THE READER
From the Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
News, Updates, and Information
Click here to receive The Reader via email.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Announcing plans for new Ship Canal crossing and new University District to South Lake Union transit corridor
Mayor McGinn announced Wednesday that he has proposed funding to advance plans to study a new crossing of the Ship Canal and a high capacity transit corridor from downtown to the University District via South Lake Union and Eastlake. The City Council had previously approved funding to begin study of the University District to South Lake Union corridor project in 2014. McGinn is proposing in a supplemental budget request to advance that study to this year and begin the Ship Canal Crossing study this year in order to help ensure both projects can be eligible for competitive federal grants and other funding sources.

Andrew McMasters of the University District Chamber of Commerce and Mayor McGinn
(Photo by Jen Nance)

“These two projects are essential to connecting more of our neighborhoods with better transit, including rail,” McGinn said. “A new crossing of the Ship Canal can significantly improve transit service, provide people who walk and bike a better alternative to congestion on our existing bridges, and create space for freight. The University District to South Lake Union project can also help bring rail to one of our most heavily used transit corridors, supporting future growth in jobs and housing.”

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Update on Fourth of July fireworks in Seattle
Mayor McGinn issued the following statement Tuesday:

“A fireworks show on the Fourth of July is a civic tradition. I, like many Seattle residents, was disappointed to learn last week that there would not be fireworks this year at Gas Works Park. That’s why I am delighted to announce that we are working with Seafair and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to craft a new and sustainable plan for Fourth of July fireworks in Seattle. I am optimistic that we will indeed have fireworks this year in our city. I thank Seafair and the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce for their commitment to Seattle and for their leadership. We will announce more details soon.”

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Chief Diaz announces his retirement, interim chief appointed
Seattle Police Chief John Diaz announced his retirement Monday after 36 years in law enforcement, 33 of those years as a member of the Seattle Police Department.

Assistant Chief Jim Pugel of the Criminal Investigations Bureau will be the acting Interim Chief upon Chief Diaz’s departure at the end of May.

“After 36 years in policing, I look forward personally and professionally to retirement. Now is the right time. Crime in Seattle is down 11 percent compared with four years ago; the Department is in the midst of developing and implementing innovative programs that will help us face the challenges of 21st century policing; and we have built a solid foundation and are on a strong path to reform that will restore community trust and confidence in our Department. I can’t think of a better time to pass this responsibility to a new Chief, nor can I think of a more capable person to hand it to than Jim Pugel,” said John Diaz.

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High School Teens invited to citywide Teen Summit
The Seattle Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and its 2013 Delta GEMS are gearing up for its 5th Annual Teen Summit.

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office and Seattle Parks & Recreation, this year’s event is entitled “Keep It 100” and will include a combination of fun activities, guest speakers, and discussions of hot topics impacting teens in our community.

The Teen Summit will take place Saturday, April 20th from 10am-3pm at Van Asselt Community Center, 2820 S. Myrtle St, Seattle, WA.
The summit is free and lunch will be provided. For additional information, contact deltagemschair@yahoo.com.

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Upcoming events (for more see http://seattle.gov/mayor/Engage/access.htm):
April 11, 2:00 p.m. – Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting, Seattle Municipal Tower Room 4050 (700 5th Ave)

April 11, 6:00 p.m. – Ballard Neighborhood Greenway Open House, Ballard High School Lunchroom (1418 NW 65th St)

April 13, 12:00 p.m. – Youth Town Hall, Seattle City Hall (601 5th Ave)

April 20, 11:00 a.m. – iMatter Now Earth Day March for Youth and Children, Victor Steinbrueck Park (2001 Western Ave)

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What we’re reading:
Seattle Immigrant Women Overcome Cultural Constraints To Exercise

Metrorail turned Arlington around. Streetcars will keep it moving forward.

Perseverance and patience: How Tableau made the IPO leap after 10 years

Guest: Addressing racial disparity in Seattle school discipline

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Posted by: Nathaniel Merrill

For those who couldn’t make it to our City Hall Open House this Saturday, here’s what you missed. For more images from the Open House, check out our Flickr page.

 

Read more »

Posted by: April Thomas

Mayor McGinn announced today that he has proposed funding to advance plans to study a new crossing of the Ship Canal and a high capacity transit corridor from downtown to the University District via South Lake Union and Eastlake. The City Council had previously approved funding to begin study of the University District to South Lake Union corridor project in 2014. McGinn is proposing in a supplemental budget request to advance that study to this year and begin the Ship Canal Crossing study this year in order to help ensure both projects can be eligible for competitive federal grants and other funding sources.

