It was one of those beautiful Seattle days when we welcomed the Leschi, our newest fireboat, to its berth at Fire Station 5 on the waterfront. The Leschi gives our firefighting fleet a powerful new boat that can respond to emergencies on the water and the shoreline. The name honors one of our great Northwest Native Americans -- Chief Leschi -- and was the winning entry in a naming contest open to Seattle school students. The Leschi can provide emergency medical services, rescues, and pump water to fires on land if water mains break during earthquakes or other disasters. With the addition of the Leschi, we have taken an important step toward our goal of making Seattle safer and more prepared.
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After 29 years of exemplary service with the City of Seattle, Germaine Covington will retire in June from her post as director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. Germaine's commitment to civil rights and social justice, both professionally and personally is extraordinary. Her skills, passions and achievements have shaped our community in countless ways. We can all thank her for helping make Seattle a more inclusive place for all of our residents. As Germaine ends her career with the City, I'm pleased to announce a number of new appointments. Kathryn Olson is my choice as director of the Office of Professional Accountability and Fred Podesta as director of the Department of Executive Administration. Both are subject to City Council confirmation. I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Darby DuComb as the director of the Citizens Service Bureau, and Rich Feldman as my staff advisor on labor issues.

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From the day the Denny Party landed on Alki Beach right up to today, generations of people have come to this city looking for a better life. Most of us are either immigrants or descendents of immigrants. Because our current federal immigration system separates families, tears communities apart, and fails to live up to our American values of due process and fairness for all, I joined with hundreds of men, women and children to call on the federal government to enact comprehensive immigration reforms that live up to Seattle's and America's values. I encourage other communities to follow our lead in separating local policing functions from federal immigration law. And for true immigration reform, we must call on our congressional leaders. Immigrants are an integral part of the future of Seattle and the nation.

After more than a year in development, and nearly 2,500 public comments and survey responses, we now have a Bicycle Master Plan which will dramatically expand our bike network and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Every day thousands of people across this city use their bikes to commute, exercise or run errands. In the next two years we will add 136 miles of bike lanes and signed bike routes. Expanding our bicycle network is one of the key recommendations for helping Seattle meet the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. We are in it for the long haul. Seattle is a great place to ride a bike, and it's going to get better.
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Another thing you can do to reduce greenhouse gases is to trade in your old gas-guzzling lawn mower for an electric or push-powered mower. Until May 15, you can turn in your old gas mower and receive a $25 rebate toward a new push or electric mower. Gas mowers may be turned in at Seattle Public Utilities North Recycling and Disposal station, 1350 N. 34th St., or south station at 8105 Fifth Ave. S. You can receive an additional discount by purchasing your new mower from a Northwest Natural Yard Days store through May 15. Swapping out that old gas-guzzling mower for an electric or push-powered machine is a relatively painless step you can take to help combat global warming. You can cut your grass and cut greenhouse gases at the same time.
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The majority of people in Seattle take pride in their community and do a good job of maintaining their properties and homes. But it just takes one bad property owner to create health and safety issues that can negatively affect an entire neighborhood. To get at those property owners, we have in the works a program called, "Clean Up Your Act," which will significantly increase fines for property owners and landlords who refuse to repair dilapidated homes, turn their backyards into junkyards, or let bushes and weeds grow out of control. This program is aimed at repeat offenders who blemish their neighborhoods and put others at risk.
Learn more about the "Clean Up Your Act" program