>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SEATTLE, AND
WELCOME TO SEATTLE'S 2025 STATE
OF THE CITY ADDRESS. MY NAME IS
KENNY, AND I'M A SENIOR AT
SEATTLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL WHERE
I SERVE AS A STUDENT BODY
PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT OF
OUR BLACK STUDENT UNION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE PAST
TWO SUMMERS, I HAVE HAD THE
HONOR OF INTERNING IN THE OFFICE
OF MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL AS A
CONSTITUENT SERVICES INTERN
THROUGH THE SEATTLE YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. AND IN THIS
ROLE -- THANK YOU, THANK YOU --
AND IN THIS ROLE, I HELPED READ
AND RESPOND TO LETTERS AND
EMAILS FROM SEATTLEITES ABOUT
THE MANY ISSUES OUR CITY AND
REGION FACES. BY SEEING THE
INNER WORKINGS OF CITY
GOVERNMENT, I LEARNED MORE ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PLAYS IN SAVING OUR LIVES. I
ALSO LEARNED THAT SERVICE AT ALL
LEVELS AND ANY CAPACITY BRINGS
TOGETHER THE MANY COMMUNITIES
THAT MAKE US ONE SEATTLE. AND
SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SERVICE, I AM
NOW ABOUT TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE
WHO EMBODIES SERVICE THROUGH
COMPASSION AND UNITY IN
EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES,
STRIVING TO MAKE ALL OF US ONE
SEATTLE. BRUCE HARRELL WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN SEATTLE. HE WORKED
AS AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SERVING ON
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND IS
CURRENTLY OUR MAYOR. HE IS
SEATTLE'S FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN,
FIRST BIRACIAL, AND SECOND BLACK
MAYOR. BRUCE GREW UP IN THE RED
LINE CENTRAL DISTRICT, GRADUATED
FROM GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, WHO
JUST GAVE AN AMAZING
PERFORMANCE.
>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> AND HE ATEJDED THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON ON A FOOTBALL
SCHOLARSHIP WHERE HE WON A ROSE
BOWL AND THEN CONTINUED AT UW
FOR LAW SCHOOL. BRUCE SERVED ON
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THREE TERMS
WHERE HE WAS A LEADER IN RACIAL
EQUITY, PUBLIC SAFETY REFORM,
AND ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY. AND HE WAS ELECTED
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BY HIS
PEERS TWICE. IN 2021, BRUCE WAS
ELECTED MAYOR OF SEATTLE ON A
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL AND TO
RESTORE TRUST, HOPE, AND UNITY
IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CITY
LIFE. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
EVERYONE, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS
TOGETHER FOR THE MAYOR OF
SEATTLE, MR. BRUCE HARRELL.
>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON. BOY, THAT
FEELS GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON,
SEATTLE, I'M VERY EXCITED TO
SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH YOU. AND
I WANT TO PRESENT THE 2025 STATE
OF THE CITY ADDRESS. AND I HAVE
TO TELL YOU, THERE IS SO MUCH TO
SAY. THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.
I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY SO
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, BY
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, KING COUNTY COUNCIL,
CITY ATTORNEY ANNE DAVIDSON AND
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR LISA
MANION, OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS,
RESIDENTS, FRIENDS, BUSINESS
LEADERS, NONPROFIT LEADERS,
PEOPLE FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. NOW, I DON'T THINK ALL OF
YOU ATTEND IS SYMPHONY
SOMETIMES, MAYBE YOU DO. YOU ARE
DON'T KNOW. BUT IT SEEMED LIKE
NOTHING GETS PEOPLE MORE EXCITED
THAN HEARING A POLITICIAN SPEAK,
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN
THIS GREAT HALL, AND HERE WE GO.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK BENAROYA
HALL FOR HOSTING US. THE
GARFIELD BAND, AS KENNY
MENTIONED, WERE JUST AWESOME. AS
AN INTERN IN OUR OFFICE, KENNY
SHOULD KNOW THAT HE INSPIRED ME.
HE'S A YOUNG PERSON WITH A
POSITIVE OUTLOOK AND A PASSION
TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. HIS
RESUME SPEAKS WITH COMMUNITY
SERVICE. HE HAS A POSITIVE
OUTLOOK WHICH IS ESSENTIAL, I
THINK, TO GET THINGS DONE. WHEN
I FIRST GAVE MY STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS THREE YEARS AGO, I
WAS SITTING ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR
OF CITY HALL. THERE ARE ABOUT
TEN PEOPLE ON THAT FIRST SPEECH.
ALL OF THEM WERE SITTING WITH
ME. THEY WERE MASKED UP, BLACK
MASKS AS I RECALL. COVID WAS
ONGOING, AS YOU RECALL. OUR
PARKS WERE FILLED WITH TENTS,
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE WERE
LIVING IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS.
CRIME WERE NEW HIGHS, OUR
DOWNTOWN WAS SILENT. AND SEATTLE
FELT GLOOMIER THAN PERHAPS EVEN
THE GRAYEST WINTER DAY. BUT WHAT
DID WE DO? WHAT DID YOU ALL DO?
DAY BY DAY WE WORKED TOGETHER TO
GET OUR CITY BACK ON THE RIGHT
TRACK, RESTORING PARKS, REDUCING
THE CRIME RATE, GETTING DOWNTOWN
BUSTLING AGAIN. I THINK THERE'S
A DIFFERENT MOOD IN THE CITY, A
DIFFERENT SPIRIT, IF YOU WILL, A
RENEWED SPARK OR A NEW BELIEF IN
OPTIMISM THAT WE ARE ON THE
RIGHT TRAJECTORY. NOW, TO PUT
THAT FEELING INTO WORDS AND TO
CLAIM OUR ACTION, WE DESCRIBE IT
AS SEATTLE BEING ON THE RISE.
NOW, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO. SO WE'RE NOT
HANGING THE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
BANNER ON THE DOOR. SEATTLE'S
NEVER BEEN THAT WAY. WE WILL
ALWAYS SEEK NEW HEIGHTS, NEW
FIRSTS, NEW AMBITIONS, NEW
BREAKTHROUGHS, NEW INNOVATIONS.
WE LEARN HOW TO REINVENT
OURSELVES AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH
THE SAME SOUL BUT WITH A RENEWED
SPIRIT. SEATTLE IS RISING. NOW,
AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO
CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE'VE
ALL COLLECTIVELY MADE OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE CAN'T
TALK OF THE STATE OF SEATTLE,
OUR CITY, WITHOUT RECOGNIZING
THE STATE OF OUR NATION. NOW, AS
MAYOR, MY FOCUS HAS BEEN LOCAL,
GENERALLY LEAVING NATIONAL
POLITICS TO THE NATIONAL
PUNDITS. BUT TODAY AS THE OTHER
WASHINGTON CASTS A DARK CLOUD
OVER OUR LOCAL SKIES, WE MUST BE
LOUD. WE ARE A POLARIZED COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT
THAT. I WILL NOT MINCE WORDS. WE
HAVE A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
FOCUSED ON DIVISION AND WORKING
EVERY DAY TO DRIVE US APART.