“These two projects are essential to connecting more of our neighborhoods with better transit, including rail,” McGinn said. “A new crossing of the Ship Canal can significantly improve transit service, provide people who walk and bike a better alternative to congestion on our existing bridges, and create space for freight. The University District to South Lake Union project can also help bring rail to one of our most heavily used transit corridors, supporting future growth in jobs and housing.”

“We all want more transit but expanding our transit system — no matter what the mode — doesn’t just happen on its own.  It requires careful study, planning, and construction to ensure the best use of public dollars,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin, chair of the land use committee.  “The sooner we move forward with these efforts, the sooner our neighborhoods will enjoy the benefits of improved transit, walkability, and bikability.”

Traffic on the Ballard and Fremont bridges causes delays for transit and vehicles on these heavily used routes. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities on both bridges do not meet minimum design standards. The City’s Transit Master Plan and Bicycle Master Plan already envision a new crossing of the Ship Canal to address these concerns. Future growth in northwest Seattle will add to the need for a new crossing.

“More space for transit, bicyclists and pedestrians on a separate crossing will help ease congestion for freight mobility and make it easier for people to travel north-south,” said Eugene Wasserman, of the North Seattle Industrial Association. “I support funding this crossing study”.

The Ship Canal Crossing study would evaluate several crossing concepts and analyze their feasibility, focusing on pedestrian, bicycle and transit needs while considering freight and automobile functions. The study would develop conceptual design alternatives and prepare cost estimates, and coordinate with Seattle’s Transit Master Plan and Sound Transit long-range planning. The cost of this study is $500,000.

“It’s hard to get around Seattle on a bike, especially if your trip requires you to cross the Ship Canal as your options are either intimidating, inconvenient or not safe. It doesn’t have to be this way”, said Craig Benjamin of the Cascade Bicycle Club. “Another crossing would make it safer and faster for everyone to get around Seattle, whether you drive, ride transit, bike or walk.”

“Moving both of these studies forward now will help us get closer to actually building the transit we need,” said Ben Schiendelman of Seattle Subway. “A Ship Canal Crossing study would look at all options, including a tunnel. The University District to South Lake Union route is another high priority corridor that we need to study now in order to get Seattle in line for federal funding.”

The University District to South Lake Union via Eastlake route was identified as a top priority high-capacity transit corridor in the Transit Master Plan approved by the City Council in 2012. This project would serve a route that is different from Sound Transit’s University Link light rail.

Rising demand is expected to exceed existing transit capacity on this route, leading the City to propose studying improved transit service such as rail or bus rapid transit. The Transit Master Plan indicated that up to 25,000 riders per day would use passenger rail on this corridor. As South Lake Union continues to expand its capacity for office and residential growth, riders per day could be even higher.

The University District to South Lake Union High Capacity Transit study would develop conceptual design alternatives and cost estimates for rail, bus rapid transit, and enhanced bus service on that route. It would also coordinate with Metro and with Sound Transit long-range planning. The proposed budget for this study is $2,000,000. The current budget includes $1,000,000 in 2014 and $1,000,000 in 2015. Mayor McGinn proposes $300,000 to begin design in 2013.

Posted by: Words: April Thomas, Pictures: Jen Nance

Seattle Police Chief John Diaz announced his retirement today after 36 years in law enforcement, 33 of those years as a member of the Seattle Police Department.

Assistant Chief Jim Pugel of the Criminal Investigations Bureau will be the acting Interim Chief upon Chief Diaz’s departure at the end of May.

“After 36 years in policing, I look forward personally and professionally to retirement. Now is the right time. Crime in Seattle is down 11 percent compared with four years ago; the Department is in the midst of developing and implementing innovative programs that will help us face the challenges of 21^st century policing; and we have built a solid foundation and are on a strong path to reform that will restore community trust and confidence in our Department. I can’t think of a better time to pass this responsibility to a new Chief, nor can I think of a more capable person to hand it to than Jim Pugel,” said John Diaz.

“John Diaz has been in charge of the department during a period of transition, and his achievements during this period have been considerable,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “First, crime is down. Violent crime is down 2 percent and major property crime is down 12 percent since he took control of the department.  Major crime in our City is now at a 55 year low. The department has adopted new innovative practices in a way that it has never done before. And John worked hard to implement needed reforms called for in our Settlement Agreement with the Department of Justice. I thank John Diaz for his service.”

Assistant Chief Jim Pugel has spent the last several years the head of Homicide, CSI, Sexual Assault/Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Vice/High Risk Victims, Major Crimes Task Force, Fraud/Forgery/Financial Exploitation, Auto Theft and Forensic Support Services. He has been the lead representative in the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, a partnership with the ACLU and other agencies to offer low-level drug offenders with treatment as opposed to jail. He has also developed and leads the Force Investigation Team, an effort designed to track and review police use of force to ensure that our practices are consistent with training and policy.

