Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

[Updated 1/28/2009]

Our national economy and Seattle’s slower growth in projected revenue required the Seattle City Council to make tough adjustments to the 2009-2010 budget. While Seattle remains stronger than the rest of the country, we must prioritize a heightened attentiveness to the local economy – with an unemployment rate of 6.2% in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area, smart policy decisions are critical. We must be proactive, willing to take risks, and think creatively.

This past November’s job losses are troubling and, close to home, JP Morgan will cut 9,200 jobs at Washington Mutual. Boeing announced plans to cut its workforce by about 10,000 people this year alone. In January, Microsoft announced it will lay off approximately 5,000 employees and Starbucks plans to layoff 7,000 more jobs. Even with this distressing news, the state of our economy could be an opportunity to undergo a transformation into a 21st century economy. Seattle and regional leaders must work together to consider new ways to solve the biggest issues facing our city and our region. Because our economy is built on and powered primarily by oil, natural gas, and coal – which are all finite resources that will only escalate in cost – our new local mental checklist must require us to rethink our dependence on resources that are neither energy efficient, nor cost efficient.

Even in our current economic crisis, the Greater Seattle area boasts a diverse and vibrant economy. Greater Seattle is home to the

• University of Washington, one of the premier educational and research institutions in the nation;
• Port of Seattle, one of the largest container facilities in the country with more than 400 acres;
• Starbucks Coffee, the undisputed gourmet coffee company in the world; and,
• World class companies, including Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Microsoft Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser Company, to name a few.

Nonetheless, we are at a turning-point in history. The decisions we make today will have a profound effect on how we transform our challenged economy. When we make it a priority to kick the carbon addiction — by losing our dependence on oil, natural gas, and coal — our country will increase its wealth and revolutionize millions of jobs that will not be outsourced.

As we create and discover new ways to produce and conserve power, and reduce energy prices, the return will — in some ways — affect every aspect of our quality of life and transform our weakened economy. When we accomplish these priorities, the results will fuel the economy and generate enough work to help ensure we never face this type of economic crisis again. By doing so, we can address the struggles of ordinary people and raise this economy into the 21st century.

This year, I am confident and optimistic as we will usher in the forward-thinking Obama administration. Let us seize this opportunity to be the generation that works together to improve the lives of each and every citizen and help reshape our economy for years to come.