We are nearly one week away from one of the most consequential elections of our lives.
Voting is the most important thing you can do to make sure that your voice is heard in both local, state and national politics. This year’s ballot is full of critical races, from the President to propositions, from state representatives to county charter amendments. Make sure that you consult your King County Voters Pamphlet to catch up on all of the important issues.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way most of our nation will vote this year, Washington State has successfully and safely voted-by-mail for over a decade. But we all still need to make plans to vote and vote early in this election!
The most recent ballot return numbers show that 54.9% of all Seattle voters – more than half - have already voted – while that number is historic, we can show the nation how to vote early and safely. I expect Seattle will lead in the country with a historic turnout – far surpassing 84.2% of registered voters in Seattle who voted in the 2016 election.
King County Elections started mailing out ballots on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and most people should have already received your ballot. If you did not receive you ballot, call 206-296-VOTE (8683) or print your ballot online: http://kingcounty.gov/elections/obmp.
If you haven’t already voted, take a few minutes tonight or tomorrow to complete your ballot early.
There are many ways to return your ballot: no stamp needed if you drop it in the mail or you can also find a ballot box near you or a vote center. There are 25 drop boxes across Seattle open 24 hours a day.
If you are not registered to vote, there is still time! Today is the deadline to register to vote online – and if you miss your chance online, you can still visit a King County Elections vote center through November 3rd at 8:00 p.m.
You can find more information:
 
Building on the City’s successful free COVID-19 testing, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced the City of Seattle is partnering with the Seattle Visiting Nurses Association (SVNA) to provide vaccinations in locations across Seattle. The City has used $150,000 in CARES Act funding to purchase 3,750 vaccinations to provide for uninsured residents, at no cost. Two City of Seattle sponsored flu clinics at Genesee Park will offer language access to accommodate individuals facing language barriers. You can find information on the locations and hours of the clinics here.
 The City of Seattle is sponsoring two flu clinics that offer language access at Genesee Park, 4316 S Genesee St., 98118, from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, October 21 and Friday, October 30. For uninsured individual, the City-purchased vaccinations will be provided at no-cost at any SVNA sites within the City of Seattle. Those interested in vaccinations should pre-register at shedule.seattlevna.com. Please make sure to register for each person in your party who will receive a vaccination.
The cities of Seattle, Portland, and New York filed a federal lawsuit last week challenging President Trump’s Memorandum titled "Reviewing Funding to State and Local Government Recipients of Federal Funds That Are Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities” ordering federal agencies to withhold federal grant dollars from so-called “anarchist jurisdictions,” and the U.S. Attorney General’s unlawful designation of the cities as “anarchist.”
The cities argue the executive branch lacks authority to add conditions to congressionally appropriated funds without congressional authorization, and that the designation was made in an arbitrary and capricious manner based on a set of vague and subjective factors entirely within the U.S. Attorney General’s discretion.
In the lawsuit, the three cities challenge the proposed action on five different grounds, including violation of the Separation of Powers and the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The cities ask that the Court remove the cities’ “anarchist jurisdiction” designations and prohibit the U.S. Department of Justice and Office of Management and Budget from carrying out the administration’s scheme.
 Photo Credit: Julia Raasch on Unsplash.
We are excited to announce Stay Healthy Blocks have been extended, and now you can apply for a free Trick or Street permit for Halloween!
We are now making Stay Healthy Blocks available to individuals in addition to non-profits and community organizations through the end of November.
If you’re headed outdoors, we want to be sure you and your household have as much space as possible – but can still safely celebrate Halloween in accordance with Phase 2 guidelines of the Governor’s Safe Start Plan (which limits gatherings with more than 5 people outside your household).
We encourage you to apply for a Trick or Street Block for October 31st to close your non-arterial street if you meet eligibility criteria and follow the guidelines below.
If you live on a Stay Healthy Street, hosting an event is even easier since your street is already has barricades and “STREET CLOSED” signs. You do not need any additional permits to hold a Trick or Street Block on a Stay Healthy Street! You’ll still need to follow the guidelines, and you can print out extra signs to let people driving know about your planned activity. Read more about our Stay Healthy Blocks, which support Seattle residents/groups to temporarily close blocks to thru-traffic, in this blog and on our website.
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced last week that the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) temporary street use permits are extended through October 31, 2021. These free permits allow small businesses to expand their operations outside to help ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while remaining in compliance with local and statewide public health guidance and requirements. This extension impacts free sidewalk café and curb space permits as well as free street closure permits. In addition, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) will immediately begin issuing free tent permits and heating permits to help businesses maintain operations during the colder, rainier months ahead.
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan celebrated the Sound Transit board’s unanimous vote to authorize the transfer of ten surplus properties in Rainier Valley to the City of Seattle at no cost, for affordable housing development. Approximately 150 affordable homes will be developed for homeownership opportunities for families at or below 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI).
The City has been working in partnership with Sound Transit and community-based organizations for several years to transfer these sites at no cost to the City of Seattle, and over the last year, Mayor Durkan had been working to ensure these parcels could be transferred at no cost to the City. Throughout this years-long partnership, community members have expressed the creation of affordable homeownership opportunities as a top priority. Using locally- and nationally-proven strategies, such as community land trusts and other shared equity homeownership models, the Office of Housing will invest $10 million to develop permanently affordable homes on these sites.
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