AND WELCOME TO THE MUSEUM OF
HISTORY AND INDUSTRY. MY NAME
IS LEONARD GARFIELD. IT'S MY
VERY SPECIAL HONOR TO WELCOME
MAYOR HARRELL AND CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND CITY AND CIVIC
LEADERS TO MOHI THIS MORNING.
AS A HISTORY MUSEUM IN A CITY
THAT IS CONSTANTLY MAKING
HISTORY, WE AT MOHI KNOW THAT
THE CITY YOU ARE HELPING TO
SHAPE TODAY WILL INDEED BE THE
HISTORY THAT WE SHARE HERE
TOMORROW. AND THE HISTORY YOU
ARE MAKING IS PART OF A LONG,
LONG STORY. THAT STRETCHES BACK
TO TIME IMMEMORIAL AND IS STILL
EVOLVING. THE LAND AND THE
WATERS UPON WHICH WE GATHER
THIS MORNING ARE THE HISTORIC
AND CONTEMPORARY HOME OF THE
COHAILISH PEOPLE WHOSE
DISPLACEMENT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND
WHOSE ENDURANCE WE HONOR. HON
THIS SITE WAS A SEASONAL CAMP.
AND THIS WAS THE VERY SPOT
WHERE DAVID DENNY BUILT HIS
PIONEER TIMBER MILL. WE SIT
BENEATH THE WINGS AFTER OF THE
VERY FIRST COMMERCIAL PLANE
THAT BOEING EVER BUILT. MADE BY
MEN AND WOMEN BOAT BUILDERS AND
SAIL MAKERS RIGHT HERE ON LAKE
UNION AND THAT ROWING SHELF
THAT YOU SEE THERE. THAT'S THE
HISTORIC HUSKY CHALLENGER A
REMINDER OF THE BOYS IN THE
BOAT WHO PROVED THAT BY PULLING
TOGETHER, LITERALLY BY PULLING
TOGETHER, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH
MORE THAN THOSE WHO WOULD TEAR
US APART. AND LOOK DOWN AT THE
FLOOR. THIS FLOOR IS WHERE THE
GREATEST GENERATION TRAINED IN
THE DARKEST DAYS OF WORLD WAR
II. TO WIN A WAR OF DEMOCRACY
OVER TYRANNY. A STRUGGLE THAT
ECHOES DOWN THROUGH TIME TO
THIS VERY MOMENT. AND LOOKING
DOWN ON US ON THE GALLERIES
ABOVE ARE THOSE BELOVED FOUR
AMIGOS. HOW MUCH WE MISS THEM.
PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT TOGETHER TO
ENSURE THAT RACIAL JUSTICE IN
AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY WOULD BE
OUR FUTURE. HERE TOO IS THE
STORY OF INNOVATION. FROM
GROUND-BREAKING ADVANCES IN
TECHNOLOGY TO LIFE-SAVING
ADVANCES IN MEDICINE TO
EXPLORING THE FARTHEST REACHES
OF SPACE. IN ALL THESE AREAS,
SEATTLE-ITES, OUR REMARKABLE
CITY, HAS TURNED THE ONCE
IMPOSSIBLE INTO THE NOW
INDISPENSABLE. AND EACH YEAR,
MORE THAN 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE
COME TO THIS MUSEUM TO EXPLORE
THOSE VERY STORIES. AND EVERY
YOUNG PERSON, EVERY DAY, JOINS
US FOR FREE. DISCOVERING THEIR
ROLE IN OUR CITY AND HONING THE
CRITICAL SKILLS OF CIVIC
LITERACY WHICH ARE GOING TO BE
OUR ESSENTIAL FUTURE. WHAT THEY
LEARN WHEN THEY'RE HERE IS
THAT FOR GENERATIONS, AS TODAY,
SEATTLE'S HISTORY HAS BEEN
FILLED WITH A PROMISE OF NEW
OPPORTUNITIES. BUT IT HAS
ALWAYS BEEN TEMPERED BY THE
CHALLENGES OF OFTEN DIFFICULT
CHANGE. SO AS THE CITY MOVES
FORWARD IN 2024, TOWARD THE ONE
SEATTLE OF WHICH MAYOR HARRELL
HAS SPOKEN SO POWERFULLY, WE
KNOW FROM OUR STUDY OF HISTORY
THAT A COMMUNITY BUILT ON
COLLABORATION, A CITY OF
INDIVIDUALS WILLING TO WORK
TOGETHER, WILL FIND NEW
SOLUTIONS. BUILDING ON OUR
SHARED LIST YESRY YES, BUT
NEVER BEING BOUND BY IT AS WE
MOVE TO A FUTURE THAT'S STRONG,
EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE. I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE HISTORY
THAT YOU WILL MAKE TODAY AND
ALL THIS YEAR UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR. NOW
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE
MAYOR OF SEATTLE. THE HONORABLE
BRUCE HARRELL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
LEONARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO MEASURE
THAT AND SEE IF THAT'S THE
SAME LEVEL OF APPLAUSE WHEN I
FINISH. [ LAUGHTER ] GOOD
MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE 2024
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
LEONARD, THANK YOU FOR LETTING
US IN YOUR HOME AND MANY KNOW
LEONARD GARFIELD AND JUST
SOMETHING ABOUT THE NAME I
LIKE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.
FOR HIS DECADES OF LEADERSHIP.
WE CHOSE THIS PLACE AMONG MANY
TO THEME WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO BUT ALSO IF I SCREW IT UP
THERE'S A GETAWAY CAR THAT
I'LL ZOOM OUT ON. IN THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AS MOHAI. WITHIN
THESE WALLS LIVE AN EXCELLENT
NARRATIVE OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
THAT MOST IMPORTANT WHERE WE
CAN GO AS WE FORGE OUR FUTURE.
AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION.
NEW IDEAS. OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, DESPITE
HARDSHIPS AND CHALLENGES, WE'VE
PUSHED FORWARD. WE'VE PUSHED
FORWARD WITH ALMOST
RELENTLESSLY. BUT WE KNOW
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WORK TO
DO. THE STATE OF OUR CITY IF
ONE WAS TO ASK US. I WOULD
DESCRIBE IT AS BEING
PERSISTENT. PIONEERING. MOHAI
CHRONICLES OUR REGION'S PAST
AND THE IDEAS THAT BROUGHT US
TO SORT OF WHO WE ARE. WHAT
WE'VE COME TO BE. AS WINSTON
FAMOUSLY -- CHURCHILL FAMOUSLY
SAID, THOSE THAT FAIL TO LEARN
FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO
REPEAT IT. YOU KNOW, MY WIFE
SORT OF REMINDS ME OF THAT
EVERY DAY THAT I TELL HER I
WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL COME
HOME WITH STITCHES AND HURT
BACK. THE LESSON THERE BEING IS
WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM OUR
HISTORY. SINCE SEATTLE WAS
INCORPORATED OVER 150 YEARS
AGO, WE'VE GONE THROUGH CHANGE
AND CRISIS AND EACH TIME
RESPONDING WITH FOCUS AND
INGENUITY. WITH COLLABORATION.
