During the Kirkland City Council meeting Tuesday, March 16, Mayor Penny Sweet, the Kirkland City Council, and City leadership took a moment to acknowledge and condemn recent acts of hatred against Asian Americans.

Mayor Sweet's statement was as follows:

At this time in our meeting when we review the progress of R-5434, it is important that we rededicate ourselves to the resolution’s fundamental principle:

"Racism, in any form, and against any group, has no place in Kirkland."

We are horrified and saddened by the recent and continuing acts of violence against Asian Americans across the country. A recent study based on police department statistics across major U.S. cities found a nearly 150 percent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020.

We condemn the acts of hate and violence displayed in the rising incidence of anti-Asian hate crimes and we must halt the spread of bigotry to keep our community safe. It’s our collective responsibility to not only speak up and stop hate crimes, but to continue to examine and dismantle institutional and structural racism, to eradicate hate, and to connect with our shared humanity.

Our hearts go out to our Asian American neighbors who have experienced hate or violence. Victims deserve support and justice, and there are systems in place to ensure offenders face consequences for these unconscionable actions. Our highest priority is to keep our community safe, and anyone in Kirkland who encounters hate or violence is encouraged to come forward and report their experience to our police department. No one should suffer in silence.

Together we can end racial violence in our communities. Thank you.

In January 2021, the City of Kirkland contracted with Chanin Kelly-Rae of Chanin Kelly-Rae Consulting to perform a Comprehensive City Organizational Equity Assessment as one of several actions detailed in R-5434. Ms. Kelly-Rae will be evaluating City policies, practices and programs to help eliminate barriers to opportunity.

Ms. Kelly-Rae has met with and interviewed department directors and Councilmembers. 

Over the next several weeks, Ms. Kelly-Rae will also begin a community wide engagement effort as a part of this initiative.  

To request a focus group with Ms. Kelly-Rae, visit our website.

On March 16, the City Council authorized Mayor Penny Sweet to sign a letter to the Houghton Community Council to formally request its partnership in the City's ongoing equity assessment of all areas of City policy, practice and procedure. Excerpts of the letter are available below, and our community is invited to read the full letter on our website. 

Dear Chair Whitney, Vice Chair Kappler, and Houghton Community Councilmembers;

"As elected leaders that share a deep love of our City and a commitment to ensuring Kirkland is one of the best places in America to live, work and play, the Kirkland City Council and the Houghton Community Council have had a long and collaborative partnership. This partnership helped unite our community and guide Kirkland through the unique tragedies and triumphs of the COVID-19 pandemic that erupted in Kirkland on February 29, 2020 and continue to this day."

"The City Council has always envisioned the Houghton Community Council (HCC) as being part of this important community dialogue. As a governing body with significant land-use authority, we believe it is necessary for the Community Council to partner with us again as we look critically at ways our community has inadvertently perpetuated barriers to equity and inclusion. We invite you to join us in this work of creating equity, justice and inclusion for everyone. We offer our staff and consulting resources to support the HCC in this effort. Together, we can realize a Kirkland where everyone feels - and knows - they belong."

To view the letter in its entirety, visit our website.