>> MY DAD GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
ATTENDED GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
APPLAUSE ] MY GRANDFATHER
TAUGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND MY GRANDMOTHER
WORKED AS A COMPASSIONATE
HEALTHCARE WORKER ON FIRST HILL
I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT MY
ROOTS RUN DEEP IN SEATTLE. IN
COLLEGE, I STUDIED HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION , A
MAJOR REASON I WAS INVOLVED IN
BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS IS
BECAUSE BOTH PROGRAMS SERVE AS
PART OF MY PERSONAL RECOVERY.
ONE SUNDAY MORNING, WHEN I WAS
11 YEARS OLD, I SAT BESIDE MY
DAD WATCHING CAR RACES ON TV.
THAT DAY STARTED OUT LIKE ANY
OTHER DAY. HE ASKED ME THAT
MORNING , IS IT OKAY IF I GO FO
A BIT? HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO
CLEAN THE ROOF OF OUR HOME.
THOSE WOULD BE HIS LAST WORDS T
ME. HE WOULD DIE AND EXPECTEDL
OF A HEART ATTACK , LEAVING MY
MOTHER AND I WITHOUT A MAN IN
THE HOUSE, WHO LOVED US BOTH
INFINITELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY.
MY WORLD CHANGED THAT SUNDAY
MORNING IN 2008. WHY WOULD I
SHARE THIS WITH YOU AS A
INTRODUCE MAYOR HARRELL FOR TH
STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ? BECAUSE I
BELIEVE ONE HAS ALLOWED ME TO
WRITE MY STORY, TO FIND HOPE
AND STRENGTH OUT OF ONE OF THE
SADDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE, FOR A
KID WHO DID NOT KNOW WHAT A
FUNERAL WAS, IS KNOWING THAT I
HAD TO FIND A PATH FORWARD . I
HAD TO TALK WITH PEOPLE , RELY
ON THOSE WHO LOVED ME, CONTINU
TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT I WAS
FEELING AND HOW I COULD COPE.
THAT I HAD TO CLAIM MY
HAPPINESS, MY SUCCESS , MY
PURPOSE , AND THAT IF IT WAS TO
BE , IT WOULD BE UP TO ME. I
REALIZED I COULD NOT BE WITHOU
THE HELP AND COMMITMENT FROM
THOSE WILLING TO HELP ME . THAT
I WAS NOT IN IT ALONE AND THERE
WERE MANY HELPING HANDS . MANY
OF WHOM ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY
SEATTLE IS CLIMBING OUT OF A
NARRATIVE OF ITS OWN DESPAIR.
IT HAS SUFFERED THROUGH MANY
LOSSES . WHILE IT IS NOT ONE
SINGLE EVENT, THAT CHANGED ITS
COURSE LIKE MY PERSONAL STORY,
THE RECOVERY WILL TAKE MANY
HELPING HANDS. AT THE HELM ,
LEAVING THE RECOVERY, IS OUR
MAYOR , BRUCE HARRELL, LAST
YEAR HE TOOK THE TIME TO
PRESENT ON A COMMUNITY CALL
FROM LEADERSHIP TOMORROW . I
HAVE ALSO SPENT TIME SPEAKING
WITH HIM ON THE PHONE ABOUT TH
WORK I AM INTERESTED IN
REGARDING HELPING YOUTH WORK
THROUGH GRIEF AND EMOTIONAL
ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS.
THE MAYOR CALLS ME RIGHT BACK
EAGER TO MENTOR MYSELF AND ALSO
MY FIRST COUSIN, A LAW SCHOOL
STUDENT WHO SPOKE TO HIM AT
LENGTH SEVERAL WEEKS AGO ABOUT
HER OWN CAREER. AND IDEAS FOR
SUPPORTING THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY. HE IS ALWAYS VERY
GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME AND
CONCERN. I BELIEVE THAT SEATTLE
WILL NOT ONLY RECOVER BUT
SEATTLE WILL INDEED CLAIM ITS
RIGHTFUL POSITION IN THIS
COUNTRY AS ONE OF HIS BEST
CITIES. MAYOR HARRELL WANTS TH
CITY TO BE SAFE AND FOR ITS
PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
THIS IS WHAT SEATTLE NEEDS. A
MAYOR WHO CARES ABOUT ONE LIFE
AT A TIME AND WILL NOT REST
UNTIL WE ARE SAFE, WE ARE
RECOVERED , AND UNTIL WE , AS A
CITY , ARE POSITIONED FOR
SUCCESS . I PRESENT TO YOU,
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL, THE 57th
MAYOR OF SEATTLE. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAN
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TAYLOR, THANK YOU FOR THE WARM
INTRODUCTION. YOU REPRESENT
THE HOPE OF OUR USED. YOUR VOIC
HELPS ME PUSH BACK AGAINST THE
CYNICISM AND PESSIMISM THAT WIL
ONLY SERVE TO IMPEDE OUR FUTUR
AS A CITY. WE HAVE BELIEVED ,
FOR THOSE OLD AND SPIRIT, NOT
YOU AND ME, AS MAYOR , I HAVE T
BE THE CHIEF ENTHUSIAST OF THE
CITY, ARCHITECT OF THE PLANS.
CONVENE GREAT MINDS AND HEARTS
OF THE CITY, AND MOST IMPORTAN
HAVE TO LISTEN TO OUR YOUTH.
NOBEL PRIZE WINNER BERNARD SHAW
SAYS LIFE IS NOT ABOUT FINDING
YOURSELF, LIFE IS ABOUT
CREATING YOURSELF. SO, I BEGIN
BY SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT SEATTLE
IS , FINDING SEATTLE AT THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, I AM MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT CAN AN
WILL BE. WE ARE WILLING TO DO
THE WORK TO CREATE THE SEATTLE
WE WANT IT TO BE I WANT TO
THANK THOSE HELPING US ANSWER
THOSE QUESTIONS, MANY OF WHOM
ARE HERE TODAY. CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS , CITY ATTORNEY,
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET,
MEMBERS OF THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY, I
DID NOT HAVE THAT, BUT I SEE YO
RIGHT THERE, COMMUNITY MENTORS,
CITY EMPLOYEES DR. JONES,
LEADERS AND THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM, WELCOME TO THE
2023 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE . WE ARE AT FISHER
PAVILION. WE WERE SLOW PLAYING
WHERE WE WERE GOING TO BE. IN
THE SHADOW OF THE SPACE NEEDLE.
