Nickels Newsletter - May 2005

Dear Friends,

Although our spring showers are a little more familiar weather, there haven't yet been enough to compensate for our unusually dry winter.

The good news is that Seattle residents are doing a great job of conserving water. If we all continue to be careful about the water we use, we should be able to get through the summer without increasing the alert level.

On a related note, you may remember that on February 16, I announced a challenge to other cities to meet the goals of the Kyoto Protocols. My goal is to bring 141 supporting cities to the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in June. With such a clear show of support, we can work together as local leaders to reduce the national and global problem of harmful emissions. As of May 17, 137 cities have signed on to the agreement.

Now that we're in daylight saving time and school is almost out, remember that children will be out playing much later. Any time you're near a school, park or playground, please drive slowly and be extra aware of what's going on around you. And if you have children, remind them how to cross streets safely. If we look out for each other, we can have an accident-free summer.

Things are warming up around town, so come on out and enjoy the fun! Spring and summer are great times to enjoy the great art walk of First Thursday in Pioneer Square. Visit the galleries or artists in Occidental Park to see some of the best art in the region. Baseball season is in full swing, the Seattle International Film Festival starts May 19, and City parks always have something fun to do!

May your garden have many May flowers,


GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle

Shaping Seattle: Smart Growth

Seattle is expected to grow by nearly 100,000 people over the next 20 years. And while we can't change that growth, we can anticipate and shape it. On Wednesday, May 11, I announced my Center City Strategy, which consists of some of the biggest planning changes since the CAP initiative of the 1980s. These changes will help us absorb the expected growth into urban neighborhoods near downtown, promote affordable housing, protect our single-family neighborhoods, and take advantage of the major transportation investments we are making in this area. It's the kind of "smart growth" that will slow sprawl and preserve our natural areas.
Read the news release

The glass is half full for viaduct

We're halfway there in funding the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct thanks to the courage and vision of our state legislative leaders in approving $2 billion for the viaduct. Congratulations to Gov. Christine Gregoire, Rep. Ed Murray, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and Seattle's entire delegation in Olympia for their commitment and leadership in getting the package passed. And Washington State's nine U.S. Representatives have issued a united call to recognize the Alaskan Way Viaduct as a project of national and regional significance. My thanks to Rep. Rick Larsen who spearheaded this effort in the House. Across party lines, the delegation recognized that replacing the viaduct is essential to ensure the safety and economic stability of our state. This transportation package and the federal support represent a huge leap forward toward replacing the vulnerable structure.
Read the news release about the state delegation
Read the news release about the federal delegation

Closing in on 141 cities committed to Kyoto Protocol

When the Kyoto Protocol went into effect on Feb. 16 for more than 141 countries, the United States was not one of them. Seattle is committed to protecting the climate, so I offered a challenge to cities across the United States to join Seattle in committing to the goals of the agreement. With a goal of having 141 U.S. cities signed on by the time we meet at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, we are getting close. To date, 137 (and still counting) cities have signed on. Because our national government leaders have turned a deaf ear, Seattle, along with other U.S. cities, will provide the leadership necessary to meet this threat.
Read more about the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Girls rule in Seattle high school basketball

"Girls rule..." here in Seattle, that seems to be the case in basketball. Last year it was the Seattle Storm winning the WNBA championship. This year, it’s the Garfield High School girls (above center) basketball team winning the 4A state championship, and the Chief Sealth High School girls (above left) winning the 3A state championship. It was an honor and a pleasure to meet and congratulate members of both teams. I also had the pleasure of meeting the boys 3A state champions, Seattle’s O’Dea High School Fighting Irish (above right). I salute these young women and men for exemplifying excellence on and off the court.

4th Youth Town Hall better than ever

This is the fourth Youth Town Hall I’ve done as mayor, and they get better every year. This year, there were about 100 middle- and high-school students there. It always impresses me how well-informed Seattle’s young people are; we talked about skate parks, affordable housing, the Seattle School District's budget, community centers, and all-ages dance venues. I’m looking forward to next year!

Meeting our Lake City neighbors

One of the fun parts of being mayor is just going out and meeting people in their own neighborhoods. Lake City is a fast growing neighborhood, with a great new community center. While there, I visited with a Gambian computer class and a group of Muslim women discussing their children's education. It was a great example of how the city can support strong families.

Saluting our firefighters

Each year we recognize our firefighters for excellence. This year I was pleased to join with Fire Chief Gregory Dean to recognize excellence on the job and in the community, for individuals and groups, and to our firefighters who are serving in the military. We also promoted 20 firefighters, including Captain Brian Shearer, center, pictured here with Chief Dean and me at the ceremony. Congratulations to all award recipients.