FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/2/2014
Council to Host Town Hall on Gender Pay Equity, Debunk the Myths
SEATTLE - City Council is convening a first-of-its-kind Town Hall on Tuesday, December 2, to debunk myths surrounding gender pay equity and to hear...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/24/2014
SEATTLE - The City Council gave final approval to the 2015 City Budget by a 8-1 vote at the today's Full Council meeting.
Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Budget Committee, said, "I'd like to thank members of the public for their involvement in helping the Council craft the 2015 City budget. Public involvement resulted in a more responsive city budget that emphasizes human services, social justice and labor standards." Councilmember Licata added, "In an effort to reach out to more people than in the past, I'll be initiating a community participatory budget process for next year's budget."
In a letter to the Mayor in early August, the Council identified the Council's highest priorities for the 2015-2016 biennium. Councilmembers voted to enhance the proposed budget Mayor Ed Murray delivered on September 22 with greater emphasis on human services, social justice and labor standards. A summary of the major Council's budget modifications is available online.
"From public health funding to enhanced worker protections to early learning investments, the 2015 budget responds to our city's critical needs and advances groundbreaking policies," said Council President Tim Burgess.
Councilmember Jean Godden said, "I'm tremendously proud of the Council's support to set aside funds to establish paid parental leave in 2015. It is one example of our commitment to end the gender wage gap and support our valued employees."
"We continue to focus on adding more police officers, but it is not just about more people. We need to more effectively deploy the current officers into our neighborhoods and ensure communities feel our officers are helping in the prevention of crime. Chief O'Toole is leading Seattle in the right direction with the mantra of using accurate and timely data, rapidly deploying crime reduction plans and commanding relentless follow-up," said Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell. "Additional public safety investments include alley activation in the Chinatown/International District, block watch academies, summer safety activities, mobile domestic violence assistance and a potential pilot for an acoustic gunshot locator system."
"I am proud of the steps City Council is taking to address income inequality in our city through this budget," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "We've passed some great laws recently to support workers - from $15/hour to paid sick leave to protections against wage theft - but I led Council's effort to significantly increase funding for the new Office of Labor Standards to ensure that workers know their rights and know how to exercise them. I also helped provide additional funding for our upcoming priority hire legislation, which aims to employ those people in our city who most need the work on City construction projects. I'm also happy the Council sped up $15/hour for all City employees to take effect next year."
"The 2015-2016 budget package includes investments in many areas important to me, including human services, public health and public safety to make Seattle a safer, healthier place for everyone," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. "It also emphasizes commitments to improve our public spaces, making every Seattle neighborhood more welcoming and connected. Thanks to my colleagues and the Mayor's Office for their collaborative spirit and willingness to find new solutions."
"I am excited that the Council agreed to fund the Neighborhood Conservation District program. When the program is established next year, neighborhoods will have a strong land use tool to accommodate growth and development that respects community history and character," said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, the sponsor of the new program.
Councilmember Sally J. Clark said, "With this budget, we're making strong investments that will save lives across our city. Thank you to the advocates, community members and program participants themselves who have shaped those investments."
"The movement for a People's Budget has won important improvements to the Mayor's business-as-usual budget, and we will not stop fighting until the needs of regular people in Seattle are met, such as affordable housing and an end to regressive taxation," said Councilmember Kshama Sawant.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/20/2014
Councilmembers Godden, O'Brien Announce Accelerated Green Lake Algae Cleanup
SEATTLE - Councilmembers Jean Godden and Mike O'Brien announced today that funding was unanimously recommended by the Council's Budget...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/24/2014
Women to be Honored for Efforts to End Gender Inequity and to Promote Civil Rights
SEATTLE - Councilmember Jean Godden and the Seattle Women's Commission have partnered, for the first time, to honor outstanding wome...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/18/2014
Council and Mayor Seek Candidates for Seattle Park District Community Oversight Committee
SEATTLE- The City Council and Mayor Ed Murray are seeking candidates to fill seven positions on the Seattle Park District's newly created Community Oversight Committee. The Seattle Park District was approved by Seattle voters in August 2014, creating a sustainable and long-term source of funding for the Seattle parks system.
The Community Oversight Committee will provide advice to the Mayor, City Council and the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, as well as provide oversight of projects, programs and services undertaken by the City and the Seattle Park District. The committee will meet quarterly to:
The Committee will be composed of 15 members, seven members of the public (one from each Seattle district), four Board or Commission members to be recommended by Seattle City Boards & Commissions and four members from the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners. Each will serve either a one, two or three year term, to be determined during the selection process. The City seeks to appoint Community Oversight Committee members with a diversity of expertise and perspectives including, but not limited to parks management, public financing, urban horticulture, landscape architecture, contract management and the interests of low-income and communities of color. The Committee's first official meeting will be held in April 2015, but members should be available to meet before this date, in early 2015.
The Council and the Mayor are committed to promoting diversity in the city's Committees. Women, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community and persons of color are highly encouraged to apply.
To be considered, please send a letter of interest indicating which district you represent and resume by October 20, 2014 to Councilmember Jean Godden, jean.godden@seattle.gov. Please title subject line: Oversight Committee Application. Electronic submissions are preferred.
To send a paper submittal, please address to:
Councilmember Jean Godden
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124
Council and Mayor Seek Candidates for Seattle Park District Community Oversight Committee SEATTLE – The City Council and Mayor Ed Murray are seeking candidates to fill seven positions on the Seattle Park District’s newly created Community Oversight Committee. The Seattle Park District was approved by Seattle voters in August 2014, creating a sustainable and long-term...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/8/2014
Council Passes Women's Reproductive Health Rights Resolution
SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council today unanimously approved Resolution 31541, calling on the United States Congress and President Obama to repeal all federal bans on public coverage of abortion and supporting efforts to improve access to public and private insurance coverage for comprehensive reproductive health care.
"Every woman who enrolls in public government insurance should have the right to make their personal reproductive choices and receive coverage based on those choices, regardless of income or financial status,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee.
The Hyde Amendment, a rider attached to the federal spending budget each year and first passed by Congress in 1976, bans Medicaid coverage of abortion. Federal law also prohibits insurance coverage of abortion for women and their dependents who receive federally sponsored health care.
Rachel Berkson, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, said, "Given that there are over 4,000 women in Seattle are insured through the federal government and subject to these restrictions on abortion coverage, we commend Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council for taking a strong stand against the Hyde Amendment. For far too long, coverage bans like the Hyde Amendment have disproportionately limited access to abortion care for low-income women and women of color. Seattle is a pro-choice city and Washington is a state with a pro-choice majority—it's time we embraced an agenda that reflects this, and identifies reproductive rights not just as an issue of gender equality, but one of economic and racial justice."
Lisa Stone, Executive Director of Legal Voice, said, "Every woman should be able to make decisions based on what is best for herself and her family instead of based on what she can afford. The Hyde Amendment and other federal bans of abortion coverage affect Seattle women in a very real way. It's time to tell Congress that when access to abortion is determined by the type of insurance a woman has, reproductive choice is meaningless."
Andrea Miller, President of National Institute for Reproductive Health, said, "By withholding abortion coverage from women utilizing federal insurance plans, our nation has effectively created a class-based system for access to abortion care. But today Seattle joined the ranks of cities across the country—including Cambridge, New York City, Oakland and Philadelphia – that are leading the national movement to strike down the unjust bans that deny too many women access to abortion care. The National Institute for Reproductive Health is proud to support these efforts, and congratulates the women and men of Seattle."
Councilmember Jean Godden, who chairs the committee overseeing the City's efforts to eliminate gender inequity in the workplace, agreed. "Each of us should have the right to make reproductive health choices, based on what's best for oneself and for one's family."
Seattle joins a grass-roots movement to repeal the Hyde amendment and becomes the first jurisdiction in the Northwest—and the sixth nationally—to declare its support for overturning the Hyde Amendment.
According to the most recent U.S. Census, over 311,650 women live in Seattle. 67,824 women in Seattle are enrolled in public insurance and over 4,000 women of reproductive age are insured through the federal government and are therefore subject to federal restrictions on abortion coverage.
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Council Passes Women’s Reproductive Health Rights Resolution Seattle– The Seattle City Council today unanimously approved Resolution 31541, calling on the United States Congress and President Obama to repeal all federal bans on public coverage of abortion and supporting efforts to improve access to public and private insurance coverage for comprehensive reproductive health care. “Every woman who...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/20/2014
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Godden Statement on Acting Parks Superintendent Williams
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Gender Pay Equity Committee, released the following statement in response to Christopher Williams stepping down as Acting Superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation:
"When I became Chair of the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries, and Gender Pay Equity Committee in January, Christopher Williams reached out and was a great help to me.
"His job as Parks Superintendent is a very visible and stressful one. I have been a great admirer of how well Christopher has handled responsibilities, especially during the great recession, when the Parks Department lost about 20 percent of its general fund support. Even in difficult years, there were some amazing successes – the opening of a Belltown Community Center, the renovation of Kinnear Park and the Maple Leaf Reservoir, just to name a few.
"I look forward to continue working with Christopher in his role as Deputy Parks Superintendent to build a strong Seattle Parks District and to secure the future of our great parks system for generations to come."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/7/2014
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Jean Godden
Statement on Parks Proposition 1 from Councilmembers Bagshaw, Godden
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmembers Jean Godden and Sally Bagshaw released the following joint statement in response to this afternoon’s vote count on the proposed Seattle Park District, in which 'yes' votes lead 53.17% to 46.83%:
"Although the results are not final, they are promising, and we are confident in the success of this measure. Seattleites agree that our parks deserve a stable, long-term funding source. With voters' approval, we can begin catching up on maintenance, restoring community center hours and ensuring equal access to parks throughout the city. Most importantly, this proposal is a sustainable way to address the ever-changing needs of Seattle parks. This is our legacy."
Proposition 1, which all nine Councilmembers support, would create a Metropolitan Parks District run by City Council and overseen by a broad-based citizens advisory committee.