You know all this from my previous blog entries (Part I, Part II, and Part III): Our city proudly counts 465 parks spanning 6,200 acres of beaches, forests, fields, playgrounds, ball courts, community centers, and rain-kissed open space. We rely on these parks for respite from city life, room to stretch our legs, space to […]

On Monday, January 6th, 2014 I had the great pleasure of beginning my second term representing you as a Seattle City Councilmember. I wanted to say a few words about some of what I want to accomplish for you over the next few years. First, a healthy, clean and vibrant city, both in our downtown […]

Today I had the pleasure of welcoming hundreds of gardeners from across the globe to Seattle via the 34th Annual American Community Gardening Association Conference. The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) was founded in 1979 and its mission is, “to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and […]

The Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF) Large Project Program is now accepting applications for the third and final round of funding from the 2006 voter-approved Bridging the Gap (BTG) Transportation levy. The levy provides $4.5M every three years to select, design and construct larger neighborhood projects identified by the community.  The application is now available on-line, along […]

Last Friday I heard from SDOT that people would be able to walk across the West Thomas Street overpass by the end of the day. I haven’t had the experience of making that walk yet, but that doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm about the project’s completion. I’m so glad it’s open. The West Thomas Street Overpass […]

Today, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Director Peter Hahn gave his department’s presentation (PDF) to the City Council Budget Committee. (Download the SDOT section or the entire proposed budget from the Mayor for 2013-2014 from this page – see the left navigation pane). SDOT described two categories of investment: Addressing the maintenance backlog (street repair, bridge maintenance and […]

You might have heard about the 14th Ave NW Park Boulevard to be constructed in Ballard; it’s been getting significant media coverage lately: A question of a park or parking in Ballard (KING) Plan for new Ballard park stirs up battle over parking (Seattle Times) Seattle Times turns park discussion into battle over parking (Publicola) […]

Applications to the Neighborhood Projects Fund (NPF) are due on February 1, 2012. I would like to take a moment to strongly encourage neighborhood leaders to apply. This fund provides a great opportunity to tackle projects that create community, and to promote all kinds of projects, including things like neighborhood greenways. The NPF can be […]

Last year’s HR 1217, a state bill designed to make it easier for Washington cities to lower speed limits on non-arterial roadways, received bipartisan support in the House and passed unanimously – unanimously! – thanks to Shoreline’s Representative Cindy Ryu’s leadership. Alas, it stalled in the Senate. This year, Rep. Ryu is again leading the […]

I have been reading some tragic blog commentaries lately between drivers who seem to loath bicycilists and some bicyclists who seem loath to ride by the rules of the road. This makes no sense to me — at one time or another, we are all walkers, riders, drivers or we know and love someone who is.   With just […]