WE WANTED EVERYONE TO EXPERIENC
THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND CULTURE IN
OUR CITY . WE WANTED TO SHARE
WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY AND TAL
ABOUT THE SEATTLE OF THE FUTURE
OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WAS TO
FIND BY AN EMPHASIS ON THE
ESSENTIALS , COMMITMENT TO GET
BACK TO THE BASICS OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE. DON'T GET ME WRONG
, SHINY THINGS ARE COOL . BUT
THINGS THAT WORK WELL ARE BETTE
WE BUILT OUR ADMINISTRATION
FROM THE GROUND UP . BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY OF YOU
. BUILDING TEAMS , BUILDING
SYSTEMS, BUILDING TRUST , WE
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
ONE SEATTLE AGENDA , WORKING
TOGETHER TO ADVANCE OUR SHARED
VALUES , OUR COMMON GOALS. IT
WAS NOT EASY AND CONTINUES TO B
HARD WORK. BUT MY FOCUS, AS
MAYOR, WAS TO REDEFINE LOCAL
POLITICS INTO ONE OF ACTION,
DECISIVENESS , COLLABORATION ,
AND EXCELLENCE . MANY OF MY
CABINET MEMBERS , MOST OF WHOM
ARE HERE, I HAVE ONE SIMPLE
MESSAGE, OUTWORK EVERYONE AND
LEAD. OUTWORK EVERYONE AND
LEAD. NO ONE IS PENALIZED IN M
ADMINISTRATION FOR HONEST
MISTAKES. THEY HAVE HEARD ME
SAY THIS BEFORE. YOU WILL GET
PENALIZED IF YOU DO NOT CARE
AND YOU DO NOT LEARN FROM YOUR
MISTAKES. TAKING AFTER THE
SEATTLE CRACKING, WE BUILT A
PENALTY BOX ON THE 74 ,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TIM BURCH'S
OFFICE. [ LAUGHTER ] HE SAW A
DRAFT OF THE SPEECH BUT DID NOT
HAVE THAT LINE. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, SHE IS
IN D.C., BUT I WANT TO THANK
HER FOR WORKING WITH US AND
PUTTING OUR PHILOSOPHY INTO
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL.
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER WORK
WITH THE DIFFERENT TRIBES AND
THE TRIBAL LEADERSHIP , NOT JUS
TOKEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BUT
PUTTING HER HEART AND HER MIND
INTO THIS. I KNOW SHE IS
WATCHING RIGHT NOW AND PROBABL
THINKING, "HE GOT ME IN THERE."
I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO B
ONE OF HER PARTNERS. SINCE
TAKING OFFICE, OUR FOCUS WAS
ON CORE CITY GOVERNMENT
SERVICES. THESE ARE THE
SERVICES THAT PEOPLE RELY ON
EVERY DAY. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE,
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FILLED 23,000
POTHOLES LAST YEAR, 50% MORE
THAN IN 2021. [ APPLAUSE ] .
BY THE WAY, THAT IS THE HIGHES
NUMBER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
RECOGNIZE POTHOLES MAY NOT BE
YOUR THING, BUT THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF PAYING ATTENTION TO
THE ESSENTIALS. BUT WE MUST GO
FURTHER. THE THINGS THAT MATTE
DAY TODAY , DOING THESE THINGS
ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT TO THE
HORIZON. NO COINCIDENCE THAT
WE ENVISION A BETTER FUTURE FOR
OUR CITY THAN DOING SO RIGHT
HERE AT THE CENTER OF THE 1962
WORLD'S FAIR SITE, AGAIN, THE
CITY OF THE FUTURE. THE WORLD'S
FAIR DID NOT LOOK AT THE CITY A
THAT TIME , HE BOLDLY ENVISION
THE CITY OF TOMORROW. NOT WHAT
IT IS , BUT WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.
WHAT IT WANTED TO CREATE. SIX
YEARS AGO , OUR CITY WITNESSED
THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SPACE NEEDLE. IT WAS
COMPLETED IN ONE YEAR. IN ALL
HONESTY , IT TOOK ME ABOUT 20
YEARS TO GET THE NERVE TO GO T
THE TOP. BUT THE SPACE NEEDLE
IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT, WHEN
SEATTLEITES PUT THEIR MINDS AN
HEARTS, AND URGENCY, CREATIVITY
, WE CAN DO BIG THINGS. FRAMED
BY THE IMAGES OF THE PIKE PLAC
MARKET, MT. RAINIER, THE SPACE
NEEDLE IS A SYMBOL OF OUR CITY
TO THE NATION, A PINNACLE OF
FORWARD-LOOKING VISION AND
TRAILBLAZING LEADERSHIP ROOTED
IN OUR DNA AS A CITY. A CITY
WHERE INNOVATION IS INHERENT
AND PROGRESS IS PARAMOUNT.
TODAY, WE FIND OURSELVES QUIT
CANDIDLY NEEDING THIS KIND OF
APPROACH. BOLD VISION YET AGAIN
IN THE FORM OF WHAT I REFER T
AS SPACE NEEDLE THINKING, WHICH
WILL PUT US ON THE CUTTING EDGE
OF BUILDING OUR CITY. LET'S BE
VERY CANDID WITH ONE ANOTHER, N
BETTER EXAMPLE WHERE THIS
UNABASHED BOLDNESS IS NEEDED
THEN BE PICKING UP THIS PAPER.
LAUGHTER ] WHEN I SPEAK WITH
MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY , THE
TELL ME ABOUT THE CHALLENGES
THEY FACE AND WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE. MY EXECUTIVE TEAM CAN
CITE CHAPTER AND VERSE WHAT
OTHER CITIES ARE TRYING TO DO
WHEN WORKING WELL IS NOT WORKIN
SO WELL. FROM THE REMOTE WORK
REVELATION , TO EVER EVOLVING
RETAIL LANDSCAPE, THE ISSUES
FACING DOWNTOWN ARE NOT UNIQUE
TO SEATTLE. WHAT IS UNIQUE ARE
THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THE
ENERGY AND FOCUS WE CAN HARNES
TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND
TRANSFORM OUR DOWNTOWN AND
CANDIDLY WRITE A NEW PLAYBOOK
FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON WHAT A
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD
LOOK LIKE. I AM BULLISH ON
DOWNTOWN. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN
I AM BULLISH ON DOWNTOWN 100,00
RESIDENTS, OVER 320,000 JOBS .
