deliver on decades-long promise of Graham Street Station
Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9) released the following statement in response to Sound Transit’s proposed financial considerations to complete its Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan, which could delay the planned light rail station at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Graham Street in South Seattle. “I am disappointed to see only one alternative include the long overdue Graham Street...
Councilmember Strauss calls on Sound Transit to keep promise made to voters, build light rail to Ballard
Following Sound Transit’s announcement today that it is considering reducing the long-planned Ballard Light Rail Extension and cutting Ballard, City Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), also a Sound Transit Board Member, called on the agency to keep the promise it made to voters and create a plan that gets light rail to Ballard. Sound Transit presented its board members today with...
Councilmember Kettle applauds new state legislation aimed at easing toxicology backlog
Passage comes after two years of collaboration and support of Seattle officials Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), who serves as chair of the Public Safety Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Bob Ferguson signing Second Substitute Senate Bill 5880 into law. The legislation provides local jurisdictions with the authority to utilize certified private and accredited laboratories...