I'M NOT BEING AN ALARMIST WHEN
I SAY WE SHOULD HAVE GRAVE
CONCERNS FOR WHAT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS IN STORE FOR
OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. THE
ACTIONS AND THE RHETORIC COMING
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TAKE AIM AT
PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE
VALUE ESSENTIAL AS TO WHO WE
ARE. OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AS AN
EXAMPLE, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR
TRANS NEIGHBORS, OUR IMMIGRANT
AND WOMEN, WORKING FAMILIES. --
WILL MEAN REVENUE IMPACTS AND
FEWER RESOURCES TO INVEST IN
LOCAL SERVICES THAT TRULY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. THOSE WHO WORK WITH
ME KNOW THAT I'M NOT A
DEFEATIST. HECK, WHEN I WAS
WATCHING THE SUPER BOWL I STILL
THOUGHT KANSAS CITY HAD A CHANCE
TO COME BACK AT HALFTIME. I
DON'T SEE DEFEAT WHEN A
CHAMPION IS ON THE FIELD. SO LET
ME BE CLEAR, WHEN SEATTLE'S
LOCAL VALUES AND OUR POLICIES
AND OUR PRIORITIES ARE
CHALLENGED BY UNLAWFUL FEDERAL
ACTIONS, WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO
DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO
DEFEND OUR PEOPLE AND OUR
RIGHTS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE FIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE.
THERE IS SO MUCH CHAOS COMING
OUT OF THE OTHER WASHINGTON THAT
IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TELL
WHAT IS SERIOUS AND WHAT'S
SPECTACLE. NOW, OUR OFFICE IS
COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO
PROVIDE A COORDINATED AND VERY
APPROPRIATE RAPID RESPONSE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL NICK BROWN IS
ASSURING THAT WASHINGTON STATE
REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF
PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS. JUST LAST WEEK THE CITY
OF SEATTLE ANNOUNCED THAT IT
WILL JOIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY IN SUING THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER THE
WITHHOLDING OF FEDERAL FUNDS
BASED ON OUR SANCTUARY STATUS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE REJECT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO
COMMANDEER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND DEFUND OUR LOCAL SAFETY
EFFORTS BY THREATENING GRANTS
THAT SUPPORT INVESTIGATIONS INTO
OUR CRITICAL AREAS, SEXUAL
ASSAULT, CHILD EXPLOITATION,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SERVICES FOR
OUR SURVIVORS, 911 DISPATCH, AND
MANY OTHER CRITICAL PUBLIC
SAFETY PRIORITIES. BEFORE THE
CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, I
ISSUED A MAYORAL DIRECTIVE
MAKING CLEAR THAT SPD AND CITY
EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW STATE AND LOCAL LAWS,
SERVING ALL RESIDENTS NO MATTER
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE
THEY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND THEY
HAVE OUR SUPPORT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND WHILE SOME MAY TRY TO
ERASE THE LETTERS DEI FROM THE
ALPHABET, I'M PROUD THAT
SEATTLE RECOGNIZES WHAT
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
ABSOLUTELY MEAN. IT MEANS THAT
GIVING EVERY PERSON A FAIR SHOT
IMPROVES OUTCOMES, THAT SEEKING
A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR
EVERYONE IS ONE OF THE MOST
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BUILDING A
STRONG AND JUST AMERICA. NOW,
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS
THIS. LOOK AT THE VOTERS OF
WASHINGTON STATE WHO
CONSISTENTLY ELECT TWO WOMEN TO
THE UNITED STATES SENATE, TO
SENT OUR FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ
REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS, WHO
ELECTED THE LARGEST BLACK
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ON THE
WEST COAST. WE RECENTLY SELECTED
AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO
HEAD THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND A FEMALE
PRESIDENT TO HEAD WASHINGTON
STATE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE IN THEIR EXCELLENCE AND
THEIR PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS
DIVERSITY AT ITS FINEST.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND FOR THOSE COUGS OUT
THERE, OUTSIDE OF THE APPLE CUP,
I GIVE NOTHING BUT LOVE TO WSU.
IT'S JUST DURING THAT WEEK. THE
ANECDOTE TO THE TOXICITY OF
POLARIZATION IS A UNITED EFFORT.
NOW SEATTLE HAS A SPARK TO DO
IT. THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR
WATERFRONT IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE,
ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF
WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER. WORKERS, OUR TRIBES,
BUSINESSES, CIVIC LEADERS,
PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITIES
BRINGING LIFE TO THE RADICAL
VISION AND INCREDIBLE PROMISE
FOR A NEW EMERALD CITY COAST.
SORT OF THROWING THAT NAME OUT
THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT. YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR
NICHOLS, WHO'S JOINING US
TODAY. I TALKED TO MAYOR NICHOLS
BEFORE I GAVE MY STREET. WAVE
YOUR HAND, GREG, WHERE ARE YOU?
THERE HE IS. IT WAS HIS VISION
AND LEADERSHIP THAT SET US ON A
PATH TO CHANGE OUR CITY FOR THE
BETTER. AND GREG, THANK YOU FOR
THAT. OPENING OVERLOOK WALK
PROPELLED A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR
OUR CITY. FIRST A PANORAMIC LOOK
AT ITS BEAUTY AND AN OUTLOOK OF
OPTIMISM RADIATING THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, A RAY OF HOPE. RARE IS
THE PARK THAT ARRIVES AS A
LANDMARK. RARE IS AN INSTANT
RIVAL TO OUR WORLDLY KNOWN SPACE
NEEDLE. RARE IS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INSPIRES US
ALL. SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TO
OVERLOOK WALK, YOU'VE LOOKED
OUT ON A CLEAR DAY, YOU LOOK AT
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SOUND AND
THE PEOPLE AND THE BUILDINGS AND
YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT I'M
SEEING WHEN I DESCRIBE SEATTLE
BEING ON THE RISE. SO THIS YEAR,
2025, WE WILL UNVEIL THE
COMPLETED WATERFRONT PROJECT
WITH ALL 20 ACRES OF NEW PUBLIC
SPACE, AND I AS YOUR MAYOR
COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IT'S SYMBOLIC OF WHEN WE
REINVENT OUR WATERFRONT. IT
SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE OF
TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORTS. AND ITS
NEIGHBOR, THE PIKE PLACE MARKET,
CAN ALSO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR
ENHANCING CULTURAL LANDMARKS
THROUGH COMMON VALUES AND
THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE. NOW I HAVE
A VISION FOR CONNECTED
WATERFRONT AND PIKE PLACE MARKET
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST
PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCES IN THE
COUNTRY. WHERE MARKET PATRONS,
VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
IT'S ONE THING TO WORK YOUR WAY
THROUGH CROWDS OF ENTHUSIASTIC
SHOPPERS TRYING TO GET THAT
NICE, JUICY SALMON, IT'S
ANOTHER THING TO WEAVE THROUGH
STOP AND GO AUTOMOBILES. SO
ACHIEVING THIS GOAL WILL REQUIRE
INGENUITY, AND FRANKLY, COMMON
SENSE. SO AS WE MAKE
CONSIDERATIONS FOR MERCHANTS AND
DELIVERIES AND ADA ACCESS, ALL
OF THIS WOULD BE PUT TOGETHER IN
WHAT WE WILL PROPOSE. NOW,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALSO HAVE TO
LOOK AT THIS THROUGH ANOTHER
LENS, AND THAT WILL BE THE LENS
OF THE HORRIFIC, HORRIBLE
VEHICLE ATTACK IN NEW ORLEANS.