AND MY FIRST STATE OF THE CITY
TWO YEARS AGO I STRESSED THAT
BACK TO BASICS APPROACH. A
DEDICATION TO CORE MUNICIPAL
RESPONSIBILITIES LIKE RESTORING
PUBLIC SAFETY AND GETTING
PEOPLE INDOORS AND KEEPING
PARKS ACCESSIBLE AND FIXING
POTHOLES AND MAKING SURE THE
WATER IS CLEAN AND THE POWER
COMES ON AT THE FLICK OF A
SWITCH. BUT JUST BECAUSE
SOMETHING IS BASIC AND
ESSENTIAL DOES NOT MEAN THAT
THERE'S NOT ROOM FOR
INNOVATION. CREATIVITY. WE CAN
MAKE IT WORK BETTER. THAT'S
SORT OF OUR BOTTOM LINE. THIS
REQUIRES US TO BE BOLD AND TO
TAKE CHANGES. IT'S THE REASON
THIS MAN THAT ALLOWED SEATTLE
TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND THAT'S
WHY WE'RE HERE, WE'VE LOOKED
AT THE HISTORY. TIME AND TIME
AGAIN TO PICK OURSELVES UP AND
BACK UP AND CHANGE THE COURSE
OF OUR CITY AND IN DOING SO
CHANGING THE WORLD. YOU HAVE
HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THAT
BEFORE. IT'S WHY OUR CITY
PUNCHES WAY ABOVE ITS WEIGHT
WITH COMPANIES THAT HAVE
CHANGED HOW THE WORLD DOES
BUSINESS AND WITH LABOR
PARTNERS THAT HAVE FOUGHT HARD
TO SHAPE NATION LEADING MINIMUM
WAGE INCREASES AND PROTECTIONS
AND POLICYMAKERS AT THE CUTTING
EDGE OF MEANINGFUL PROGRESSIVE
CHANGE. AND IN THIS -- WHAT WAS
ONCE DESCRIBED AS A SLEEPY
FORMER TIMBER TOWN, ON THE
ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE PEOPLE,
OUR HISTORY TELLS US THAT IT'S
INNOVATION AND NEW IDEAS THAT
BREAKTHROUGH LOG JAMS AND
CULTIVATE HOPE. WHAT IS
INNOVATION MEAN? IT MEANS A NEW
COMMUNITY ASSISTED RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND A
CARE DEPARTMENT. TO BETTER HELP
OUR NEIGHBORS AND CRISIS
RESULTING IN IMPROVED AND
IMPROVED HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
DIVERSIFIED PUBLIC SAFETY
SYSTEM. IT MEANS UPDATING THE
INDUSTRIAL AND MARITIME ZONING
POLICIES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
DECADES RESULTING IN A NEW PATH
FOR THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. AND
SEATTLE'S FUTURE AS A PORT AND
MARITIME CITY. THAT'S WHO WE
ARE. INNOVATION MEANS UPDATING
OUR CITY'S TREE ORDINANCE FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS
CREATION OVER 15 YEARS AGO AND
ISSUING A TREE EXECUTIVE ORDER
TO GUIDE OUR WORK. RESULTING IN
PROTECTIONS FOR OVER 150,000
ADDITIONAL TREES. A REQUIREMENT
TO REPLACE THREE TREES FOR
EVERY ONE TREE REMOVED AND
PLANS TO PLANT THOUSANDS MORE
ANNUALLY. THAT'S A REAL
COMMITMENT. WHAT DOES
INNOVATION MEAN? IT MEANS
LOOKING AT A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
AT FORT LAWTON AND SORT OF --
BEEN EXAMINING THAT FOR A LONG
TIME. NOW WE DEVELOPED A PLAN
TO BUILD UP TO 500 UNITS AND
TRANSFORM 34 UNDERUTILIZED
ACRES INTO A NEW COMMUNITY AND
EXPANDING D EX-- EXPANDED
PARKLAND. THIS WILL LAST FOR
GENERATIONS. THIS IS GENERATION
CHANGE WE'RE CREATING.
INNOVATION MEANS PILOTING NEW
ELECTRIC FREIGHT TRUCKS. AND
REPLACING GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS AND ELECTRIC
ALTERNATIVES RESULTING IN FEWER
EMISSIONS AND LESS NOISE. AND
HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. NOW TO
OUR RETURNING CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
WORK WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS. TO OUR NEW MEMBERS,
I AM THRILLED FOR WHAT'S NEXT.
THIS IS MY THRILLED FACE AND
SORT OF LOOKS THE SAME. BUT --
[ LAUGHTER ] MY GIDDY FACE.
I'M PROUD OF THE AMBITION OF
YOUR IDEAS. I HAVE HEARD THEM.
I HAVE WATCHED THEM. AND THE
ONE SEATTLE MODEL THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO SOLVE OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGES AND MOVE SEATTLE
INTO A FUTURE TOGETHER. NOW ONE
OF THE AREAS WHERE I MOSTLY
ENERGIZED TO WORK WITH THE NEW
CITY COUNCIL IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
LAST YEAR OVERALL CRIME FELL 7%
AND MAJOR CRIME FELL 6% AND
PROPERTY CRIME FELL 10%.
HOWEVER, HOMICIDES AND THE
DAMAGE INFLICTED FROM GUN
VIOLENCE HAVE INCREASED. WE
HAVE TO CHANGE THIS. THIS WILL
REQUIRE SUPPORTING A
COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF PUBLIC
SAFETY SOLUTIONS. THE STATE'S
LEADERSHIP TO BAN ASSAULT
WEAPONS LAST YEAR IS A
SIGNIFICANT STEP AND WE ARE
CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR GUN
LAW CHANGES IN OLYMPIA. THANKS
FOR OUR TEAM LED BY GAIL. THANK
YOU. WE HAVE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE
IN THIS RESPECT. LAST YEAR, OUR
OFFICERS RECOVERED OVER 1500
GUNS. 1500. A RECORD FOR OUR
CITY AND NOW I WILL REPEAT.
THERE ARE TOO MANY GUNS IN THE
COUNTRY ON OUR STREETS AND IN
THE WRONG HANDS. WE KNOW THIS.
WE NEED TO EMBRACE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES FUNDED IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET TO ENHANCE THE
FAIR EFFECTIVE AND
CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING OF OUR
OFFICERS. LAST YEAR, WE AS A
CITY ACE CHIEFED SUSTAINED
COMPLIANCE WITH MOST
REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL
CONSENT DECREE THAT BEGAN OVER
A DECADE AGO. UNITED STATES
SUBSTANTIATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KRISTIN CLARK CAME TO SEATTLE
AND RECOGNIZED THE PROGRESS ON
THE REFORMS THAT WE'VE MADE.
THE FACT IS USE OF FORCE OCCURS
IN LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF 1%
OF ALL POLICE ENCOUNTERS.
THAT'S OUR NEW POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I'M PROUD OF THE
WORK THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS
DO EVERY DAY AND I'M GRATEFUL
FOR TEAR DEDICATION. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BUILD THE TRUST AND
CONFIDENCE THAT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE RIGHTFULLY DEMAND OF
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK
YOU, CHIEF DIAZ FOR BEING HERE
WITH US TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ]
NOTE TO SELF. I MENTIONED CHIEF
DIAZ AND HIS FIRST APPLAUSE
LINE HERE. THANK YOU, CHIEF
DIAZ. ILL KEEP INSERTING YOU IN
APPARENTLY. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS
WE ARE URGENTLY RECRUITING MORE
POLICE OFFICERS WHO SHARE
ARRIVALS. OUR MONTHLY
APPLICATIONS ARE THE HIGHEST
THEY HAVE BEEN IN THREE YEARS
AND WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEWED OUR RECRUITING SYSTEM
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE
CHANGES TO PROCESSES THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN CHANGED OR TOUCHED IN
DECADES. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF
MOVING FROM PAPER TO ONLINE
APPLICATIONS COUNT AS
INNOVATION OR JUST PLAIN COMMON
SENSE, BUT EITHER WAY, IT'S AN
EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF STEPS
NEEDED TO BRING FORWARD A NEW
GENERATION OF OFFICER WHO IS
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND REPRESENT OUR
COMMUNITIES AND KEEP US SAFE. I
APPRECIATE THE -- COUNCILMEMBER
BOB KETTLE IS RIGHTFULLY
PRIORITIZING THIS ESSENTIAL
ISSUE AS THE COUNCIL'S NEW
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR.
