NEWS GLEAMS | King County and City of Seattle Sue Over Voter-Approved Initiative 2066; SDOT Director Steps Down

King County and the City of Seattle, alongside climate activists, have filed lawsuits arguing that Initiative 2066, a voter-approved bill, is unconstitutional. I-2066 forbids Washington State from future attempts to "prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for any form of heating, or for uses related to any appliance or equipment, in any building."

As reported in The Seattle Times, "The plaintiffs contend the initiative is illegally broad and addresses more than one subject and targets multiple laws, regulations and programs. Washington's Constitution states that bills should not include more than one subject and in the past, Washington initiatives have been struck down by courts after passage."

The bill passed in November with a narrow margin of 52% in favor. It was the only bill to pass out of a series supported by a group called Let's Go Washington, and it could affect greenhouse gas emissions and the government's ability to regulate them.

I-2066's primary sponsor is a group called the Building Industry Association of Washington, which, after the passage of the initiative, filed its own lawsuit asking the State Building Code Council to update the Washington State energy code to match the bill. The State's current building code requires buildings to meet certain energy performance measures; it also gives lower scores to gas appliances as compared with technologies such as heat pumps.

The plaintiffs who are challenging I-2066 are represented by Pacifica Law Group and include Climate Solutions, Washington Conservation Action, Front and Centered, and the Washington Solar Energy Industries Association, among others.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Director Greg Spotts announced last Tuesday that he will be stepping down from his role in February 2025. His announcement came shortly after voters approved the latest transportation levy during the November election. The transportation levy will invest $1.55 billion toward major transportation and infrastructure upgrades around roadways, bridges, sidewalks, bike lanes, light rail stations, and the city's Vision Zero program. It also funds 30% of the SDOT office.

Spotts was hired in 2022, after decades living in Los Angeles and working for StreetsLA, formerly named the Bureau of Street Services. He cites one of his reasons for leaving SDOT as a desire to reconnect with his community in Los Angeles.

"Early 2025 seems like a good moment to pass the baton to the next leader of SDOT, an agency which now has the plans and the resources to maintain and modernize Seattle's streets and bridges," Spotts wrote in his resignation letter. "I depart the Puget Sound with great enthusiasm for Seattle's future, and profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve a dynamic, innovative and fast-growing city with unlimited potential."

Of Spotts' work in SDOT, Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement, "His intentional work to build relationships across all corners of the transportation community has been a boon to the department, to my administration, and to the entire city – demonstrating our commitment to serving every person in Seattle no matter how they get around."

The Beacon Food Forest, located in Beacon Hill's Jefferson Park, has announced that its 2025 Land Share Application is now open. It is accepting applications for "community organizations and initiatives that align with our mission of fostering sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and equity."

The application includes two questions that will help the Beacon Food Forest understand more about the applying organization or initiative and its proposed use of the space, as well as how it might benefit the community and environment.

Applications are open through Jan. 13 and can be submitted through a Google Form. Questions can be directed to Kahlil Griffith at Khalil@FoodForest.ngo.

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