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Nickels Newsletter - February
2007
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Dear Friends,
This month marks the second anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol taking effect in the 141 countries that ratified it. The U.S. was not one of them. With less than 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S. is responsible for producing about a quarter of the world's global warming pollutants, yet our national leaders did not ratify. To fill that vacuum, on Feb. 16, 2005, I challenged my fellow mayors across the country to join Seattle in taking local actions to reduce global warming. My goal was to enlist the same number of U.S. mayors as countries who signed on to the Kyoto Protocol. That was two years ago. And there has been lots of national and international attention to our cause since then. Today, more than 400 mayors have signed on. This represents every state of the union and nearly 60 million people. There are a lot more cities, and I want to see the number hit 500 by June when the annual Conference of Mayors meets in Los Angeles.
And it's not just dots on a map -- we are making a difference. We have begun the effort to cut 680,000 tons of greenhouse gasses here in Seattle through our Climate Action Plan. And our effort has helped push debates like the one in Olympia where the state Legislature is considering Senate Bill 6001. This legislation would set tough standards for electric utility emissions, set statewide emission reduction targets, and set in motion the creation of a comprehensive climate protection plan for the state.
I will also work to pass a resolution of the U.S. Conference of Mayors embracing a national goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a national emissions trading system.
We are all part of the solution to the biggest environmental threat facing our planet,
whether it's by switching from a gas-powered lawn mower, or using efficient light bulbs, or recycling and composting, or investing in a hybrid vehicle, or using public transportation and our feet to get around. I thank you for all that you do to fight global warming and to make Seattle the best it can be for all of our residents.
Remember March 13 is the deadline to mail in your vote on the future of our waterfront.
Sincerely,
GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle
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Major crimes down in Seattle
I'm proud to say we live in one of the safest cities
in the country, with total crime for 2006 down by more than 8 percent
from the previous year. And it's down in every sector of the city with
the per capita crime rate at the lowest it's been since 1972. Serious
property crime fell 9.1 percent and auto theft saw a sharp 14.8 percent
decrease. Much of the thanks and credit goes to the men and women of
the police department and the residents who step up every day to keep
our communities safe. However there is a disturbing counterpoint to these
mostly positive numbers – assaults with firearms continue to rise – up
18 percent last year and 46 percent since 2004. The number of murders
climbed to 30 last year, five more than in 2005. One incident in particular
contributed to that rise – the horrific shootings on Capitol Hill. Statistics
tell us another thing – the fewer illegal guns we have on our streets,
the fewer people will lose their lives or be victims of gun violence.
That's why we have asked the state legislature to pass common-sense laws
to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. And we will continue this
crusade on both the local and federal levels until we have effective
gun laws on the books. We can't afford to lose more lives.
Read the news release
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Celebrating neighborhoods – Neighbor Appreciation
Day
Saturday, Feb. 10, marked the 13th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day in
Seattle, a day to celebrate the spirit of community and to show appreciation
to our neighbors. On this day people all over Seattle celebrate with
block parties, open houses, potluck dinners and more. As part of this
annual grassroots celebration, Seattle school students are invited to
submit designs for Neighbor Appreciation Day cards. This year's winning
design was submitted by Halimo Gado, a 9-year old student at Thurgood
Marshall Elementary School (pictured here with her principal Winnifred
Todd, teachers, Sharon Nakanishi-Acena and Taryn Piller, and City Councilmember
Sally Clark). Congratulations to Halimo, and to all of the students who
submitted designs. Cards are free and suitable for all occasions. They
are available at all Neighborhood Service Centers, community centers,
Seattle public libraries and the Citizens Service Bureau in City Hall.
View all of the winning art
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B.J. Brooks will serve as interim Parks Superintendent
I'm pleased to announce my appointment of Betty Jean "B.J." Brooks as interim superintendent of Parks and Recreation, effective March 1. She will fill the vacancy left by Ken Bounds, who retires on Feb. 28. B.J. has been deputy superintendent since 2003 and brings to the job a wealth of experience in parks and recreation management and urban planning. Between 1991 and 2003, B.J. worked for the city of Denver, including a term heading up Denver's parks and recreation department. I welcome her aboard.
Read the news release
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Permanent location for outdoor meals program
A parking lot under Interstate 5 has been transformed
into a permanent, safe and convenient location for the outdoor meals
programs serving Seattle's homeless people. Now featuring seating areas,
bright lighting and fencing, just a month ago this space at Sixth and
Columbia, was unsafe, dimly lit and littered with trash. Unlike previous
outdoor meals sites, this location is permanent and is the only outdoor
meals site in Seattle. There are 10 indoor meal programs located in
and around downtown Seattle.
Read the news release
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Applications for Mayor's Scholar Awards now available
Applications are now available for this year's Mayor's
Scholar Awards for Seattle middle school students. (Last year's Scholars
pictured above) In May I will have the honor of presenting $500 awards
to 20 "unsung
heroes" who
have overcome obstacles and given back to their community and maintained
good academic standing. I encourage all sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade
students who meet these criteria to apply. This is a great way for us
to recognize the talents of Seattle's next generation of leaders. The
deadline for applying is Feb. 27.
Read the news release for details
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Expanding services for immigrants and refugees
Seattle is enriched by the nearly 100,000 foreign-born individuals from a host of different countries who make their homes here. I'm committed to providing quality customer service to all of Seattle's residents and to do that we need to better serve our residents with limited English proficiency. I just signed an Executive Order adopting a new Citywide policy to improve our translation and interpretation services to strengthen our delivery of City services to our limited English speaking neighbors. By bridging language differences, we can dismantle many of the barriers to a building a better life for thousands of people.
Read the news release
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Upcoming Events:
- State of the City -- Washington State Convention & Trade
Center, sixth floor, room 6C, corner of Seventh Avenue and
Pike Street -- Wednesday, March 7, 12:45 p.m. (rsvp:michael.gilmore@seattle.gov)
- KCTS Connects --Call in to Mayor Nickels
on Channel 9 -- Thursday, March 8, 6:30 p.m.
- Seattle Public Library Southwest Branch Opening -- 9010 – 35
th Ave. S.W. -- Saturday, March 10, noon.
- Weekday with Steve Scher -- Call in to Mayor Nickels
on KUOW 94.9 FM -- Monday, March 12, 10 a.m.
- Capitol Hill Housing Broadway Crossing Apartment Celebration --
915 E. Pine St. -- Wednesday, March 14, 6 p.m.
- Ask the Mayor -- Seattle Channel --Wednesday,
March 14, 7 p.m.
- Langdon & Anne Simons Senior Apartment Groundbreaking --
Third Avenue and Blanchard Street -- Thursday, March 15, 10 a.m.
- Clean & Green North -- Lake City Neighborhood
Service Center , 12525 - 28 th Ave. N.E. -- Saturday,
March 17, 9:30 a.m.
- 2007 St. Patrick's Day Parade -- Start at
Fourth and Jefferson -- Saturday, March 17, 12:15 p.m.
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