Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Press Release issued – January 24, 2012

Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative wins prestigious award

Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Mike O’Brien

SEATTLE – The City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative will be receiving the American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) 2012 Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Exemplary Practice Award on March 6, 2012. The announcement came last week (1/16/12) in recognition of the outstanding work being done by City of Seattle employees and the Seattle Office of Civil Rights to bring about a more fair, equitable and inclusive Seattle.

“I’m proud of the Office of Civil Rights and our employees for the years of hard work that was put into the Race and Social Justice Initiative to get where we are today and earn this recognition,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “But our work does not stop here. We will continue to advance this initiative as we look to address racially disproportionate outcomes in areas like education, health and opportunity.”

“Our City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative has produced a strong foundation for us to be proactive in our effort for greater social equity,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology committee. “Winning this award shows that our efforts are being recognized on a national level. We should all be very proud of this work.”

The ASPA is dedicated to advancing the principles of accountability and performance, professionalism, ethics and social equity. The award is presented to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to a more equal society.

The Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative is a citywide effort to end institutionalized racism and race-based disparities in City government. The Initiative builds on the work of the civil rights movement and the ongoing efforts of individuals and groups in Seattle to confront racism. The Initiative’s long term goal is to change the underlying system that creates race-based disparities in our community and to achieve racial equity.

Press Release issued – January 23, 2012

Seattle City Council approves marriage equality resolution
Councilmembers unanimously support state legislative efforts

SEATTLE –Seattle City Councilmembers today unanimously approved Resolution 31356 declaring full support of state-wide marriage equality, urging the Washington State Legislature to swiftly pass Senate Bill 6239. This bill is explicitly intended to end discrimination in marriage based on gender and sexual orientation, while respecting the religious freedom of religious institutions to determine for whom to perform marriage ceremonies.

“I’m sure it’s no surprise that the Seattle City Council favors marriage equality,” said Council President Sally J. Clark. “We’ve long been on record in support, and many of my colleagues and I have actively lobbied for the cause. It’s heartening to hear the legislature has the support to turn the measure into law.”

“As chair of the committee that oversees Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights, I wish to thank the members of the Washington State Senate, House of Representatives, and Gov. Gregoire on fighting for marriage equality in our state,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. “Families come in many forms and all families in our city and state should enjoy equal rights and opportunities. We all benefit from an environment that promotes equality.”

Continue Reading »

Press Release issued – January 17, 2012

SEATTLE – The City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, chaired by Councilmember Bruce Harrell, will discuss the historical and current context of the Department of Justice findings against the Seattle Police Department.

WHAT: Discussion on the Pattern or Practice process of the Department of Justice findings of the Seattle Police Department

WHEN: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle City Council Chambers
600 Fourth Avenue, Second Floor
Seattle, WA 98104

WHO: Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair
Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Vice-Chair
Councilmember Nick Licata, Member
Darryl Smith, Deputy Mayor
Robert Scales, Director for Government Affairs, City Attorney’s Office
Doug Carey, Finance and Administrative Services

On Wednesday, November 30th, the City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment discussed the Roosevelt Neighborhood Rezone. Part of the discussion focused on whether building heights should be permitted to 40 feet or 65 feet on three city blocks just south of Roosevelt High school. The rezone also proposes 65 and 85 feet in other areas around the future light rail station but in dispute are the three blocks immediately across the street from the school. These three blocks are currently underutilized and in significant need of capital improvements. In addition to the height limits, the set back requirements were also discussed which could be a significant component relative to how views can be improved to and from the school and whether certain types of setbacks would be more conducive to producing affordable units because of building configurations. Sidewalk and street widths were also discussed with the intent of making sure this is a very livable, walkable community.

The benefits of permitting heights up to 65 feet are evident and strongly consistent with our goals of maximizing density around light rail stations. Greater heights can also allow incentive zoning and our Central Staff has indicated that the lower height of 40 feet cannot take advantage of incentive zoning. Incentive zoning is another land use tool to produce other desirable elements such as affordable housing or open space when allowing additional height. The design proposals for 65 feet look very appealing and, while not explicitly stated in the discussion, the final housing products within the 40-foot limits may be undesirable and unless the height of 65 feet is allowed, the property may remain in its current unappealing condition.