Jim Pugel is a native Seattleite and University of Washington graduate. He still lives in the city he serves.

“I am pleased that Jim Pugel will serve as interim chief while we begin the process called for in the City Charter for selecting and appointing a new permanent chief,” said McGinn. “I meet several times a month with the command staff.  I have had the opportunity to spend time with Jim, and I have come to appreciate his directness, honesty, integrity and progressive thinking. I am confident that Jim will uphold public safety in Seattle during the police chief search process and that he will keep our reform work on track.”

Read more »

Posted by: April Thomas

Congratulations to the community organizations that were recently awarded grants totaling $217,000 by the Human Services Department to increase their organization capacity. These grants are designed to support community organizing and leadership development within communities of color and immigrant and refugee communities.

While Seattle is fortunate to have a talented and committed human service community, the recession has created challenges for many nonprofits. The nonprofit sector is facing more demands for service as people have lost homes, jobs, health insurance and assets, combined with deep public sector cuts to health care, education, and other safety net services for vulnerable populations. At a time when these services are needed more than ever, there is less money to go around due to state and federal cuts.

My administration has always prioritized human services funding, but these investments go even further – they will help emerging community leaders to develop their skills and build community, leaving a legacy that will last long past the grant period.

Thank you to Vietnamese Friendship Association, the Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle, Entre Hermanos, Horn of Africa Services , Somali Community Services, Seattle Tilth, Ethiopian Community in Seattle and Center for East African Affairs, and Powerful Schools and Afrique Services Center for partnering with us to build a stronger Seattle.

Posted by: Mayor Mike McGinn

One week ago today, a Seattle family and a Seattle community were shattered by tragedy after an allegedly impaired driver collided with them as they were out enjoying a walk in their own neighborhood. We mourn the dead and wish for the speedy recovery of the survivors.

We have also heard from the community about concerns regarding road safety on Northeast 75th Street near Nathan Eckstein Middle School.

We are going to work with the community to look at physical changes to the design and layout of Northeast 75th Street to bring down speeds and make it safer for students and neighbors. Some changes were already in the planning process. But we will work with the community in the coming weeks to determine further specific design changes.

This collision has also raised good questions about our state’s DUI laws and their enforcement. We are taking a close look at ways to improve enforcement of DUI laws here in Seattle. We will also evaluate existing impaired driving laws to determine what improvements to make or to advocate for at the state level.

SDOT will be implementing the following improvements in 2013:

• Installing a flashing school zone beacon on Northeast 75th Street in front of the school

• SDOT will begin the process of evaluating and potentially installing a school zone speed camera on Northeast 75th Street

• The crosswalk at Northeast 68th Street and 25th Avenue Northeast will be remarked with fresh and highly visible paint

• The intersection of Northeast 68th Street and 25th Ave Northeast will be evaluated for a traffic signal

• SDOT will install new pedestrian countdown heads at 75th Street Northeast and Northeast 31st Street

• SDOT has already installed pedestrian countdown heads at 75th Street Northeast and Northeast 35th Street

The Seattle Police Department will enforce traffic laws at this location, including:

• Temporary use of a speed reader board to alert drivers to their speed.

• Assignment of traffic officers to monitor the corridor (already being done, since January 16th).

• Evaluation of use of the mobile speed van to monitor and cite speeders (with a potential for permanent signage, depending on whether school zone speed camera is located there).

You can also see the info sheet describing our work at this location.

We look forward to working with the community to make our streets safer. In August 2012 I launched a new road safety campaign titled “Be Super Safe,” which brings community partners together with the City to undertake education, enforcement, and engineering actions with the goal of zero serious injuries and fatalities on our streets. You can learn more about that campaign at http://www.seattle.gov/BeSuperSafe. In my State of the City address in February 2013, I also announced a new school road safety analysis and action plan that will look at ways to improve road safety near schools across Seattle. We will have more to announce on that program next week.

Posted by: Mayor Mike McGinn

THE READER
From the Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
News, Updates, and Information
Click here to receive The Reader via email.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

City Hall Open House this Saturday
Join Mayor McGinn, the City Council, and City Attorney Pete Holmes

Saturday, April 6th, 2013
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
601 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
(Enter via Fifth Avenue doors)

FEATURING:
Acrobatic performance by SANCA @ 11 a.m.
Massive Monkees Dance Crew @ 12 p.m.
Food Trucks
Adoptable Dogs and Critters
Utility Assistance for Low Income Residents

seattle.gov/openhouse2013
To get a feel for the event, check out this video from the 2011 Open House:

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Mayor visits Rainier Beach High School attendance campaign event
Mayor McGinn visited Rainier Beach High School to congratulate student leaders who have been working with our Be Here, Get There Attendance campaign to remind their peers that every day in school matters.