HIS SIX PILLAR APPROACH IS AS
STRONG AND GOOD FOUNDATION. OF
COURSE, AS A FORMER PLAYER, I
LIKE GOING FOR SEVEN AND I LIKE
THAT EXTRA POINT. MAY NEED TO
PUT A LITTLE EXTRA SEVENTH ONE
ON THERE AT SOME POINT. BUT IN
ALL SERIOUSNESS IT'S REALLY
STRONG. TO DESIRABLE PUBLIC
SAFETY SOLUTIONS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS ALL OF YOU ARE THE
EXPERIENCES OF THE PUBLIC. SO
NEXT MONTH I WILL HOLD A PUBLIC
SAFETY FORUM TO HEAR IDEAS AND
PERSPECTIVES DIRECTLY FROM THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND GIVE THEM
A PLACE AT THE TABLE TO ALLOW
US TO MAKE SEATTLE A SAFER
PLACE. LAST YEAR, WE WORKED
WITH OUR SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
ON THE NEW CONTRACT THAT
REFLECTS OUR -- THE SERVICE
TANAY PROVIDE. OUTSTANDING
SERVICE THAT EVERYONE ENJOYS
HERE IN SEATTLE AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 27. AND ITS
PRESIDENT KENNY STEWART AND
CHIEF SCOGGINS AND THE ENTIRE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP FOR US TO MAKE
A SAFE CITY AND I'LL CLAP ON
THAT ONE MYSELF. [ APPLAUSE ]
NOTE TO SELF. SCOGGINS GOT A
BETTER APPLAUSE THAN DIAZ.
TAKING NOTES JUST FOR HOW --
USING THESE FOR NEXT YEAR HERE.
AS THE SON OF TWO CITY
EMPLOYEES, I LOOK FORWARD TO
FURTHER BUILDING OUR COMMITMENT
TO OUR WORKERS AND TO BEING A
GREAT EMPLOYER. AS WE DELIVER
STRONG ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR
OUR RESIDENTS AND THE WORK
TOWARD AGREEMENTS WITH OUR
LABOR PARTNERS INCLUDING THE
COALITION OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND
POLICE OFFICERS, AND MANY
OTHERS, WE REALIZE WHAT A
CRITICAL ROLE OUR LABOR
PARTNERS PLAY. OUR EMPLOYEES
PLAY. I TALK ABOUT ONE SEATTLE
AND I TALK ABOUT A FAMILY OF
EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S HOW WE
APPROACH IT. AT LAST YEAR'S
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, I
ANNOUNCED THE NEWLY
INSCRIPTIONED C. A. R. E.
DEPARTMENT. TODAY OUR
DEPARTMENT RESPONDERS ARE
REDEFINING WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY
LOOKS LIKE. THE CARE DEPARTMENT
ARE DELIVERING NEW KINDS OF
HELP TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISES. THIS WORK FREES
UP OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO
ADDRESS EMERGENCIES AND
PRIORITY ONE SITUATIONS
PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY ARE
MOST NEEDED. WHEN I WAS A KID
GROWING UP IN SEATTLE. BELIEVE
IT OR NOT WHEN THE DINOSAURS
ROAMED THE EARTH, THERE WAS NO
SUCH THING AS A 911 CALL IN
THIS COUNTRY. NOW DON'T LOOK
TOO SURPRISED AND I SEE A FEW
SEASONED PEOPLE OUT THERE AS
WELL. THERE WAS NONE WHEN YOU
WERE A KID AS WELL BUT TODAY IN
ALL SERIOUSNESS OUR 911
DISPATCHERS ARE SWIFTLY AND
EFFICIENTLY SENDING CARE
DEPARTMENT RESPONDERS TO
EMERGENCIES WHERE THEY'RE MOST
NEEDED AND THE FEEDBACK WE'RE
RECEIVING IS EXTREMELY
POSITIVE. WHILE HANDLING OVER
250 INCIDENTS. ONLY THREE TIMES
HAVE OUR CARE TEAMS HAD TO ASK
POLICE TO RETURN BACK TO THE
SCENE. THIS IS A GREAT START. [
APPLAUSE ] IN FACT OUR DATA
SHOWS THAT IN 2023, THERE WERE
MORE THAN 8,000 911 CALLS FROM
A CARE RESPONSE MAY HAVE BEEN
THE BEST RESPONSE. THAT'S WHY
WE PLAN ON EXPANDING THE CARE
DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE CAPACITY
AND HELP MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR
TIME OF NEED. WE'LL CONTINUE
TO IMPROVE COLLABORATION ACROSS
THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY
PROGRAMS. CONNECTING PREVIOUSLY
SILOED EFFORTS AND ASSURING
THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE USED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
BUT CARE ISN'T THE ONLY AREA
WHERE WE'RE REDEFINING AND
DIVERSIFYING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSES. WE WORKED TO KEEP
OUR PARKS OPEN. WE -- I'M
LOOKING AT SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
-- THE OTHER DIAZ BY THE WAY.
SINCE SHE LOOKED AT ME. [
APPLAUSE ] HE'S THINKING IS IT
ME? I'M WAITING FOR IT. HERE
IT IS. AS WE WORK TO KEEP OUR
PARKS OPEN, CLEAN AND
ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMING FOR
EVERYONE, WE'VE BOLESSERS THE
PARK PROTESTERS' PROGRAM. THE
THOUSANDS OF INTERACTIONS WITH
THE PUBLIC LAST YEAR AS YOU
WELL KNOW DIRECTOR DIAZ AND
DE-ESCALATED OVER 400 POTENTIAL
911 CALLS. THAT'S JUST IN
DOWNTOWN PARKS. IN 2023, WE
INCREASED OUR NUMBER OF RANGERS
BY 600% THIS THIS YEAR ALMOST
DOUBLE THAT NUMBER AGAIN AS
RANGERS BEGIN TO SERVE PARKS
CITY-WIDE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS EFFORT. [ APPLAUSE ]
NOW -- PARKS AND COMMUNITY
CENTERS AND PLAY FIELDS ARE THE
FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR GROWING
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE DIFFERENCE
MANGERS FOR KIDS THROUGH
HEALTHY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
HEALTHY INTERACTIONS. EXPOSE
THEM TO THE NATURAL WORLD. AND
NO ONE KNOWS THAT BEST OTHER
THAN COUNCILMEMBER JOY HOLLINGS
WORTH WHO GREW UP ON THE PLAY
FIELDS AND UNDERSTANDS BETTER
THAN MOST AND SHARES MY PASSION
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AFTER NEARLY
A DECADE, IT'S WONDERFUL FOR
THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TO HAVE A
RESIDENTS ARE FEELING UNSAFE
BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. SO --
[ APPLAUSE ] I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT WAS FOR YOU OR WHAT I
SAID. COUNCILMEMBER, WE'LL TAKE
IT EITHER WAY. BUT LET ME BE
CLEAR. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS. NO
MATTER YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
YOUR GENDER IDENTITY, YOUR
RELIGIOUS, RACIAL OR ETHNIC
BACKGROUND, YOU ARE WELCOME IN
SEATTLE. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU ARE
SEATTLE. YOU ARE SEATTLE. YOU
BELONG. THIS IS MY PRIORITY AS
YOUR MAYOR. AND I GREW UP IN A
SEATTLE WHERE I WAS NOT ALWAYS
WELCOME AS A LITTLE BIRACIAL
KID IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. MY
FATHER USED TO WARN ME ABOUT
GOING TO CERTAIN AREAS, TRUST
ME WHEN I SAY I GET ITMENT WE
WILL WELCOME, WE WILL LOVE, WE
WILL EMBRACE. AND I SEE THE
ISSUES IN FRONT OF US. FOR
THOSE WHO FEEL EXCLUDED. I AM
PROUD TO BE YOUR MAYOR AND HAVE
EVERY MEMBER OF PART OF OUR
CITY FAMILY. THIS IS ALSO TRUE
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK. WHO
ARE STRUGGLING. WHO ARE IN NEED
OF HELP. WHENEVER I SEE SOMEONE
NEEDING HELP ON OUR STREETS, I
WANT TO SEE THEM GETTING IT.