UNDISPUTED ECONOMIC ENGINE AND
CULTURAL HUB OF OUR REGION, OUR
DOWNTOWN IS A SPECIAL PLACE
AND THIS COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS
THAT. THE PROBLEMS WE ARE
FACING ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.
THE OPPORTUNITIES , THEREFORE,
ARE GREAT. YOU WILL HEAR MORE
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO
AS OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
IN THE COMING MONTHS. DAP,
SOUNDS COOL, IMMEDIATE
ACTIVATION STRATEGIES TO
DOWNTOWN SAFER, AND MORE
WELCOMING ALONG WITH LONG-TERM
TRANSFORMATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS
DESIGNED FOR RESIDENTS AND
WORKERS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS ,
NEIGHBORS , TOURISTS. NOT A DA
GOES BY WHEN EITHER I OR A
MEMBER OF MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AR
NOT WORKING ON HIS ACTIVATION
PLAN AND SPEAKING WITH THOSE WH
HAVE THE RESOURCES AND IDEAS TO
HELP US ACHIEVE IT. LAST YEAR,
ANNOUNCED WE ARE BRINGING
EMPLOYEES BACK TO THE OFFICE. I
AM VERY PLEASED THAT AMAZON
ANNOUNCED AND RECOGNIZED THAT
COMING BACK TO WORK IN DOWNTOWN
IS A GREAT THING. I EMBRACED
THE PROPOSITION THAT IT MUST B
SAFE FOR THEM TO RETURN . AS
EMPLOYEES RETURN, IT HAS TO BE
SAFE . LAST WEEK, I WALKED THIR
AVENUE, FROM THE PIKE SQUARE
LIGHT RAIL STATION , AND OUR
PLANT RECOGNIZED THAT DOWNTOWN
SAFETY CONCERNS ARE REAL. THER
IS NO WAY ELSE TO SAY THAT. WE
DO NOT CREATE A SELF WELCOMING
DOWNTOWN FOR EVERYONE IF WE
DON'T CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT
SIMPLE AS THAT. OUR CITY
ATTORNEY RECOGNIZES THIS , SHE
IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER WHO
LISTENS TO THE NEEDS OF
RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
AND ASKED TO FAIRLY AND JUSTLY
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR BEHAVIOR. NEXT MONTH I
WILL BE ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT TAKE STEPS TO
ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISI
ON OUR STREETS CAUSED BY THE
EPIDEMIC OF FENTANYL AND OTHER
SEGMENT -- AND THAT THE DRUGS
LAST YEAR, 590 PEOPLE DIED ON
OUR STREETS. FROM DRUG
OVERDOSES. 590 PEOPLE TOO
MANY. WHEN I WALKED ALONG
THIRD AVENUE, I SAW PEOPLE USIN
FENTANYL , THAT BREAKS MY HEART
THESE ARE OUR SONS AND
DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS
MOMS AND DADS , PEOPLE IN OUR
CITY, HUMAN BEINGS WHO NEED
TREATMENT AND CARE. OUR
ADMINISTRATION KNOWS THAT WE
LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP PEOPL
SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER , WORKING WITH OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS, WE WIL
PROVIDE AXIS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN NEED. THAT IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO. FOR THOSE
TRAFFICKING THESE DEADLY DRUGS
, FOR THOSE PRAYING ON AND
EXPLOITING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
, FOR THOSE USING GUNS TO COMMI
CRIMES, WE WILL ARREST AND
PROSECUTE AND MAKE SURE WE HAV
ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO, TOO . IT IS
AS SIMPLE AS THAT. NO ONE HAS
BEEN AS IMPASSIONED OF A VOICE
FOR THE NEED FOR EVIDENCE-BASED
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT SOLUTIONS
THAN COUNCILMEMBER SARA
NELSON. I HAVE HEARD HER SPEAK
ON THIS AREA AND I APPRECIATE
HER EFFORTS. WE MUST DO MORE.
THERE IS A SIGN THAT SAYS TO
APPLAUD. APPLAUD. [ APPLAUSE
ACTIVATION AND ICE ON THE
STREET CREATE SAFETY AND OUR
PLAN WILL LIGHT UP OUR DOWNTOWN
CORNERS WITH ARTISTS AND
MUSICIANS, POP-UP VENDORS,
SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS , MEMBER
OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY CREATING
A PROACTIVELY POSITIVE PRESENCE
FOR ALL OF US. OUR SEATTLE
RESTORE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY
HELPED FILL 30 VACANT SPACES
WITH RETAIL BUSINSS. WE HAVE
PUT IN ARTIST RELATIONS AND
RETAIL STORES . OUR CURRENT PLA
WILL GO EVEN FURTHER AND WE
WILL FILL EMPTY STOREFRONTS WIT
A SPECIAL FOCUS ON SMALL
BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF
COLOR . WE WILL ALSO MAKE IT
EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO
START A BUSINESS AND CREATE
JOBS, I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS
CONVERSATIONS WITH CEOs AND
UNION LEADERS , NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVOCATES , SMALL BUSINESS
LEADERS , HOUSING SUPPORTERS,
HELPING WITH THE VISION OF THE
NEW DOWNTOWN. IF WE BUILD AN
CREATE THE ASSETS THAT HELP US
OPTIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
AS TAYLOR SAID , MANY HANDS WIL
BE INVOLVED . OUR ONE SEATTLE
DAY OF SERVICE, A CONCEPT WE
PUSHED OUT, PROVIDED WE CAN AL
PLAY A PART IN CREATING A BETTE
SEATTLE . WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE
COMING UP. A SHOUT OUT, MAY
20th, DAY OF SERVICE, COMING UP
. SAVE THE DATE . [ APPLAUSE ]
THIS KIND OF REDEFINING OF OUR
CITY , GIVES US A CHANCE TO
CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REVERSE ERRORS . OUR CHINATOW
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, A
HISTORIC PART OF OUR GREATER
DOWNTOWN , SHOULD BE A SAFE AND
THRIVING PLACE FOR RESIDENTS .
MANY FAMILY MEMBERS , THEY KNO
OUR ROOTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
GO BACK ALMOST 80 YEARS. MY AUN
OWNED AND OPERATED A SHOP ON
10th AND JACKSON FOR DECADES
AND I'M INSPIRED BY THE
RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH OF THIS
COMMUNITY. AS I SAID EARLIER ,
NOW IS THE TIME FOR BOLD ACTION
THAT IS WHY OUR LONG-TERM PLAN
CENTERS AROUND DOWNTOWN AS A
LABORATORY FOR THE FUTURE. THE
POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. IT
MAY MEAN CHANGING OUR ZONING
COALITION TO CONVERT EXCESS
UNUSED OFFICE SPACE IN HOUSE .
