I was proud to announce with Mayor Jenny Durkan a new Hospital Staff Parking Permit program  which will allow access to free on-street parking around hospitals and testing sites for health care workers. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Police Department (SPD), and Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) worked urgently to meet the increased […]

Updates on Coronavirus Friends and Neighbors, With our Governor’s order this week to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” our response to the coronavirus pandemic enters a new hunkering-down phase.  These are trying times, but we are going to get through this together. I hear from many people who are worried about how this public health and economic emergency […]

March 23, 2020 (Original Post): PRESS RELEASE EXCERPT: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced today that it will close the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge effective 7:00 PM tonight (March 23, 2020) to all traffic due to accelerated concrete cracking that was observed during a regular bridge inspection. A […]

Friends and Neighbors, As our community intensifies its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I want you to know that we are going to get through this together. Many people are worried about the impact this outbreak will have on their ability to work, eat, play, go to school, earn a living, and many other aspects […]

Friends and Neighbors, As Seattle continues to endure the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to provide a list of resources so you can more easily follow the regional response. This newsletter includes updates from the Governor, King County public health officials, and the Mayor as well as some relief regarding […]

“Small businesses employ our neighbors and their paychecks enable people to survive…While it’s hard to determine the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, there are steps we can take in the near-term to avoid exacerbating an already challenging chapter in our region’s history,” said Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle). Note: I am pleased that […]

I was disappointed to learn that Jason Johnson, a long-time public servant overseeing programs for many of our city’s most vulnerable people and the interim director of Seattle’s Human Services Department, is stepping down.  The resignation of Mr. Johnson and other public servants after their work and teams are maligned on television by elected officials should not be […]

Here are useful links to info on the coronavirus: King County Public Health officials: www.kingcounty.gov/coronavirus Updates from Governor Jay Inslee: Announcements https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/news-media Stay Home Order (March 23): https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6817957-20-25-Coronovirus-Stay-Safe-Stay-Healthy.html Mayor Jenny Durkan: Announcements: https://durkan.seattle.gov/ Resources: https://www.seattle.gov/mayor/covid-19 Relief for Small Businesses: http://www.seattle.gov/office-of-economic-development (also see “Resources” links) Emergency Proclamation, as amended by Council: http://seattle.legistar.com/ViewReport.ashx?M=R&N=Text&GID=393&ID=3886569&GUID=7D6AC545-BB0E-47ED-9708-DADBEEC3A463&Title=Legislation+Text Seattle City Council: Resources: […]