Student leaders organized an assembly (With DJ Supa Sam from KUBE 93) to motivate students to finish the year with a school attendance rate of 90% or higher. Thank you to the students who have been working hard to improve attendance in their schools.

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Road Safety
One week ago today, a Seattle family and a Seattle community were shattered by tragedy after an allegedly impaired driver collided with them as they were out enjoying a walk in their own neighborhood. We mourn the dead and wish for the speedy recovery of the survivors.

We have also heard from the community about concerns regarding road safety on Northeast 75th Street near Nathan Eckstein Middle School. In the weeks prior to Monday’s crash, my office and the Seattle Department of Transportation had been working on several possible solutions to address safety concerns at this location. Last week we met again to put finishing touches on these solutions. Here is what we are going to do to protect safety on roads near Eckstein.

We are going to work with the community to look at physical changes to the design and layout of Northeast 75th Street to bring down speeds and make it safer for students and neighbors. We will work with the community in the coming weeks to determine the specific nature and design elements of these changes.

This collision has also raised good questions about our state’s DUI laws and their enforcement. We are taking a close look at ways to improve enforcement of DUI laws here in Seattle. We will also evaluate existing impaired driving laws to determine what improvements to make or to advocate for at the state level.

For more details click here.

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PSRC to conduct a regional economic impact study of coal trains proposal
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) approved conducting a regional economic analysis of the proposed Gateway Pacific Coal Terminal in Whatcom County at the request of Mayor McGinn. The study will help inform the Transportation 2040 update and the 2014 release of the Environmental Impact Statement on the coal trains proposal. The scope of the study is expected to include an analysis of current and future impacts on trade and development, property values, land use, employment and railway congestion within the central Puget Sound region.

“I applaud the Puget Sound Regional Council board for their commitment to helping conduct a comprehensive review of the coal trains proposal in Washington State,” said McGinn. “We are concerned about the negative impacts of these coal trains to our city’s transportation network, recovering economy and the public safety and health of our residents. Today’s decision is the latest sign of the growing concerns about the local impacts of exporting coal to China.”

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Upcoming events (for more see http://seattle.gov/mayor/Engage/access.htm):
April 2, 6:30 p.m. – University District Urban Design Framework Open House, University Heights Center (5031 University Way NE)

April 6, 10:00-2:00, City Hall Open House (601 5th Ave)

April 10, 8:30 a.m. – Faith-Based Organization forum, Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW)

April 11, 6:00 p.m. – Ballard Neighborhood Greenway Open House, Ballard High School Lunchroom (1418 NW 65th St)

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Video highlights (for more see http://seattle.gov/mayor/photos/videos.htm):

Mayor McGinn’s presentation at Seattle Tech Meetup	Support for Center City Public Safety

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What we’re reading:
Gallup: Seattleites 4th most confident in economy

What Do Washington State CEOs Know About the Minimum Wage that Other CEOs Don’t Get?

Chapter 40: Elliott Bay Book Company opens up about its past, present and…

Merits of a Fremont Streetcar

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Posted by: Nathaniel Merrill

Mayor McGinn visited Rainier Beach High School on Friday to congratulate student leaders who have been working with our Be Here Get There Attendance campaign to remind their peers that every day in school matters.

Student leaders organized an assembly (With DJ Supa Sam from KUBE 93) to motivate students to finish the year with a school attendance rate of 90% or higher. Thank you to the students who have been working hard to improve attendance in their schools.

Posted by: Words: April Thomas, Pictures: Jen Nance

THE READER
From the Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
News, Updates, and Information
Click here to receive The Reader via email.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

City completes Spokane Street Viaduct under budget
Mayor McGinn and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Director Peter Hahn announced additional funds to be invested in sidewalks, basic road maintenance, upgrades to the City’s traffic signal system, work to complete the Burke-Gilman “Missing Link” and support for Seattle’s updated Transit Master Plan. These investments, totaling $11.75 million, are possible due to SDOT finishing the Spokane Street Viaduct project under budget. The department achieved the cost savings through a favorable bidding climate and strong oversight of the $163 million project, the largest city transportation project completed in several decades.

