by Clifford Cawthon
On September 26, Seattle appeared a city of two tales: one, a city with a seemingly transparent government whose executive is open with the public; the other, a city with citizens excluded from interacting with their government, stuck in an overflow room screaming at an unresponsive screen. Continue reading Who Shut the Doors: Lawyers Guild Seeks Explanation for Council Chambers Closure
Tag Archives: Seattle City Council
Op-Ed: Where is the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan?
by David Sauvion
In September 2010, 15 community leaders, stakeholders, and residents made the commitment to work with the City of Seattle and meet monthly for the following year and a half to bring an update to a neighborhood plan crafted in the 1990’s that probably hadn’t foreseen the arrival of light rail. Continue reading Op-Ed: Where is the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan?
New City Council Dynamics Have Shaken Up Seattle
by John Stafford
INTRODUCTION
The arguments for the Seattle City Council’s 2015 transition to district elections (of the nine seats, seven are elected by district and two are at-large) are well-chronicled. District elections increase the prospects for the representation of people of color by enabling districts with large concentrations of them to maintain their demographic voting advantage, which would be diluted in a citywide race. Indeed, the 2015 elections produced a council with five women, four people of color and a socialist. Second, the lower spending requirements for district elections induce more candidates to run, which increases the scope of public dialogue. In 2015, there were 47 candidates (for nine seats) relative to 10 candidates (for four seats) in 2013. Third, district elections encourage policy that promotes neighborhood distinctiveness. Fourth, the district focus places an emphasis on the basics of city service – neighborhood policing, parks maintenance, trash collection, etc. – that are at the heart of city government. Fifth, they generate broader civic engagement and ground-up rather than top-down policy. Finally, district elections encourage more equal representation across socio-economic groups, rather than a more concentrated representation of affluent interests. Continue reading New City Council Dynamics Have Shaken Up Seattle
Council Debates Final Recommendations to Housing Levy
by Regina Friedland
The Seattle City Council Select Committee on the 2016 Seattle Affordable Housing Levy met Friday to discuss possible changes to the proposed $290 million levy, including rental opportunities for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, homeless individuals, families and low wage workers. Continue reading Council Debates Final Recommendations to Housing Levy
Councilmember Questions Fairness of Inquest Process
by Alex Garland
Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez opened Wednesday’s meeting of the Committee for Safe Communities by recognizing the family of Che Taylor, the 46 year old black male fatally shot by two Seattle police officers on Feb 21. Continue reading Councilmember Questions Fairness of Inquest Process
“People’s Assembly” Ask: Is There Actually a Solution to the Problem of Homelessness?
by Sharayah Lane
Last Saturday, hundreds of community members packed City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes room beyond capacity to hear City and County councilmembers, community organizers, and homeless advocate’s attempts at answering the question: how do we end homelessness in Seattle? Continue reading “People’s Assembly” Ask: Is There Actually a Solution to the Problem of Homelessness?
Brett Hamil: New Seattle Councilmembers – Don’t Be “The One”
In his latest video, Brett Hamil offers some constructive advice for those recently elected to the Seattle City Council.
Continue reading Brett Hamil: New Seattle Councilmembers – Don’t Be “The One”
What Portland’s Dignity Village Can Teach Seattle About Homelessness
by Marcus Harrison Green (published jointly with YES! Magazine)
On a frigid January morning, a tour through Portland’s Dignity Village follows the same path its “villagers” are required to travel. All were, or are, homeless.
Continue reading What Portland’s Dignity Village Can Teach Seattle About Homelessness
Despite Close Race, Tammy Morales Concedes
by Hanna Brooks Olsen (originally posted in Seattlish)
We’d had high hopes that Tammy Morales could unseat Bruce Harrell in District 2, but as late drops continued to show her pulling in just about half the vote, it became clear that there would likely not be an upset. Today, she conceded. Continue reading Despite Close Race, Tammy Morales Concedes
District 2 City Council Candidate Joshua Farris: “Is Money the Only Measure of a Candidate?”
After years spent in anti-homeless advocacy and social justice activism, rarely does Joshua Farris allow designations branded on him by someone else to cause much consternation. The exception is the one label that has consistently been associated with his name since announcing his campaign for District 2’s city council seat: “longshot”. Continue reading District 2 City Council Candidate Joshua Farris: “Is Money the Only Measure of a Candidate?”