State of the City Address - Mayor Greg Nickels

January 28, 2002

Thank you!

Members of the City Council, honored guests, friends and family, and citizens of Seattle, my mission as this city's Mayor is simple: To make a difference in people's lives.

On January 7th I stood in these chambers and pledged to the citizens of Seattle that:

• Each day, I will work hard to ensure that when our children leave their homes, they will return safely.
• I will work hard to help our schools in their vital mission
• I will work hard to make Seattle a place where getting to work is not harder than the work itself.
• I will work hard to create jobs and economic opportunity.
• I will work hard to make Seattle a place of racial and social justice for all.

THE STATE OF THE CITY

On Saturday I joined 150 mayors from our nation's largest cities at ground zero in New York City. We observed first hand the devastation, but more significantly, the resilience of our people.

The state of our city is strong. I am very optimistic about the time ahead. The past year brought us terrorism, a Mardi Gras celebration that led to the death of a young man named Kristopher Kime, the beginning of a recession, Boeing's move of its headquarters and decision to cut 30,000 jobs, serious budget challenges, and even an earthquake. Those events tested the character and strength of this city. Those events renewed our focus on the importance of basic services, such as police and fire; they taught us to never take for granted our sense of peace and prosperity; and most of all, they reminded us of the importance we place in each other and how, together as a community, we can accomplish great things. That's why I know that this city, along with the rest of the nation, can face any threat and meet our future in good shape.

One of the challenges we face is finding common ground with our neighbors across this great State. During my work last week at the US Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C. and New York City, I spent significant time with my colleague John Powers, the Mayor of Spokane. I asked him to work with me to eradicate the "Cascade divide" and nurture instead "One Washington." I have great hope we can set an example for our leaders in Olympia.

Even now, there are encouraging signs in our local economy. Bio-technology companies, a source of high-paying jobs, continue to thrive. ZymoGenetics, for example, plans a major expansion in South Lake Union, where Milliken/Vulcan announced an exciting new project that includes a new QFC store and hundreds of new housing units. Boeing layoffs have hurt manufacturing in the Seattle area, but many smaller companies, serving unique markets, continue to hold their own. The 80 employees of Kvichak Marine Industries, in Ballard, are busy making aluminum ferries, fishing boats and other vessels. Kvichak represents the resilience and diversity of Seattle's economy. It's our job to build on those successes and make sure that economic growth is shared by all.

WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL

I look forward to working with each member of the council to make a difference in people's lives.

President Steinbrueck. I appreciate the one-on-one meetings we have already had, and look forward to continuing to share ideas on how we can improve the quality of life for Seattle residents. I applaud your commitment to the needy and the most downtrodden of our citizens and I pledge to work with you to provide services for our most vulnerable citizens.

Councilmember Drago, as one of the council's own entrepreneurs, your insight into the needs for economic revitalization in our business districts is invaluable. I look forward to working with you in our city's efforts to re-invigorate the University Avenue and Broadway business districts.

Councilmember McIver, you have been a strong voice for the voiceless in our city. I share your passion and promise to work with you to promote the economic and social vitality of our disadvantaged communities.

Councilmember Conlin, you and I know that solving our transportation crisis will be among our toughest challenges. We will work together to enhance mobility in our city, while providing citizens with more transportation choices.

Councilmember Licata, over the next year, you and I will work closely to help bring a vision and development plan for the monorail to Seattle voters.

Councilmember Wills, you and I share a deep commitment to the health of environment. I am excited to work with you to protect our land, water and air. Let's work together to demonstrate to the country, and indeed to the world, how a city can responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Councilmember Nicastro, you have been a strong voice for the majority of citizens in this city who do not own their own homes. I look forward to working with you to increase the stock of safe and affordable housing.

Councilmember Compton, your committee will review the critical issue of emergency preparedness. We must make certain that our police officers, firefighters and other health- and public safety employees receive the best training and resources available.

Although Councilmember Pageler is not here today, even before the tragic events of September 11, she was working to protect our drinking water supplies from acts of foul play. I look forward to working with her in securing the safety of our drinking water for our citizens.

PRAISING CITY WORKERS

I know that all members of the council join me in looking forward to our working with our outstanding city employees, whose hard work, dedication, and creativity is essential to our success. They are the front line in our efforts to get the job done, for the people of this city.