NOW, I'M COMMITTED TO BRINGING
TOGETHER OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS,
OUR MARKET LEADERSHIP, AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE SURE THIS
VISION BECOMES A REALITY. NOW,
NEARBY AT THE SEATTLE CENTER WE
HAVE A CAMPUS FULL OF AMAZING --
TO CREATE LIFELONG MEMORIES.
RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT I HAVE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE.
>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M JUST KIDDING. I GOT -- [
LAUGHTER ] OKAY, OKAY. IT'S A
LONG SPEECH. I HAD TO BREAK IT
UP A LITTLE BIT HERE. NOW WHAT
YOU REALLY DO WANT, THOUGH, IS
WHAT EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING
FOR, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO ANNOUNCE IS OUR NEW MEMORIAL
STADIUM THIS JULY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW THIS PARTNERSHIP
BETWEENTHE CITY AND -- [
LAUGHTER ] BROKE MY MAYORAL
CHARACTER HERE. JUST ONE MOMENT
HERE. THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE CITY AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, THE TEAM AT ONE ROOF
AND OUR GENEROUS PHILANTHROPIC
MUSTN'T, THE NEW MEMORIAL
STADIUM WILL JOIN THE RANKS OF
TOPNOTCH ENTERTAINMENT
FACILITIES. POISED FOR THE NEXT
GREAT ERA AS A CULTURAL AND
CIVIC HUB, FROM SERVING AS THE
OFFICIAL 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FAN
ZONE -- NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE
AWESOME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> TO LONGER TERM PLANS TO
REVITALIZE PUBLIC SPACES AND
LEARNING CENTERS. AND I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE HERE, THERE ARE
MANY PEOPLE HERE, FOR HELPING
CREATE THAT VISION. PREPARATIONS
CONTINUE FOR WELCOMING OVER
750,000 GUESTS TO OUR CITY FOR
THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP. THAT'S
LIKE DOUBLING OUR CITY. A FEW
WEEKS AGO WE CELEBRATED THE
500-DAY BENCHMARK. WE ARE
CURRENTLY AT 478 DAYS AWAY, BUT
I'M NOT COUNTING. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN
SEATTLE CAN GET AROUND SAFELY
AND BE PART OF THIS CELEBRATION.
THAT'S WHY I'VE DIRECTED CITY
STAFF TO STAND UP OUR WORLD CUP
ACTION GROUP AND ALIGN OUR CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO PRIORITIZE
SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, AND
COMMUNITY ACTIVATION. WE'RE
WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO SECURE
THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED
FOR A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE
EXPERIENCE AND TO MOVE PEOPLE IN
AND OUT OF SEATTLE EFFICIENTLY
WITH A COMMITMENT TO HELPING 80%
OF OUR VISITORS NAVIGATE THEIR
TRIP WITHOUT THE USE OF A CAR.
SO I RECENTLY CHAIRED A MEETING
WITH THE OTHER HOST OF CITY
MAYORS TO IDENTIFY COMMON
CHALLENGES, CREATE SOLUTIONS,
AND SECURE FUNDING. LATER THIS
WEEK I'LL BE MEETING WITH SOME
OF THESE SAME MAYORS AS WELL.
NOW, I HAVE A LOUD VOICE ON OUR
NEEDS, BUT IT IS EVEN LOUDER
WHEN I'M JOINED BY THE LOS
ANGELES, PHILADELPHIA, AND
KANSAS CITY, AND OTHER HOST
CITIES WITH THEIR FOOTBALL TEAMS
A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE
SEAHAWKS, BY THE WAY, I THOUGHT
I'D THROW THAT IN THERE, BUT
THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS IN
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
CITIES ARE PREPARED. NOW, IN
SEATTLE WE ARE DETERMINED TO
HOST MATCHES IN WAYS THAT
REFLECT OUR VALUES. I RECOGNIZE
MEMBERS OF OUR LOCAL ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE HERE. THIS WILL
INCLUDE A JUNETEENTH MATCH
FEATURING THE U.S. MEN'S
NATIONAL TEAM AND A PRIDE WEEK
MATCH. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> FOR US THIS IS A MATTER OF
CIVIC PRIDE. SO THIS YEAR'S ONE
DAY OF SERVICE TO PUT A LITTLE
PLUG IN THERE EMBRACES A SIMILAR
THEME OF CIVIC PRIDE AND LOCAL
VALUES. SO THIS YEAR IT WILL BE
JULY 12th. WE'LL AGAIN INVITE
THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES TO
SPEND ONE DAY SERVING ONE
ANOTHER, JUST ONE YEAR OUT FROM
THE WORLD CUP. AGAIN, ENERGY TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE RISING AND WE
TAKE PRIDE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL
CITY. WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS
ALSO CHALLENGE US TO ACCELERATE
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS AND OUR
SAFETY. NOW, THIS PLACE WHERE WE
ARE, BENAROYA HALL, IS KNOWN FOR
NATIONWIDE AS THE HOME OF THE
SEATTLE SYMPHONY, BUT LOCALLY TO
MANY RESIDENTS AND TRANSIT
USERS, IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS
SYMPHONY STATION. SO GROWING OUR
TRANSIT NETWORK WITH FAST
RELIABLE SERVICE IS ONE OF OUR
HIGHEST PRIORITIES IN OUR
ADMINISTRATION. SOUND TRANSIT
THREE IS THE LARGEST TRANSIT
EXPANSION IN THE COUNTRY, AND
THAT'S WHY THIS WEEK I'LL
ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO MAKE
SURE THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO
SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY EXPEDITE
DELIVERY OF LIGHT RAIL TO WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD. OUR
EFFORTS, OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS,
WILL INCLUDE A NEWLY EXPANDED
OFFICE OF WATERFRONT, CIVIC
PROJECTS, AND SOUND TRANSIT. LED
BY ANGELA BRADY, A SUPERSTAR IN
HER OWN RIGHT, AT THE CENTER OF
ORCHESTRATING A SURGE OF STAFF
IN UP TO 50 CITY EMPLOYEES
SUPPORTING PROJECT DESIGN,
ENGINEERING, STATION PLANNING,
PERMITTING, AND EVERYBODY MORE.