[ APPLAUSE ] IT MAY MEAN
ALLOWING GREATER FLEXIBILITY I
THE USE OF STREET-LEVEL BUILDIN
SPACES, IT MAY MEAN NEW HOTELS
IT MAY MEAN RESTAURANTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES , AT
THE SAME TIME , PROTECTING AND
GROWING OUR INDUSTRIAL MARITIME
JOBS. IN MARCH , OUR CITY
PLANNERS , MANY OF WHOM ARE
HERE, WILL LAUNCH A DESIGN
COMPETITION AROUND CONVERTING
OFFICE BUILDINGS TO HOUSING . W
NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
DOWNTOWN OFFICE SPACE MAY NOT
EVER FILL UP AS BEFORE WE NEED
MORE HOUSING OPTIONS LET'S MAK
DOWNTOWN AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYON
WHO WANTS TO LIVE THERE. AT THE
SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REALIZE
THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR SHARED
PROSPERITY. IT HAS BEEN OUR
ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT HAS
POWERED OUR STABILITY. THAT
BALANCE IS WHAT OUR PLAN WILL
ADDRESS. ON THE COOL SIDE OF
THINGS, IT MAY MEAN A LINEAR
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE
DISTRICT . THAT CONNECTS
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS ,
IDENTIFYING A STRETCH OF
SEVERAL BLOCKS WHERE YOU CAN
FIND RESTAURANTS, BARS, GROCERY
CLOTHING BOUTIQUE, AT ANY HOUR
OF THE DAY. MY CHILDREN ARE
HERE, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CA
GO DOWN THERE ANY HOUR OF THE
DAY, BUT SOME WILL GO DOWN THER
AT ANY HOUR OF THE DAY. IT MAY
BE WORKING WITH THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET VENDORS TO EXTEND FURTHE
INTO OUR DOWNTOWN SO WE CAN
HAVE GOODS GOING TO A WIDER
AUDIENCE WE MUST MAKE SURE THA
DOWNTOWN IS A DESTINATION WHERE
PEOPLE WANT TO BE. THE RECENT
OPENING OF THE CONVENTION CENTE
, THE GROUNDBREAKING OF
STREETSCAPE WE ANNOUNCED LAST
WEEK , THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TH
WATERFRONT, CONNECTING IT TO
DOWNTOWN, ALONG WITH 20 ACRES
OF NEW PARKLAND ALONG THE
WATERFRONT, THE REGIONAL
BASEBALL ALL-STAR GAME, THE
FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES, A LOT
TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT.
UNDERSTAND THAT. [ APPLAUSE ]
OUR FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN DOES NOT
COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS . IT IS CRITICAL
TO UNDERSTAND THAT. IT
STRENGTHENS THEM I'M EXCITED T
ANNOUNCE COMMON PREPARATION OF
THE ALL-STAR GAME, THE SEATTLE
MARINERS ARE FUNDING AND
PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO
RENOVATE AND RESTORE RAINIER
PLAYFIELD ON THE SOUTH END .
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AND
LASTING INVESTMENT IN THE LIVES
OF SOUTH SEATTLE YOUTH AND ALL
OF THE CITY PARKS . WE COULD NO
BE MORE EXCITED AND WE WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE FRANK RIVERA, FROM
THE SEATTLE MARINERS , THANK YO
SO MUCH, HE SERVED ON OUR
TRANSITION TEAM. [ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU, FRANK. THE TRUTH IS
, THE NEW DOWNTOWN WILL BE
DIFFERENT. THAT IS WHAT WE
WANT. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.
DOWNTOWN MUST BE A PLACE FOR
EVERYONE . A TESTIMONY TO PEOPL
AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD ,
METROPOLIS NOT INDICATE, BUT
EVER ON THE RISE. WE ARE TAKIN
A ONE SEATTLE APPROACH TO
DEVELOPING THIS PLAN THROUGH
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC
PARTNERSHIPS AND REALIGNING OUR
INVESTMENTS, OUR IDEAS , OUR
ENERGY TOWARDS REBUILDING
SEATTLE IN DOWNTOWN. SOME CYNIC
, TAYLOR, MAY DEMAND THE EXACT
BLUEPRINT FOR OUR ENTIRE
DOWNTOWN, IMMEDIATELY. WE NEED
TO DO THIS RIGHT. IT HAS TO BE
SUSTAINABLE. WE ARE WORKING
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO DELIVER.
NOW, I DID LOOK AT WIKIPEDIA
FOR ANSWERS. ALL IT SAID WAS,
SEE PORTLAND, THERE WAS A LINK
TO DANNY'S ARTICLE. WAS NOT
VERY HELPFUL. [ LAUGHTER ] I
LOVE PORTLAND , JUST A JOKE, I
DON'T WANT TO BE A MAYOR WHO
BASHES ANOTHER CITY. IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS, WE NEED IMMEDIATE
ACTION AND INNOVATION TO
RESPOND TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES. THE PROBLEMS WE ARE
HAVING ARE FAR TOO COMMON IN OU
CITY. FOLLOWING NATIONAL TRENDS
SEATTLE SAW A RISE IN CRIME
LESTER. THE FOURTH QUARTER OF
2022, WE DID SEE AN ENCOURAGING
DECLINE IN CRIME. EARLY
INDICATORS THAT OUR TACTICAL
DECISIONS , INVESTMENT DECISION
, CAN BE EFFECTIVE. WE KNOW
THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO DO.
TO BUILD ON THIS TREND. TO
BUILD A CITY WHERE EVERYONE
FEELS SAFE. I REMIND PEOPLE THA
THAT IS, FOR ALL THOSE
INFLUENCING OUR OUTCOMES, THAT
IS THE PRIMARY CITY CHARTER ,
TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE .
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FRAMEWORK IS
CENTERED AROUND FIVE PILLARS,
THESE ARE A NEW APPROACH WE
HAVE DEVELOPED, NUMBER ONE, A
HOLISTIC APPROACH WE KNOW
POLICE ACTIONS AND ARRESTS
CANNOT ENSURE ALL OF OUR SAFET
ISSUES WE NEED TO INTEGRATE
WIDE-RANGING SOLUTIONS AND
APPROACHES TO ADDRESS RENTAL
BEHAVIORS. THAT MEANS REMOVING
THE BARRIER TO SUCCESS THAT HAV
EXISTED FOR SO LONG, RACISM,
POVERTY . A LEGAL SYSTEM TO
FOCUSED ON PUNISHMENT INSTEAD
OF RESTORING PEOPLE TO BE
VALUABLE AND CONTRIBUTING
MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. IT MEANS
INVESTING EARLY, AS WE DO WITH
OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, MAKING
SURE EVERYONE HAS A FAIR CHANC
AT A LIVING WAGE JOB. IT ALSO
INCLUDES THE STRATEGIES I
MENTIONED EARLIER, ACTIVATION
OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO PUT MORE
EYES ON THE STREET. IT REQUIRES
COMMUNITY DRIVEN POLICING
FOCUSED ON PROBLEM-SOLVING AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT IS OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH .
NUMBER TWO, ENFORCEMENT AND
INVESTIGATIONS. WE ARE NOT
AFRAID OR INTIMIDATED TO
ENFORCE THE LAW AND TO ARRESTS
WHEN PEOPLE CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE
FABRIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
MUST CONTINUE -- [ APPLAUSE ]
WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OU
INVESTIGATIONS AND OUR SYSTEMS
AS WE HAVE DONE RECENTLY WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SEXUAL
ASSAULT UNIT. THIRD , OUR THIRD
PILLAR , AROUND OUR EFFORTS IN
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. WE
NEED MORE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS
OUR STAFFING CRISIS. IT
RELIEVES PRESSURE ON OUR
CURRENT OFFICERS AND WE GET
MORE TACTICAL OPTIONS , LIKE
OUR EMPHASIS ON 12th AND JACKSO
, THIRD AVENUE, SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO OUR HIRING SYSTEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN AT CONSTRAINT
ABBASI AND FOR YEARS, THE LENGT
OF TIME IT TAKES TO APPLY BY
50%. WE ARE RAMPING UP OUR
MARKETING SPENDING IN THESE
AREAS FIVEFOLD USING MODERN,
DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT TO REACH
A DIVERSE AREA OF APPLICANTS
FROM COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
CITY. I TELL THOSE INTERESTED,
PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES YOU
LOVE AND SERVE. THIS IS OUR
RECRUITMENT STRATEGY . WORKING
WITH THOSE INTERESTED IN HELPIN
US BUILD UP A GREAT DEPARTMENT
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON FOR HIS UNWAVERING
SUPPORT FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT
WITH THE RIGHT NUMBER OF
OFFICERS. THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. LAST
YEAR, I ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE
PATROL AND WILL CALL TO MEET
WITH OUR OFFICERS. THAT WAS A
MODERN FIRST. I NEEDED THEM TO
KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED
THEIR STRONG , PUBLIC SERVICE .
I NEEDED THEM TO KNOW MY
EXPECTATIONS AS THEIR MAYOR. I
ALSO NEEDED THEM TO KNOW THAT
THEY CAN BE THE BIGGEST
RECRUITERS AS WE REBUILD THE
DEPARTMENT IN A ONE SEATTLE
WAY. THIS IS A JOURNEY THEY AR
ON WITH ME TO RESTORE PUBLIC
TRUST. TO HELP RESTORE PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE. WHICH REALLY LEADS
ME INTO THE FOURTH PILLAR, WHAT
WE CALL CULTURAL EXCELLENCE .
THAT IS WORST THAT OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY LEADERS PRIORITIZE
DE-ESCALATION THROUGH A LENS O
CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND EMBRAC
THE VALUES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
COMPASSIONATELY . LAST, -- THA
IS A CLAP. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK
YOU . IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON
TO START A CLAP. SISTER IN THE
BACK GAVE ME A CLAP ON CULTURAL
EXCELLENCE. OUR LAST PILLAR, W
HAVE TWO BE A LEARNING
ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE TO BE
OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND LEARN
FROM OUR MISTAKES, USE DATA, BE
RECEPTIVE TO FEEDBACK. DRIVE
INNOVATION. EXPLORE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES. WE CANNOT JUST D
THINGS THE WAY WE HAVE DONE IN
THE PAST. WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM
EVERYTHING. A CONSTANT, LIVING,
BREATHING , LEARNING
ORGANIZATION. THIS FRAMEWORK I
JUST DESCRIBED , THIS FIVE
PILLARED FRAMEWORK, LEGISLATIO
I WILL SEND TO THE COUNCIL THIS
YEAR MAKING SURE WE ARE ALIGNED
WITH THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE
NEED, A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY,
AND A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. WE KNOW THAT
POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT SOLVE
EVERY PROBLEM. BY EXPANDING OU
PUBLIC SAFETY TOOLKIT , WE CAN
BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR
RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WIT
BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS. NOW , SEATTLE HAS DONE
THIS KIND OF THING BEFORE. THIS
INNOVATIVE PATHWAY 1970, THE
CITY FOUNDED THE MEDIC ONE
PROGRAM, TO TRAIN FIREFIGHTERS
AND PARAMEDICS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER AND TH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. NOW
WOULD BE A VERY APPROPRIATE TIM
TO REMEMBER DR. LEONARD COBB
WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT TH
AGE OF 96. HE WAS A FOUNDER OF
THIS PROGRAM. HE AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HELP
SET THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE
IN PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE
A STANDARD THAT REMAINS A
NATIONAL MODEL TODAY. APPLYING
LESSONS FROM A NATIONALLY PROVE
MODEL AND LOCALLY PIONEERED
SOLUTIONS LIKE HEALTHONE , AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENT
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
UNIT, WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN
THROUGH THE FOUNDATION OF A
THIRD PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE
WORKING ALONGSIDE POLICE
OFFICERS. DIRECTOR GONZALES IS
THE NEW LEADER OF THE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION
CENTER, OUR 911 CALL CENTER.
SHE COMES FROM THE GREAT FIRE
DEPARTMENT. [ APPLAUSE ] WHEN
I SAY GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT,
THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE GREAT FIRE. THEY ARE A GOOD
DEPARTMENT. GREAT DEPARTMENT.
BE CLEAR , WHEN WE EXPAND THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, IT WILL
BE MORE THAN ANSWERING 911
CALLS. STAFFING THIS NEWLY
FORMED DEPARTMENT WITH EXPERTS
EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, AND OTHE
NECESSARY SPECIALISTS , BEYOND
TRADITIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS,
THIS WOULD BE A CIVILIAN
ASSISTED RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMEN
DEPARTMENT. THE CARE
DEPARTMENT. IN THE COMING WEEK
WE WILL BE SHARING WHAT THE CIT
COUNCIL , A COMPREHENSIVE WHITE
PAPER ENVISIONING WHAT THIS
THIRD DEPARTMENT MAY LOOK LIKE.
