Seattle City Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2 – South Seattle) urged her colleagues to reject CB 120586 – legislation proposed by Republican City Attorney Ann Davison to ramp up the failed War on Drugs. It would, for the first time in Seattle’s history, allow the City Attorney to prosecute drug possession and public drug use, targeting unhoused people who...
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
New Survey of Seattle Residents Reveals 75% Support for Impact Fees to Pay for Transportation Infrastructure
Councilmember Pedersen Urges Policymakers to Listen to Results of the Survey SEATTLE – Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) released new survey results revealing the views of Seattle residents on pressing transportation and related topics, including 75% support for impact fees to help pay for transportation infrastructure. Conducted May 5 through May 13, 2023, the survey asked several questions of 1,000 Seattle adults,...
Seattle City Council Passes Stronger Tree Protection Ordinance That Protects Ten Times as Many Trees While Increasing Housing Stock
SEATTLE – Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6- Northwest Seattle) Chair of the Land Use Committee, in collaboration with Mayor Bruce Harrell, has passed a new, stronger Tree Protection Ordinance to safeguard our urban canopy, combat climate change, and create a more sustainable future for the Emerald City. This ordinance is a comprehensive approach to preserving, protecting, and expanding Seattle’s urban canopy so...
Seattle City Council passes legislation to protect firefighters, other first responders
SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council unanimously passed Council Bill 120549 granting legal protections to Seattle firefighters while they’re responding to emergencies. The legislation was sponsored by Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle and South Park) and Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (District 7 – Pioneer Square to Magnolia). The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) has reported incidents of people aggressively interfering with firefighters while they attempt...
Councilmember Nelson celebrates passage of the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) renewal
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved legislation today, sponsored by Councilmember Sara Nelson (Position 9 — Citywide), to renew and expand the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID). “Seattle’s future depends on downtown and the MID is critical to ensuring that downtown — the economic engine of our region — is safe, clean, and welcoming,” said Councilmember Nelson, Chair of Economic Development. “Without the MID, there’d be no free...
Councilmember Morales Hosts the First Gathering of the Seattle Social Housing Developer Board
Seattle, WA – On Friday morning, Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2, Chinatown / International District and South Seattle) and newly appointed members of the Seattle Social Housing Developer Board gathered for the first time at Councilmember Morales’ Neighborhoods Committee. Eight members joined both virtually and in person. The new board is tasked with overseeing the social housing developer that was created...
Councilmember Herbold statement on proposed public consumption legislation
Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle), chair of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, released the following statement following the announcement by City Attorney Ann Davison of new local public consumption legislation: I am very encouraged to learn that Governor Inslee has made it clear that he and other law makers are making progress towards a...
City Attorney Ann Davison, Councilmember Sara Nelson, Councilmember Alex Pedersen announce new legislation to improve public safety and discourage the public consumption of controlled substances
City Attorney Ann Davison proposed legislation with City Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen to prohibit the use of drugs in public places including parks, sidewalks, bus stops, and public transit. This legislation is modeled after a similar ordinance passed this month in Bellingham. This legislation acknowledges the public health crisis of substance use disorder and will provide a new...
Councilmembers Herbold, Lewis propose legislation to protect firefighters
Legislation proposed by Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle and South Park) and Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (District 7 – Pioneer Square to Magnolia) to better protect firefighters responding emergencies unanimously passed out of committee today. It now goes to a full Council vote scheduled for May 2. How it works Seattle law already includes protections for “public...
Councilmembers Morales and Mosqueda celebrate passage of $10 rental late fee cap
Seattle joined the cities of Auburn and Burien to cap late fees for rental payments to no more than ten dollars a month. Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales (District 2 – Southeast Seattle & Chinatown-International District) prime sponsored an amendment, and Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8 – At-Large) co-sponsored the amendment to restore the cap on late fees for renters at...
Herbold Celebrates the Confirmation of Tanya Kim as the Permanent Director of the Human Services Department
Seattle, WA – Councilmember Lisa Herbold (West Seattle and South Park) celebrated the Seattle City Council’s unanimous vote to recommend the appointment of Tanya Kim, who was the Acting Director of the Human Services Department, to the permanent position. This is an important appointment. The Human Services Department (HSD), which has been without a permanent director since 2018, is one of the largest contributors...
Councilmember Morales, Mayor Harrell, Office of Civil Rights Pass Historic Race & Social Justice Ordinance
SEATTLE – Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales (District 2 – Southeast Seattle & Chinatown-International District), Mayor Bruce Harrell, and Seattle Office for Civil Rights Director Derrick Wheeler-Smith celebrated the unanimous passage of an ordinance officially codifying the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) into law. This will permanently solidify the City of Seattle’s commitment to engaging in its work with an equity lens. BACKGROUND ...