HONORING GEORGE BENSON AND THE SEATTLE WAY

Whenever I think about how we can put the citizen first, I always think of Councilmember George Benson who, like me, was not known as a great speech-giver. George had a passion for making sure that government cared about people, and kept its promises. During the construction of the Metro transit tunnel, he walked the route each week, talking to people about how the big dig was affecting them. George, it's an honor to have you here.

George cared about people because he saw himself first as a citizen. I grew up in this city, in a neighborhood served by George and Evelyn Benson's Mission Pharmacy.

Something profound clicked between the Nickels family and this town because all five of my siblings still live in the area. Today, I live across the street from my brother Paul, whose house was built in 1930 by the deputy mayor's grandfather. I'm rooted in this town. I see myself as a neighbor who uses our parks and libraries, a homeowner who pays property taxes, a parent who saw his kids off to school, a guy who deals with traffic and all the other challenges of daily life, and who still shops at the neighborhood grocery store - and yes, I know the cost of a half-gallon of milk! About $2.15 for whole milk, but after I started my diet, I grab the skim milk at $1.99! I'm not a fancy guy. I'm a citizen who expects good service from city government.

THE MAYOR'S 100 DAY AGENDA

Let's move quickly to the heart of this speech, my 100-day Action Agenda. It's my "get it done" checklist for the city's department heads. It's my directive to move fast, get things done, and stay within existing resources.

You know my priorities:

• Improve the region's economy.
  
  
• Reduce traffic congestion.
  
  
• Strengthen basic city services, particularly public safety.
  
  
• Strengthen Seattle's communities.

We will make progress on those goals. Amazing things happen when the people and the city talk to one another and get things done.

THE BUDGET CHALLENGE

One of the first challenges is the budget. Without serious reform in our budgeting, we will be unable to meet many of our commitments or make needed improvements in basic services. We need to do a better job of setting priorities, finding efficiencies, and taking care of the basics. Put simply, this city can't say yes to everything. As chief executive, I can say no, and I will say no.

STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY

As we reform city budgeting, we also need to move quickly on addressing the recession. Layoffs can devastate workers and their families, as I learned as a child when friends of my father lost jobs at Boeing in the early 1970s. Today, in this region, we have lost thousands of jobs as a result of a national recession and the international act of terrorism. How can we help?

My economic opportunity plan can be summarized in a word: jobs.

Last week I went to Washington, D.C., and met with the US Conference of Mayors and members of our Congressional Delegation to urge expansion of programs to train and employ dislocated workers. Among mayors, I am taking the lead to urge Congress to extend unemployment insurance so that dislocated workers get more time to find a job.

I want to strengthen programs at the local level that help people get good jobs.

In the audience we have Tammy McKinzie, a lifelong Seattle resident and a member of our Filipino-American community. Three years ago Tammy was a single mother supporting her three children on $9 per hour as a telephone marketer. Today Tammy is a third year union ironworker apprentice, a member of Ironworkers Local 86, earning $24.23 per hour with great benefits.

What made the difference? A high quality pre-apprenticeship program called ANEW. ANEW helped her get a GED, training for the construction trade, and quality child care.

Congratulations, Tammy. We need more successes like yours! That's why during my tenure as mayor, I will do everything I can at the city level to increase family wage jobs and increase support for programs like ANEW.

To get us focused within a 100 days, I'm forming an Economic Opportunity Task Force made up of key business, labor, education, community and civic leaders who will develop a new action agenda for the city 's economy.

This Task Force will draw a road map including:

• Specific steps the city can take to assist employers - large and small, those located in our downtown core and in our neighborhoods, and those that are minority- or women- owned.
  
  
• Effective actions that will expand the city's base of living wage jobs and increase apprenticeship opportunities for all people.
  
  
• Strategies that the city can use to assist traditional businesses, while also looking at assisting growth industries such as biotechnology and nano-technology.
  
  
• Improvements to bring fairness, swiftness, and common sense to our permit process.

We need to lower barriers for those who want to start or grow a business. And we need to make sure that economic opportunity is shared by all.

REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Now let's talk about one of the problems that is clearly a threat to our long-term economy, not to mention a threat to our environment and some days our mental health.