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE WOR
OF ANDREW , COUNCILMEMBER
ANDREW LEWIS, HOPING MORE
PEOPLE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
LET'S GIVE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
A HAND. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YO
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP . BY
ADVANCING THE WORK OF THE CARE
DEPARTMENT , IT WILL REQUIRE
BARGAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
OUR CURRENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
LABOR UNIONS OF THE CITY. I HEA
YOU . WE WILL DEMONSTRATE OUR
COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSIFIED
RESPONSE . THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE
WANT TO WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOO
AT A DIVERSE RESPONSE WITH A
PILOT PROGRAM LATER THIS YEAR.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMBEDDING
PUBLIC SAFETY IN EVERYTHING WE
DO TO BROADEN OUR APPROACH. THI
YEAR , WE WILL HIRE 26 PARK
RANGERS. THAT IS A MASSIVE
EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM
PROPOSED BY OUR ADMINISTRATION
THESE REPRESENT
DIVERSIFICATION . SERVING AS
AMBASSADORS AND GUIDES , AT THE
SAME TIME, THEY CONNECT
RESIDENTS WITH EACH OTHER AND
SUPPORT THEM. I WILL HAVE TO
TRANSITION TO ONE OF THE OTHER
CRITICAL ISSUES FACING OUR CITY
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING IN OU
ONE SEATTLE , THAT WE ENVISION
AND WE ARE TRYING TO LEAD, NO
ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE ON
SHELTERED. NOBODY. OUR FIRST
YEAR, WE RESPONDED TO
HOMELESSNESS LIKE THE CRISIS
THAT IT IS. THAT STARTED WITH
OUR ADMINISTRATION PIONEERING
THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM. A SIMPL
YET NOVEL CONCEPT THAT, BY
ALIGNING OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS,
WORKING ON HOMELESSNESS AND
ALIGNING THEM AND ORGANIZING
THEM THE RIGHT WAY, WE CAN DO
BETTER FOR THOSE LIVING ON THE
STREET AND EVERYONE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. THIS IS TRUE, IN
2022, WE DELIVERED OVER 1800
REFERRALS TO SHELTERS AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONTRACT
OUTREACH PROVIDERS , HELPING
CONNECT THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WITH PLACES TO GO
, WITH SERVICE RESOURCES , IN
TANDEM , THE NUMBER OF PARTS AN
GREEN SPACES SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTED BY K.C. KANTZ WERE
REDUCED PARTS ARE AMONG OUR
CITIES GREATEST AMENITIES. THI
YEAR, WE HAVE WORKED TO MAKE
THEM CLEAN AND OPEN AND
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, AND THIS
REMINDED US , WITHOUT PROPER
CARE AND ATTENTION, OUR PARKS
CAN FALL INTO DISREPAIR. WITH
HELP FROM THE UCT AND HOMELES
ADVOCATES , WE HAVE CREATED NEW
SYSTEMS TO KEEP OUR CITY PUBLI
SPACES CLEAN. FREE OF DEBRIS
AND TRASH . ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE ALSO CREATED THE ONE SEATTL
HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN,
CENTRALIZING CONSTITUENT
SERVICES , AND PROVIDES NEW
LEVELS OF TRANSPARENCY TO OUR
RESIDENTS REGARDING THE SCALE O
THE CRISIS AND WHAT WE ARE
DOING TO ADDRESS IT OPENING UP
THE BOOKS SO EVERYONE CAN SEE
WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH REDUCIN
TENTS ON DOWNTOWN STREETS. [
APPLAUSE ] WORKING WITH THE
KING COUNTY AND WE ARE IN
COLLABORATIVE, PRIVATE
BUSINESSES , PHILANTHROPIC
ORGANIZATIONS, WE LAUNCH
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE HOUSING
COMMAND CENTER , THESE ARE
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SWIFTL
MATCH PEOPLE WITH NEEDED
HOUSING I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, SHE INSPIRES ME TO
CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR NEW IDEAS
AND MEASURED RESULTS TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES IN NEED. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. [
APPLAUSE ] DESPITE THE
IMPORTANT WORK FROM THE CITY AN
OTHERS, WE ARE SEEING MORE
UNHOUSED PEOPLE DIE IN KING
COUNTY. THAT IS HEARTBREAKING.
THE CHANGE BEGINS WITH HOUSING
, SHELTER, SERVICES . WE MUST
BRING PEOPLE INDOORS. FOR
URGENCY AND COMPASSION. THIS
YEAR, YOU WILL SEE OUR
ADMINISTRATION BOUGHT A NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED APPROACH
FOR THE UCT, THE FIRST TEAMS
WILL LAUNCH NEXT MONTH . WE WIL
GO ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE WOR
WILL BE DEFINED BY RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENT . WE
WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AND SEE AND
FEEL AND LOVE THE COMMUNITIES,
PARTICULARLY EMPLOYEES . WE FEE
THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH AND
THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACH. [
APPLAUSE ] IT ONLY TAKES ONE
PERSON. WE WILL DELIVER SUPPOR
FOR RENEWED INVESTMENTS, NEARL
$97 MILLION, 25% INCREASE
THROUGH OUTREACH, NEW SHELTER
OPTIONS, OTHER MEDICAL
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES . WE ALSO
MUST BE RELENTLESS IN OUR PUSH
FOR MORE HOUSING. MORE HOUSING
THAT IS AFFORDABLE. OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IS
NOT ONE THAT CAN BE SOLVED IN A
SINGLE YEAR, OR A SINGLE BUDGET
CYCLE , BUT WE ARE PUTTING IN
PLACE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT
TO GET THIS DONE. WE ARE PROUD
OF THE FACT THAT WE HELP PRODUC
MORE THAN 2200 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN 2022 . A
SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE
NEARLY 13,000 UNITS OF OVERALL
HOUSING PRODUCED ACROSS SEATTLE
WE CANNOT LET UP IN 2023. WE
HAVE PUT FORWARD A $250 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN THE BUDGET. THA
IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND,
EVER. FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
[ APPLAUSE ] WE LEAD WITH
IMPROVEMENTS TO DESIGN REVIEW
AND FOUND -- FOUNDED A HOUSING
SUBCABINET, THESE REPRESENT THE
CORNERSTONES IN OUR EFFORTS TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING. THIS YEAR,
WE WILL ADVANCE EVEN MORE COMMO
SENSE IMPROVEMENT FROM
PERMITTING PROCESSES, REFORMIN
THAT , TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLA
UPDATE, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
MAKING EASIER TO BUILD HOUSING
MY ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING
GREAT STRIDES IN DEVELOPING OUR
CITY'S NEXT HOUSING LEVY WHICH
WILL DEVELOP THE DETAILS OF THI
TRIED AND TESTED PROGRAM FOR
GROWING OUR HOUSING STUFF --
STOCK, IT IS CRITICAL.
