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April 1, 2013January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember Licata, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases

Seven remaining Councilmembers announce candidacy for Mayor

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/1/2013

Councilmember Richard Conlin
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

Seven remaining Councilmembers announce candidacy for Mayor
Will run as collective

Seattle -- The seven Councilmembers who are not already in the race for Mayor today announced that they will pioneer a new model for Seattle governance by running for Mayor as a collective. The seven will appear on the ballot as a single name, "O'Bagcloddenconrasita," reflecting their collegial approach to the position.

"Experience teaches us that seven heads are better than one," said the group speaking in unison. "Seven of nine is an excellent model for decision-making," they commented, making the obligatory geeky Star Trek allusion.

"This way the people of Seattle will know that there will always be a Mayor on the job," O'Bagcloddenconrasita added. "By taking shifts, we can cover the Mayor's office 24-7. And the Mayor can lobby in Olympia, cut a ribbon in West Seattle, and hold a town meeting in Ballard, all at the same time."

Commenting on the legality of the proposed candidacy, City Attorney Pete Holmes was sanguine about the outcome of any possible court challenge. "Nothing in the City Charter prevents innovative approaches to governance," Holmes added. "Furthermore, this will make it much easier to get a Mayoral signature on City documents."

The group noted that the departure of seven Councilmembers simultaneously would make it difficult to do business and fill the seven vacancies on the Council, since there would not be a quorum remaining. However, the group agreed that this could easily be resolved by the use of serial resignations spaced one week apart between the election and taking office on January 1. That way, each week eight Councilmembers could conduct business and appoint someone to the vacant seat. By the end of December, seven new Councilmembers would be seated and join Mayor O'Bagcloddenconrasita in governing the City.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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March 5, 2013January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden, News Releases

Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden announces “No Child Without Water” legislation, no more water shut-offs to low-income homes with children

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/4/2013

Councilmember Jean Godden

Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden announces "No Child Without Water"
legislation, no more water shut-offs to low-income homes with children

Seattle - Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Libraries, Utilities, and Center (LUC) Committee will discuss legislation tomorrow that will prevent Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) from shutting off water to homes in which children reside.

"This legislation is based on a simple premise: no child should lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation," said Councilmember Godden.

In 2012, SPU shutoff water to 138 households registered in the low-income Utility Discount Program (UDP). Fifty percent of these low-income households - 68 in total - contained minor children (under 18 years old).

At tomorrow morning's LUC meeting, nonprofit providers from St. Vincent de Paul, the West Seattle Helpline, the Ballard Food Bank, and the Salvation Army will share their stories of children who endured water shutoffs.

"A teacher told me that one of his students showed up at school unwashed and unclean - the result of his family having their water shutoff," said Councilmember Godden. "Human service providers have told me of families using buckets filled with water from neighbors' homes to flush toilets and of parents unable to properly bathe their children or wash their hands after changing diapers."

Under current law, a household eligible for the low-income UDP is eligible for an emergency assistance credit up to $340. This emergency payment can only be accessed once per year. Although a generous subsidy, one reflective of Seattle's commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, and general welfare of its people, it was insufficient for 68 low-income families with children.

Councilmember Godden's proposal modifies SMC 21.76.065(C) to make qualifying households containing a minor eligible for an emergency assistance credit twice every 12 months.

Given Seattle Public Utilities' bi-monthly billing cycle and time frame for issuing bill delinquency and shut-off notices, this change will allow low-income households with minor children to avoid water shutoffs.

Using 2012 as an example, a second chance for the 68 households with children would amount to an estimated $20,000 cost to SPU. This is a small subsidy in the context of SPU's almost billion dollar annual budget.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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January 28, 2013January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Burgess, Councilmember Godden, Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember Licata, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases

Public invited to comment on memorandums of understanding related to renovation of Seattle’s Central Waterfront

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/28/2013
 
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmemb...

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January 16, 2013January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Burgess, Councilmember Godden, Councilmember Harrell, Councilmember Licata, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases

Sea level rise will bring flooding to parts of Seattle by 2050

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/14/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick...