>> KEEP IT GOING.
ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR NORTHWEST TAP CONNECTION.
I WAS SCHEDULED TO BE ON
STAGE WITH THEN, BUT I FORGOT MY
TAP
SHOES, SO I COULDN'T DO IT.
NOW, WHY WE ARE GATHERED
HERE TODAY WITH GUIDANCE AND
FEEDBACK FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE TRANSITION TEAMS AND THE
MANY, MANY MEETINGS, TOWN
HALLS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS,
AND LISTENING SESSIONS FROM CITY
RESIDENTS, IT IS WITH GREAT
HONOR, GREAT JOY, AND GREAT
EXCITEMENT TO ASK YOU ALL TO
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR
MAYOR OF SEATTLE, KATIE
WILSON, FOR THE 2026 STATE OF
THE CITY
ADDRESS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY, I THINK WE'RE LIVE.
GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY?
OKAY. YOU READY FOR THIS?
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
TALKED FOR AS LONG AS I'M ABOUT
TO
TALK SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT
GOES.
OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING ME TODAY.
SORRY,
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. A LITTLE
BIT LESS.
BACK THE WAY YOU CAME.
BACK, BACK. OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU.
OKAY. THANK YOU TO NORTHWEST TAP
CONNECTION. THAT WAS AN AMAZING
PERFORMANCE. [ APPLAUSE ]
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO --
HUNTER FOR MC 'ING.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND THANK YOU
TO EVERY PERSON HERE TODAY
INCLUDING CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, OUR CITY
ATTORNEY, OUR COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, OTHER LOCAL ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
I THINK I SEE OUR SOUND
TRANSIT CEO HERE.
COUNSELOR OFFICIALS,
COMMUNITY LABOR AND BUSINESS
LEADERS,
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, CITY
EMPLOYEES, AND PEOPLE FROM ALL
ACROSS SEATTLE.
THIS IS YOUR CITY.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE GATHERED
HERE AT LANGSTON HUGHES.
THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING
BEGAN ITS LIFE MORE THAN 100
YEARS
AGO AS HEM TO WASHINGTON
STATE'S OLDEST ORTHODOX
SYNAGOGUE.
IN 1969 THE CITY PURCHASED THIS
BUILDING, AND OVER TIME
IT EVOLVED INTO THE
INCREDIBLE CULTURAL RESOURCE
THAT WE
ALL KNOW.
THE EXTRAORDINARY VISUAL
ARTIST, JACOB LAWRENCE,
ONCE HAD AN EXHIBITION
HERE. THE VISIONARY AUTHOR
OCTAVIA
BUTLER APPEARED HERE.
LANGTEN HUGHES HIMSELF
NEVER VISITED THIS STRUCTURE,
BUT
HE DID COME TO SEATTLE MANY
TIMES FOR LECTURES AND HIS
WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED HERE
MANY
TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
THIS IS A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN
HOME TO SEE MANY
EMERGING ARTISTS AND HOSTED SO
MUCH EXTRAORDINARY TAL WANT.
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND THE
CITY'S OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE THAT
OFFERS CLASSES AND PERFORMANCES
AND SERVES AS A CULTURAL HUB,
AND I
AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE
TO DELIVER MY FIRST STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS. [ APPLAUSE ]
IT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL
TO BE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND
THIS YEAR ACTUALLY MARKS THE
100th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FIRST DECLARATION THAT FEBRUARY
IS
A MONTH TO HONOR THE HISTORY,
EXPERIENCES, AND POWER OF
AMERICA'S BLACK AND
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
HERE IN SEATTLE
BLACK COMMUNITIES BUILT
NEIGHBORHOODS, INSTITUTIONS,
BUSINESSES,
AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS THAT
CONTINUE
TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE TODAY.
AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH CALLS ON
US NOT ONLY TO REMEMBER BUT TO
ACT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW
THAT WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHEN OUR
RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM SO
MANY
DIRECTIONS, WHEN IT FEELS LIKE
AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WE ARE
MOVING BACKWARDS, WHEN IT CAN
FEEL IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE
THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL EVER
EMERGE FROM THE STORM CLOUDS.
AND IN THESE MOMENTS IT
IS SO IMPORTANT TO LOOK TO
HISTORY
AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE
STOOD AT SIMILAR JUNCTIONTURES
MANY TIMES BEFORE AND TO
REMEMBER HOW MUCH HAS BEEN
ACHIEVED
THROUGH SOCIAL MOVEMENTS THAT
EMERGED IN
THE TOUGHEST TIMES, BROUGHT
PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WON
TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.
THIS MONTH ALSO MARKS THE
BEGINNING OF RAMADAN AND ALSO
LENT, AND TODAY IS
LUNAR NEW
YEAR. [ APPLAUSE ]
WHICH IS A TIME FOR RENEWAL,
FOR FAMILY, AND OF COURSE TO
WELCOME
THE SPRING.
IN THIS SEASON OF REFLECTION AND
NEW BEGINNINGS I AM SO
EXCITED TO BE YOUR MAYOR.
AND I'M SO HOPEFUL ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
I LOOK AT THE CITY THROUGH
ROSE- COLORED GLASSES.
THE HOPE I FEEL COMES FROM
HISTORY, FROM LOOK AT
AN INSTITUTION LIKE THIS ONE
HERE, HOW IT'S EVOLVED OVER
TIME AND
OVERCOME CHALLENGES TO
BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AND FROM RECOGNIZING HOW
THAT HISTORY LETS US BETTER
IMAGINE
WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
AS THE WRITER, THINKER, AND
ORGANIZER, MERRIAM CABO PUTS
IT, HOPE
IS A DISCIPLINE. IT'S SOMETHING
YOU HAVE
TO PRACTICE.
YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THE
ENERGY AND THE TIME.
YOU HAVE TO BE CLEAR- EYED,
HOLD FAST TO A VISION, AND STILL
MAKE THE DECISION EVERY SINGLE
DAY TO
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
THE DISCIPLINE OF HOPE IS
NECESSARY, BUT I THINK WE
ALL KNOW THAT IT CAN ALSO
BE
CHALLENGING. AND I WANT TO START
BY ACKNOWLEDGING ONE OF THE
HARDEST THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED
THIS YEAR IN SEATTLE -- THE LOSS
OF THE TWO REIGNER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LATE
LAST
MONTH WHO WERE SHOT AND KILLED
WHILE WAITING FOR THE BUS
AFTER SCHOOL.
WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY SEEN
DEADLY SHOOTINGS IN THE
CHINATOWN-
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
AND IN PIONEER SQUARE. AFTER THE
TRAGEDY IN RAINER
BEACH, WE QUICKLY COORDINATED
TO ENSURE PLEASE PRESENCE
DURING THE TIMES PEOPLE ARE
TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE
SCHOOL.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE SPENT
TIME GRIEVING WITH THE VICTIMS
FAMILIES, CONNECTING
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND
TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT
WE
NEED
TO MAKE AS A CITY. HOW CAN
STUDENTS BE EXPECTED
TO LEARN IF YOU ARE
WORRIED, AS ONE YOUNG WOMAN TOLD
ME, THAT IF YOU
LEAVE SCHOOL FOR LUNCH, YOU
MIGHT NEVER COME BACK.
HOW CAN YOU BE EXPECTED
TO CONCENTRATE IN CLASS IF
YOU'RE LIVING IN A CONSTANT
STATE
OF GRIEF OR FEAR?
AND HOW CAN YOU BE EXPECTED
TO THRIVE WHEN YOU'VE SEEN SO
MUCH
TRAGEDY AND NOT NEARLY
ENOUGH HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY AND
JOY?
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER FOR
OUR
KIDS. AND I KNOW THAT HOPES ARE
NOT
ENOUGH. MY JOB AS MAYOR IS TO
DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO TURN
THOSE HOPES INTO REALITIES.
MY JOB TO TAKE ACTION.
IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH TRUSTED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, OUR
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND
OUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF
EARLY LEARNING, MY OFFICE
IS IMPLEMENTING AN INTENSIVE
STABILIZATION PLAN THROUGH
THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR
TO REDUCE CONFLICT AND
PREVENT RETALIATION.
IN THE CHINATOWN- INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT SPD WILL
RESTORE A LATE NIGHT PRESENCE
THAT WAS
DISCONTINUED LAST YEAR.
AND AFTER HEARING FROM
KEY NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS WE ARE
ALSO
EXAMINING OPTIONS FOR
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST BUILDING
OWNERS
WHO
REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR
CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES WITH
LONG HISTORIES OF CREATING
DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS FOR
NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES.
BUT WE CAN'T JUST REACT AND
STABILIZE, WE HAVE TO GET TO
THE ROOTS
OF THE PROBLEM. MY OFFICE IS
WORKING TO
DEVELOP A ROBUST AND
MULTI-PRONGED
GUN VIOLENCE STRATEGY THAT WILL
INVOLVE COLLABORATION ACROSS
CITY DEPARTMENTS,
COUNTY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY
EXPERTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO
HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE.
CHIEF BARNES AND OTHER
SPD LEADERS BRING
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE TO GUN
VIOLENCE REDUCTION THAT
WILL BE INVALUABLE IN THIS
EFFORT.
IN THE COMING DAYS MY
OFFICE WILL CONVENE A PANEL OF
LOCAL EXPERTS WHO WILL LAUNCH
AND GROUND A STRATEGY IN
SEATTLE'S GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM
AND
IS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO IN THE SPIRIT OF
ACKNOWLEDGING WHERE WE'RE
FALLING SHORT SO WE CAN DO
BETTER, LET'S TURN NEXT TO
HOMELESSNESS. STARTING WITH THE
TOUGH STUFF
HERE. SO LAST MONTH I VISITED
AN ENCAMPMENT IN BALLARD THAT
WAS SCHEDULED TO
BE CLEARED. AFTER HEARING
FROM CONCERNED COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, I DECIDED TO
EXTEND THE TIME LINE TO
CLEAR THAT SITE BECAUSE I
THOUGHT
THAT BETTER OUTCOMES WERE
POSSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING
THERE, THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND
LOCAL
BUSINESSES. AND THE
CONVERSATIONS I
HAD THERE AT THE SITE REALLY
UNDERSCORED THE REALITY WE
SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
HOUSING, SHELTER,
AND SERVICES
FOR EVERYONE WHO IS LIVING
UNSHELTERED. WITH A
WOMAN WHO WAS FIVE MONTHS SOBER
AND HAD
THREE SMALL DOGS, AND SHE
WAS STRUGGLING TO FIND A PLACE
TO SLEEP INSIDE.
WITH SOME WORK WE WERE ABLE ABLE
IDENTIFY A SPOT FOR HER IN A
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
OUR TEAMS ALSO HELPED FIVE MORE
PEOPLE LIVING AT THE
ENCAMPMENT TO SECURE HOUSING OR
SHELTER.
AND BY EXTENDING THAT
DEADLINE, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP
THEM
MAKE THAT TRANSITION
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL DISPLACEMENT,
AND
I'M GRATEFUL
FOR THAT. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S
NOT
NEARLY ENOUGH.
WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS RIGHT.
EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RECEIVE
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
STABILIZE THEIR LIVES THANKS TO
THE
HARDWORK OF OUR DEDICATED
CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR
HOUSING SHELTER SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP BACK
OR JUST WALK AROUND THE
CITY, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN
REALLY ARGUE THAT OUR OVERALL
APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS HAS
BEEN
UNSUCCESSFUL.
WE CAN'T GET SO USED TO IT
WAY THINGS ARE WE START TO FEEL
IT'S
NATURAL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO
BE LEFT TO SLEEP OUTSIDE AT
NIGHT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
CAN ACCESS AND ENJOY OUR PARKS,
TRAILS, SIDEWALKS, AND
OTHER PUBLIC SPACES.
AND WE CANNOT JUST KEEP
MOVING PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO
PLACE AND
CALLING THAT PROGRESS. SO
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TO
FIND A BETTER WAY FORWARD.
FIRST, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE ON OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP
PUBLIC SPACES OPEN AND
ACCESSIBLE.
I WILL ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS
PRIORITIZING ENCAMPMENT
REMOVALS BASED ON SAFETY ISSUES
AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME MY OFFICE
WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR UNIFIED
CARE TEAM TO ACHIEVE
BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE
LIVING
UNSHELTERED. THAT MEANS
CONDUCTING EARLY
OUTREACH TO PEOPLE LIVING ON
PRIER TO ANY POSTING OF
A REMOVAL AND ALLOWING
FLEXIBILITY WHEN HOUSING
PLACEMENTS
ARE IMMINENT.
I'M COMMITTED TO MINIMIZING
HARM
TO PEOPLE LIVING IN
ENCAMPMENTS AT THE SAME TIME I
TAKE SERIOUSLY THE CITY'S
MANDATE
TO KEEP PUBLIC SPACES OPEN
AND ACCESSIBLE FOR THEIR
INTENDED
USE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE
ARE MOVING RAPIDLY TO EXPAND
SHELTER WITH SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES.
ONE OF MY FIRST ACTS IN OFFICE
LAST MONTH WAS TO ISSUE
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ACCELERATING
THE
EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER.
AND THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM
I ESTABLISHED IN THAT ORDER IS
ALREADY HARD AT WORK.
WE ARE IDENTIFYING PARCELS OF
CITY- OWNED LAND THAT COULD SITE
TINY HOUSES OR MICROMODULAR
SHELTERS, AND WE ARE EXPLORING
EVERY POSSIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE
AND LEGAL TOOL WE HAVE
TO ACCELERATE THE EXPANSION
OF EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
SHELTER.
AND WE'VE BEGUN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET
OFFICE AND PHILANTHROPIC
PARTNERS TO
SECURE THE FUNDING THAT WE WILL
NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS
A WARM BED TO GO TO AT NIGHT.
SO IN THE COMING WEEKS
MY ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO
BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO
CITY COUNCIL TO FUND
SHELTER EXPANSION AND MAKE IT
FASTER
AND EASIER TO BUILD SHELTER IN
OUR
CITY. AND I
KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO A KEY
PRIORITY FOR SEVERAL
COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, HI.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THEM TO BRING MORE
PEOPLE
INSIDE WITH WELL OVER
4,000 PEOPLE SLEEPING
UNSHELTERED
IN SEATTLE AS OF LAST YEAR'S
POINT IN TIME COUNT, I KNOW WE
HAVE
A BIG HILL TO CLIMB, AND
DRAMATIC
CHANGES WILL NOT HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT. BUT I AM DETERMINED
TO ADD
1,000 NEW UNITS THIS YEAR
WITH SERVICES MATCHED TO
PEOPLE'S
NEEDS, AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO
REACH THIS
GOAL. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO ANOTHER CENTRAL FOCUS OF MY
OFFICE'S WORK IN OUR FIRST
MONTH AND A HALF -- HARD TO
BELIEVE IT'S BEEN JUST A MONTH
AND
A HALF -- HAS BEEN ENSURING
THAT SEATTLE IS PREPARED TO
RESPOND TO THREATS FROM OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I WAS RECENTLY AT THE U.S.
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, AND
THERE I MET WITH LEADERS OF
CITIES FACED SURGES
OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT
AND HEARD ABOUT THE LESSONS THEY
HAVE LEARN ABOUT HOW TO
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
OF COURSE SEATTLE HAS NOT
YET SEEN A SURGE OF I.C.E.
ACTIVITY LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN
MINNEAPOLIS, BUT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO PREPARE. THAT INCLUDES
AMPLIFYING
THE WORK OF OUR OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT
WHICH PROVIDES KNOW YOUR RIGHT
TRAININGS, LEGAL
CONSULTATION, SAFETILY PLANNING
AND
BROAD PARTNERSHIPS WITH
IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.
TOGETHER WE LAUNCHED A PAGE
TO PROVIDE RESOURCES ABOUT
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITY. THAT WEB PAGE IS
AVAILABLE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/STAND-TOGETHER.
I'VE ALREADY TAKEN SOME
CONCRETE
STEPS TO CLARIFY
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR
POLICE,
TO DOCUMENT UNLAWFUL ACTS
BY FEDERAL AGENTS, TO
BAR ENFORCEMENT FROM STAGING
ON CITY PROPERTY AND TO
INVITE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS
TO POST
NOTICE CLARIFYING THAT THEIR
PROPERTY MAY NOT BE ACCESSED BY
FEDERAL AGENTS WITHOUT A
WARRANT.
RECENTLY I SENT A NUMBER OF
MY TEAM TO MINNEAPOLIS TO
SUPPORT AND LEARN FROM THE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE THERE.
ONE KEY LESSON HE BROUGHT
BACK IS THAT PEOPLE ARE READY,
WILLING, AND ABLE TO
SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THAT ONE
OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN
DO AS A CITY IS TO ORGANIZE THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THE
PENDING EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S
CCTV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IS ON A
LOT
OF PEOPLE'S
MINDS, SO TODAY I WANT TO GIVE
YOU SOME
INSIGHT
INTO HOW I'M APPROACHING THIS
ISSUE. I CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONCERNS I
EXPRESSED DURING THE CAMPAIGN
ABOUT DATA SECURITY AND
HOW SURVEILLANCE COULD BE USED
TO TARGET VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES.
AND I'VE ALSO BEEN MOVED BY
WHAT
I HEARD FROM FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY GUN
VIOLENCE. I UNDERSTAND HOW CCTV
CAMERAS HAVE BEEN A USEFUL TOOL
TO SOLVE
CRIMES AND CAN REDUCE
PROFILING AND PROTECT WITNESSES.
THESE ARE BOTH VALID POINTS
OF VIEW THAT COME FROM WANTING
THE SAME THING -- TO BE ABLE TO
ENJOY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
LIVE OUR LIVES KNOWING THAT WE
WILL
COME HOME SAFE.
I KNOW THIS IS A CONTENTIOUS
ISSUE, AND I WANT TO GET
IT RIGHT AND NOT RUSH TO
A PARTICULAR DEADLINE, SO MY
TEAM AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DIG
IN, MEET WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND
TRY TO
FIND THE BEST WAY FORWARD.
MY OVERRIDING GOAL
IS THAT WHOEVER YOU ARE AND
WHEREVER
YOU COME FROM, IF SEATTLE IS
YOUR
HOME, THEN THIS IS YOUR CITY
AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU
HERE. [ APPLAUSE ]
AND THAT IS ALSO MY MESSAGE TO
RENTERS, FAMILIES,
SENIORS, WORKING PEOPLE, SMALL
BUSINESS
OWNERS, AND EVERYONE WHO
IS STRUGGLING WITH OUR
CITY'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
YOU SHOULD NOT NEED A SIX-
FIGURE INCOME TO LIVE HERE.
YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A HALF
MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY A HOUSE
AND HAVE SOME STABILITY IN YOUR
LIFE. AND YOU SHOULDN'T NEED TO
BE A
MILLIONAIRE TO AFFORD TO RAISE
A
CHILD. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
RAISE
A FAMILY IN AN APARTMENT IF YOU
CHOOSE, SPENDING TIME IN
OUR VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
BEAUTIFUL PARKS, AND BE ABLE
TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS AND LIVE
YOUR LIFE WITHOUT ALWAYS
BEING HAUNTED BY THE STRESS
OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN PAY
YOUR BILLS.
THIS ECONOMIC SQUEEZE HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG THAT
IT
CAN BE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO
I'D LIKE TO LOOK TO THE PAST
AND
SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN THERE.
BACK AROUND THE TURN OF THE
LAST CENTURY, SEATTLEITES WERE
IN
AN UP ROAR OVER THE HIGH PRICE
OF
FOOD, WHICH SOUNDS FAMILIAR,
BUT BACK THEN IT WAS ACTUALLY
THE COST OF ONIONS THAT PEOPLE
WERE MOST
CONCERNED ABOUT RATHER THAN
EGGS. FARMERS WERE ALSO
FRUSTRATED
BY HOW LITTLE
MONEY THEY WERE MAKING THANKS TO
PRICE GOUGING
MIDDLEMEN WHO SYPHONED OFF MOST
OF THE PROFIT.
IN RESPONSE OUR CITY TOOK
ACTION. THEY PASSED AN ORDINANCE
CREATING PIKE PLACE MARKET, AS
A PLACE PRODUCERS COULD
SELL DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS
AND EVERYONE COULD GET A
BETTER DEAL.
THAT'S RIGHT,
GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND
AFFORDABILITY TO GROCERIES.
SEEMS LIKE AN INTERESTING IDEA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
TODAY, OF COURSE, IT'S HARD
TO IMAGINE SEATTLE WITHOUT
THE MARKET.
AND WHILE COSTS ONCE AGAIN ARE
A MAJOR ISSUE TODAY, THAT
HISTORY REMINDS US THAT TOGETHER
WE
ARE CAPABLE OF DOING BIG THINGS.
AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT
WE NEED TO MAKE IS TO MAKE THIS
CITY MORE AFFORDABLE.
AFFORDABILITY IS NOT JUST A POOR
PERSON'S ISSUE OR JUST A
YOUNG PERSON'S ISSUE OR JUST A
WORKING PERSON'S ISSUE.
THE CRISIS REACHES VERY HIGH
UP
THE INCOME SCALE. IT HITS
BARISTAS AND CODERS
ANDS, LONG SHORE WORKERS
AND ELECTRICIANS AND CAREGIVERS.
IT HITS SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY
THEIR BILLS, TOO.
AND IT ALSO AFFECTS OUR ECONOMY
AS A WHOLE.
IF HALF OF YOUR INCOME IS
GOING TO RENT AND ANOTHER FEW
THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH IS
GOING
TO CHALD CARE, THAT MEANS YOU
HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND ON
ANYTHING
ELSE, AND THAT LOWER
SPENDING HURTS OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES.
AND IF FAMILIES CAN'T
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, IT'S
ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE FOR EMPLOYERS TO
RETAIN A GREAT WORKFORCE.
SO TODAY I AM LAUNCHING
MY AFFORDABILITY AGENDA.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON FOUR KEY
AREAS -- AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AFFORDABLE CHILD
CARE, AFFORDABLE FOOD, AND
AN AFFORDABLE CITY TO BUILD A
SMALL
BUSINESS. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO I THINK PROBABLY MOST OF
YOU KNOW THAT I'M A RENTER
MYSELF, SO I HAVE SOME FIRST-
HAND
EXPERIENCE OF OUR CITY'S
HOUSING
CRISIS.
BUT I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE IN
THIS ROOM, RIGHT?
I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HOME
PRICES ARE OUT OF CONTROL,
AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE RENT
IS
TOO HIGH. AND EVERYONE KNOWS
THAT IT
IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
FIND STABILITY OR PURSUE YOUR
DREAMS WHEN SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY
AND YOUR TIME IS GOING TO PAY
FOR
THE BASICS.
SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
I LAUNCHED MY MAYORAL
RENTERS SURVEY IN 60 LANGUAGES
TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE HEARING
DIRECTLY
FROM RENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE
WHO AREN'T USUALLY PART OF THE
POLICY- MAKING PROCESS HAVE
ALREADY SHARED THEIR
EXPERIENCES
WITH US. [ APPLAUSE ]
AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT A LOT
OF TIME
OVER MY CAREER TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE TO TAKE SURVEYS,
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, YOU KNOW.
BEING THE MAYOR, TAKE A
SURVEY, OKAY.
SO WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE TO
MOVE EVERY YEAR
BECAUSE THE RENT JUST
KEEPS GOING UP SO MUCH FASTER
THAN THEIR INCOME.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT JUNK FEES
ON EVERYTHING FROM PACKAGE
DELIVERY, SOME
MANDATORY CONCIERGE GARBAGE
SERVICE AND
SO MUCH MORE, SO THIS
SURVEY ACTUALLY CLOSES THIS
FRIDAY.
SO IF YOU'RE A RENTER
AND YOU HAVEN'T FILLED OUT THE
SURVEY
YET, YOU STILL HAVE A FEW DAYS.
CHECK IT OUT AT
WILSON.SEATTLE.GOV. I WILL BE
WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON
POLICY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
WITH THEIR PARTNERSHIP I HOPE TO
QUICKLY PROVIDE RENTERS WITH
SOME RELIEF BY REINING IN
SOME OF THE MOST ABUSIVE AND
DECEPTIVE
PRACTICES. OF COURSE THE OFFICE
IS PART OF
THE CONVERSATION TOO.
MY TEAM WILL BE MEETING WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS AS WELL AS PRIVATE
MARKET
LANDLORDS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE
THE
TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
HERE.
SEATTLE IS A GREAT CITY,
AND PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WANT
TO COME HERE AND BE PART OF IT.
THAT'S WHY WE ALSO NEED TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING OF ALL SHAPES
AND SIZES SO MORE PEOPLE CAN
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
AFTER LAST YEAR'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, I AM
COMMITTED
TO ADVANCING ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATION
TO ALLOW MORE CONSTRUCTION
AND MORE HOUSING IN MORE AREAS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH TENANTS, HOME
OWNERS,
DEVELOPERS,
URBANESTS, NEIGHBORHOOD
ACTIVISTS,
OUR OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND OUR
CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD
MUCH BIGGER AND BOULDER POLICY
IN THIS AREA IN THE MONTHS
AND YEARS
AHEAD. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BUILD A
TON MORE HOUSING, BUT LET'S
BE HONEST, THIS IS NOT GOING
TO MAKE HOMEOWNERSHIP
AFFORDABLE FOR LOWER AND MIDDLE
INCOME FAMILIES IN A FASTER TIME
FRAME.
I'LL BE WORKING TO IMPROVE
AND EXPAND ON OUR EXISTING
PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
THAT MEANS MAKING IT CHEAPER AND
EASIER TO BUILD BACKYARD
COTTAGES, PROVIDING
DOWN PAYER ASSISTANCE,
PARTNERING
WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS AND
PARTNERING WITH
NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOME OWNERS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS ONE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SO THIS HAS BEEN AN
EXCITING MONTH FOR ANOTHER BIG
PART OF
MY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AGENDA, SOCIAL HOUSING.
YES.
I AM THRILLED TO SAY THAT LAST
WEEK OUR CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WHICH
ALLOW APPROXIMATELY $115
MILLION TO BEGIN FLOWING TO
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
THIS
SPRING.
THAT IS MORE THAN TWICE
THE REVENUE THAT WAS INITIALLY
PROJECTED. [ APPLAUSE ]
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THERE'S
A LOT OF WEALTH IN THIS CITY,
AND IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO
KNOW
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
USE A VERY LITTLE BIT OF THAT
WEALTH AND PUT TO WORK
BUILDING HOUSING.
IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GET HERE,
AND SOCIAL HOUSING, I
THINK, REALLY SHOWS WHAT
SUSTAINED
COMMUNITY- LED ORGANIZING
LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT CAN
ACHIEVE.
SO AS HOUSING COSTS CONTINUE
TO RISE AND
DISPLACEMENT THREATEN SO MANY OF
OUR NEIGHBORS,
SOCIAL HOUSING IS GOING TO GIVE
US
A POWERFUL TOOL TO EXPAND OUR
NONMARKET HOUSING SECTOR AND
CREATE TRUE STABILITY.
WITH A ROBUST REVENUE
SOURCE, NEW LEADERSHIP, AND A
MAYOR'S OFFICE DEEPLY COMMITTED
TO ITS
SUCCESS, SEATTLE'S SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER IS NOW SET UP
TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE AND
DELIVER THE MIXED INCOME,
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT SEATTLE
VOTED FOR. [ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY, LET'S TURN TO ANOTHER
HUGE
EXPENSE
FOR WORKING FAMILIES, CHILD
CARE.
WE KEPT IT PRETTY QUIET BUT
A FEW OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD I
HAVE HAD TROUBLE PAYING FOR
CHILD
CARE MYSELF. NOT EVERYONE HAS
PARENTS WHO
ARE ABLE TO HELP, AND ALSO
NOT EVERYONE GETS TO WATCH
THEIR CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS
BECOME
NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
BUT SERIOUSLY RIGHT
NOW THERE ARE SO MANY GAPS WHERE
SO MANY
CHILDREN, SO MANY FAMILIES
DON'T
HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, AND
OUR WHOLE SOCIETY PAYS
THE PRICE.
PARENTS ARE STRESSED,
KIDS STRUGGLE, AND WORKING
FAMILIES MOVE OUT OF THE CITY
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
BUILD
A LIFE HERE.
NOW AT THE CITY WE HAVE
ALREADY BEEN DOING A LOT RIGHT
IN
THIS AREA WELL BEFORE I
BECAME MAYOR.
THANKS THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING AND THEIR
AWARD WINNING SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND OUR CHILD
CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SEATTLE
IS
ACTUALLY ALREADY A
NATIONAL LEADER IN THIS AREA.
NOW, THAT'S REALLY
ENCOURAGING BUT IT'S ALSO A
LITTLE
UNNERVING THAT IT'S SEEN AS
LEADING BECAUSE ANY PARENT WILL
TELL YOU
THAT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO
BE DONE.
AND I THINK IT REALLY JUST
UNDERSCORES HOW
FAR THE UNITED STATES LAGS
BEHIND MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES IN OUR SUPPORT FOR
FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO BRING DOWN THE
COST OF CHILD
CARE, EXPAND OUR PRE-K PROGRAM
AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT
OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALSO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE
DOING THIS WORK ARE PAID
ENOUGH TO RAISE A FAMILY
THEMSELVES.
YEAH.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE
IT EASIER TO SITE, START, AND
RUN CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN
SEATTLE.
PUBLIC SPACE AND HOUSING ARE
BIG PARTS OF THIS, TOO.
WE NEED TO BUILD MORE
FAMILY-SIZED APARTMENTS AND
HOMES, EXPAND OFFERINGS AT OUR
COMMUNITY CENTERS AND
CREATE MORE WELCOMING PLACES
FOR FAMILIES TO GO ENJOY
THEMSELVES WITHOUT NECESSARILY
HAVING
TO SPEND MONEY.
THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES TO
THIS, BUT IN THE END MY JOB IS
TO MAKE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE,
WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY.
AND PART OF THAT IS MAKING THE
WHOLE ARK OF CHILDHOOD PART OF
EVERYONE'S CONCERN.
EVERYONE CONSIDERS K-
12 EDUCATION A BASIC
PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY EVEN IF WE
DON'T ALWAYS FUND IT THAT WAY,
BUT
FOR SOME REASON THERE HASN'T
BEEN
THAT SAME BROAD CONSENSUS ABOUT
PRESCHOOL OR CHILD CARE OR
EVEN AFTER SCHOOL AND
SUMMER PROGRAMS.
IT'S TIME WE STARTED
TREATING CHILD CARE AND EARLY
EDUCATION AS PUBLIC GOODS,
ACCESSIBLE
AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL JUST LIKE
OUR
PARKS, SCHOOLS, AND UTILITIES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MY ADMINISTRATION WILL BE
PURSUING THIS VISION AS WE BEGIN
TO IMPLEMENT THE
FAMILY'S EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL
AND
PROMISE LEVY THAT VOTERS PASSED
LAST
YEAR AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING
NEW RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
THAT CAN TAKE US EVEN
FURTHER. FOOD.
THE HIGH INFLATION IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS HAS HIT US ALL
REALLY
HARD. THE RISING COST OF FOOD IN
PARTICULAR HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGE FOR FAMILIES THAT WERE
ALREADY STRUGGLING.
SO WHEN THE KROGER
CORPORATION DECIDED TO CLOSE THE
LAKE
CITY FRONT MEYER LAST YEAR IT
FURTHER
HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE
OF ENSURING FRESH
AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FOOD.
AND THE RECENT CLOSURE
AT JACKSON HAS CREATED A
SECOND FOOD DESERT.
WE KNOW ESSENTIAL STORES
ARE ESSENTIAL COMMUNITYACYETS.
THEY SUPPORT LOCAL
LIFE, COMMUNITY
JOBS, AND STABILITY. WE HAVE TO
START TREATING FOOD
ACCESS A CORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONE IS THE FRESH BUCKS
PROGRAM WHICH HELPS LOW INCOME
SEATTLE RESIDENTS AFFORD FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES AT
PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS,
INDEPENDENT GROCERS AND
SUPERMARKETS.
AS OF THE THIS YEAR WE HAVE
INCREASED MONTHLY BENEFITS
AND CLEARED THE WAIT LIST AND
FRESH BUCKS IS NOW SUPPORTING
MORE THAN 17,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OUR OFFICE OF PLANNING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT ARE EXPLORING
A VARIETY OF APPROACHES AROUND
HOW
THE CITY CAN WORK WITH
PRIVATE PARTNERS AND THE GROCERY
WORKERS UNION
TO HELP PROTECT GOOD JOBS AND
EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
FOOD.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW
AND ALTERNATIVE GROCERY MODELS
THAT BETTER FIT DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SO THAT'S ALL A LONG-WINDED
WAY OF SAYING WE ARE LOOKING AT
A PUBLIC GROCERY STORE AND OTHER
IDEAS AS
WELL. [ APPLAUSE ]
EVERYONE DESERVES RELIABLE
AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FRESH
FOOD IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND WE'LL BE WORKING TO MAKE
THAT VISION
A REALITY. [ APPLAUSE ]
AND WE KNOW THAT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE FACING AN
AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS, TOO. I RECENTLY JOINED A
LUNCH WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS
THIN CHINATOWN- INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, AND ONE
WOMAN DESCRIBED HOW IT TOOK TWO
YEARS BEFORE HER FRIEND'S
BUSINESS COULD GET THE PERMITS
THEY NEEDED TO OPEN.
THAT IS TWO YEARS OF
WAITING UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO
HIRE PEOPLE AND TURN A VAC KNT
STOREFRONT INTO
SOMETHING MORE LIVE AND
WELCOMING.
I HEARD MANY SIMILAR
STORIES LAST YEAR DURING THE
CAMPAIGN, AND I KNOW THAT SOME
BUSINESSES
NEVER END UP OPENING
BECAUSE LONG DELAYS LIKE THIS
ARE
SO
EXPENSIVE. WHILE RULES AND
REGULATIONS ARE
IMPORTANT, SOME AREN'T
NECESSARILY IMPORTANT TO COMPLY
WITH.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF
BUSINESS LEADERS SINCE THE
ELECTION,
AND SURE THERE ARE SOME PLACES
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO KIS AGREE.
BUT WHAT I HEAR BUSINESS
LEADERS TALK ABOUT THEIR
CHALLENGES, THEY DON'T START BY
TALKING
TAXES OR MINIMUM WAGE OR MY
OPINIONS ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.
WHEN I HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT
THEIR CHALLENGES WHAT I
MOST OFTEN HEAR ABOUT IS THE
SAME AS THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE'RE
ALL FACING -- AFFORDABILITY,
PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND HOMELESSNESS.
THAT'S
BECAUSE A WELCOMING CITY WITH
THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIVELY PUBLIC SPACES IS A
GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, TOO.
WE'VE MADE PROGRESS IN THIS
AREA, AND I'M KMIETED TO GOING
FURTHER.
THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SMALL
BUSINESS EXPEDITING PROGRAM IS
WORKING
TO HELP CUT RED TAPE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
CITY, AND
WE WILL STEP UP THOSE EFFORTS.
OUR SEATTLE RESTORE IT
PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW
PARTNERING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS
TO
TRANSFORM VACANT
COMMERCIAL SPACES INTO POP UP
SHOPS,
AND WE ARE OFFERING MORE
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO
ADDRESS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND
SECURITY ISSUES TO THE BACK TO
BUSINESS
FUND.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW, AND
I WANT SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS
THE CITY TO APPLY.
VISIT SEATTLE. GOV/OED FOR
MORE
INFORMATION. I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT NOW TO
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
SEATTLE'S BUSINESS LEADERS.
YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS DEEPLY
TO
THIS CITY. YOU ATTRACT TALENT
FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT HELPS
MAKE OUR
CITY GREAT. THE TAXES YOU PAY
HELP FUND
THE PUBLIC SERVICES WE ALL
DEPEND
ON, AND YOU CONTRIBUTE TO
THE CIVIC FAFABRIC OF SEATTLE
WITH
YOUR PHILANTHROPY, VOLUNTEERISM
AND LEADERSHIP.
AFFORDABILITY IS AT THE HEART OF
MY AGENDA, AND I KNOW IT'S
A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR YOU AS
WELL.
BUT AFFORDABILITY IS NOT
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY
ALONE. IT IS A SHARED ECONOMIC
IMPERATIVE.
WE CANNOT REMAIN COMPETITIVE
IF LINE COOKS CAN'T AFFORD TO GO
TO
RESTAURANTS HERE.
WORKERS NEED PUBLIC SUPPORT
THEMSELVES, AND
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CANNOT
AFFORD
TO BUILD THEIR DREAMS HERE.
WE CANNOT BE A GREAT PLACE
TO GROW IF FAMILIES ARE
PRICED OUT OF THE CITY.
SO MY MESSAGE TO
SEATTLE'S EMPLOYER COMMUNITY IS
THAT WE
WANT YOU AT THE TABLE.
WE VALUE YOUR IDEAS, YOUR
INVESTMENT, YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO STAY
ENGAGED WITH US, AS MANY OF
YOU ARE ALREADY DOING, EVEN IF
THE WORK CAN BE DIFFICULT.
BECAUSE SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A CITY OF BUILDERS.
WE BUILD COMPANIES THAT CHANGE
THE WORLD.
WE BUILD RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS THAT SAVE LIVES.
WE BUILD NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT REFLECT OUR VALUES, AND WE
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE
PROGRESS
POSSIBLE.
AND TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD
A CITY
THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE AND
SAFER, WHERE CITY HALL IS KNOWN
FOR GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND DELIVERING
RESULTS THAT
EVERYONE CAN SEE AND FEEL, A
WORLD- CLASS
CITY THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD
OF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT
I DID NOT PUT PRICE TAGS ON A
LOT
OF THE ITEMS I MENTIONED
TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT
THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET IS GOING TO BE
CHALLENGING, AND MY TEAM IS
HARD AT WORK ON THAT ALREADY.
SO YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR A
LOT MORE ABOUT BUDGETS AND
REVENUE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
BUT I THINK
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE GAINED
BY
STARTING THAT CONVERSATION AT
LOOKING
AT WHAT WE NEED AND WHERE WE
WANT TO
BE AND THEN FIGURING OUT HOW TO
GET
THERE. I CAME TO THE JOB AS
MAYOR AS
AN ORGANIZER AND COALITION
BUILDER.
AND WHEN YOU BUILD A CAMPAIGN TO
MAKE PROGRESS ON AN ISSUE,
YOU START
BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
AROUND THE
BIGGEST VISION POSSIBLE.
YOU FIND CONSENSUS WHERE
YOU
CAN. YOU ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE.
YOU MOVE FORWARD, YOU MAKE SOME
GAINS, AND MAYBE YOU DON'T
GET EVERYTHING YOU WANTED.
BUT WHEN YOU ACCOMPLISH
THINGS, YOU RAISE EXPECTATIONS,
AND
YOU SET THE STAGE TO ACHIEVE
EVEN MORE.
AND THAT'S HOW I THINK ABOUT
GOVERNANCE, TOO.
SO LET'S START FROM A
PLACE WHERE WE ALL AGREE.
WE ALL WANT TO HAVE A GREAT
CITY WITH WELCOMING PUBLIC
SPACES, VIBRANT LOCAL
BUSINESSES,
INCREDIBLE THINGS TO
DO, AND GREAT WAYS TO GET
AROUND.
HERE'S A TASTE OF WHAT
THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN
2026.
THIS SATURDAY WE ARE REOPENING
THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN WEST
SEATTLE AFTER A SIX- YEAR
CLOSURE. [ APPLAUSE ]
THE NEW SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE OPENING
THIS
YEAR,
TOO. [ APPLAUSE ]
YOU SHOULD HAVE HELD YOUR
APPLAUSE BECAUSE THERE IS GOING
TO BE A SPRAY PARK THERE,
OKAY, WHICH IS
PRETTY GREAT. I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO
BRINGING MY DAUGHTER THERE.
EVERYONE LOVES A SPRAY PARK.
SO COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE SUCH
AN IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE PLACES
WHERE PEOPLE
CAN GATHER, FAMILIES CAN ENJOY
THEMSELVES, AND YOU CAN CONNECT
ACROSS GENERATIONS AND
CULTURES WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND
ANY
MONEY, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
IN MARCH THE CROSS
LAKE CONNECTION IS GOING TO
OPEN.
YES. [ APPLAUSE ]
I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS ONE.
BRINGING LIGHT RAIL ACROSS
THE LAKE AND WEAVING COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE. AND
I WILL BE REPRESENTING
OUR GREAT CITY ON THE BOARD OF
SOUND
TRANSIT AS WE CONTINUE TO
BUILD THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM
OF
THE FUTURE INCLUDING LIGHT RAIL
TO WEST SEATTLE AND
BALLARD. [ APPLAUSE ]
WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TO FINALLY
PAINT THAT BUS LANE ON DENNY
WAY.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEED UP THE
CROSS-TOWN ROUTE 60 AND
ADVANCE A TRANSFORMATIVE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION MEASURE
THAT
GETS US ON TRACK TO RESTORE AND
SURPASS THE LEVELS OF TRANSIT
SERVICE WE HAD REACHED BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC.
[
APPLAUSE ] AND, NOW, THIS IS THE
HAPPY PART OF THE SPEECH, BUT
I'M GOING TO
GO OFF SCRIPT FOR A MOMENT
HERE TO SAY THAT A PEDESTRIAN
YOUNG WOMAN WAS HIT AND KILLED
LAST NIGHT IN CAPITOL HILL, MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
WE'RE NOT ON TRACK FOR OUR
ZERO VISION GOALS, AND WE HAVE
TO
MAKE IT SAFE FOR VULNERABLE
ROAD USERS OR PEOPLE BIKING OR
PEOPLE
WALKING OR PEOPLE ROLLING TO GET
AROUND THIS CITY.
[
APPLAUSE ] OKAY, BACK TO THE FUN
STUFF.
IN JUNE WE ARE GOING TO
WELCOME PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE
WORLD TO
AN INCREDIBLE FIFA WORLD
CUP. [ APPLAUSE ]
WE ARE GOING TO HOST
CELEBRATIONS AND WATCH PARTIES
THAT MAKE THE WHOLE CITY PART
OF THIS
EVENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO
ENCOURAGE OUR GUESTS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE
ALL OF
THE AMAZING THINGS THAT
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TO OFFER.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO CREATE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE
PEOPLE
TO PLAY SOCCER.
I'M THINKING ABOUT ORGANIZING
A FRIENDLY MATCH BETWEEN ELECTED
OFFICIALS, SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL
LIKE MAYBE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE
IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO MIGHT
WANT TO JOIN THAT.
LET ME KNOW.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN.
I FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
GET, LIKE, AS BIG AN
AUDIENCE THEY HAVE AT THE WORLD
CUP
FOR THAT ONE.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE
INCREDIBLE STUFF GOING ON.
DECADES IN THE MAKING OUR
AMAZING NEW WATERFRONT
CONTINUES TO COME ALIVE.
