Seattle Forward

North Precinct: We Listened

We listened. Based on what we have heard from a wide variety of community members, and the Council’s review of the cost projections, we want to take another look at the component parts of the building and even redesign some of them in an effort to lower the cost. Sometimes it is important to pause and reconsider a decision. That’s what we’re doing here with this project.

A new precinct building for our police officers serving north Seattle must be constructed. The current facility is not suitable and needs to be replaced. But, by taking a closer look at the design and the various parts of the proposed building we may be able to substantially lower costs as many Seattleites have encouraged us to do. For example, maybe the training center doesn’t need to be as large. While the community space in the building is important, perhaps it too can be resized in an effort to lower costs.

This building has the potential to be more than just a new precinct station. The training center and community rooms are critically important in our work to build connections between our police officers and our communities. And, this new precinct is designed to last for as long as 50 years, an important consideration given the current and expected future growth of Seattle.

Improving Safety on Our City Streets

Councilmember O’Brien and I announced the next step in achieving Vision Zero—zero fatalities and serious injuries on Seattle streets and sidewalks by 2030.

Speed kills. And that’s why we will introduce legislation that reduces default speed limit on unsigned city arterials from 30 MPH to 25 MPH and on non-arterial residential streets from 25 MPH to 20 MPH.

Speed kills. Each year there are approximately 10,000 collisions on our streets and sidewalks, resulting in an average of 150 serious injuries and 20 deaths. Speed is the key factor between no injury, minor injury, serious injury or death.

If our legislation is adopted by the Council, these speed limit changes will take effect immediately on Center City arterials and on all residential streets citywide.

These changes in our speed limits are consistent with Washington law and the recommendations of the Federal Highway Administration. It’s important also to note that with these changes Seattle will have speed limits consistent with every other city in King County. This uniformity is a good thing.

Lowering speed limits is one of the best ways to improve safety in our neighborhoods; it’s a smart step for our children, for our senior citizens, for everyone who uses our streets and sidewalks.

This legislation will be discussed in the Transportation committee on Tuesday, September 20th.

Homeless Encampments: What Do You Think?

The City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to begin considering legislation (Council Bill 118794) that would, in my view, establish a new right for people struggling with homelessness to camp in tents or vehicles on public property across Seattle.

What do you think? Should the city government allow homeless camping throughout the city? Or, should we concentrate these campers in officially recognized and managed encampments at specific locations? Or, should we dramatically change our overall approach to homeless as I suggested in this August 5 opinion piece published in The Seattle Times?

My colleagues and I need to hear your opinion on these issues. Keep reading and you’ll find a link to each Councilmember’s and the Mayor’s email below.

I voted against the ordinance introduced on Tuesday and here’s why.

The proposed ordinance is not the balanced approach the people of Seattle deserve, an approach that carefully weighs and balances compassion with our public health and safety obligations. This ordinance tips this balance decidedly away from our public health and safety responsibilities and will do nothing to move people from homelessness to safe and appropriate housing.

As written, the ordinance essentially establishes for the first time a new right to camp in tents or vehicles on public space throughout the city, including in our parks and greenbelts, and on city sidewalks and planting strips. It defines “public space” as “any area that is