Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Newsletter

Dear friends and neighbors,

The City Council has finalized the City?s budget for next biennium, based on my proposed budget which prioritized public safety, action on homelessness, and the essential City services that residents expect and demand. As expected with any critical city work, there was healthy discussion and debate over the specifics, and I want to thank Seattle?s City Council members for their openness and dialogue throughout this process.

I entered office with a commitment to partnership and collaboration. Over the past year we have set a new standard for transparency and teamwork in our partnership?with the City Council and specifically in the budget process ? a One Seattle approach. Next week, I?ll officially sign the budget into law, and I look forward to sharing more details then about the investments we?re making to support our city and communities.

Understanding the needs of our residents and neighborhoods is central to our approach, which is why I?ve launched the One Seattle Community Connections series to hear directly from the people most impacted by the policies we set in City Hall. Our first visits to the University District and Capitol Hill neighborhoods were informative, engaging, and inspiring, and I am excited to hold more tours over the coming months.

In November we acknowledged Native American Heritage Month, following Indigenous Peoples? Day in October, which we celebrated as an official City holiday for the first time. Seattle ? named after Chief Si?ahl ? is indelibly connected to the Coast Salish peoples whose land our city was built on, and these commemorations are a chance to reflect on the legacy and ongoing contributions of Native and Indigenous communities.?

I remain committed to bringing people to the table and working collaboratively, thoughtfully, and respectfully with each other to address the major issues facing our city and make it a place we are all proud to call home.?

Thank you,?

Bruce A. Harrell?
Mayor of Seattle?
Working Together to Build One Seattle?

Taking Action

Chief Adrian Diaz speaking behind podium at City Hall.

A Safer Seattle

In Seattle, every person has an absolute right to safety, and we are acting to improve investigations, reduce response times, support victims, and strengthen public trust. Our community ? like the rest of the country ? continues to be irreparably harmed by the epidemic of gun violence, which is why we are strongly advocating to remove the state preemption that prevents individual cities from advancing their own gun safety laws. We are also taking a comprehensive approach to ensure our parks, sidewalks, and public spaces are open and welcoming to all through our new neighborhood-focused Unified Care Team and graffiti removal plans.

A Greener Seattle

Seattle was blanketed with smoky skies in the late summer, showing how our community is already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis. We remain commited to taking bold action to build a healthier and more sustainable future for our city, making forward-thinking investments through the Green New Deal Opportunity Fund to ensure an equitable transition away from fossil fuels, and building resilience to climate-related emergencies ? like extreme heat and smoke events ? in the communities most impacted. Parks, urban forests, and tree canopies remain integral to our city?s response to climate change, and new Parks and Recreation Superintendent AP Diaz will help deliver on our safety, equity, and sustainability goals for Seattle?s parks system.

Mayor Harrell shakes hands with a business owner

A More Prosperous Seattle

Our city is prioritizing economic revitalization following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our plan for recovery continues to uplift our small and local businesses and give them the tools and support to be better than before. We?ve listened to business owners about the challenges they currently face and made investments to provide them with tangible financial relief to get back on their feet and reopen following property damage. We passed historic legislation to improve fairness and opportunity in the cannabis industry and support its workers. Seattle was also selected as the host city for the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials? and Ministerial Meetings, an exciting opportunity to strengthen our partnership with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

What We?re Hearing From Constituents

?I applaud your efforts and the multifaceted policies and programs supported by your administration. This is restoring my faith that my vote makes a difference, and my tax dollars are being used wisely. I am grateful for being able to use the park system for the reason our city founders fought so hard to establish the amazing park system:?a walk in nature, listening to an owl hoot, take a breath of fresh air. This is what makes Seattle one of the greatest cities in the world. It's the reason so many tourists flock here and the reason my family chooses to live here.? Kevin D., 9/1/2022

?I wanted to say thank you for your efforts in covering graffiti. I often drive north crossing the Aurora Bridge and when I get near Green Lake and see that the decorative overpasses have been painted to cover graffiti, I cheer for you and your team. Just seeing this gives me hope that pride and respect for our city will return.? Theresa S., 9/6/2022

?Thank you for prioritizing the environment, cyclists and pedestrians, and public safety in your budget this week.? As long-time Seattle residents and voters, we agree with these priorities and are happy to see a commitment to them.? ? Lisa R., 9/29/2022

?I strongly approve of your commonsense plan to expand the city?s homelessness outreach efforts by dividing social service teams into smaller groups to concentrate on individual neighborhoods.? I hope this is truly a ?boots on the ground? type outreach that works directly with people to get them into shelters, housing, and treatment.? ? Colette O., 10/17/2022

?I wanted to say thank you for the incredibly difficult and complex work you are doing on homelessness and cleaning up Seattle's public spaces.?I know there is no perfect solution, but I have noticed concrete changes and am so grateful.? It gives me hope that progress on this front is possible.? ? Terry M., 10/28/2022