COUNCILPERSON OSQUEDA HAS BEE
A STRONG COLLABORATOR IN THIS
PROCESS THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. [
APPLAUSE ] SHE GOT THREE
SHOUT-OUTS, SHE MUST BE A GOOD
COLLABORATOR WITH US . MY
DIRECTION ON HOUSING IS SIMPLE
WE NEED A PLAN THAT LIVES UP T
THE SCALE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS
. A BOLD PLEDGE AND PROVEN
METHOD TO BUILD THOUSANDS OF
UNITS OF HOUSING. IT SHOULD
DELIVER RENTAL ASSISTANCE
BEFORE PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS I
THE FIRST PLACE. RESOURCES TO
STABILIZE YOUR WORKFORCE. [
APPLAUSE ] WE HAVE A WORKFORCE
THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS
DEDICATED, RELENTLESS COMMITTED
WORKERS WHO SACRIFICE TO HELP
THOSE IN NEED. THAT IS THE
FORWARD-LOOKING VISION WE
REALIZE IN THIS EFFORT ON THE
HOUSING LEVY. WE ARE EXCITED TO
PRESENT IT TO THE VOTERS. I
NEED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION. AN AREA WHERE W
HAVE SEEN TRENDS GO IN THE WRON
DIRECTION, IN TERMS OF
FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES
IN THE SEATTLE , I THINK WE ALL
CAN AGREE THAT NO ONE SHOULD
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING HURT
OR KILLED BY A CRASH OR
COLLISION. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE
RECOMMITTED TO STRATEGIES THAT
PROTECT VULNERABLE USERS AS WE
WORK TOWARDS OUR AGGRESSIVE
VISION ZERO GOALS WITH STOPPIN
TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS
INJURIES. NOT FOR WHAT IS EASY
BUT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. IN THE
COMING DAYS , WE WILL SHARE,
WITH GREG , EARLY ACTIONS WE
ARE TAKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK
WITH THE SCHOOL. OUR
ADMINISTRATION WILL LEAD. WHEN
I RAN FOR OFFICE, I SAID WE WIL
LEAVE WITH PEOPLE AND LEAD WITH
SAFETY. IT IS FOR THAT REASON W
WILL WORK HARD TO RECEIVE A $25
MILLION GRANT FROM PRESIDENT
BIDEN TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN UNDERSERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS. VERY PROUD OF
THAT INVESTMENT. [ APPLAUSE ]
HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT JOE AND
PETE, AS I CALL THEM , I DON'T
KNOW ABOUT YOU, I AM ON A FIRST
NAME BASIS WITH THEM. OF COURSE
YOU KNOW I AM JOKING. I THINK
THEY ARE WAITING FOR A SHOUT OU
IN DC. WORKING WITH OUR
FEDERAL DELEGATION BRING
SUCCESS, BECAUSE WE , IN SEATTL
, WE HAD A CLEAR PLAN. THAT I
WHY WE RECEIVED THESE
INVESTMENTS . A SPECIAL SHOUT
OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES WHO HAS BEEN A STRONG
ADVOCATE FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,
I LOOK FORWARDTO WORKING WITH
HER TO THESE INVESTMENTS. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. [
APPLAUSE ] IN THIS TIME OF
CHANGE, WE MUST TRANSFER OUR
STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO B
PLACES WHERE WALKING IS
ENCOURAGED AND MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION IS SAFE WHERE
OUR SIDEWALKS ARE VIBRANT AND W
PURSUE EXCITING NEW OPTIONS SUC
AS OUTDOOR DINING AND RETAIL,
STREET CAFES , I CANNOT SAY THA
WITHOUT MENTIONING COUNCILMEMBE
DAN STRAUSS, HE CHAMPIONS
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR OFFICE,
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR HIS GREAT
PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP. [
APPLAUSE ] A TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM WHERE THERE IS
THOUGHTFULCALIBRATION AND
COLLABORATION WITH OUR FREIGHT
MARITIME, AND SMALL BUSINESS
PARTNERS, WHERE WE PRIORITIZE
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR
NEARLY 200 BRIDGES THAT WE OWN
AND INSPECT AND OPERATE. IT WA
MY HONOR TO HELP GET THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE REPAIR ACROSS TH
FINISH LINE. AN INCREDIBLE
EFFORT AND ONE SEATTLE
TEAMWORK. [ APPLAUSE ] IT
RECONNECTED OUR CITY WITH A
100,000 WEST SEATTLE RESIDENTS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WE
CANNOT HAVE ONE SEATTLE WITHOUT
WEST SEATTLE. [ APPLAUSE ] WE
ARE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING
LIGHT RAIL TO WEST SEATTLE AND
BALLARD, AND SEATTLE CENTER IS
PART OF SOUND TRANSIT THREE, TH
LARGEST TRANSIT EXPANSION EFFOR
IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE LARGES
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN OUR
CITY'S HISTORY. [ APPLAUSE ] I
OUR NEW SEATTLE , WE WANT TO SE
NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS BE ABLE
TO TAKE FAST AND RELIABLE AND
SAFE TRANSIT TO MEMBERS AND GO
TO CLIMB A PLEDGE ARENA, TO
WATCH THE STORM, KRAKEN, AND
YES, ONE DAY THE SONICS. [
APPLAUSE ] TO ENJOY AND RELIS
THE RETURN OF THE BITE OF
SEATTLE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAI
LONG, WE ARE RETURNING IT TO
THE SEATTLE CENTER . SOMETHING
WE ALL CAN LOOK FORWARD TO. [
APPLAUSE ] I WOULD BE REMISS I
I DID NOT THINK ROBERT, OUR
RECENTLY RETIRED SEATTLE CENTER
DIRECTOR, 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU , ROBERT.
