Thank you for visiting my Seattle City Council website.
It is an honor to represent you on the Seattle City Council. We have a wonderfully diverse population that is passionately committed to making Seattle a better place. I’m proud to have received the support of Seattle voters for a fourth time and to have been chosen by the Council to serve as President for a second two year term.
Our nation faces tremendous challenges in the coming years. Seattle must make good choices about budget priorities and economic recovery. As President Obama has reminded us, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." We must work together, transform obstacles into opportunities, and create a future that brings together environmental sustainability and economic prosperity. I’ll continue to work hard to ensure that Seattle residents get the highest value possible from their local government. Let’s make 2010 the year that made a difference for all of us!
Thanks again for visiting, and please stay in touch.
COUNCIL SETS PRIORITIES FOR 2010 WORK
On Monday, February 22, the City Council presented our priorities for 2010. These are the salient issues that the Council will work on, the areas where we will implement specific initiatives by the end of this year. These priorities reflect the Council’s shared interests and our commitment to the people of Seattle. We believe that you should know what we plan to engage on and what the Council should be held accountable for accomplishing.
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SR 520 MOVES TO NEXT STAGE
On February 23, the Mayor and Council announced that they have engaged the consulting firm of Nelson/Nygaard to work on design issues relating to completing the planning for the SR 520 Project. Nelson/Nygaard will undertake two sets of tasks: a review of the Westside interchange options to help the Council find an interchange configuration that will maximize transit connectivity and protect neighborhoods and the Arboretum, and a review of the possibility of incorporating light rail on SR 520 as part of the current construction project, as proposed by the Mayor.
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CITY BUDGET AND STRATEGIC ADVISORS
Mayor McGinn has proposed cutting a number of positions called ‘Strategic Advisors’ as a way to address the City’s budget problem. The budget problem is real, and the Mayor and Council are going to have to review the City’s staffing and likely make some unfortunate and painful reductions. They will be difficult for those who may be laid off, and will result in reductions in service levels to our citizens.
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QUOTE:
"Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice."
-- Nelson Mandela
DEEP THOUGHT:
"Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It’s their substitute for achievement."
-- Sir Humphrey, character in "Yes Minister", Popular BBC TV Programme
