Nearly 4,500 Seattle and King County households now stand to lose housing and essential services under the changes to HUD’s Continuum of Care program without regional collaboration and intervention On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Trump Regime released the long-awaited Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...
Alexis Mercedes Rinck
Posts from Councilmember Rinck
Councilmember Rinck and transit leaders announce ‘Better Bus Lanes’ campaign
Coalition-backed initiative seeks to advance safety improvements and reliable transit Earlier today, City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) announced the “Better Bus Lanes” Campaign on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, in response to a Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) proposal last month to remove a block of bus lane on East Union Street that serves the King County Metro Route 2...
City Council approves ‘Roots to Roofs’ bonus pilot program
Legislation promotes creation of more community-led affordable housing across Seattle Today, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the ‘Roots to Roofs’ bonus pilot program, also known as Council Bill 121011. The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8), supports more community-led affordable housing development by providing a citywide density bonus and an additional height bonus for areas...
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)...
Mayor Harrell and Councilmember Rinck announce proposal to reduce taxes for small businesses and raise new revenue to protect essential human services from Trump threats
‘Seattle Shield’ proposal: 90% of Seattle businesses paying B&O tax would no longer pay the tax or see tax reductions Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide) announced a new proposal to lower city taxes for approximately 90% of Seattle businesses that currently pay the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and raise needed new progressive...
Councilmember Rinck calls for needed community-focused amendments to proposed Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy
‘These amendments will achieve educational equity and ensure that taxpayer dollars continue to serve the evolving public safety needs of our community’ Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) today urged her colleagues to support several proposed amendments to the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. The Council’s Select FEPP Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. to...
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck addresses City’s $244 million budget shortfall, calls for serious look at new revenue solutions
This morning, the Seattle City Council’s Finance, Native Communities & Tribal Governments Committee received a joint presentation on the April 2025 Revenue Forecast from the Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts and the City Budget Office. In the briefing, City officials discussed the pessimistic financial scenario which projects a $102 million shortfall within the current fiscal year and a staggering...
Seattle City Council to host second committee meeting on safeguarding city from federal policy changes
The second Federal Administration and Policy Changes committee meeting focuses on housing issues Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) announced key details and the date of the second meeting of the Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes. This Select Committee will feature a roundtable on housing issues and take place next Thursday, April 3 at 2...
Councilmembers call to reschedule Stadium District rezone vote after receiving 9 new amendments yesterday
Seattle City Councilmembers Dan Strauss (District 6) and Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) are requesting to reschedule the Stadium District rezone legislation scheduled for a final Council vote later today. This comes after nine new amendments were released yesterday afternoon. The Seattle City Council has been considering fiercely debated legislation proposed by Council President Sara Nelson to rezone industrial lands...
Seattle City Council to host first committee meeting on safeguarding city from federal policy changes
The first Federal Administration and Policy Changes committee meeting focuses on individual civil rights and labor protections Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) is officially announcing the first meeting of the Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes which will hold a roundtable for community partners and government departments working in the topic areas of individual civil...
Councilmember Rinck calls for new committee to safeguard Seattle from federal policy changes
The proposed committee is aimed at identifying responses to emerging changes in federal policy which could threaten vital City programs and funding Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) announced today she has officially called for the creation of a Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes. She released the following statement: Throughout the past week, we have...
Councilmember Rinck’s statement on Councilmember Morales’ departure from council
I am deeply saddened by the news that my friend and colleague Councilmember Tammy Morales will be leaving the council. Councilmember Morales has been a beacon of progressive values, tirelessly championing the rights of workers, families, renters, transit riders, and all who live and work in Seattle. I respect her decision to do what is best for her personally, her...