SO WE WILL PROPOSE -- AND I KNOW
I GOT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE LIKE, WHAT.
WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE
ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. SO
MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SAFETY
PROTECTIONS WHILE REDUCING
BARRIERS BY SHORTENING PROJECT
SCHEDULES. THIS COULD SAVE MORE
MONEY, MORE TIME, AND PERHAPS A
YEAR OFF OF PROJECT DELIVERY,
PROJECT TIME. OUR REGION IS
CLAMORING FOR LIGHT RAIL
EXPANSION. THAT HAS BECOME VERY
CLEAR. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER
REPRESENTS THE CITY'S PLEDGE TO
DO OUR PART TO GET THINGS DONE
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE
SHOULD PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND
SAY THAT LAST YEAR OUR SEATTLE
VOTERS, THANKS TO THE WORK OF
ALL OF YOU, OVERWHELMINGLY
APPROVED AN UNPRECEDENTED
INVESTMENT IN MAKING OUR CITY'S
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MORE SAFE,
CONNECTED, AND RELIABLE THROUGH
THE KEEP SEATTLE MOVING
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. EVERYONE IN
THIS ROOM, PARTICULARLY THE CITY
COUNCIL, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM
SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
LET'S GIVE OURSELF A HAND ON
THAT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I RECENTLY APPOINTED JUSTIN
FERRELL TO BE DEPUTY MAYOR AND
-- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, DEPUTY MAYOR FERRELL, WHICH
RHYMES WITH MAYOR HARRELL, BY
THE WAY, IS HITTING THE GROUND
RUNNING ON OUR TRANSPORTATION,
PARKS, AND CLIMATE PORTFOLIO.
AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HER
LEADERSHIP. AND DIRECTOR EMERY,
HAVING SPENT NEARLY 30 YEAR --
BEST PERSON EQUIPPED TO DELIVER
OUR PLAN OF ACTION. WE KNOW --
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> YES. NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT
THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS THE
BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE
GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS IN SEATTLE.
THAT'S WHY TRANSIT EXPANSION
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION LEVY ARE
CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN OUR FIGHT
AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. NOW, WE
ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S AGENDA ON CLIMATE
CHANGE. IT'S SORT OF LET'S
CLOSE OUR EYES, POUR FUEL ON THE
FIRE, AND JUST PRETEND IT'S NOT
HAPPENING. SMOKE EVERYWHERE, BUT
LET'S PRETEND IT'S NOT
HAPPENING. NOW, THAT APPROACH IS
DESTINED TO FAIL AND DESTINED TO
KILL OUR PLANET. AND THAT IS WHY
CITIES NEED TO STEP UP AND TAKE
ACTION IN THEIR PLACE. AND THAT
IS WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING
WITH US. OUR ADMINISTRATION LED
BY -- AND BY SUPPORTING
ELECTRIFICATION AND NEW
BUILDINGS AND HEAT PUMPS IN
HOME. WITH A FOCUS ON
TRANSPORTATION, NEXT MONTH I
WILL ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
UPDATE OUR 2013 CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN TO REDUCE EMISSIONS, BUILD
RESILIENCE, AND GROW A GREEN
ECONOMY THROUGH GOOD UNION JOBS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK MY LABOR
PARTNERS AND ALL OF THE CLIMATE
ADVOCATES FOR BEING HERE.
TOGETHER THE IMPROVEMENTS WE ARE
DELIVERING FROM THE WATERFRONT
TO PIKE PLACE, THE WORLD CUP TO
SOUND TRANSIT, CLIMATE AND
TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS, WE WILL
SHAPE SEATTLE FOR GENERATIONS. A
MORE INVITING, WALKABLE,
SUSTAINABLE, AND DARE I SAY FUN
SEATTLE. NOW I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT AGAIN TO THANK THE TEAM
HERE, RIGHT HERE AT BENAROYA
HALL, INCLUDING ACTING CEO MARIA
YANG, SYMPHONY STAFF, AND THE
PROFESSIONALS WITH LOCAL 15 WHO
HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT
POSSIBLE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] LAST WEEK I MET
WITH SEATTLE SYMPHONY'S NEWEST
MUSIC DIRECT. THAT WAS A
DELIGHTFUL MEETING, AND WHILE
IT'S NOT IN MY NOTES, I WANT TO
THANK GARFIELD'S BAND. THEY'RE
ON MIDWINTER BREAK RIGHT NOW. WE
SHARE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR
EVERYONE HERE. BENAROYA IS A
CULTURAL HUB FOR DOWNTOWN, FOR
SEATTLE, AND FOR THE ENTIRE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. BENAROYA'S
EFFORTS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE
VISION LAID OUT IN OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN, AFFECTIONATELY
REFERRED TO AS DAP. IT GOES WAY
BEYOND MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS
A PIT STOP AND SERVES AS A
DYNAMIC SUNDAY TO SUNDAY
NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW OUR ENERGETIC
DOWNTOWN EFFORTS ARE BOLSTERED
BY IMPROVEMENTS IN MORE SAFE AND
WELCOMING CONDITIONS JUST DOWN
THE STREET FROM WHERE WE ARE
NOW. WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS,
MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE. DSA,
PURPOSE DIGNITY ACTION, REACH,
WE DELIVER CARE, OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM. THEY'RE ALL
CONDUCTING SCHEDULED RESTORATION
ACTIONS IN DOWNTOWN AND THE CID,
THESE ARE ACTIONS PROVIDE --
SAFETY OPERATIONS WITH TARGETED
ACTIVATION. CONSISTENTLY
COMMITTED EMPLOYEES DOING THIS
WORK. YOU KNOW, IN THE FIVE
MONTHS SINCE WE'VE LAUNCHED
THIS PILOT, PRIORITY ONE CALLS
ARE DOWN 50%.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> YES. EMS DISPATCHES ARE DOWN
15th. VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 14%
ACROSS DOWNTOWN WITH A PROJECTED
20% DECREASING ALONG AVENUE AND
THE PIKE/PINE CORRIDOR. WE'VE
ALSO RAMPED UP OPERATIONS IN
LITTLE SAIGON, WHERE WE'VE SEEN
EARLY PROGRESS, RESETTING NORMS
AND CREATING A MORE INVITING
ATMOSPHERE. LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD
TO FURTHER BUILDING ON THIS
PROGRESS WITH HELP FROM CHIEF
SEAN BARNES. NOW, UNDER TRAGIC
CIRCUMSTANCES THE NATION
RECEIVED ITS INTRODUCTION TO
CHIEF BARNES AFTER A SHOOTING IN
MADISON, WISCONSIN. BUT NOW
SEATTLE IS GETTING TO KNOW HIM
ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME. AND SO
THIS YEAR, CHIEF BARNES WILL
BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE
STRATIFIED POLICING INITIATIVE.
THIS INITIATIVE WILL FOCUS ON
IDENTIFYING AND TACKLING CRIME
AND DISORDER ISSUES BY ANALYZED
IMMEDIATE SHORT AND LONG-TERM
PATTERNS AND ADDRESSING THEM
SWIFTLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND
COLLABORATIVELY WITH AN EMPHASIS
ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WE
SHOULD ALSO MENTION WE ARE
SEEING THE TIDE CHANGE ON PLACE
RECRUITMENT. APPLICATIONS,
RETENTION, AND RECRUITS ARE ON
THE RISE. IN 2024 FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN HALF OF A DECADE THE
CITY HIRED MORE OFFICERS THAN IT
LOST, ALONG WITH A TEN-YEAR HIGH
IN APPLICATIONS. SO WE HAVE
MOMENTUM. THAT BECOMES CRITICAL
IN DOING THIS WORK. THIS JANUARY
ALONE WE HIRED 19 OFFICERS. THAT
COMPARED TO SIX IN THE SAME
TIMEFRAME LAST YEAR. NOW, ONCE
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
BEING A POLICE OFFICER, YOU CAN
APPLY ON SEATTLEPOLICEJOBS.COM.
IT'S -- FOR ME IT'S LIKE
FISHING, YOU KEEP THROWING IT
OUT AND HOPE SOMEONE BITES. BE
VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT
RECRUITING TO A POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT WE BELIEVE IN.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THIS HAS
BEEN HARD WORK. SEATTLE IS NOT
ALONE IN ADDRESSING THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT STAFFING SHORTAGE.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT GOVERNOR
FERGUSON HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE
ISSUE AS A PRIORITY FOR OUR
ENTIRE STATE. A NEW REPORT FROM
THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHOWS GUN
VIOLENCE LEVELS ARE TRENDING
DOWNWARD FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 2018.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO TOGETHER WE'RE
STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS THAT
REDUCE YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE. WE'RE
TAKING ACTION TO HOLD GUN
TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE AND
ADVOCATING FOR REFORMS TO HELP
KEEP DEADLY WEAPONS OUT OF THE
WRONG HANDS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY
HIGHEST PRIORITY AS MAYOR, AND I
BELIEVE EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER,
EVERY MEMBER, SHOULD TRUST THAT
WHEN 911 IS CALLED THEY WILL
RECEIVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND
MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FOR
THEIR NEEDS. OUR CARE DEPARTMENT
IS MAKING THAT POSSIBLE THROUGH
BOTH 911 DISPATCH AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS CARE RESPONDERS.
NOW, JUST TWO YEARS AGO I
ANNOUNCED DURING THIS SPEECH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CARE
DEPARTMENT, THE CONCEPT, THE
FOUNDATION. AND ONLY A YEAR AND
A HALF AGO OUR FIRST TEAM OF SIX
RESPONDERS TURNED THE CONCEPT,
NOTION INTO A REALITY. NOW SINCE
THEN, CORRESPONDENTS HAVE
DEPLOYED TO MORE THAN 1,400
CALLS WITH A FOCUS ON ISSUES
RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
PROVIDING SUPPORT THAT DIDN'T
PREVIOUSLY EXIST TO THOSE
SUFFERING ON OUR STREETS. NOW
THEY'RE STAFFED WITH 24
RESPONDERS, CARE IS HELPING
PEOPLE BEYOND DOWNTOWN WITH
RESPONDERS ON BOTH THE NORTH END
AND ON CAPITOL HILL AND OVER THE
NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE WILL FINISH
OUR CITYWIDE DEPLOYMENT OF CARE
OFFICERS, CARE EMPLOYEES ON THE
SOUTH END AND IN WEST SEATTLE.
SO --
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND FOR THOSE CARE RESPONDERS
THAT ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK. YOU ARE DOING IT
EXACTLY THE WAY WE DREW IT UP,
WHO COMPASSION, WITH EMPATHY,
WITH BEST PRACTICES. NOW, WITH
CHIEF SEAN -- WITH CHIEF
BARNES' LEADERSHIP, WE ARE
CREATING A NEW PARADIGM IN
PUBLIC SAFETY. SEATTLE IS THE
LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION TO
EMBRACE AND ADVANCE THIS MODEL.
THIS IS THE FIRST PROGRAM IN THE
STATE, IN THE STATE DISPATCHED
VIA 911 AS A TRUE, DIVERSIFIED
RESPONSE. WE CONTINUE TO
INNOVATE AND REFINE EVERY DAY TO
PROVIDE THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS,
REGARDLESS AS TO WHO THEY ARE OR
THE HARM THAT THEY ARE CAUSING
OR CAUSING UPON THEMSELVES. THIS
IS A CRITICAL APPROACH. PUBLIC
SAFETY CONCERNS ARE OFTEN
CONFUSED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
NEEDS. INCLUDING THE DEVASTATION
BROUGHT BY FENTANYL. SO THIS
YEAR WE ARE TRIPLING OUR
SPENDING ON PUBLIC HEALTH TO
ADDRESSING THAT CRISIS. FUNDING
TREATMENT BEDS, NEW METHODS OF
SERVICES AND MEDICATION, AN
OVERDOSE RECOVERY CENTER AND
EXPANDING POST-OVERDOSE RESPONSE
TEAM. WHILE STILL, OF COURSE,
ARRESTING TRAFFICKERS AND THOSE
CAUSING THE MOST HARM. OUR
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTs
ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS
BATTLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND
UNDER CHIEF HAROLD SCOGGINS, WE
ARE THE FIRST CITY IN THE
COUNTRY WHERE FIREFIGHTER/EMTs
CAN ADMINISTER A LIFE-SAVING
MEDICINE THAT COULD SERVE AS THE
FIRST STEP ON A PATH TO
RECOVERY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN KING COUNTY, THIS
IS WORKING. IN 2024 FATAL
OVERDOSES FELL 25% HERE IN
SEATTLE. OUTPACING THE COUNTY AS
A WHOLE. THIS IS PROGRESS, BUT
AS I THINK ALL OF YOU WOULD
AGREE, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE
DYING ON OUR STREETS AND IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, THERE'S SO MUCH
MORE WORK TO DO. 2024 SAW A
CONTINUED PROGRESS ADDRESSING
ENCAMPMENTS IN PUBLIC SPACES.
OUR TEAMS VERIFIED TENT COUNT
FELL TO ITS LOWEST NUMBER SINCE
I TOOK OFFICE WITH A 58%
DECREASE FROM 2023 TO 2024 AND A
NEARLY 80% DECREASE SINCE 2022.
SIMILARLY, THE NUMBER OF RVRs AT
ENCAMPMENTS FELL 25% FROM 2023,
REFLECTING A MORE THAN 50%
DECREASE FROM 2022. NOW, I NEED
TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, THIS MATTERS
BECAUSE IT IS PAIRED WITH 1,800
INDIVIDUALS ACCEPTING A REFERRAL
INTO SHELTER IN 2024.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND IN OUR HUMANE, GRASSROOTS
APPROACH, WHILE NOT EVERY PERSON
WILL SAY YES AND COME INDOORS
THIS TIME, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ASK AND CREATE SPACES FOR PEOPLE
TO RECOVER, BECAUSE NO, PERHAPS
IT JUST MEANS NOT NOW. BECAUSE
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON
DESERVES SHELTER. SEATTLE IS
HOME TO NEARLY 85% OF ALL TINY
HOMES IN KING COUNTY. AND I
SHOULD REPEAT THAT BECAUSE
THERE'S BEEN A LOT WRITTEN
ABOUT SURPLUS OF TINY HOMES.
SEATTLE IS HOME TO NEARLY 85% OF
ALL TINY HOMES IN KING COUNTY.
AND WE WILL LOOK -- THANK YOU --
WE WILL LOOK -- THAT WAS THE
CITY COUNCIL CLAPPING, BY THE
WAY. AND WE WILL LOOK TOTIONAL R
THIS YEAR. I'M VERY GRATEFUL
FOR CEO DR. KELLY KINISON'S
LEADERSHIP. I'M PLEASED AT THE
MORE STREAMLINED GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURE. IT'S ALLOWING US TO
PROVIDE -- IMPROVE CLARITY AND
PROVIDE CORPORATION. I LOOK
FORWARD TO OUR ONGOING
PARTNERSHIP. BUT AS YOU HEARD --
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AS YOU HEARD ME SAY BEFORE,
AND I BELIEVE SIT THE MANTRA OF
MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, THE
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS
HOUSING. I WANT SEATTLE TO BE A
LIVABLE CITY THAT EVERYONE CAN
ENJOY CALLING HOME, A PLACE WITH
HOUSING FOR YOUR KIDS AND MY
KIDS, FOR SENIORS, FOR PEOPLE
COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, FOR
WORKING FAMILIES. UNDER OUR
ADMINISTRATION WE'VE MADE THE
LARGEST INVESTMENTS TOWARD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE'S
HISTORY. NESE INVESTMENTS HAVE
HELPED OPEN MORE THAN 5,100
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
INCLUDING NEARLY 1,500 UNITS OF
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
SINCE 2022. PERHAPS NO PROJECT
BETTER REPRESENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAN OUR FORT LAUGHTON
PROPOSAL. MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD
PIECES OF THIS PROPOSAL. OUR
PLAN WOULD TRANSFORM 34
CURRENTLY UNDERUTILIZED ACRES
INTO UP TO 500 HOMES AND 22
ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL OPEN SPACE,
RECREATION, PARK LAND AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREAS.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE ICONIC
DISCOVERY PARK. NOW, THIS WILL
BE THE LARGEST SINGLE EXPANSION
OF GREEN SPACE AND PARK LAND IN
SEATTLE IN THE PAST 25 YEARS. WE
HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS PLAN WITH THE
BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION
HOSTING MULTIPLE BUSINESS BY
FEDERAL OFFICIALS. I PERSONALLY
SPOKE WITH THE HUD CHAIR RIGHT
BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION
CHANGE, AND THIS IS GREAT WORK.
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT RIGHT
BEFORE THE BIDE ADMINISTRATION
LEFT OFFER, A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THE SEATTLE CITY'S
APPLICATION TO THE 2025
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS APPROVED.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST
SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR
EFFORTS TO REDEVELOP IN 15
YEARS. SO THIS SPRING WE WILL
SPEND OUR UPDATED PLANS TO THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL,
HOPEFULLY, AND UNITE
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO MOVE THIS PROJECT
FORWARD. WE RECOGNIZE OUTREACH
AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS
CRITICAL TO EVERYONE'S SUCCESS.
NOW, RESPONDING TO SEATTLE'S
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS REQUIRES
GOING BEYOND HOMELESS
DEVELOPMENTS OR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDERS. OUR ONE
SEATTLE HOUSING AGENDA TAKES A
MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO TO
MULTIFACETED PROBLEM. ZONING IS
PART OF THE EQUATION. OUR
PROPOSAL FOR THE ONE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL DOUBLE
OUR ZONING CAPACITY AND CREATE
AT LEAST 120,000 HOMES. NOW,
THIS IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE IN OUR
CITY'S HISTORY, AND IT'S ALSO
THE MOST NECESSARY TO DELIVER
THE NEEDED HOUSING, DIVERSITY,
AND CAPACITY THAT WILL MEET OUR
NEED AS WE GROW. IF YOU SERVE
100 PEOPLE, YOU GET 100
DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON HOW WE
OUGHT TO ZONE SEATTLE. HOW DO WE
KNOW THAT? BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM
OVER 20,000 PEOPLE IN THIS CITY
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN. IT'S
SORT OF REMINISCE SENT, WHEN I
WAS A CHILD AT OUR FAMILY
GATHERS, PEOPLE ENJOYING THE
HOLIDAY SEASON A LOT OF PASSION
AND A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT. BUT
WE HAVE TO LISTEN. WE HAVE TO
WORK HARD TO LISTEN. WE WORK TO
GET THAT LAYER OF FEEDBACK WITH
NEW STATE LAWS AND UNDERSTAND
HOW STATE LAWS ARE INTEGRATED
INTO OUR PLANS. WITH THE DATA
THAT SAYS THIS IS THE RIGHT
APPROACH, IT MUST MEET THE NEEDS
OF A GROWING CITY. OUR PLAN IS
FOCUSED ON LOWERING HOUSING
COSTS, ENSURING SEATTLE IS A
GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND
CREATING LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SEATTLE IS A CITY OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ARE UNIQUE
AND THEY DESERVE TO STAY THAT
WAY. EVEN AS WE WELCOMED NEW
RESIDENTS AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS TODAY
TO CONTINUE TO CALL SEATTLE
HOME, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE
THAT SPECIAL QUALITY IN A WARM
NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT FOR SEATTLE TO
CONTINUE TO RISE, OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS CANNOT STAY
STACKED. THAT'S WHY WE MUST
ENVISION A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
ALONG AURORA AVENUE, FOR
EXAMPLE, AURORA AVENUE NORTH.