SEATTLE STREETS CANNOT BE PAVED
WITH GOOD INTENTIONS OR PAVED
WITH LIES OF DESPAIR OR CRIME.
THEY MUST BE FILLED WITH HELP
AND SUPPORT AND THE CHANGE WE
PUSH MUST BE SUSTAINABLE. THESE
CANNOT BE ONE OFFS. SINCE LAST
YEAR, WE HAVE TAKEN STRONG
ACTION TO ADDRESS THE DEADLY
IMPACTS OF FENTANYL AND
SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS IN OUR CITY.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT I
ISSUED LAST YEAR SENT OUT A
ROAD MAP FOR A DIVERSIFIED
APPROACH. BALANCING ENFORCEMENT
WITH EXPANDED SYSTEMS OF CARE
AND TREATMENT. WE'VE CREATED
NEW PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE
HARMS CAUSED BY ADDICTION AND
HAVE INCREASED THE TOOLS
AVAILABLE TO OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. THIS IS THE BALANCE
THAT WE STRUCK. THIS IS WHY WE
DEVELOPED A DRUG USE ORDINANCE,
ROOTED IN BOTH ACCOUNTABILITY
AND A CONNECTION TO SERVICES TO
GET WELL. THIS ORDINANCE
CRAFTED UNDER A ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH, QUITE HONESTLY WE DID
THE HARD WORK. WE BROUGHT
TOGETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OUTREACH
WORKERS AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES,
EXPERTS, AND WE BUILT THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE
ORDINANCE OF ITS KIND IN THE
STATE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE IN SEATTLE. WITH OUR DUAL
PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH, SBDCs AN ESTIMATED 2
BILLION DEADLY FENTANYL BILLS
AND ARRESTINGDEALERS AND
TRAFFICKERS AND THOSE CAUSING
THE MOST HARM. ALSO DIVERSED
NEARLY 150 PEOPLE TO CASE WORK
SERS SERVICE PROVIDERS GIVING
PEOPLE A CHANCE TO GET THE HELP
THAT THEY NEED OUTSIDE OF THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. [
APPLAUSE ] THE -- THE NEEDS
WE'RE SEEING ON THE STREETS
HAVE RESULTED IN ACTION. WE
DEVELOPED NEW AND INNOVATIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES IN AN AREA WHERE THE
CITY IS NOT HISTORICALLY HAD A
LEADING ROLE. OUR ACTIONS
INCLUDE OUR NEW HEALTH 99 POST
OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM. OUR
EXPANDED MOBILE MEDICATION
DELIVERY FOR OPIOID USE
DISORDERS. AND OUR NEW
CONTINGENCY DRUG MANAGEMENT
ABATEMENT PROGRAM AND NEXT
MONTH, WE'LL SHARE THE DETAILS
OF OUR $7 MILLION INVESTMENT
FUNDING A POST OVERDOSE CENTER
AND HEALTH FACILITIES THAT ARE
OFFERING NEW WAYS TO HELP
PEOPLE RECOVER IN THEIR TIME OF
NEED. NOW THESE PROGRAMS -- [
APPLAUSE ] ENSURE THAT THESE
PROGRAMS WILL SAVE LIVES. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SARAH NELSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP
TO ADDRESS THIS SYNTHETIC DRUG
CRISIS THAT IS KILLING HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS.
SHE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE
FOR INVESTING IN PROVEN
TREATMENT SOLUTIONS AND I WANT
TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND SAY
NICE ARTICLE TODAY TOO BY THE
WAY. [ APPLAUSE ] I APPLAUD THE
WORK THAT YOU ARE BRINGING WITH
YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE FOCUS TO
THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH. A BODY I'M ALSO
JOINING TO UNDERSCORE THE
CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THESE
ISSUES AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THEWORK TOGETHER TO
INNOVATE AND ADAPT PROGRAMS TO
MEET THE MOMENT. TO MEET ISSUE
OF THE DAY. JUST AS THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY AND THE STATE
CAME TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,
WE MUST BRING THE SAME RESOLVE
TO THE CRISIS PLAYING OUT ON
OUR STREETS. THAT SAME
INTENSITY. WE HAVE TO WORK WITH
THE SAME SENSE OF
INTENTIONALITY. WE KNOW WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
ROOT CAUSES OF SAFETY ISSUES
AND BUILD A CITY WHERE
OPPORTUNITIES IS WITHIN THE
REACH OF EVERY RESIDENT.
THAT'S WHY IN 2023, WE PUT
INTO ACTION OUR FUTURE OF
SEATTLE ECONOMY AGENDA. A
STRATEGY TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SHARING
SEATTLE IS A PLACE FOR SWEEP
NUMBER WORKERS AND
ENTREPRENEURS AND EMPLOYEES
WHERE A PERSON CAN START OR
SCALE A BUSINESS OR FIND A GOOD
JOB. OUR OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT EXPANDED ACCESS TO
CAPITAL FOR NEARLY 300
BUSINESSES AND WE LAUNCHED A
FIRST IN THE NATION PROGRAM FOR
A MODEL OF SMALL BUSINESSES,
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND
INCREASED ACCESS TO MIDDLE WAGE
JOBS AND GROWING INDUSTRIES
LIKE HEALTH CARE. MUCH-NEEDED.
UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM
LAST YEAR OUR GOVERNMENT HAS
TAKEN TANGIBLE STEPS TO EXPAND
CONTRACTING EQUITY INTO SMALL
BUSINESSES RUN BY WOMEN AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR. ANOTHER
EXAMPLE IS THE LIBERTY PROJECT
JUST AS A PARTNERSHIP. A
COORDINATED EFFORT WE ARE
INVESTING IN TO MAKE SURE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
THE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AND THEY
BOAR 100 ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP
BUSINESSES. NO MORE OF A
SILOED APPROACH. WE'VE MADE
IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW SMALL
BUSINESSES NAVIGATE THE CITY
LIKE, SHAVING 105 DAYS OF THE
AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES FOR A
BUSINESS TO HAVE THEIR FIRST
PERMIT REVIEW. AND OUR SEATTLE
RESTORED PROGRAM CONTINUES TO
FILL FORMERLY VACANT STORE
FRONTS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
ARTISTS AND POP-UPS. SOME OF
WHICH HAVE TURNED INTO
LONG-TERM LEASES. JUST LAST
WEEK, WE ANNOUNCED $200,000 IN
INVESTMENT FROM JPMORGAN CHASE
TO HELP TURN MANY OF THE 30
LOCATIONS INTO LONG-TERM
LEASES. THESE ARE SUSTAINABLE
INVESTMENTS. THANK YOU JPMORGAN
CHASE FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON
THESE EFFORTS. [ APPLAUSE ] IT
SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT OUR
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
DOESN'T FIXATE ON TRYING TO
REVIVE THE OLD DOWNTOWN.
INSTEAD, WE AIM TO REIMAGINE
WHAT A DOWNTOWN COULD BE. OUR
-- PLAN CENTERS ON 46 SHORT AND
MEDIUM TERM INITIATIVES AND IN
LESS THAN ONE YEAR WE HAVE MADE
HEADWAY ON 83% OF THEM AND WE
ANNOUNCED AND WE MEASURED AND
WE IMPLEMENTED. OUR DOWNTOWN
PLAN IS GAINING MOMENTUM AS WE
ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN. HERE'S SOME
STATISTICS. MORE THAN 106,000
RESIDENTS ARE NOW LIVING
DOWNTOWN. OVER 80,000 WORKERS
COME TO THEIR OFFICES MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY. LET ME REPEAT
THAT. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. [
APPLAUSE ] THE HIGHEST NUMBER
OF HOTEL ROOMS SOLD IN SUMMER
SINCE 2019. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ABLE TO ACHIEVE. AND IN
RECORD-SHATTERING 2023 SUMMER
WITH OVER 11 MILLION VISITORS
DOWNTOWN. 3 MILLION OF WHICH
CAME IN JULY FOR THE MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR GAME
AND MAJOR CONCERTS. HECK WHEN
TAYLOR SWIFT WAS HERE SHE EVEN
CAUSED AN EARTHQUAKE AND YOU
ALL REMEMBER THAT. IF YOU THINK
THAT WAS FUN, WAIT UNTIL THE
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP WHEN IT
GETS HERE. THIS IS THE
EQUIVALENT -- [ APPLAUSE ]
EQUIVALENT OF 6 SUPER BOWLS
PLAYED IN OUR CITY OVER THE
COURSE OF THREE WEEKS. SEATTLE
WILL WELCOME HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AROUND
THE WORLD WITH OVER A BILLION
PEOPLE WATCHING FROM AROUND THE
WORLD THIS CITY HERE IN
SEATTLE. AND WE WILL BE READY.
[ APPLAUSE ] NOW -- SPEAKING
OF SPORTS, NOW THAT I'M
FINALLY OVER MY TRAUMA OF THE
HUSKIES LOSING THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, WELL, NOT QUITE
OVER THE TRAUMA. STILL A LITTLE
TRAUMATIZED. I'M READY TO ADD
ANOTHER POINT TO OUR 46 POINTS
OF OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN. BRINGING THE SONICS BACK.
[ APPLAUSE ] GOT CHRIS
DANIELS' ATTENTION OVER THERE
WHEN SAID THAT. I SAW HE WAS
SLEEPING UP UNTIL THEN. HE --
PERKED UP ALL OF A SUDDEN. NBA
TEAMS ARE ALREADY CHOOSING TO
PLAY PRESEASON GAMES RIGHT
HERE. AND THAT'S A CLEAR SIGN
THAT SEATTLE AND CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA ARE READY FOR NBA ACTION.
WE STAND READY TO DO WHATEVER
IT TAKES TO BRING BACK THE
GREEN AND GOLD AND WE ALL KNOW
WE HAVE WON CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE
BEFORE AND WE WILL AGAIN. AND
CHRIS, THAT'S ALL-TIME GIVING
YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT WE STAND AT
THE READY. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,
2024 IS A HUGE YEAR FOR
SEATTLE'S NEW WATERFRONT. A
PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CALLED
WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OFFICE OF
SPACE NEEDLE THINKING HALF A
MILLION VISITORS CAME TO THE
WATERFRONT LAST YEAR. AFTER
MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CIVIC,
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS,
WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO
COMPLETING OUR WORLD CLASS
WATERFRONT. A WATERFRONT THAT
IS REIMAGINED AND OPEN AND
ACCESSIBLE AND GREEN AND
ACTIVATED. NEXT YEAR, WE GET TO
CELEBRATE THIS HISTORIC
COMPLETION TOGETHER. NOW ARTS
AND CULTURE ARE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN AS PART OF OUR IDENTITY AS
A CITY. WE RELY ON ARTISTS AND
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENERGIZE
AND BRING LIFE TO OUR PUBLIC
SPACES AND SUPPORT SURROUNDING
BUSINESSES. THE ARTS DRAW
PEOPLE. BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN
US. MAKING SEATTLE A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT AND
LINGER AND LIVE. KING COUNTY'S
NEW ARTS MEASURE WILL INVEST
$90 MILLION TOO REVIVE THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY AS OUR OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE WORK TO
BEAUTIFY SPACES AND SUPPORT
LIVELY ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN. MY
VISION I SHOULD BE CLEAR ON
THIS, IS A SEATTLE WHERE WALLS
ARE FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL
MURALS AND PUBLIC ART. THIS IS
ALSO A PILLAR OF OUR HOLISTIC
STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS
OF UNWANTED GRAFFITI TAGGING
AND VANDALISM. THANK YOU THE
CITY ATTORNEY ANNE DAVIDSON FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS ISSUE
INCLUDING YOUR WORK TO ENSURE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE
CAUSING HARM TO OUR RESIDENTS
AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU, ANNE.
[ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU, ANNE.
I'M PROUD TO DESCRIBE THE
POSITIVE CHANGE NEIGHBORS ARE
SEEING FROM OUR EFFORTS AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH UPLIFT
NORTHWEST RELATIVE TO GRAFFITI.
THEY EMPLOY FORMERLY HOMELESS
PEOPLE TO ENSURE -- TO LEARN
NEW WORK SKILLS AND CLEAN UP
GRAFFITI ACROSS THE TOWN.
HERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT
CITY STAFF HAS DONE. THEY
WORKED ON 27,000 GRAFFITI
REMOVALS AT 23,000 LOCATIONS IN
2023. THE UPLIFT NORTHWEST
PARTNERSHIP YIELD AN ADDITIONAL
385 PRIVATE PROPERTY LOCATIONS.
IN TOTAL, WE'VE CLEANED UP
OVER 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF
GRAFFITI. [ APPLAUSE ] NEW
ENERGY, NEW INTENSITY, NEW
WILLINGNESS TO CLEAN UP OUR
CITY AND SO MANY WAYS FROM SO
TO TO THE CHINESE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. OUR DOWNTOWN IS A
VERY SPECIAL PLACE BECAUSE
IT'S DIVERSE. IT'S DIVERSE IN
HOW WE DESCRIBE THE PLACE AND
ITS PEOPLE AND ITS INDUSTRY AND
ITS JOBS AND MAKING THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND
ACTIVATED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REMAINS
ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES.
COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS
TO YOUR -- THE CITY COUNCIL. I
SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
TOGETHER TO -- ON INITIATIVES
CITY-WIDE AND FOR LASTING
IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR CHERISHED
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. CONGRATULATIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER WU. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO FROM SOUTH LAKE UNION,
WHERE WE'RE STANDING TODAY,
ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH DOWNTOWN,
WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE
THAT NOW IS TIME TO CREATE AN
URBAN DEVELOPMENT VISION FOR A
NEW KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD,
RUNNING SOUTH OF COLUMBIA,
NORTH OF HOL GAIT AND EAST OF
LITTLE SAIGON AND WEST OF PIER
48. WE WILL ADVANCE A VERY
COORDINATED TARGETED GROWTH
STRATEGY WITHIN THIS FOOTPRINT.
WITH SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS ON
THE WAY, IT'S A RARE ALIGNMENT
THAT GIVES US A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN
DECADES TO DESIGN AND FOSTER A
NEW NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
DEMONSTRATES THE DOWNTOWN IS
FOR EVERYONE. SO WHEN I TALK
ABOUT BIG BALL IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION, THIS IS IT. A
CHANCE TO SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN
WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
GROCERY STORES AND CHILD CARE
AND HIGH QUALITY JOBS. A
DIVERSE AND VIBRANT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND INDEED CULTURAL
SPACES. ALL OF THIS ACTION
CALLS FOR A COHESIVE APPROACH
TO ALIGN OUTCOMES AND MAKE SURE
THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE IN SYNC
ACROSS MANY PROJECTS. OUR
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN ALSO
INCLUDES INNOVATE EFFORTS TO
TRANSFORM UNDERUTILIZED OFFICE
SPACE IN RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER
USES OPTIMIZING THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT FOR CURRENT NEEDS
OF A MODERN CITY. SO NEXT
MONTH, MY OFFICE WILL DELIVER
LEGISLATION TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, TO TURN THIS BIG IDEA
INTO A REALITY. THROUGH
PERMITTING IMPROVEMENTS AND
INCENTIVES BASED ON INSIGHTS
FROM ARCHITECTS AND BUILDING
OWNERS AND HOUSING LEADERS AND
HOUSING ADVOCATES. AND EVEN AS
WE CHANGE THE BUILDING USES AND
INSUPPORT SIGNIFICANT GROWTH
DOWNTOWN. WE KNOW THAT GROTE
CAN'T ONLY OCCUR DOWNTOWN. WE
ARE AWARE OF THIS. SEATTLE MUST
BE A CITY FOR STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS WORKERS AND INDEED OUR
FAMILIES, FOR PEOPLE OF ALL
INCOME LEVELS. AND AS I HAVE
SAID BEFORE, WE KNOW THE ANSWER
TO HOMELESSNESS STARTS WITH
MORE HOUSING. AND PLACES FOR
PEOPLE TO COME INSIDE. [
APPLAUSE ] THAT'S WHY WITHIN
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE'LL
RELEASE THE DETAILS OF OUR ONE
SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE AND THIS IS OUR MASTER
PLAN FOR GROWTH. IT'S JUST ONE
PART OF A BOLD ONE SEATTLE
HOUSING AGENDA THAT ALLOWS NEW
KINDS OF HOUSING ACROSS THE
CITY AND BRINGS MISSING MIDDLE
HOUSING TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND EXPANDS DENSITY CITY-WIDE
WITH A FOCUS ON AREAS WHERE
THERE ARE STRONG TRANSIT
ACCESS, CLOSE TO SHOPPING AND
OTHER SERVICES AND OTHER
AMENITIES THAT INDEED FAMILIES
WANT. MY HOUSING AGENDA WILL
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW
GENERATIONAL WEALTH. SIMPLIFIED
NEARLY 300 SEPARATE ZONING
CATEGORIES AND CREATE COMPLETE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND REDUCE
PERMITTING TIMELINES AND OTHER
BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT. THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON TOOK AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN ASKING EVERY
CITY TO DO ITS PART. AND MAKE
IT EASIER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOUSING. BUT
SEATTLE'S ALREADY LEADING THE
WAY. THE HOUSING AGENDA -- THIS
HOUSING AGENDA THAT I'M
DESCRIBING WILL NOT ONLY ADOPT
THE SPIRIT OF THESE CHANGES BUT
CONTINUE TO POINT THE WAY
FORWARD FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES. A
FORMER PLANNER HERSELF I MIGHT
ADD ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE AS WE WORK TO CREATE
THIS MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING. WE
ARE MAKING THE LARGEST
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
1400 UNITS OPENED LAST YEAR AND
ANOTHER 7600 IN THE PIPELINE.
AND THANKS TO THE VOTE LORE
APPROVED A SIGNIFICANT RENEWAL
OF THE PROVEN HOUSING LEVEE
WE'LL BUILD AT LEAST 3100 MORE
AFFORDABLE HOMES. IN OUR FIRST
YEAR, I DESCRIBED A GOAL OF
ENSURING PERMIT APPROVAL AND
LESS THAN ONE YEAR FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. IN
2023, WE OVERWHELMINGLY MET
THAT GOAL. MORE HOUSING -- [
APPLAUSE ] SIMPLY PUT, MORE
HOUSING, MORE QUICKLY. NOW OUR
APPROACH TO THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS REFLECTS A BACK TO
BASICS APPROACH TO A BELIEF
ROOTED IN COMPASSION. WE
BELIEVE THAT THOSE SUFFERING
DESERVE BETTER THAN LIVING
OUTDOORS AND THAT PUBLIC SPACES
LIKE PARKS AND SIDEWALKS SHOULD
BE SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYBODY. OUR INNOVATION WAS
THE CREATION OF THE UNIFIED
CARE TEAM. A PROOF POSITIVE
IDEA THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE
PROGRESS ON EACH OF THE IDEALS
WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE OTHER.
WE CREATED A STATE-OF-THE-ART
SYSTEM THAT INFORMATION A
DATA-DRIVEN OBJECTIVE AND
EQUITABLE APPROACH TO RESOLVING
ENCAMPMENTS. FOR THOSE LIVING
IN THEM AND FOR THE NEIGHBORS,
WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED. THE
RESULTS ARE SIGNIFICANT. SINCE
THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNIFIED
CARE TEAM, WE'VE INCREASED
SHELTER REFERRALS BY 83%. OVER
1,000 PEOPLE HAVE COME INDOORS.
AND TENTS ON SIDEWALKS AND IN
PARKS HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY
HALF. FROM OVER 1,000 WHEN I
FIRST TOOK OFFICE. [ APPLAUSE ]
NOW THIS IS IS AN APPROACH
THAT'S SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
IT'S DELIVERED A 41% DECREASE
IN GUN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS
RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND A
16% DECREASE IN FIRES AND
ENCAMPMENTS OR LIVED IN RVs.
AGAIN -- [ APPLAUSE ] AS I
STARTED MY WORDS, WE SEEK TO
LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY. THE
LATEST EXAMPLE IS THE LAUNCH OF
A DEDICATED NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM
APPROACH FOR EACH REGION OF THE
CITY. ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD
PERSONALIZED RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE COMMUNITIES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PEOPLE
HOUSED AND UNHOUSED TO HELP
THEM COME INSIDE. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA RECOGNIZES THAT THIS
LEVEL OF NEIGHBORHOOD BASED
CONSTITUENTS SERVICE MAKES A
BIG DIFFERENCE FOR OUR SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHE'S MADE
SCHOOL SAFETY AND CONSTITUENT
SERVICE A TOP PRIORITY SINCE
TAKING OFFICE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. [
APPLAUSE ] BUT JUST AS OUR
DEPARTMENTS CANT WORK IN SILOS
TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, NEITHER
CAN THE CITIES THAT MAKE UP
KING COUNTY. AS WITH ANY NEW
ORGANIZATION, OR INNOVATION,
THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY HAS
TAKEN STEPS FORWARD BUT INDEED
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN BUMPS
ALONG THE ROAD. SO THIS YEAR,
WE WILL DRIVE NEEDED CHANGES TO
IMPROVE OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. AND FOSTER
STRONGER REGIONAL COLLABORATION
AND SOLUTIONS. A REGIONAL
APPROACH MEANS THAT THERE IS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AND SERVICES IN EVERY COMMUNITY
IN OUR REGION. NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE. COUNCILMEMBER KATHY
MOORE -- [ APPLAUSE ]
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE DOVE IN
HEAD FIRST TO HER ROLE AS
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND AS A MEMBER
OF THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COMMITTEE AND NOW SHE
WILL BE A STRONG PARTNER IN THE
EFFORT. SIMILARLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR
ROB SAKA WORKING TO BUILD A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR
RESIDENTS NO MATTER HOW THEY
GET AROUND. PART OF THE
COMMITMENT TO MAKING SEATTLE
SAFER AND SEATTLE GOVERNMENT
MORE RESPONSIVE TO NEIGHBORS
WILL BE INVESTMENT IN ROADS AND
BRIDGES AND TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN THE
COMING WEEKS I WILL SHARE A SET
OF PLANS THAT INFORM THE
TRANSPORTATION OF THE LEVY
RENEWAL PACKAGE. ASK THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE TO HELP I DRESS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN OUR
CITY. AS WITH EVERY LEVY ASK,
WE WANT TO BALANCE THE CRITICAL
NEEDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH
THE FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND
IMPACT OF OUR NEIGHBORS. THIS
MEANS WE ARE TAKING A HARD LOOK
AT THE PRIORITIES PEOPLE ARE
SHARING WITH US FROM ACROSS THE
CITY. OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER ON
THESE PRIORITIES AND THE
TIMELINES TO GET THEM DONE WILL
BE CRITICAL IN HOW WE GO ABOUT
PASSING THIS LEVY. HERE'S WHAT
I WILL BE PRESENTING. FIRST,
FOCUS ON THE BASICS. REPAVING
AND RECONSTRUCTING THE
MATERIALS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ROWS
IN POOR CONDITION AND FILLING
EVEN MORE POTHOLES AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ALSO KNOWN
AS THE KING OF POTHOLES. WE
KNOW THAT'S MUSIC TO YOUR
EARS. AS WELL AS SAFETY
UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO
OTHER AGING INFRASTRUCTURES.
