Councilmember Abel Pacheco (District 4, Northeast Seattle) and Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6, Northwest Seattle), along with their Council colleagues, voted 8-0 to pass SEPA reform through Council Bill 119600, updating the City’s environmental review process to better align with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).  Councilmembers Pacheco and O’Brien cited many examples in which […]

O’Brien:  Because of the leaders here today, I feel optimistic that the communities we need to lead this charge will have an ongoing voice at the table to drive Seattle’s Green New Deal forward SEATTLE – Councilmember Mike O’Brien (Dist. 6, Northwest Seattle), chair of the Sustainability & Transportation Committee, and his colleagues voted unanimously […]

Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6, Northwest Seattle) and his Council colleagues unanimously passed in an 8-0 vote Resolution 31895 relating to a Green New Deal for Seattle.  The resolution calls for the passage of a federal Green New Deal, and affirms Seattle’s commitments to “…ensuring that our City can effectively respond to the climate crisis, […]

Councilmember Abel Pacheco (District 4, Northeast Seattle) and Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6, Northwest Seattle) plan to introduce legislation that would align Seattle’s environmental review process with recent changes made to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and better focus the process on its original intent of protecting the environment. The legislation, Council Bill 119600, […]

Councilmember Mike O’Brien (Dist. 6, Northwest Seattle), chair of the Sustainability & Transportation Committee, and his Council colleagues unanimously passed an ordinance today that reduces the barriers to building backyard cottages across the city in an 8-0 vote.  “I am thrilled that after years of work and legal delays, Seattle residents will have an easier […]

Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6 – Northwest Seattle) issued the following statement today announcing his decision against seeking re-election: “After nearly a decade serving as a Seattle City Councilmember today I’m announcing my decision not to seek re-election in District 6. “It has been both an honor and privilege to serve the people of one […]

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3) and Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6) released a report detailing what it would take for the City to open and operate a city-owned bank. The report concludes that, while creating a public bank would be a complex and long-term process, the City can take several steps to better align its […]

On Thursday, the Seattle City Council released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts of proposed changes to the City’s Land Use Code intended to remove barriers to the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones (also known as backyard cottages or in-law apartments). The results of the […]

Commit to protecting exceptional trees, maintaining Seattle’s reputation as a ‘truly Emerald City’ Seattle, WA – Members of the Council’s Planning, Land Use and Zoning (PLUZ) Committee issued the following statement specific to the City’s forthcoming tree ordinance earlier today: “The benefits of tree canopies are numerous: a cleaner, more resilient environment, and a more […]

Councilmember Mike O’Brien (District 6, Northwest Seattle), Chair of the Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee, introduced Resolution #31826, which memorializes the Seattle Center City Bike Network and establishes an 18-month implementation schedule for creating a connected, protected bicycle lane network in downtown Seattle by 2020. The resolution was introduced to the Committee during a special hearing on Wednesday, […]