Mayor Murray - Updates from Seattle Mayor Edward B. Murray

Time 2020-07-08 21:03:09

Web Name: Mayor Murray - Updates from Seattle Mayor Edward B. Murray

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Mayor Edward B. Murray left office on September 13, 2017.This website is for archival purposes only, and is no longer updated. Mayor Murray statement on Amazon announcement September 7, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement regarding the announcement from Amazon: “Today is an exciting day for Amazon, one of Seattle’s original technology companies and one that has helped reshape our city over the last two decades. Seattle has grown in recent years, as one of the world’s most creative and innovative companies has firmly rooted itself in our city, and not just with the multiple office buildings Amazon has built in our downtown core. Amazon’s work in our community, willingness to invest in the core of our city, and recruitment and development of thousands of talented people have helped Seattle become an international technology and business hub. “My office will immediately begin conversations with Amazon around their needs with today’s announcement and the company’s long-term plans for Seattle. And we will coordinate with Governor Inslee to convene key business and community leaders to plan for our future growth and response to this announcement. I look forward to working with Amazon to secure their long-term, successful future in the heart of Seattle.  “Though they won’t find one quite like it, it is telling that Amazon is looking for a city in the model of Seattle for its second home, similar to what major tech companies like Google and Facebook have done in building campuses here. “Seattleites should know Seattle is strong because we have a large, diverse economy. From technology to health care and biotech to forestry, major companies like Expedia and Weyerhaeuser call Seattle home—as do more than 700,000 people that make our city a vibrant, exciting place to live. We have worked with these companies—and those who work here—to make Seattle a great place to do businesses because it is a great place to work, and a great place to work because it is a great place to live. All of these companies, as well as our art, music, sports, recreation and leading progressive values have and will continue to make Seattle one of the world’s most desirable places to live and do business.  “But, we also must know headwinds are coming. Unprecedented growth will not happen forever and my upcoming budget will reflect that. And current federal immigration policy makes it difficult for companies like Amazon to do business in the U.S., where they have employees who may not know from day to day whether they will be allowed to stay here. That is why we must fight these policies and remain a Welcoming City. Our values are why businesses continue to come here in record numbers.  “I look forward to our city’s long partnership with Amazon, both for the thousands of people who work there and the company’s work in our community, such as Mary’s Place. Seattle will be home to Amazon and the many other companies that dot our city’s iconic skyline for years to come.   Filed Under: Economy, Press Releases, Vision for Seattle Mayor Murray statement on Trump administration’s plan to end DACA September 5, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:  “President Trump’s elimination of DACA is a reprehensible and heartless act by a president who has repeatedly attacked immigrants. His action could rip apart families and will certainly instill fear in millions, including hundreds of thousands of people who came to the U.S. as children and are students in our schools, coworkers and members of our communities. Ending DACA increases the fear many have already been feeling since Trump took over, that they may return home to find a family member detained or authorities waiting for them.  “The City of Seattle will continue to lead in protecting immigrants and refugees. Our Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants and Refugees will help ensure that people who are detained will have access to legal assistance. Our Welcoming City policies will continue to ensure that no City employee or police officer will ask you for your citizenship status and that all City services are available to you regardless of your status. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and other City departments remain united in supporting our immigrant and refugee communities. “Despite the chaos at the federal level, I remain hopeful, because I know that Seattle is a hopeful city that values protecting our most vulnerable residents. I hope that federal legislators use this opportunity to pass a more progressive DREAM Act, one that extends citizenship to Dreamers without being tied to a border wall and that also extends citizenship to the parents of Dreamers. President Trump’s continued attempts to divide our country based on who we are and where we are from will not succeed, nor will they go unanswered.”Filed Under: A Welcoming City, Press Releases Mayor Murray statement on potential elimination of DACA August 31, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement in response to reports President Trump is planning to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:“Behaving like a flip reality TV show host who boosts ratings by dismissing people isn’t presidential, particularly when you’re threatening the real lives of hundreds and thousands of young people. Protecting immigrants and defending DACA is not only a moral issue, it is also an economic one. And our city has a vibrant economy because of the important contributions of all immigrants, including Dreamers and other undocumented individuals. “DACA recipients contribute 15.3 percent of their wages to taxes, which fund Social Security and Medicare. DACA recipients own homes and start new businesses, which contribute to the success of our economy and our communities.