TAKING CLIMATE ACTION. PLANNING
MORE ROADWAY TREES AND
EXPANDING ELECTRIFICATION AND
IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY TO AND
WITHIN OUR CITY TO REDUCE
RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.
IMPROVING SAFETY. TAKING AN
EQUITY AND SAFETY APPROACH TO
SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION AND
IMPROVEMENTS, MAKING SURE OUR
KIDS GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND
TO THEIR ACTIVITIES SAFELY.
SENIORS COULD GET TO THEIR CARE
AND THEIR SERVICES AND PEOPLE
OF ALL AGES CAN GO SHOPPING AND
TRANSIT AND OTHER AMENITIES
SAFELY. PEDESTRIAN, CYCLISTS
AND TRANSIT RIDERS ALL EXAMPLES
OF THOSE WHO DEMAND AND DESERVE
SAFETY AND THAT WILL BE A
PILLAR OF OUR APPROACH. THIS IS
OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIALOGUE
WITH THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO
HELP REFINE AND ALIGN THESE
INVESTMENTS AND PROGRAMS AND
THEN PRESENT A FINAL PACKAGE TO
COUNCIL THIS SPRING FOR
REFERRAL TO THE -- [ NO AUDIO ]
WE LOOK AT THESE INVESTMENTS
AND LIGHTRAIL TO BALLARD AND
WEST SEATTLE. WE MUST MEET THE
MOBILITY NEEDS OF CURRENT
RESIDENTS AND PREPARE FOR THE
FUTURE GROWTH AND CHANGE. WE
CAN DO THIS BY IMPROVING ON THE
BASICS TODAY BUT ALSO BY LAYING
A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE
FUTURE. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO
FIGHT THE CLIMATE CRISIS, WE
RECOGNIZE TRANSPORTATION IS NOT
THE ONLY SOURCE OF CARBON
EMISSIONS. BUILDINGS CONTRIBUTE
NEARLY 450% OF SEATTLE'S
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. SO
LAST YEAR, WE ADVANCED NATION
LEADING POLICY LEGISLATION
THROUGH OUR BUILDING EMISSIONS
PERFORMANCE STANDARD. THIS IS A
PATHWAY TO ELIMINATING FOSSIL
FUEL IN HUNDREDS OF LARGE
BUILDINGS CITY-WIDE, REDUCING
BUILDING EMISSIONS BY 27% AND
CUTTING OVERALL GREENHOUSE
EMISSIONS BY 10%. AND CREATING
NEW GREEN UNION JOBS. [
APPLAUSE ] ALREADY HEARING
FROM MAYORS IN OTHER CITIES WHO
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR
LEGISLATION AND THEY BUILD
THEIR OWN MODELS THE TACKLE THE
CRISIS. ONE OF THE MANY WAYS
SEATTLE CONTINUES TO BE A
NATIONAL AND GLOBAL CLIMATE
LEADER. THIS YEAR A RENEWED
FOCUS TO DECARBONIZING HOMES
ACROSS THE CITY. A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF US. WHEN
I TOOK OFFICE DIRECTOR FERAL
AND THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT. IDENTIFIED CLIMATE
POLLUTION AND RESIDENTIAL HOMES
AS A TOP ISSUE AND THEY SET AN
AMBITIOUS 2030 GOAL OF
TRANSITIONING HOMES OFF DIRTY
AND EXPENSIVE HEATING OIL. WE
ARE ACCELERATING EFFORTS TO
HELP EVEN MORE LOW AND MODERATE
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TRANSITION
FROM OIL HEATING TO CLEAN AND
ENERGY EFFICIENT HEAT PUMPS.
WE'LL ALSO LAUNCH NEW REBATES
AND NO COST CONVERSIONS FOR
HOUSE HOLDS TO TRANSITION FROM
FOSSIL FUELS TO EFFICIENT
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES. HEAT WATER
PUMPS AND HEATERS AND ELECTRIC
INDUCTION STOVES. NOW THESE
INNOVATIONS WILL HELP THOUSANDS
OF HOUSEHOLDS SAVE ON UTILITY
COSTS, SUPPORT BETTER INDOOR
AIR QUALITY, AND REDUCE CLIMATE
POLLUTION. AND THE COMING
MONTHS YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
PARTNERSHIPS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON'S
CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT. TO
BOOST OUR WORK AND SPEED UP
TIMELINES AND I WANT TO THANK
GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE FOR HIS
STALWART CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
ANNOUNCEMENTS HERE IN THE VERY
NEAR FUTURE. OUR APPROACH TO
INNOVATION EXTENDS TO EVEN THE
MOST BASIC OF OUR CITY
FUNCTIONS. HOW RESIDENTS ACCESS
OUR SERVICES. SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS THAT. IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIED AS
WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE. IN
2023, WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
CITY FORM. NOW CITY FORM IS A
TOOL THAT FOLK FOCUSED ON
REMOVING BARRIERS. WE LAUNCHED
EIGHT PROGRAMS OFFERING
QUALIFIED SEATTLE-ITES OVER
$23,000 IN SAVINGS ON LIVING
EXPENSES SUCH AS CHILD CARE OR
TRANSIT AND GROCERIES. INSTEAD
OF NEEDING TO FILL OUT MULTIPLE
APPLICATIONS AND MULTIPLE TIMES
FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WE
CREATED A SINGLE APPLICATION.
ONE SITE, ONE STOP SHOPPING,
KIND OF APPROACH. AND IT'S
WORKING. SO FAR NEARLY 5,000
RESIDENTS HAVE APPLIED TO CITY
PROGRAMS IN THEIR PREFERRED
LANGUAGE IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES.
SOME -- [ APPLAUSE ] NOW --
SOME OF THESE RESIDENTS
REPLYING FOR MULTIPLE DISCOUNTS
AND CITY FORM IS MAKING IT
EASIER AND FASTER FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS TO GET BENEFITS THAT
THEY ALREADY QUALIFY FOR. THIS
YEAR WE'RE ACCELERATING THE
WORK OF THE -- YOU MAY RECALL
MY AFFORDABLE SEATTLE EXECUTIVE
ORDER TO BRING ONLINE AN
ADDITIONAL 15 CITY PROGRAMS.
NOW -- THIS WILL OFFER UP TO
$63,000 IN SAVINGS FOR FAMILIES
THAT NEED IT THE MOST. THIS --
THIS INNOVATION WAS MADE
POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC
PARTNERSHIPS WE DEVELOPED IN
THIS CASE WITH GOOGLE.ORG AND
OUR LABTIVE WORK ON THESE KINDS
OF ISSUES IS NOW SCALING TO
OTHER CITIES AND STATES AROUND
THE COUNTRY. LAST MONTH CITY
FORM WAS HONORED WITH A SILVER
ANTHEM AWARD. NOW THIS IS --
AWARD RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN
PRODUCTS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING
HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND
SERVICE. IN SERVICES. [
APPLAUSE ] NOW THE LAST SERIOUS
CHALLENGE I WILL HIGHLIGHT.
REQUIRES BOTH COMMITMENT AND
NEW THINKING. THAT OF COURSE IS
OUR BUDGET. WITH THE -- DEFICIT
FORECASTED NEAR $250 MILLION.
THE SIZE OF THIS DEFICIT MEANS
WE WILL HAVE DIFFICULT
FINANCIAL DECISIONS AHEAD. AND
WHILE THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD
SUGGEST THAT THE ANSWER LIES IN
NEW REVENUE, FACT IS THAT
PASSING A NEW AND EXPANDED TAX
WOULDN'T ADDRESS THE
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES NEEDED TO
CLOSE THE GAP IN THE LONG RUN.
WITHOUT CHANGES TO HOW WE
BUDGET AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT
BUDGETING, THIS PROBLEM WILL
OCCUR AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
FOR THE CITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
DELIVERING A SUSTAINABLE
BALANCED BUDGET IS A BASIC
RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY
GOVERNMENT. THIS IS US AT OUR
BEST. HOWEVER, NOW IS NOT A
TIME FOR DESPAIR, I REJECT
NOTIONS OF AUSTERITY, INSTEAD A
CHANCE TO HIT RESET AND REVISE
OUR BUDGETING PRACTICES AND TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON THE PROGRAMS,
PROJECTS AND POLICIES THAT ARE
EFFECTIVE IN MAKING THE MOST
DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. IT WILL BE DAY DRIVEN
AND EXECUTIVE ORDER I ISSUED
LAST YEAR. TO OPTIMIZE THE USE
OF DATA TO MAKE BETTER CLEARER,
FINANCIAL DECISIONS BASED ON
OUR VALUES. OUR PACE OF
SPENDING REQUIRES A SYSTEM-WIDE
ANALYSIS OF EVERY EXPENSE
STREAM AND LINE OF BUSINESS AS
WELL AS A GRANULAR ANALYSIS OF
EVERY DOLLAR SPENT. WE DO THIS
FROM THE BOTTOM UP WITH OUR
EMPLOYEES. AND OUR LABOR
PARTNERS. AND OUR COMMUNITY AND
IN FROM THE TOP DOWN WITH OUR
CABINET AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
F[ APPLAUSE ] NOW -- MAKE NO
MISTAKE ABOUT THIS. THIS WORK
IS HARD. IT'S HARD. BUT IT
MUST BE DONE. BUT THIS APPROACH
WILL ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A WELL
RUN, EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE.
BY BEING MORE DELIBERATE IN HOW
WE SPEND OUR INVESTMENTS TO GO
FURTHER AND MAKE A GREATER
IMPACT. GREATER IMPACT FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT MATTER THE MOST.
OUR RESIDENTS. NOW THAT'S THE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US. THIS WORK WILL NOT BE
POSSIBLE WITH THE -- WITHOUT
THE HELP OF COUNCILMEMBER AND
BUDGET CHAIR DAN STRAWS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS BEEN
A STRONG PARTNER FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION SINCE DAY ONE
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF HIS
COLLABORATIVE STYLE, THAT I
KNOW WE CAN MAKE HEADWAY ON
THIS CHALLENGE TOGETHER IN A
VERY COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH A
NEW CITY COUNCIL. WE MUST ADMIT
THERE A NEW LEVEL OF
EXPECTATION FOR THE CITY. WE
DON'T RUN AWAY FROM HIGH
EXPECTATIONS. IN FACT, WE DRAW
ENERGY FROM THEM. AS A NEWLY
ELECTED BODY, EACH CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER WILL PUSH THEIR OWN
AGENDA AS THEY SHOULD. I SAY IN
MY OFFICE THAT POWERFUL RIVERS
ARE FORMED BY MANY STREAMS.
THAT IS HOW WE WILL OVERCOME
OUR OBSTACLES TOGETHER. SEE,
ONE SEATTLE IS NEVER MEANT WE
GO ALONG TO GET ALONG. THAT'S
NOT WHAT WE MEAN. SINCE THE
VERY FIRST DAY OF MY
ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE NEVER
STOPPED WORKING WITH SOMEONE
JUST BECAUSE THEY DISAGREED
WITH US OR THEY SAW THING
DIFFERENTLY. INSTEAD, WE ARE
RELENTLESS IN OUR EFFORTS TO
FIND COMMON GROUND AND TURN
THAT INTO A COMMON CAUSE. NOW
WE BROUGHT THIS PRINCIPLE TO
LIFE BY UNITING OVER 4,000
SEATTLE-ITES THROUGH THE ONE
SEATTLE DAY OF SERVICE, YET
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BRINGING
CREATIVITY TO EXECUTE ON ONE OF
THE COMMUNITY'S CORE VALUES.
GIVING BACK. NOW I HOPE TO SEE
EVERYONE THERE THIS YEAR FOR
OUR THIRD ANNUAL DAY OF
SERVICE. SHAMELESS PLUG, MAY
18th. [ LAUGHTER ] GET YOUR
T-SHIRT. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR JOB
AS CIVIC LEADERS AND POLITICAL
LEADERS ARE ALWAYS TRAY TO
BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERYONE.
AND I'M PROUD WORK WE HAVE
DONE TOGETHER. I WISH 2024 WILL
BE THE BEST YEAR IN SEATTLE'S
HISTORY. THIS IS MY CLOSING
THOUGHT. I WISH 2024 WOULD BE
THE BEST YEAR IN SEATTLE'S
HISTORY, BUT WISHING IS NOT A
PLAN. IT HAS BEEN SAID THE BEST
WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO
CREATE IT. SO ALL OF THOSE HERE
WITH ME TODAY, LET'S CREATE
NEW APPROACHES AND NEW IDEAS IN
A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IN A
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ONE'S GOAL
SHOULD NOT -- TO BE SEEN AS THE
SMARTEST IN THE ROOM. ONE'S
GOAL SHOULD BE TO LEARN THE
MOST. AND FROM LEARNING COMES
LEADING. SO AND ASPIRING
POLITICIANS, THEY DIDN'T GET
THAT. IT'S NOT TO BE SEEN AS
THESMARTEST BUT TO LEARN THE
MOST. OUR PIONEERING SPIRIT IS
EVIDENCED BY WHAT WE SEE HERE.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU ARE FREE TO
ROAM THE BEAUTY HERE AFTER THIS
POWERFUL SPEECH THAT I JUST
DELIVERED. [ LAUGHTER ]
SEATTLE'S PIONEERING SPIRIT
WILL ELEVATE US TO BET A BETTER
TOMORROW. OUR GOAL OF BUILDING
ONE SEATTLE IS ROOTED IN
EVERYTHING WE WILL CREATE
TOGETHER. EVERYTHING. ONE
SEATTLE. AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BEING PART OF IT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]