LIGHT RAIL EXPANSION IS ALSO
CRITICAL FOR REACHING OUR
CLIMATE GOALS. WE SET THEM LAS
YEAR. LAST YEAR, I ISSUED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT TOOK 23
CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIONS AND
ACCELERATED THE MISSIONS,
REDUCTIONS BY 82% BY THE YEAR
2030. OUR WORK TO TAKE ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIND
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES WAS
RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY FOR
OUR INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S FOR A
GREAT CLIMATE FUTURE HAS
INSPIRED MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY
TO TAKE ACTION AND I WANT TO
TAKE -- THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THAT. I AM
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT LEAVES
THE CITY COUNCIL, SHE WILL SAY
ONE FAVORABLE STATEMENT ABOUT
OUR ADMINISTRATION AS A PARTING
GIFT. [ LAUGHTER ] THROW US A
BONE. AND ALL SERIOUS TALK ,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. [ APPLAUSE ] THIS
YEAR, WE ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT
SOME OF THE STRONGEST BUILDING
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN THE
COUNTRY. DELIVERING CLEAN
BUILDINGS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS
IN THE CITY , WITH HUNDREDS OF
NEW GREEN JOBS. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS
IN REPLACING UNHEALTHY OIL
FURNACES WITH MODERN, CLEAN
HEATING SOURCES. WITH EXTREME
WEATHER PART OF THE FUTURE, OU
STRATEGY BECOMES CRITICAL .
PROVIDING COMMUNITIES IN NEED
WITH SPACES TO STAY HEALTHY AND
SAFE DURING HEATER VENTS,
FLOODING, AND COLD-WEATHER. WE
SEEK SEATTLE WITH DIRTY PERCEN
TREE CANOPY, A TARGET BASED ON
HEALTH AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
VISION FOR TRULY AN EMERALD
AND EVERGREEN CITY. WE HAVE TO
WORK TO PROTECT AND GROW OUR
TREE CANOPY . IN THE COMING
WEEKS, I WILL SHARE DETAILS OF
NEW LEGISLATION AND AN EXECUTIV
ORDER TO PRESERVE A PLAN TO
PLANT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
TREES. [ APPLAUSE ] IN CLOSING
I THINK YOU GET THE MESSAGE.
WE ARE AT A TIME OF INCREDIBLE
CHANGE FOR SEATTLE. IN 1918,
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, I
WAS NOT AROUND THEM. A YOUNG MA
IN JAPAN TRAVELED OVER 700
MILES TO TOKYO TO BECOME A
SUMO WRESTLER. HIS FAMILY NEVE
KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. HE
WAS THE BIG MAN BUT NOT A VERY
GOOD SUMO WRESTLER. HE DECIDED
TO LEAVE TOKYO AND COME TO THE
UNITED STATES TO SEEK SAFETY AN
PROSPERITY, FOUND WORK AS A
HOUSE POINT IN THE BROADMOOR
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE LEARNED T
SPEAK ENGLISH FROM A KIND
FAMILY. IN 1942 , HE WAS FALSEL
ARRESTED FOR BEING A JAPANESE
SPOT AND PUT IN PRISON. THEN,
HE WAS MOVED FROM THE PRISON TO
AN INTERNMENT CAMP WITH HIS
FAMILY. THAT MAN'S GRANDSON
BECAME THE 57th MAYOR OF
SEATTLE. [ APPLAUSE ] DESPITE
THE FACT THAT HE AND MY MOTHER
WERE TREATED SO BADLY, HE LOVE
SEATTLE AND WHAT IT HAD TO
OFFER. AS DID MY MOTHER. THEIR
OPTIMISM LIVES IN ME. WE
STARTED THIS SPEECH WITH TAYLOR
INTRODUCING ME. THE FATHER SHE
SPOKE OF WHOSE DEATH LEFT HER
IN DESPAIR WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
HE LIVED WITH ME FOR EIGHT YEAR
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE HELPED ME
IN MY FIRST RUN FOR OFFICE IN
2007. ONE THING ABOUT YOUR
FATHER, HE BELIEVED IN SEEING
THE BEST IN PEOPLE , HE ALWAYS
SAW OPPORTUNITIES. AS YOUR
MAYOR, I CANNOT LET MY
GRANDFATHER DOWN , AND I CANNOT
LET YOU DOWN, I CANNOT LET YOU
FATHER DOWN. WITH THE LEVEL OF
OPTIMISM, HARD WORK, THAT IS
THE ANSWER TO THE SUCCESS FOR
SEATTLE . OUR CHALLENGES ARE
REAL. BUT THE STRATEGIES WE
HAVE ADOPTED OUR INTENDED TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST
TODAY BUT FOR GENERATIONS.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HAR
WORK. IT WILL TAKE FULL
THINKING AND HARD WORK TO
SEATTLE FEEL SAFE, WHERE
EVERYONE IS HOUSED, WHERE THER
IS JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES. A
SEATTLE WHERE WE FIGHT FOR
EQUITY , FAIRNESS, WITH THE
DOWNTOWN THAT IS THE ENVY OF TH
COUNTRY. A SEATTLE WITH FAST
AND SAFE STREETS AND TRANSIT,
WITH HEALTHY AND CLEAN WATER. A
SEATTLE WHERE YOU CAN RAISE A
FAMILY AND START A BUSINESS . A
SEATTLE WHERE WE CAN ALL TAKE
PRIDE IN. OVER 60 YEARS AGO, TH
WORLD'S FAIR , RIGHT HERE AT TH
SEATTLE CENTER, WE HAVE LEADER
AND RESIDENTS COMING TOGETHER T
PRESENT A VISION OF WHAT A
STRONG AND VIBRANT CITY SHOULD
AND WOULD LOOK LIKE, WE FACE
THE SAME TASK , THE FUTURE OF
SEATTLE IS ONE WE ARE BUILDING
TODAY. THE CITY WE WANT TO SEE,
THE CITY OF THE FUTURE. IT IS
HERE . IF WE ENVISION IT , WE
CAN REALIZE IT . ONCE AGAIN, WE
MUST EMBRACE THE BOLDNESS AND
INNOVATION OUR CITY IS RENOWNE
FOR ENTERING OUR POLICIES AND T
PROGRESS AND UNITE TO BUILD ONE
SEATTLE TOGETHER. THE STATE OF
OUR CITY , THE STATE OF OUR CIT
, WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO
PUT IN THE HARD WORK. LET'S DO
IT TOGETHER . ONE SEATTLE .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STATE OF
THE CITY . [ APPLAUSE ] THANK
YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ]