With less than seven weeks until Sound Transit Light Rail opens, this is the fifth of my installments on the creation of Metro Seattle’s mass transit system: Following the defeat of the March 14, 1995 RTA proposition, things looked bleak for mass transit in Metro Seattle. Despite a relatively close outcome, the [More]

I had the opportunity to testify today with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which held a hearing in Seattle as it determines whether climate pollution poses a public danger. My message was clear--that yes, global warming threatens our health and the environment. Here's the written testimony I submitted: Seattle is a city [More]

Received a kind letter this week from the International Community Health Services. ICHS’s Teresita Batayola writes: “We know that you had the very difficult task of balancing the city budget and we commend you for preserving funds to human and health services. With the economy continuing to worsen and the State and [More]

We had an exceptional event tonight, presenting 26 outstanding middle school students with the Mayor's Scholar Awards. The students are honored for their service to their schools and communities. This marks the 10th anniversary of the award and in celebration, we also recognized past award winners tonight at City Hall. This is [More]

Here’s an opportunity to help our neighbors in need. No secret to anybody, we’re in very tough economic times. We have a lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet. This Saturday, I hope you’ll join me and the National Association of Letter Carriers, US Postal Service, United Way, Food [More]

After an overnight windstorm, Tuesday began as a rainy, soggy day. But I had a great start to my morning. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Northgate Elementary school where I got to read to a group of Head Start students—three- and four-year-olds. The theme of the day was jazz, and [More]

With just over ten weeks until Sound Transit Light Rail opens, this is the fourth of my installments on how we got here. After the three County Councils agreed to place the RTA plan on the March 14th Special election ballot, a demonstration of commuter rail service, the RTA’s first actual service [More]

All of us have a responsibility to reach out and make sure our most vulnerable folks have a place to call home. This week, I announced my proposal to renew the Seattle Housing Levy, which expires at the end of the year. I recognize these are difficult economic times and families and businesses [More]

With about 80 days until the opening of Sound Transit LINK Light Rail, here is another installment in my recollections on the long road traveled to build our Sound Transit Light Rail line.   The first meeting of the eighteen member Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board took place [More]

Thirty nine years ago, Seattle environmental leader Denis Hayes had an idea to celebrate our Earth and to draw attention to the environmental challenges we face.  Today, we celebrate that idea, and in Seattle, we pledge to continue to do our part to curtail global warming while saving energy and money. I announced [More]