NEWS GLEAMS | Mayor Delivers State of the City Address; 37th Legislative District Reps Host Telephone Town Hall
A roundup of news and announcements we don't want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!
by Vee Hua 華婷婷
Mayor Bruce Harrell Delivers State of the City Address
On Tuesday, Feb. 20, Mayor Bruce Harrell delivered his annual State of the City address from the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). He was introduced by MOHAI Executive Director Leonard Garfield, who spoke of the history of its site and Lake Union with its connections to Coast Salish Peoples, boat builders, and plane builders across time, to hint at the importance of innovation and creation of new histories.
The concept of innovation was threaded throughout Harrell's speech. He quoted Winston Churchill, saying, "Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" to frame the remainder of his speech. He also said the state of the city, if he were to describe it, would be considered "persistent and pioneering," since it was incorporated 150 years ago.
Recalling his "Back to Basics" approach when he was first elected — which focused on public safety, getting people indoors, fixing potholes, ensuring clean water and available electricity — he added, "Just because something is basic or essential does not mean there is no room for innovation or creativity."
Innovation, as he spoke of it, requires boldness and taking chances. He cited influential companies in the region as examples of innovation, as well as labor union efforts to increase minimum wage and worker protections. He said other examples include updating maritime and industrial zoning policies which have resulted in new jobs and new housing developments, green energy investments that have resulted in fewer emissions, and an updated tree ordinance.
A large part of the speech was focused on public safety and policing, as well as his excitement to work with the new Seattle City Council on those issues. He cited statistics that show overall crime fell 7%, major crimes fell 6%, and property crime fell 10% in the past year in the city, but that homicides and gun violence increased, and that the City was pushing for gun reform legislation in Olympia. He also hinted towards funding in the 2024 budget, which was passed by the Seattle City Council to fund the highly controversial acoustic gun technology ShotSpotter, though he did not name the technology by name.
Harrell also announced that in the next month, he will host a public safety forum to gain input from Seattle residents to contribute ideas around public safety.
Related to his idea of innovation, Harrell highlighted the City's new Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department (CARE), which attempts to use 911 and CARE department responders to help support behavioral health crises, so that officers do not need to be dispatched to the scene. The fentanyl crisis was also addressed through an executive order that "set out a roadmap for a diversified approach, balancing enforcement with expanded systems of care and treatment." He said the strategy was rooted in "accountability and connection to services to get well," crafted under the One Seattle approach.
One of his last main themes was the importance of supporting economic growth, entrepreneurship, access to middle-wage jobs, businesses run by BIPOC and women, and turning storefronts into long-term venues or art spaces through the Seattle Restored program. Lastly, he spotlighted his multi-point Downtown Activation Plan, which seeks to revitalize the downtown area which, he says, "doesn't fixate on trying to revive the old downtown, but … to reimagine what a downtown could be."
37th Legislative District Representatives Host a Telephone Town Hall
Lawmakers from the 37th Legislative District — including Sen. Rebecca Saldaa, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Rep. Chipalo Street — will be hosting a telephone town hall from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22.
To join, residents are invited to dial (877) 299-8493 and use the pin number 116358.
Green Party Presidential Candidate Dr. Jill Stein Visits Seattle
Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party candidate for president, will be in Seattle on Tuesday, Feb. 27, during an evening at Raisbeck Performance Hall (2015 Boren Ave.). The event is a fundraiser for the candidate, and refreshments will be served.
The donor circle begins at 6 p.m.; from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., an event and fundraiser is open to all attendees.
Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the editor-in-chief of REDEFINE, a long-time member of the Seattle Arts Commission, and a film educator at the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they previously served as executive director and played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences. After a recent stint as the interim managing editor at South Seattle Emerald, they are moving into production on their feature film, Reckless Spirits, which is a metaphysical, multilingual POC buddy comedy. They have a master's in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the American Indian Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
📸 Featured Image: Mayor Bruce Harrell delivering the State of the City address on Feb. 20, 2024. Screenshot from the Seattle Channel.
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