FOR TOO LONG, DESPITE CARING AND
INVOLVED NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR
DOMINANT VISION OF AURORA HAS
CONSISTED OF STRIP MALLS AND CAR
DEALERSHIPS AND ILLICIT
ACTIVITIES. THE COMMUNITY
DESERVES A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
INSPIRES THEM WITH A BUILT
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY TO MATCH.
I KNOW I HAVE AT LEAST ONE
COUNCILMEMBER THAT I MET WITH
RECENTLY THAT STRONGLY AGREES
WITH WHAT I JUST SAID. SO LATE
THEY ARE YEAR, WE WILL ANNOUNCE
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS PROJECT, AN
EFFORT TO REDEFINE THIS AREA AND
OPTIMIZE GREAT ALREADY EXISTING
ASSETS. BUS RAPID TRANSIT PARKS
LIKE THE BITTER LAKE PLAY FIELD
AND FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES. WE WILL BE
SEEKING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY
ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
NOW, THE CITY WE ALL MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE MUST FURTHER CUT RED
TAPE. OVER TIME, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES FOR
BUILDING HOUSING HAVE BECOME TOO
CUMBERSOME AND TOO COMPLICATED
THAT THE EXPENSE OF ACTUALLY
BUILDING HOUSING. WHERE WE'VE
TAKEN ACTION LIKE EXCEPTIONS AND
DESIGN REVIEW HOLIDAYS, WE'VE
SEEN HUGE RESULTS. WE SHAVED 500
TO 700 DAYS OFF OF PRODUCTION.
THAT MEANS OPENING THOUSANDS OF
NEW UNITS AS MUCH AS TWO YEARS
FASTER. AND SINCE I TOOK OFFER,
OVER 33,000 UNITS OF HOUSING
HAVE OPENED IN OUR CITY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> TAKE A PROJECT AT 1120 JOHN
STREET, THE LOCATION OF THE OLD
SEATTLE TIMES BUILDING. BECAUSE
OF THESE EXEMPTIONS, WE PROVIDED
CERTAINTY TO A DEVELOPER WHO
CHANGED A BUSINESS PROJECT INTO
A RESIDENTIAL ONE, ELIMINATING
TWO TO THREE YEARS OF PERMITTING
AND NOW ARE ON TRACK TO CREATE
800 NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS. OR
CONSIDER THESE IN COMBINATION
WITH OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN LEGISLATION PROMOTING
HOUSING. YOU HAVE THE
POSSIBILITY OF A PROJECT LED BY
RICK YODER TO ADD 1,000 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG THIRD
AVENUE CLOSE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW
ABOVE WILD GINGER. SO EXCITING
PROJECTS. WE WILL SEND TO THE
CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATION TO
STREAMLINE DESIGN/REVIEW FOR
PROJECTS OF ALL KINDS, REDUCING
TIMELINES BY UP TO 50% TO MAKE
IT EASIER TO BUILD WITHOUT
SACRIFICING BUILDING SAFETY OR
AESTHETICS. -- TO IMPROVE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS -- THIS
EFFORT WILL CREATE WHAT WILL BE
KNOWN AS THE PERMITTING AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM, PACT. AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICE TO OVERSEE
PERMITTING AND SOLVE
BOTTLENECKS. PACT, AND YOU'LL
COME TO KNOW THAT TERM, PACT
WILL GO JUST BEYOND HOUSING. IT
WILL BE PER MITTING FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES. SEATTLE WOULDN'T BE
WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE WITHOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES. RIGHT NOW
WE'RE FAR TOO MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING. I
HEAR FROM SMALL BUSINESSES ALL
THE TIME. I KNOW THE CITY
COUNCIL HEARS FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME. I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE KING
COUNTY COUNCIL, DO YOU GUYS HEAR
FROM SMALL BUSINESSES ALL THE
TIME? I'M SURE YOU DO. YOU HEAR
ABOUT RISING COSTS, PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES, A REALITY THAT IS
HARD TO OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS
IN SEATTLE. SO I WANT MORE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE AND THE
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE I
WANT TO -- I WANT YOU TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. SO
IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, I'LL BE
SURING A SUITE OF ACTIONS TO
HELP MAKE IT EASIER AND MORE
AFFORDABLE TO OPERATE A SMALL
BUSINESS. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH
WILL FOCUS ON COST RELIEF,
TARGETED PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS,
PERMITTING AND PROCESSING
IMPROVEMENTS, AND STATE AND
COUNTY ADVOCACY. IT ALSO MEANS
THE REINTRODUCTION OF A VERY
POPULAR PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND AND AN
INNOVATIVE NEW MARKETING
CAMPAIGN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN SERVICES TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES GET OFF THE GROUND
WITH A POSITIVE TRAJECTORY THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO RISE. OR OFFICES
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER
DIRECTOR MARKHAM McENTIRE IS
PROVIDING REAL SUPPORT. JAMEELA
WITH WE RISE WINES IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE. JAMEELA HAS AN MBA AND
WORKED FOR MANY YEARS AS AN
EXECUTIVE AT F-FIVE. WHEN SHE
DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER PASSION,
STARTING A WINE BAR DOWNTOWN,
SHE FOUND THE PROCESS TO BE
DIFFICULT AND ALL CONSUMING.
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES
-- CITY'S FIRST BAR AND
RESTAURANT FOCUSED ON UPLIFTING
WOMEN AND BIPOC WINE MAKERS
WHILE I MUST SAY THERE'S ONLY
ONE JAMEELA, WE WANT MORE PEOPLE
WITH BIG DREAMS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY. SO TO
JAMEELA AND SEATTLE'S SMALL
BUSINESSES, WE'VE BEEN
LISTENING AND WE'RE GOING TO DO
MORE TO SUPPORT YOUR SUCCESS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT WINE BAR, I MUST SAY
AFTER THIS LONG ASS SPEECH WE
SHOULD HEAD OVER THERE AND GET A
DRINK. YOU KNOW I DON'T DRINK.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> FOR STUDENTS HERE, YOU HAVE
TO BE 21, BY THE WAY. BUT I KNOW
THERE ARE SOME FUTURE LEADERS
AND ENTREPRENEURS HERE TODAY. I
WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE GARFIELD
BAND. I WANT TO THANK THE
DIRECTOR, THE CONDUCTOR, AND ALL
THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS HERE
TODAY. THE GARFIELD MUSIC
PROGRAM AND THE GARFIELD JAZZ
ENSEMBLE ARE NATIONALLY
RENOWNED, AND WE'RE LUCKY TO
SEE THEM PERFORM AT A LOCATION
UP TO THEIR STANDARDS. I WANT TO
WISH THE JAZZ ENSEMBLE GOOD LUCK
AT THE ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON IN
ABOUT A MONTH. ROOSEVELT HIGH
SCHOOL JAZZ PROGRAM, GO BULLDOGS
AND ROUGH RIDERS. MY WIFE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SOME OF
ROOSEVELT'S TRA MA PRODUCTION.
THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS OVER
THERE. NOW I'M GETTING IN
TROUBLE BECAUSE I'VE SINGLED
OUT TWO HIGH SCHOOLS. FORGIVE
ME. THERE'S ONE BULLDOG I WANT
TO CALL OUT SPECIFICALLY. SENIOR
MILES HEMPLE. HE'S A MEMBER OF
THE BAND AS A DRUMMER. I'VE
WATCHES MILES FINISH WRESTLING
PRACTICE AND GO AND PUT HIS
DRUMSTICKS IN HIS HAND AND GET
OUT THERE AND MOTIVATE THE
BASKETBALL TEAM. AND ON WEEKENDS
HE WAITS TABLES IN COLUMBIA
CITY, WHERE HE HAPPENED TO TALK
LAST SUNDAY AND HE PICKS UP THE
DISHES AND POURS COFFEE AND
POURS A MEAN CUP OF COFFEE BY
THE WAY. HE WAS HERE THIS
MORNING WITH US. LIKE MILES,
LIKE KENNY, LIKE OUR STUDENTS
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY
INSPIRE ME. I HOPE THEY INSPIRE
YOU. WE OWE THEM A CITY THAT
PROVIDES EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEIR SUCCESS. TO MAKE THIS A
REALITY AND MAKE SURE OUR CITY
WELCOMES AND KEEPS FAMILIES IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I'LL
ANNOUNCE DETAILS VERY SHORTLY OF
MY PROPOSED RENEWAL OF THE
SEATTLE'S FAMILIES, EDUCATION,
PRESCHOOL, AND PROMISE LEVY
PASSED IN MARCH. THIS LEVY HAS
CHANGED AND ADAPTED OVER THE
YEARS, WHICH IT SHOULD. THE NAME
IS SIMPLY NOW A LOT OF WORDS TO
DESCRIBE A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT,
TO MAKE THIS A CITY THAT
EMBRACES AND SUPPORTS YOUNG
PEOPLE. FROM CRADLE TO CAREER.
THE INVESTMENTS I'LL ANNOUNCE
WILL PUT AN EVEN GREATER FOCUS
ON CHILD CARE, ALREADY TOO
EXPENSIVE FOR TOO MANY. WE'LL
ADD MORE HOURS OF CHILD CARE AND
MORE AFTER SCHOOL CARE IN AND
NEAR SEATTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WE'LL FOCUS MORE ON THE SUMMER
PROGRAMS NEEDED TO KEEP KIDS
ENGAGED IN LEARNING AND GROWING
AND THRIVING. A DECADE AGO WE
CRAFTED A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM THAT
IS NOW NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND
SERVES AS 2,500 KIDS ACROSS 98
CLASSROOMS THRIVE. WE MUST BRING
THAT SAME BOLDNESS TO CHILD
CARE. SEATTLE CAN BE A NATIONAL
LEADER IN THIS REGARD TO GET
KIDS ON THE -- OFF ON THE RIGHT
FOOT TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES
AND KEEP SEATTLE ON THE RAISE
WITH THE NEW GENERATION OF
LEADERS. WE'LL DO MORE TO OPEN
DOORS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER
WELL-PAYING JOBS IN TRADES,
UNION JOBS, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR KIDS
SAFER. IN SCHOOL AND ON THEIR
WAY TO SCHOOL BY PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND VIOLENT
PREVENTION. OUR PROPOSAL WILL
CONTINUE THE WORK SEATTLE HAS
LED TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY
COMPETENT, ACCESSIBLE MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS OUR CITY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> COLLECTIVELY, LET'S CLAIM
THIS, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE
SEATTLE THE SAFEST MOST
SUPPORTIVE CITY IN AMERICA FOR
KIDS AND FAMILIES.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF
WHAT ANYA PETERSON, A SOPHOMORE
AT NATHAN HA LE, SAID TO ME. SHE
SPOKE ABOUT THE LINGERING TRAUMA
OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW SO MANY
STUDENTS ARE WORKING TO RECOVER.
SHE SPOKE OF HOW STUDENTS USED
RESOURCES LIKE THESE TO EMPOWER,
BUILD RESILIENCE, AND FIND
STRENGTH AND GROW TOWARD A
BRIGHTER FUTURE. SO WE SAY
COLLECTIVELY, FAMILY, TO ANYA,
TO KENNY, TO MILES, AND ALL THE
YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, PLEASE
KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU. AS A
FATHER OF YOUNG ADULTS LOOKING
TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN A
CHANGING WORLD, AS A GRANDFATHER
TO KIDS EXCITED TO LEARN AND
GROW, I KNOW THE CHALLENGES WE
FACE AS A CITY. WE ARE NOT BLIND
TO THEM. I KNOW THE CHALLENGES
WE FACE AS A NATION. BUT PLEASE
NO ONE BELIEVE THAT I WAKE UP
EVERY DAY READY TO SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO RIGHT BY YOU
AND THE NEXT GENERATION. WHILE
WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS, I
KNOW WE STILL HAVE REAL
CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US. BUT
THROUGH SMART POLICY, THROUGH
COURAGE, TARGETED INVESTMENTS,
PROGRAMS THAT WORK, WE WILL
RISE. WE ARE RISING. NOW TAKE IT
NOT JUST FROM YOUR MAYOR OR FROM
A FORMER GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT, TAKE IT FROM WHAT YOU
SEE AND FEEL YOURSELVES AS THE
LEADERS OF THIS CITY. THE CITY
IS ON THE RISE. I KNOW THESE
WORDS AND THIS SPEECH WERE
SOMEWHAT LONG, BUT THE STAKES
ARE HIGH RIGHT NOW. THE STAKES
ARE HIGH IN OUR LIVES RIGHT NOW
FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT'S
WHY WE WANTED TO THEME IT WITH
OUR CHILDREN. BUT WE RISE
TOGETHER. WE ALWAYS DO AND WE
ALWAYS WILL. THANK
MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW
WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING
TO EXIT THE LION DANCE. I'M
SUPPOSED TO PUT THESE IN THE
LION'S MOUTH, I THINK, AND
YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE
LIONS OUT. PLEASE SEE THE
AWESOME GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE
OUTSIDE FOR THE 8,000 RESIDENTS
THAT DIED AFTER WORLD WAR II,
BUT WHERE'S MY -- OH, WE'RE
DOING -- OH, HERE THEY COME.
HERE THEY COME. HERE IT GOES. [
MUSIC ]
>> YOU ARE TO FOLLOW THEM OUT. [
MUSIC ]
>> [ APPLAUSE ]