“We are working hard to capture these savings and spend them on the things that Seattleites care about,” said McGinn. “That’s why we are using these dollars to support pedestrian safety, invest in basic infrastructure upgrades, road maintenance and planning for the future. I thank our Department of Transportation for their stewardship of taxpayer dollars in their work to bring in Spokane Street under-budget”

The funding for this work is included in Mayor McGinn’s Supplemental Budget proposal to the City Council for the first quarter of 2013.

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Mayor leads broad coalition to better support downtown public safety
Mayor McGinn and members of the Center City Roundtable urged the state legislature to prioritize policies and funding to support human services and public safety. The Roundtable was founded as part of the Mayor’s Center City Initiative, with representatives from the human services community, business leaders, neighborhood groups, the Court system, the City Attorney’s Office and other stakeholders interested in public safety in downtown neighborhoods.

“These funding priorities will help us to protect the most vulnerable people in our community and build a safer Seattle” said Mayor McGinn. “Thank you to the Roundtable members for all their hard work to come to a consensus on challenging topics. I urge the state legislature to look closely at these priorities and work with us to support public safety and economic vibrancy in downtown Seattle and across the state.”

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City Hall Open House
Join Mayor McGinn, the City Council, and City Attorney Pete Holmes

Saturday, April 6th, 2013
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
601 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
(Enter via Fifth Avenue doors)

FEATURING:
Acrobatic performance by SANCA @ 11 a.m.
Massive Monkees Dance Crew @ 12 p.m.
Food Trucks
Adoptable Dogs and Critters

seattle.gov/openhouse2013

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Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day
Local Irish Pub Mulleady’s recently signed up to receive an energy upgrade through the City’s energy efficiency upgrade program, Community Power Works.

Magnolia business owner Travis Stanley Jones runs Mulleady’s Irish Pub on tight margins, and he has managed to stay mostly in the black through the long economic downturn. However, one nagging issue is the performance of his equipment. He explains: “If your car breaks down, that’s going to be a big deal for you, right? Well, I essentially have five ‘cars’ in my kitchen: the refrigerators, oven, dishwasher, and fryer. If any of those break down, I’m in the red.”

The pub joins 17 other restaurants and grocery stores upgrading their establishments through Community Power Works for Small Business.

Read more.

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What we’re reading:
Chart: Seattle’s jobless rate dips below six percent for first time in more than four years

Energy-Efficient Homes Are Much Less Likely to Go Into Default

Happy warrior fights to tame Aurora Avenue

Can a Divestment Campaign Move the Fossil Fuel Industry?

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Posted by: Nathaniel Merrill

Yesterday Mayor McGinn and members of the Center City Roundtable urged the state legislature to prioritize policies and funding to support human services and public safety. The Roundtable was founded as part of the Mayor’s Center City Initiative, with representatives from the human services community, business leaders, neighborhood groups, the Court system, the City Attorney’s Office and other stakeholders interested in public safety in downtown neighborhoods. 

“These funding priorities will help us to protect the most vulnerable people in our community and build a safer Seattle” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “Thank you to the Roundtable members for all their hard work to come to a consensus on challenging topics. I urge the state legislature to look closely at these priorities and work with us to support public safety and economic vibrancy in downtown Seattle and across the state.”

The letter, sent today, asks that the legislature:

• Implement the Affordable Care Act with full Medicaid expansion.
• Preserve critical state funding for a continuum of mental health and substance use disorder programs.
• Continue funding for the effective Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program, including alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and support (ADATSA) clients amongst those eligible for HEN, and ensure that those who have long-term disabilities have access to housing resources.
• Provide adequate funding for the Housing Trust Fund in the capital budget.
• Add needed clarity to ensure that those individuals who have committed serious misdemeanors but are found to not be competent to stand trial receive needed evaluation and treatment.

“The fact that this diverse group is working together and presenting a united front to the legislature is unprecedented” said Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Kate Joncas. “We have agreed on priorities that will protect public safety and make downtown a more attractive place to live, work and play.”

Organizations that signed onto the letter include:

Downtown Seattle Association Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area Evergreen Treatment Services & School of Social Work, University of Washington Plymouth Housing Group Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) The Alliance for Pioneer Square Real Change Seattle Human Services Coalition YWCA Millionair Club Charity Visit Seattle Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Pine Street Group LLC Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

“Without these crucial services, people in need have nowhere to turn” said Real Change Director Tim Harris. “The business community and human service providers are speaking to the legislature with one voice: do not cut our already over-extended safety net even further.”

“Medicaid expansion is a major priority for the 2013 legislative session. I believe that there will be consensus on this in the legislature, and I thank the diverse signers of this letter for adding their voices to those supporting the expansion, as well as other critical human service programs,” Representative Eileen Cody, Chair of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.

Posted by: Words: April Thomas, Pictures: Jen Nance