Current view looking down 66th Street

Neighborhood Commercial (NC2-40) View looking down 66th Street

Neighborhood Commercial (NC2-65) View looking down 66th Street

I continue to question whether we can retain the 40-foot limits and still produce housing that enhances the neighborhood, produces affordable housing and meets our density targets. Why? Because the process that originally established the 40 foot limits were produced after 4 years of neighborhood planning, meetings, negotiations and process. It is my understanding that throughout the long process of neighborhood planning, the surrounding communities consistently made it clear that these three blocks should be protected from 65 foot heights. Can the same aesthetics and density goals be achieved when designing a 40-foot development? An inventory of some 40 foot buildings in the City suggests that some exist, but I would be the first to say that more design flexibility is produced at the 65 foot limit.

Ultimately, I will weigh these issues and vote accordingly. I do believe, from a design standpoint, that 65 feet will actually produce some results that could be very befitting for this great community. But what matters most to me, as in any neighborhood, is that communities are ensured that their local government is truly listening to them when deciding how this city should look in the future. This community has embraced our density goals and has worked hard to be good partners with the City in developing neighborhood plans. Getting it right means making sure we are preparing our neighborhoods for the future, but also that we listen to each community as though we lived next door.

2000 Thanksgiving dinners given away at Rainier Community Center

On Tuesday, November 22, they came from Ballard and Rainier Beach, West Seattle and Madrona for a take home Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Young families with children, the elderly and disabled, lined up for local NBA stars Brandon Roy, Jamal Crawford, Will Conroy, Isaiah Thomas and Spencer Hawes (the “Home Team”), Seahawk player Kam Chancellor to bag and help distribute Thanksgiving dinners for 2,000 Seattle families.

Jamal Crawford, Brandon Roy and Councilmember Bruce Harrell.

People pack the Rainier Community Center.

The “Home Team” partnered with Safeway to purchase 2,000 turkeys. In return, Safeway provided all of the traditional Thanksgiving trimmings.

People began gathering in the gym around 4:30 p.m. Before long, the gym was packed with people waiting to sign in and pick up their dinners. There were plenty of volunteers to get everyone signed in and to help ensure that the event ran as smoothly as possible.

Families enrolled in the Seattle Public Schools free and reduced lunch program were encouraged to pre-register at one of eleven Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Centers. The gym was packed by upwards of 2,000 families who came to take advantage of the giveaway and to meet professional athletes and elected officials. They were not disappointed! The event was a success, with smiles all around.

Photo Credit: http://sportswashington.net/turkey/

Press Release issued – Nov. 7, 2011

LED streetlights now installed from North 65th street
in Seattle all the way through Shoreline

SEATTLE – In late September of this year, Seattle City Light began installing LED streetlights on residential streets from North 65th Street in Seattle all the way to the northern boundary of City Light’s service territory in Shoreline. The latest round of installations brings the total of installed LED streetlights to 18,000. This is ahead of the original schedule of 15,000 installations by the end of this year and nearly $5 million under budget. The savings are a result of the decreasing cost of the fixtures which are purchased each year instead of all at once.

“As our city continues to look for ways to save money, our new LED streetlights are already saving more than $300,000 each year and with the latest round of installations the annual savings is expected to grow to nearly $900,000,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council’s Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee. “These and future savings can be used to help fund libraries, social services and parks, they will pay for themselves in less than 10 years.”

In February of 2012, Seattle City Light is scheduled to begin installation of LED streetlights at the southern end of its service territory all the way up to Brandon Street in South Seattle. By the end of 2014, all of the City’s residential streetlights will be converted to LED. Once all 41,000 residential lights are installed, City Light expects a $2.4 million reduction in operating costs each year.

Customers seem to like the LED streetlights. City Light surveys have found that 85 percent of residents are satisfied with the new lighting and City Light has received complaints on less than 2 percent of the installations to date. The most recognizable change of the LED streetlights is the color of the light. The old high-pressure sodium streetlights had an amber hue, while the new LED streetlights have a hue that is more natural and comparable to moonlight.