Traffic congestion. For years we have treated it like the weather - everyone has talked about it and no one has done anything about it. That stops today.

I'd like to introduce John Havard, an electrical engineer who commutes daily on Aurora Avenue, sometimes by bus, sometimes by car, between his home in Phinney Ridge and his job in downtown Seattle.

Hello, John. Of course, while I'm on the topic of who hates traffic congestion, I might as well introduce EVERYONE in this room! For many, getting to work is harder than the work itself.

During my campaign for Mayor, I said I would do several things that would take time and significant resources, such as building light rail, replacing the Viaduct, and submitting a plan to voters for a Monorail system. But I also promised a number of common-sense actions that can take place now, within our current budget. Small steps, taken together, can make a big difference.

Within 100 days, this city will:

• Implement Rapid Accident & Incident Response (RAIR) teams of tow trucks to assist or tow vehicles blocking key road and bridges. The first ones will be in service on Feb. 4 on the Montlake and West Seattle Bridge corridors. Over half of all traffic congestion in Washington state is caused by accidents, breakdowns and resulting rear-end collisions. Let's clear the roads!
  
  
• Finish installation of Transit Signal Priority at 14 locations on Aurora Avenue North. That's an important step in getting Bus Rapid Transit in that corridor.
  
  
• Synchronize more traffic lights in key corridors.
  
  
• Strengthen our program to repair pot holes.

These and other small steps can happen now, within existing budget. We are going to get the job done, John!

Big projects will require help from the state and federal government. That's why on my trip to D.C. last week, I met with US Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta and our state Congressional Delegation. My friend and colleague, King County Executive Ron Sims, and I speak with one voice on the region's transit needs.

Getting things done, taking those big and little steps, requires firm leadership at the city's transportation department. That's why I've nominated a dynamic new director for that department, Grace Crunican. She will develop a proposal to reorganize that department so she has the tools to get the job done.

Grace will become a forceful advocate for mobility. She's smart, direct, aggressive and accountable - just the approach we need. Grace brings a wealth of expertise in roads, transit and alternative transportation, from the federal, state and local level. More important, she shares my impatience to get people and goods moving, more quickly, more easily. Welcome to Seattle, Grace!

Traffic is crazy in this town. Let's start fixing it!

IMPROVING BASIC CITY SERVICES

Let me emphasize that this speech deals with only some of what we will do in 100 days, and that's not counting my other plans for the next four years. We are also going to be busy making progress on essential human services, education, and many other important issues.

On the environment, for example, we're going to move quickly to reduce greenhouse gas emission and promote energy efficiency. We're going to launch a new Clean Up Seattle campaign to use businesses and citizen volunteers to remove litter.

Now let's talk about another of my priorities making Seattle the most prepared city in America, whether the potential threat is an earthquake, terrorism or civil disturbance.

We've got a lot of work to do to reach that goal. In one recent national survey of preparedness, Seattle ranked 15th out of 30 major cities. I won't accept that, and neither should the people of this city.

We need to strengthen our entire array of pubic safety services. That means giving our public safety officers the leadership, training and resources to do their job. We just haven't done that. One officer told me the street skills training he received this month was his first in 10 years. Ten years!

So let's take these immediate steps:

1. Improve our city emergency preparedness plan, especially to address bio-terrorism. I want better planning and better regional coordination. And we are going to drill, drill, drill! At the end of the first 100 days, we will come back to Council with specific recommendations for improved preparedness. I want citizens to know we are doing what's necessary to be ready.

2. To help police and fire fighters, I'm accelerating the creation and implementation of improved training. These people risk their lives for us; we have to do more to help them in their vital work. Step one is accelerating the process of building a new fire-training center - we are one of few major cities who don't have their own fire-training center. For the police department, we need to strengthen the entire system of recruiting, training, promoting and managing our officers.

Each year, the entire police department has more than 1 million contacts with citizens. We need to make sure that routine encounters are courteous and respectful, and the policies and procedures that enforce those interactions are open and transparent. Our police can't be effective, and our communities can't feel safe, unless police enjoy the trust and confidence of the people that we serve.

We can do better. We will do better.