“We need comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, but because of Congress’ failure to act, programs like DACA are critical in supporting people who grew up in our country. Seattle is a Welcoming City and we’ve already taken legal action against the president over his threats related to immigration policy. We will continue to stand with our friends and neighbors and ensure they know we want them to always call Seattle home.”Filed Under: A Safe City, A Welcoming City, Press Releases, Vision for Seattle City of Seattle, King County announce Legal Defense Fund awardees August 28, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the community organizations that have been selected to receive $1.5 million in grants as part of the Legal Defense Fund to provide legal aid to vulnerable immigrants and refugees.“I signed legislation in April establishing a $1 million-dollar immigrants’ Legal Defense Fund because immigrants are being targeted by a presidential administration that has embraced White Nationalism,” said Mayor Murray. “Today, with additional money from our partners at King County, we are awarding those defense fund dollars to community organizations like the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Kids in Need of Defense, and West African Community Council, because they advocate for immigrants every day in what’s now a larger fight to preserve core American principles of Democracy.”“We are sending a clear, united message to the rest of the country – and to the world – that King County remains an inclusive community where all are welcome to build a better future,” said Executive Constantine. “The funding we announce today will help our partner organizations defend the human rights of more immigrants and refugees who contribute to the prosperity and vibrancy of our region.”Direct Legal Representation – Total awarded: $1,423,358To qualify for these funds, organizations must have an attorney on staff who is able to provide direct legal representation for low-income immigrants and refugees living in King County or working in Seattle who are in detention, facing removal, or in danger of losing their immigration status.Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) – $235,454Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) / Colectiva Legal del Pueblo $1,187,904Community Navigation Services – Total awarded: $111,642To qualify for these funds, organizations must be able to provide guidance and referrals for low-income immigrants and refugees living in King County or working in Seattle who are in detention, facing removal, or in danger of losing their immigration status.Filipino Community of Seattle $30,000South Park Information and Referral Center (SPIARC) $27,145West African Community Council (WACC) $54,497Over the course of two weeks, a panel comprised of members from the immigrant and refugee legal defense community, King County staff, and City of Seattle staff reviewed both written applications and oral presentations. Out of ten applications, five received awards.Earlier this year, both the City and the County passed legislation authorizing these funds for legal defense and community navigation services, as President Donald Trump threatened immigrant and refugee communities through both his inflammatory rhetoric and unconstitutional executive orders.In November 2016, Mayor Murray responded to the federal administration’s anti-immigrant actions by passing his Welcoming City Executive Order, which reinforced the City’s already existing policy that employees do not ask about citizenship status and serve all residents regardless of immigration status. The order also mandated funding for peer support groups and counseling for immigrant and refugee middle and high school youth, legal assistance for immigrant families with children in Seattle Public Schools, and a comprehensive public awareness effort around reporting discriminatory harassment. The City of Seattle also bolstered community collaboration, education, and access to know-your-rights information and resources and created the Inclusive and Equitable Cabinet to address threats to civil rights, including to immigrant and refugee communities.In March of this year, Councilmembers M. Lorena González and Tim Burgess joined with Mayor Murray in announcing their intent to pass legislation creating the fund. Seattle joins Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago as cities that have created programs to fund legal defense and other immigrant legal services. Unlike in criminal trials, individuals do not have a right to legal representation in immigration proceedings. However, studies have shown that people who were represented in U.S. immigration court were up to ten times more likely to obtain relief.“Congratulations to each of the awardees of Seattle/King County’s pilot Legal Defense Fund. It is my sincere hope that funding these organizations will provide much needed protections against deportation for families that have built lives in the Seattle area,” said Councilmember M. Lorena González. “These organizations are committed to defending the constitutional rights of immigrants and refugees by providing access to quality civil legal aid. Together, our community navigators and civil legal aid organizations are on the frontline of protecting immigrants and refugees from ongoing attacks by the Trump Administration.”