News Release
On Monday, November 21, Seattle City Council will introduce Council Bill 117345 to help clean up Puget Sound and protect marine wildlife by banning single-use plastic bags from grocers and retailers. Seattle’s legislation is largely modeled on the Bellingham ordinance passed in July 2011.
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
Light Rail to Eastside and Sound Transit 2012 Plans
On October 27 the Sound Transit Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Bellevue that clears the way for entering into final design on an agreed-upon route for East Link through the City of Bellevue. I was one of the three Sound Transit Board negotiators that met with the Bellevue City [...]
Seattle Successes at National League of Cities
Last week the National League of Cities (NLC) held its annual conference, and Seattle won two victories in the voting on Saturday, November 12. Our first success came when I was elected to a two-year term as one of 18 new and reelected members of the Board of Directors chosen to represent the more than [...]
Squeezing affordability out of the land use code
Creating affordable housing in Seattle I have a colleague and friend here in City Government who just returned from a Policy Link meeting in Detroit. If you read much about urban affairs you know Detroit is the crucible for everyone’s anger about the economy, the tanked automotive industry, bank foreclosures, overwhelmed public services, you name [...]
Jobs for Food Stamp Recipients
People who receive food stamps (now known as the ‘Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP’) usually need training, support and job placement services to move closer to economic self-sufficiency. There’s a program that focuses on these recipients – the Washington State Basic Food and Employment and Training program – but in 2010 the USDA issued [...]
National League of Cities takes Seattle’s lead and adopts Farm Bill resolution
News Release
The National League of Cities (NLC) passed a far-reaching resolution, "Supporting Healthy Food, Public Health, and Sustainability Practices in the 2012 Farm Bill," calling for a new Federal Farm Bill that emphasizes supporting regional food systems, healthy food, sustainable agriculture, and social justice for farmers and farm workers.
Seattle City Council seeks solutions for economically distressed residents
News Release
The City Council unanimously approved Resolution 31337 committing to a number of actions in response to the Occupy movement. These steps primarily fall into the categories of fair lending and taxation.
National League of Cities elects Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin to Board of Directors
News Release
On Saturday, November 12, Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin was elected to a two-year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC). Councilmember Conlin is one of 17 new board members chosen by the annual NLC convention to represent the more than 1,600 member municipalities, governing the organization. Conlin is the first Seattle elected official to serve on the NLC Board since former Councilmember Sue Donaldson, who served in 1997-1998.
Join the Seattle City Council’s Sallys for apple cider and conversation
News Release
Converting "Coffee with Sallys" to a more seasonally appropriate "Cider with Sallys," Seattle City Councilmembers Sally J. Clark and Sally Bagshaw will hold a conversation hour at the West Seattle Farmer’s Market on Sunday, November 20, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. The Councilmembers will host a booth and hope Seattleites will stop by to talk about local issues.
What Election 2011 Tells Us
Voters have reelected all five Council incumbents, three of four School Board members, and approved the Families and Education Levy. That’s a pretty incredible vote of confidence in Seattle’s political leadership – especially in the midst of deep voter discontent and anxiety about the direction our country is headed. This Council has worked hard to [...]
Seattle City Councilmembers present 2012 budget balancing package
News Release
Seattle City Councilmembers will be available tomorrow morning, at 11:30 a.m., to discuss the likely 2012 budget balancing package. This media availability will take place immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Budget Committee meeting at which time final votes on green sheets and statements of legislative intent will be taken.
Seattle City Councilmember Burgess’ statement on passage of Families and Education levy
News Release
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess, Chair of the Public Safety and Education Committee, released the following statement tonight on the passage of the Families and Education Levy: