Seattle Forward

2013-2014 City Budget: Listening Closely and Investing Wisely

This afternoon, the Mayor will propose to the City Council how he believes we should spend the nearly $1 billion in our city’s general fund budget. He makes his presentation at 2 p.m. in City Hall. You can attend and be part of the audience or watch it on the Seattle Channel.

As chair of the Council’s Budget Committee, here’s how I will evaluate the Mayor’s proposal:

• Does the budget focus on your priorities and the basic services city government is obligated to provide? Are we getting our core work done on your behalf?
• Does the budget fund programs that work and achieve the desired results? Are we spending wisely and effectively?
• Does the budget reflect our shared values for fairness, opportunity for all, justice and protecting the most vulnerable?
• Does the budget advance our quality of life? Among all the choices we face, are we strategically focused on spending that will do the most good?

The Future of Seattle Center (and Key Arena too)

In its 50^th year, Seattle Center is one of our city’s greatest treasures. And it has suddenly captured a lot of renewed attention because of Chris Hansen’s proposed new sports and entertainment arena in SODO. This attention is a good thing. It focuses the City on the challenges and opportunities we currently face at Seattle Center.

Seattle Center is a place visited by millions of people every year, a mixing place for all ages, cultures, races and interests.

Honoring Cheryl Chow

Cheryl Chow hasn't lost any of her spunk or passionate commitment to public policy. That became very clear this afternoon when the Council honored former Councilmember Chow for her many, many years of public service to the citizens of Seattle.

Cheryl has served the people of Seattle as a coach, school teacher, principal, school board member, drill team master and City Councilmember. Now, as she battles cancer, Cheryl has identified her "last crusade" as advocating for gay rights and dignity.

As she took the portable microphone from the Clerk, Cheryl turned her back on today's Council and spoke directly to the audience. Tears welled up in my eyes as Cheryl told a poignant story about the time her mother, former Seattle restaurateur Ruby Chow, told her for the first time that she loved her. Cheryl used the story to make her point that everyone deserved to be loved, especially gay and lesbian young people who are often rejected and ridiculed, sometimes by their own families. Her plea focused on young people who feel suicide is their only "escape" from the rejection they experience. Cheryl Chow—still fighting for the basics, especially for those most in need of special protections.

God bless you, Councilmember Chow.

Revised Arena Agreement Passes Committee

Last Thursday afternoon the Government Performance and Finance Committee voted 7-0 (with one abstention) to approve the revised agreement to build a new sports and entertainment facility. The legislation will be considered by the Full Council on Monday, Sept. 24. Below is the text of a newsletter I sent out on Tuesday about the details of the revised agreement negotiated with Chris Hansen.

Another Step to Welcome our Immigrant Neighbors

Our city just took an important step in our continuing effort to welcome and embrace our immigrant neighbors.

The City Council voted a few minutes ago to unanimously confirm Magdaleno Rose-Avila—he goes by Leno—as the first director of the City’s new Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, an office that I led the effort to create during last fall’s budget deliberations.

Seattle is home to 103,173 foreign-born residents who actively contribute to our city’s economic, social and cultural well being (2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates). This population is incredibly diverse, but shares some common strengths and common struggles.