“Access to a knowledgeable and trained legal advocate is invaluable during trying times, and can mean the difference between families being torn apart or staying together, or determining whether residents are able to continue the livelihoods that they’ve build over decades. We know that legal counsel can change the course of proceedings, especially for immigration procedures in which people are not automatically afforded this resource in the normal course of events.”The City now begins negotiating the contracts detailing each of the grantees’ scope of work. The grantee organizations are expected to start offering services under the Legal Defense Fund after September 30.Filed Under: A Welcoming City, Press Releases, Vision for Seattle Mayor Murray proposes ORCA cards for Monorail August 24, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray has proposed to bring ORCA cards to the Seattle Center Monorail, giving commuters, residents, students, and visitors more options to access the iconic Seattle Center campus and Uptown neighborhoods by connecting the Monorail to the region’s transportation system and downtown employment center.“Seattle Center is becoming more connected to downtown, and the Monorail is the best path between these two important hubs,” said Mayor Murray. “Creating a seamless transit network that ultimately sweeps across downtown will connect Queen Anne to South Seattle, the University of Washington to the Gates Foundation, KeyArena to SeaTac. The Monorail may have been built in a different era, but it plays a vital role for connecting Seattle Center to today’s regional transportation network.”“At Seattle Center, we strive to create exceptional events and experiences, which begins with outstanding access,” said Robert Nellams, director of Seattle Center. “Integration into the ORCA system will ease the path to our campus for millions of visitors, encouraging greater use of the extraordinary amenities offered throughout the grounds.”Seattle Center and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) conducted a year-long study of Monorail ridership and found that over two million people ride the monorail annually. The study also found that by bringing ORCA to the Monorail, ridership will increase between seven to 16 percent over the first three years of implementation due to the increased convenience of taking the Monorail to access Seattle Center and the Uptown neighborhood. Under the proposal, Seattle Center and SDOT will work with King County Metro (Metro) to become an ORCA affiliate member. As an affiliate member, the Monorail will add ORCA payment to the existing cash payment option and planned credit card option. Once ORCA is implemented, Monorail fare categories will be realigned to reflect those charged by other ORCA agencies (such as Metro). The study projects that after the Monorail institutes its postponed $0.25 fare increase in October of 2017 and implements a new $0.25 charge to cover the additional operating costs, total revenues will cover the expanded ORCA program and see positive net revenues. Filed Under: Press Releases, SDOT, Transportation Mayor Murray statement on Confederate monument in Lake View Cemetery August 16, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement: “We must remove statues and flags that represent this country’s abhorrent history of slavery and oppression based on the color of people’s skin. It is the right thing to do. During this troubling time when neo-Nazis and white power groups are escalating their racist activity, Seattle needs to join with cities and towns across the country who are sending a strong message by taking these archaic symbols down.  “The monument to Confederate soldiers in the Lake View Cemetery is located on private property. My office has called the cemetery operator to express our concerns regarding the monument. As we continue our ongoing proactive work to be an inclusive and welcoming community, we must also join the fight against the mainstreaming of hateful and despicable far-right political ideology.” Filed Under: A Safe City, Press Releases, Vision for Seattle U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Mayor Murray, Port of Seattle and SODO business leaders celebrate funding milestone for Lander Street bridge August 16, 2017 by Office of the Mayor U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Mayor Ed Murray, Port Commissioner John Creighton and SODO business leaders announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that directs up to $10 million from the Port of Seattle towards completing the South Lander Street bridge project and $5 million towards solutions for a broader approach to ease traffic and improve safety on major freight and transit corridors throughout Seattle. The South Lander Street bridge is a critical project serving one of the busiest and most high-risk rail crossings in the country. The project is estimated to cost $123 million, funded through commitments from federal, state, and local partners. Last fall, the project was awarded a $45 million federal grant thanks to the advocacy of Senator Cantwell.“Washington state loses millions of dollars in economic activity because of train, truck, and urban traffic congestion –at Lander Street alone. By moving freight faster, we can fuel our export economy and create good paying jobs,” said Senator Cantwell. “I’m proud to have helped secure the $45 million from the FASTLANE grant program which I championed in the FAST Act in 2015. I will continue fighting to fix our infrastructure to build strong economic growth and make our country more economically competitive.” “The City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle, the state of Washington, and federal leaders like United States Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell all came together around this vital infrastructure project because we are all committed to building a thriving, 21st Century economy that channels our booming $38 billon maritime industry,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “I’ve worked on this project dating back to my time in the state legislature, to support our industrial and maritime economy. Our shared economic values of mobility, safety, living wage jobs, and a clean environment all aligned around this bridge to the future.”  The Safe and Swift Corridor Program will create efficiency for freight, and continue the safe movement of cargo through our gateway,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton.  “This partnership will improve transportation for commuters, truckers, buses and bicyclists in these critical corridors.”South Lander Street is an essential east-west corridor serving Port of Seattle freight, King County Metro buses, bicyclists, commuters and pedestrians. The corridor is closed for more than 4.5 hours daily due to rail traffic, impacting approximately 13,000 vehicles. The corridor is considered one of the most high-risk rail crossings in the state.  Since 2011, three fatalities have occurred between trains and pedestrians at the South Lander Street crossing and an average of 485 track violations occur daily as cars, pedestrians and bicycles cross the tracks when the safety gates are deployed.  The new four-lane bridge will provide safe connections for 1,400 pedestrians daily, primarily traversing between the SODO light rail station and area employers. This project will remove all at-grade access to the tracks at that location, improving safety for all.The project is scheduled to break ground in early 2018.  For the latest updates on the South Lander Street project, click here.Filed Under: An Interconnected City, Economy, Press Releases, SDOT, Streets, Transportation, Vision for Seattle Mayor Murray to appoint Fred Kiga as Chief of Staff August 11, 2017 by seattle_city_web Kiga to start September 5 and lead staff through transitionSEATTLE (August 10, 2017) – Mayor Ed Murray appointed Fred Kiga as chief of staff today. Kiga will take over from current Chief of Staff Mike Fong on September 5, and serve the remainder of Mayor Murray’s term. He comes to City Hall after five years at Vigor Industrial. Ahead of Kiga’s appointment, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Fong will become the County’s Chief Operating Officer.“Fred has more than two decades of experience serving our community, from the state level to the private sector and more,” said Mayor Murray. “He will be a fantastic addition to this team as we make this year as productive and successful as our first three. While we are excited for Fred to come aboard, we will miss the steady leadership and wit Mike has brought to this office and to the City. Simply put, Seattle is a better place because of his service and he has been an invaluable part of my administration. I want to thank Mike and wish him well as he moves forward.”“I am excited to join Mayor Murray’s team as we sprint through the finish line with major initiatives still in play this year,” said Kiga. “From finalizing our homelessness RFP to KeyArena and Seattle Center, and to the Waterfront, affordable housing and our progressive stance against the Trump administration, we have so much more work to do. Seattle has thrived under Mayor Murray’s leadership and I look forward to continuing that work.”Kiga has served as chief of staff to Gov. Gary Locke and in senior positions at Amazon, Boeing, Russell Investments and Vigor Industrial. He has bachelors and law degrees from the University of Washington and has served on the board of directors for the YMCA of Greater Seattle and Arcora.Fong leaves City Hall after 16 years of service to the City, including his final two as chief of staff for Mayor Murray. He started as a legislative aide to Councilmember Heidi Wills before joining Councilmember Tom Rasmussen’s office and then Council central staff. Fong first served in the Murray administration as the Deputy Director of the Office of Policy and Innovation and has overseen major milestone as chief of staff, including police accountability legislation, the implementation of Pathways Home to address our homelessness crisis and the shift to using performance metrics to measure success across city investments.“It has been an honor to serve in Mayor Murray’s administration as we have made incredible strides toward making Seattle a more equitable city that is open to everyone,” Fong said. “I am especially proud of helping craft and shape the Seattle Preschool Program, the Seattle Parks District and the dramatic expansion in enrollment for our Utility Discount Program. But most rewarding has been the opportunity to drive the Mayor’s progressive agenda alongside the incredible staff in the Mayor’s Office, the Cabinet and the thousands of dedicated City employees. Seattle has undergone a dramatic transformation in my time at City Hall from the emergence of completely new neighborhoods like South Lake Union, an eight-minute light rail ride from Pioneer Square to Husky Stadium to a skyline once dotted with yellow cranes to new skyscrapers from SODO to Seattle Center. So much of what we love about our city started with a policy conversation on the corner of 4th and James and I’d like to thank everyone, including Mayor Murray, who have given me the opportunity to be a part of that conversation for the last 16 years.”Fong’s final day in the Mayor’s office will be September 1. Kiga will officially begin at chief of staff on September 5, with a salary of $181.301Filed Under: Press Releases Mayor Murray nominates two to Community Police Commission August 9, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Mayor Ed Murray nominated Colleen Echohawk and Emma Catague to serve on the Community Police Commission (CPC), the City’s panel of community members and stakeholders monitoring reform and accountability of the Seattle Police Department.  “The Community Police Commission has and will continue to play a vital role in the oversight of the Seattle Police Department,” said Mayor Murray. “We now have landmark police accountability legislation that establishes unprecedented, independent civilian oversight and a permanent community seat at the table. We must ensure constitutional policing is a reality for all residents. Colleen and Emma are proven community leaders that will carry on this mission and help continue to improve the relationship between communities of color and the police.”   Colleen Echohawk is the executive director of the Chief Seattle Club, an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Ahtna Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake. She serves on the boards of several local organizations, including KUOW, All Home, Metropolitan Improvement District and the Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre. Echohawk’s career has focused on meeting the needs of homeless and low-income urban Native people living in Seattle.  I am honored to serve on the Community Police Commission,” said Echohawk. I deeply believe in the goodness of our City and hope to assist in moving the conversation and policies forward in a good way; remembering our commitment to lead with a race and equity lens. I have had the privilege of working with the Seattle Police Department to solve safety issues in Pioneer Square and am excited to continue this partnership as a member of the Community Police Commission.  Emma Catague co-founded the Asian Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center (now known as API Chaya) and is the former executive director of the International District Housing Alliance (now part of InterImCDA). Catague currently works for the Filipino Community of Seattle. During her career, she has worked closely with the Seattle Police Department to diversify hiring of personnel to better reflect the Asian Pacific Islander communities in Seattle. Catague is long-time advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. “I am excited to be a part of the Community Police Commission,” said Catague. “I look forward to representing the diverse voices of American Pacific Islanders and play a role in helping the Seattle Police Department understand the needs of the community.” Beginning in March of 2013, the CPC has been providing community input into the effort to reform the Seattle Police Department under the Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. The CPC continues to make recommendations to improve the department’s accountability system to better support constitutional policing and promote public confidence. In May of this year, City Council passed Mayor Murray’s police accountability legislation, which is now pending before the U.S. District Court overseeing the Consent Decree. The legislation includes a provision making the CPC a permanent body.Filed Under: A Safe City, Boards and Commissions, Police reform, Press Releases, SPD, Vision for Seattle City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools reach agreement on planning for Seattle Center August 4, 2017 by Office of the Mayor Partnership agreement will lead to collaboration on Memorial Stadium, new high schoolThe City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced a partnership agreement today, to collaborate on the design of SPS properties at Seattle Center, including a new Memorial Stadium and a high school. SPS and the City agreed the design should integrate into the Seattle Center campus and that they will explore nearby alternative sites for the high school. This agreement comes as the City develops a plan to transform Seattle Center in the 21st century, the Uptown neighborhood undergoes unprecedented growth and the possible redevelopment of KeyArena is being negotiated.  “We have long been partners with Seattle Public Schools, to ensure each of our young people has access to the best education possible,” said Mayor Murray. “That partnership goes even deeper at Seattle Center, where we are mutually dependent on each other. However, as we reimagine Seattle Center and the district identifies ways to build more capacity in our rapidly growing city, we will closely collaborate to ensure our plans best serve SPS and Seattle Center. This agreement shows how SPS and the City can work together to address challenges and build a better Seattle.” “A new stadium and a new high school are both critical needs for Seattle Public Schools,” said Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland. “We welcome this opportunity to partner with the City on how we can best meet our individual and collective needs.”The Uptown neighborhood is slated to see significant changes in the coming years as the city rapidly grows. The Seattle Center Century 21 Master Plan will be updated to reflect these changes, including the redevelopment of KeyArena, a new light rail station, the Space Needle renovation and a school. The City and SPS have a team of architects and planners who will be working over the next two months, looking at options that will best serve the needs of SPS and Seattle Center.Filed Under: A Vibrant City, Press Releases, Vision for Seattle 12394Next Page Translate this page CategoriesCategories Archives Archives © 2020 City of Seattle - Mayor Murray Blog Home - RSS Feed - Privacy & Security Policy - Log in

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