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This week, we ushered in the start of a new, historic era for our entire region.
After years of talk, we are finally making good on creating one unified system that has the governance, authority, and resources to address our region’s homelessness crisis. This is a monumental achievement: We have designed a truly regional response which was made stronger, thanks to the invaluable input from all stakeholders throughout the region.
 We know that this crisis doesn’t stop at the City’s borders. Its impacts are seen throughout every community in our region. It’s critical to our long-term success that we provide services in every community so that we can allow people to remain in the communities they’ve known.
We also know we must do more to tackle the disproportionate impacts of homelessness. According to this year’s One Night Count, the majority of our neighbors experiencing homelessness are people of color. This tells a heartbreaking story of our failure to make significant investments in the health and stability of communities most impacted by institutional racism. But with our guiding principles, we are centering, and accountable to, our historically underserved and marginalized communities.
This new authority won’t solve the homelessness crisis overnight, and it won’t prevent everyone from falling into homelessness in the first place.
But it’s a historic moment to advance region-wide practices that we know are working, and that we know are helping our neighbors in crisis move inside. I believe the creation of this Authority will help do more to prevent homelessness, to serve people experiencing homelessness, and to center race and social justice in everything we do.
Now, we are embarking on a new journey, as a region and as a community, to address this crisis with the compassion needed to drive change.
As always, please continue to write me at [email protected], reach out via Twitter and Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we’re doing for the people of Seattle on my blog.
And finally, Happy Holidays from all of us in the Mayor’s Office. We hope you have the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones.
Sincerely,
 
This week, standing alongside labor leaders and City employees, Mayor Durkan signed new Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) for Seattle firefighters and City employees represented by the Coalition of City Unions.
 “Seattle is a national leader in ensuring our workers are treated fairly, and we must make sure our hard-fought protections are available for City employees, who come to work every day looking to help our residents build a better life for themselves and their loved ones,” said Mayor Durkan. “The new Collective Bargaining Agreements with Seattle firefighters and represented City employees are about honoring their work and ensuring they have the support they need to thrive both in the workplace, and out in their communities. I’m grateful to all the bargaining teams who worked so hard these last several months to reach these agreements.”
Click here to learn more about these three-year agreements.
The City of Seattle, via Seattle Parks and Recreation and The Seattle Public Library, is excited to offer a variety of free, fun programing for young people during winter break!
 For a full list of Seattle Parks and Recreation winter programming, click here.
For a full list of The Seattle Public Library winter programming, click here.
 Winterfest @ Seattle Center: November 19 – December 31, 2019
Connect to a world of sparkling lights, child-sized amusements and spirited entertainment at Seattle Center Winterfest, Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, in Center venues and on the grounds. Five weeks of festive, fun-filled, free and affordable activities await those in search of uplifting seasonal spirit or delightful diversion from the hustle and bustle of the holiday routine.
Featuring Winterfest Ice Rink, Saturday ice sculpting, and outdoor seasonal lighting. Our Winter Train & Village returns, along with live weekend performances and inspiring student showcases. The festival rings in the New Year with spectacular fireworks, Fountain of Light dance party and live music inside the Armory.
Santa’s Sleigh @ Space Needle: December 20 – December 24, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Winter Solstice Walk @ Washington Park Arboretum: December 21; 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Menorah Lighting @ U Village: December 23; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Chaunukah Party III: December 29, 6:15 p.m.
New Year @ The Needle: December 31, 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Lumaze Light Garden: November 29 – January 4, 2020
Wildlights @ Woodland Park Zoo: November 29 – January 5 (closed December 24 + 25); 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
 The Durkan Digest is going on hiatus until the New Year! Our Digest writers will be taking a short break from the weekly newsletter to spend some quality time with family and several glasses of ‘nog.
You can stay up to date on things happening at the City of Seattle and the Mayor’s Office by following Mayor Durkan (Facebook | Twitter), the Mayor’s Office (Facebook | Twitter) or the City of Seattle (Facebook | Twitter).
Wishing you all a Happy Holidays from the entire Mayor’s Office team!
 For this week’s edition of the Weekend Read, we encourage you to check out Smart Cities Dive’s reporting on Mayor Durkan’s coalition letter, composed of nearly 50 bipartisan mayors, supporting the Affordable Housing Credit Act of 2019. The article begins:
The mayors' letter says that the Housing Credit so far has financed the development or preservation of 3.2 million affordable homes nationwide. The Housing Credit's design of being administered at the state level allows it to benefit citizens in urban, suburban and rural areas. That element is reflected in the support from such a wide variety of community leaders across the country.
Cantwell contends that the provisions included in the bill will better serve the most at-risk and underserved populations. It increases the number of credits for housing developments that cater to extremely low-income individuals, those with special needs and Native Americans. It would also strengthen veteran-specific housing options.
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