Nickels Newsletter - December 2005

Dear Friends,

This issue of the Nickels Newsletter marks the end of my first term as your mayor. In these first four years, we have accomplished much, faced some disappointments, made some difficult decisions, and experienced many inspiring, gratifying and joyful times. Now I look forward to the next four years as we face new challenges and continue work on our priorities -- getting Seattle moving, creating jobs and opportunity for all, keeping our neighborhoods safe, building strong families and healthy communities.

First I look forward to the upcoming holiday season and spending time with family and friends. No matter which holidays we celebrate at this time of year, we all share a common focus on peace, love, family, friends, and the spirit of sharing and giving. This year especially, the spirit of giving is more critical than ever as so many of our fellow human beings have suffered so much. I have been humbled by the overwhelming show of the spirit of giving from Seattleites not just during this holiday season, but throughout this extraordinary year.

I’m hopeful the new year will bring more joy than sorrow, but I know that whatever we’re dealt, the people of Seattle will celebrate the joys and face the sorrows with compassion and goodwill. And I know that together we can keep Seattle safe, moving, working and healthy for all of our residents.

From my family to yours, I wish you peace, joy and good health during this holiday season.

Sincerely,


GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle

Seattle's leadership in climate protection goes international

I just returned from Montreal where I had the honor of being the only U.S. mayor to attend the first meeting of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. This group met as the 181-nation talks set the stage for the second phase of the Kyoto Protocols to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. leads the world in greenhouse gas pollution when we should to be leading it toward a solution. That is why it is so important for cities like Seattle to step up and provide the leadership that is lacking in Washington, D.C. Last February, when I launched the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, my goal was to sign up at least 141 U.S. cities to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. As of this writing, we are closing in on 200 U.S. cities signing on. I've been pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming interest this has generated beyond Seattle. That was just the beginning -- City Light has become the first large electric utility in the country to eliminate its contribution of harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the environment, meeting its goal of "zero net emissions." And Seattle has been recognized as one of the strongest green building programs in the nation. We can make a difference.
Read the news release
Read more about City Light
Read more about green building program
Read more about U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Restoring funding to the Ballard Locks

The Ballard Locks are the busiest in the country. Maritime businesses here depend on the locks to move between Puget Sound and their facilities. Our police and fireboats respond to emergencies between salt and fresh waters 24 hours a day. In February, President Bush proposed cutting the funding for the locks by $2.1 million in the next fiscal year, which would have caused a dramatic decrease in service for our maritime businesses and City emergency services. Our Senator Patty Murray didn’t miss a beat and began an effort to restore the funds. This month we celebrated her victory -- adding back the full $2.1 million to keep the locks open full-time.

Neighborhood projects funded for 2006

Several times each year, I have the happy task of awarding City funds to community groups who commit to “small and simple” projects in their neighborhoods. The latest list of 24 award winners represents neighborhoods from all over Seattle. The projects run the gamut from a mosaic mural on a community center wall to a feasibility study on processing cooking oil from neighborhood restaurants into biodiesel. Small and simple is a great misnomer. These projects require a huge commitment from community members in matching the City dollars with locally raised money, donations and sweat equity. And the resulting products help strengthen our neighborhoods.
Read the news release
See complete list of projects - Adobe PDF 32 kb

State grants $7 million for City roads and sidewalks

With $7 million in state grants, we will be able to target some projects that will make a big difference in moving around Seattle. We’ll improve bus service and pedestrian safety on Aurora, 51st Avenue South and Sandpoint Way. The bulk of the grant will go toward new sidewalks and a transit lane on Aurora between 145th and 137th Streets. Other funds will be used to build the city’s first roundabouts at Renton Avenue South and 51st Avenue South. This will improve both traffic and pedestrian mobility and safety. And we’ll fix the sidewalks near Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
Read the news release

I-5 Colonnade Open Space dedicated

Tucked under Interstate 5 in the Eastlake neighborhood we now have a unique open space. The I-5 Colonnade is a one-of-a-kind project that converted unused space under I-5 into seven acres of open space, featuring a dog off-leash area, bike course, pedestrian and bike connection between Capitol Hill and Eastlake, public art and spectacular views of Lake Union.
Read the news release