THERE'S ALSO A GREAT PUBLIC
BATHROOM THERE, AND WE'RE
GOING TO BE SEEING IF WE CAN DO
A LOT
MORE OF THAT AROUND THE CITY
SOON. [ APPLAUSE ]
THE ZOO IS OPENING THEIR NEW
FOREST TRAIL HEAD EXHIBIT,
WHICH WILL SUPPORT GLOBAL
CONSERVATION
WORK, PROTECT ENDANGERED
SPECIES, AND PROVIDE LOVELY NEW
HOMES FOR THE IRRESISTIBLY
ADORABLE RED PANDAS AND OTHER
CREATURES.
THAT WAS A LITTLE TEPID GUYS.
RED
PANDAS, COME ON. [ APPLAUSE ]
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION IS
OPENING A NEW RAINER BEACH SKATE
PARK.
THE NEW GARFIELD SUPER
BLOCK, AND NORTHWEST NATIVE
CANOE
CENTER AND MORE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS THIS YEAR IS
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF
DOING THE QUIET BUT CRITICAL
WORK OF
HELPING NEIGHBORS COME
TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN
CONNECTIONS,
BUILD TRUST, AND SHAPE THE
FUTURE OF
SEATTLE TOGETHER.
[ APPLAUSE ] SO I'M NOT NAIVE.
I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
DISAGREEMENTS. THERE WILL BE
EDITORIALS AND
OUTRAGES OF THE WEEK ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
MAYBE THERE WILL BE MORE
QUOTE TWEETS FROM ELON MUSK.
WE'LL SEE.
I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN
THAT, BY THE WAY, BUT PEOPLE
TELL ME.
AND THERE WILL BE MORE
CHALLENGES, TOO. RIGHT?
WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME
CHALLENGES.
BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN NOR
HOPEFUL OR MORE EXCITED ABOUT WE
CAN
ACCOMPLISH.
I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A STRONG
SENSE THAT WE'RE AT
THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING
GREAT, AND I FEEL THAT ACROSS
THE CITY. A GROWING SENSE THAT
MAYBE,
YES, WE CAN DO BIG THINGS.
A LOT OF THAT HOPE COMES FROM
THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO
WORK FOR THE CITY EVERY DAY.
I'VE MET A LOT OF INCREDIBLE
PUBLIC SERVANTS ALREADY WHO
ARE SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR WORK AND WHAT
IT MEANS. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I
GOT TO
MEET WITH MEMBERS OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC
UTILITIES SOUTH PARK EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM, WHO DO
ESSENTIAL WORK TO PROTECT SOUTH
PARK FROM
THE
DUWAUMISH RIVER FLOODING DURING
KING TIDE SEASON.
THEY HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY
DEDICATION TO SEATTLE, TO ALL
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK
HERE AND TO OUR
COLLECTIVE FUTURE.
WE HAVE SEWN GREAT PEOPLE AT
THE CITY, AND WE ACCOMPLISH SO
MANY
WONDERFUL THINGS.
SO TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT RUN, YOUR
WORK IS A PLACE WHERE I FIND
HOPE. [ APPLAUSE ]
SO AS I SAID UP TOP, HOPE IS A
DISCIPLINE, AND EACH THING
WE ACCOMPLISH LETS US BUILD
THAT SENSE OF HOPE, WHICH LETS
US
DO MORE.
WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE
FIRST STEPS.
I'M NOT GLOSSING OVER
THE CHALLENGES.
THEY'RE REAL, BUT A LOT
OF INCREDIBLE THINGS ARE AHEAD
THIS YEAR.
YOU MAY KNOW THAT I'M
A RELATIVELY NEW FOOTBALL FAN,
AND I ATTENDED -- I ATTENDED MY
FIRST GAME IN PERSON LIVE
AT LUMEN FIELD FOR THE NFC
CHAMPIONSHIP.
[ APPLAUSE ] IT WAS PRETTY
GREAT.
PRETTY GREAT. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
IN THE
CITY, I WATCHED THE SUPER BOWL
HERE, BY THE WAY, WITH SEATTLE
-- WITH
SEATTLE PEOPLE.
WE DID, IN FACT, DOMINATE FROM
THE FIRST SNAP.
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
COLLECTING ON MY WAGER WITH
MAYOR WU AND GETTING THOSE WORLD
CUP TICKETS FOR 12 YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM SEATTLE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THE PARADE LAST WEEK WAS
AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE, JUST
SEEING
THAT SPIRIT WHERE EVERYONE WAS
UNITED, JOYFULLY CELEBRATING
OUR
CITY. AND THAT FEELING OF UNITY
AND PRIDE AND CELEBRATION, THAT
IS WHAT I WANT TO CULTIVATE
ALL YEAR ROUND, AND IT'S ALSO
HOW
I WANT MY TERM TO BE JUDGED.
I WANT TO BE JUDGED
ON WHETHER PEOPLE ARE FEELING
EXCITED
TO LIVE HERE, WHETHER PEOPLE
LOVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, ENJOY
OUR
PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES,
AND FEEL FREE TO LIVE THEIR
LIVES AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.
I WANT TO BE JUDGED ON
WHETHER WE ARE LIVING OUR VALUES
AS A
WELCOMING CITY, WHETHER PEOPLE
ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A FAMILY
HERE, TO START A BUSINESS
HERE, TO RETIRE, TO CELEBRATE,
TO
JUST BE WHO THEY ARE IN ALL OF
THEIR BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXITY.
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT CULTIVATING
THE DISCIPLINE OF HOPE,
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE OPEN UP TO
THE IDEA THAT ANOTHER WORLD IS
POSSIBLE.
AND BY THE TIME I'M GIVING THE
2027 VERSION OF THIS ADDRESS,
I HOPE YOU'RE ALL FEELING
THAT BASIC TRUTH.
AND KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT,
YES, THIS IS YOUR CITY
BECAUSE SEATTLE IS THE BEST CITY
IN THE
WORLD. [ APPLAUSE ]
SEATTLE IS THE BEST CITY IN THE
WORLD. AND AT THE SUPER
BOWL
CELEBRATION BEFORE THE PARADE
LAST WEEK, ERNEST JONES HAD A
GOOD MESSAGE FOR ALL THE HATERS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE SAID WE'RE HERE TO STAY
AND WE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.
AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL
ABILITY TEAM SEATTLE, TOO.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]