DOING MORE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS

Now let me introduce two more guests, Nigel Day and Mayra Ayala, both residents of South Park. They represent the best of Seattle, people who volunteer to help make this a better city.

They saw a problem, an unsafe intersection at 5th Avenue South and South Henderson, and put hours into getting approval for a traffic circle. Other neighborhoods made similar requests, with some residents putting in months of work. For some people, this was their first experience with City Hall. Nigel and Mayra did the work, and got full approval for $7,500 for that traffic circle - not a big thing set against this city's transportation needs, but a little thing that would make a difference in their neighborhood. But three months after getting a "yes," they got a loud "no." Late last year, the city wanted to make cuts, and so the commitment to their neighborhood was withdrawn.

That was wrong. When citizens create a partnership with the city - that's the last sort of thing the city should cut. So as of today, I'm restoring funding for the 28 neighborhood street fund projects. It's a small amount of money in terms overall city finances - about $500,00 - but big in terms of keeping faith with the public. Call it my faith based initiative!

That's one way of bringing common sense to government.

Here's another: Let's make our Neighborhood Service Centers more accommodating to the people who need them - the citizens. It's not enough putting city offices where people live. Many people with questions about government and city bills can't get free on weekdays to visit the centers. So rather than leave them frustrated, why not work to fit their needs? So I will establish a pilot program in which three Neighborhood Service Centers stay open evenings and weekends. We are working with employees and Local 17 to help us achieve this goal.

Government on the people's time, not government's: It's just common sense.

We also need to do better at helping people use existing services, especially low-income people and members of the city's large refugee and immigrant population. Within 100 days, the city will partner with community organizations to provide residents an opportunity to learn about and apply for those important public benefits.

We're going to do more of that - moving quickly on small things that, together, can make a huge difference in how we serve people in their daily lives.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

This city, has done much to empower neighborhoods to get government's attention, to identify needed services, and to get funding. You can find the results throughout the city, in terms of community centers, improved park services, street improvements and more.

But the work of building community needs to be taken to another level, and I am talking about the most difficult topic in this nation - race.

In this great city, we cannot ignore the fact that issues of race continue to divide us. We cannot reach our potential as a city when we fail to acknowledge issues of race and to demand that our government, as a vehicle for our hopes for a better society, do all it can to bring people together, to show the leadership, to help heal wounds in our community.

When I was running for mayor, I was profoundly struck by different reactions to a fatal shooting of an African-American by a Seattle police officer. Clearly, people of this city have a different sense of their place in this city, their view of its history, their sense of how the city relates to them, and their perception of social justice. We have to be honest with ourselves about this situation. We have to acknowledge that the vitality of our community depends not only on physical things, like parks and playgrounds, but on spiritual qualities, like feeling respected, understood, and included.

The city can't make people love or respect one another. But the city can increase opportunities for people to meet and discover one another.

That's why I've given a new mission to our Department of Neighborhoods. The department will work with communities to address critical issues such as race and social justice. I know this is a difficult topic. A Seattle Times writer recently said the subject of race leads to "uncomfortable explorations into our hearts and souls." I know this is risky for my administration to take on. I cannot predict today how this effort will turn out, nor can I say how we can measure results of our efforts. Nonetheless, it's the right thing to do. I intend to be the mayor for all the people of this city, and the alternative if we do not do all we can to promote a genuine idea of community inclusion is unacceptable. I'll be looking for help from the news media, civic groups like the Urban League and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and communities of faith. We will start with a series of gatherings that will lead to a Community Summit later this year. Each of us needs to ask, what can I do today to make this a more just city tomorrow?

Let us recall the words of Martin Luther King: "God is interested in freedom of the whole human race and in the creation of a society where all men can live together as brothers, where every man will respect the dignity and the worth of human personality."

My job, our job, is to nurture a better city. I ask each member of the council, each of the honored guests - George, Nigel, Mayra, John and Tammy - each valued city employee, and every citizen of this city to join me in reaching for these goals. Join me. Together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish, the problems we can solve, the divisions we can heal, the opportunities we can create; the hope we can kindle in people's hearts. On September 11th terror came from the skies. Today let us put fear behind us and reach for the stars. One city, one state, one nation.

We can make a difference in people's lives, and we will.

Thank you, and God bless our home, Seattle.