Neighbor by neighbor
Seattle is one of the richest and most innovative cities in the world, and that economic strength is part of what makes our city such a great place to live. But the rent keeps going up, home prices have spiraled out of reach, and more people have been left to sleep outside than ever before.
That has to change.
That’s why earlier this week I announced a package of legislation that will allow us to quickly open new shelters with supportive services across the city, expand existing successful shelters, and secure the resources to make it happen.
We’re moving faster than ever before, but I want to see the ground start breaking, the hammers start swinging, and fewer people left to sleep in doorways and tents.
I’m committed to opening 1,000 units of shelter and emergency housing this year, and making that happen is going to take an all-hands-on-deck, citywide effort.
Neighbor by neighbor, we can do this. Sign up to join our community action team so you can stay informed, volunteer, attend community meetings, and be a part of the solution.
My daughter and I had a great time riding around the gym as part of the Hiawatha Community Center re-opening celebration in West Seattle last month. Community centers like Hiawatha are such an important part of our city’s social fabric — they’re places for community to gather, for families to enjoy themselves, and for people to connect across generations and cultures.
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Renters are on the front lines of our affordability crisis. Last month I launched my mayoral renters survey, and more than 8,900 people from across the city took the time to share their experiences trying to get by as renters in an expensive city.
People had a lot to say about high rents, and how tough it is when so much of your income goes to keeping a roof over your head. Another recurring theme was junk fees: the way some landlords and management companies nickel-and-dime people by tacking on things like “lease signing fees,” “package delivery fees,” and even “convenience fees” for using an app to pay the rent. (I have to pay one of those convenience fees myself.)
The response from renters was overwhelming (in a good way!) and my team is hard at work analyzing all this data. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be working with Councilmembers, hearing from landlords, and looking at the best approach to make things more affordable for Seattle renters.
Look out on social media and my blog for next steps, and if you completed the survey and shared your contact info, watch your inbox for a message from someone on my community relations team.
Building more housing is also part of the solution. Earlier this month I signed two ordinances sponsored by Councilmember Lin that eliminate out of date regulatory barriers and speed the permitting process. This will accelerate development timelines by as much as five to twelve months, helping us move more quickly to build the housing and shelter we need.
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I already knew Seattle is the greatest city in the world, so it was fun to see us recently get ranked as the best place to live in the US and one of the top 10 cities in the world. (Yes, we beat New England again.)
One of the reasons Seattle is such a great place is the 14,000 public servants who keep the city running. I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting a lot of incredible city employees this year, but I want to spend more time hearing from city employees about their work and showing it off to the world on our city social media accounts.
If you live in Seattle, work here, or just love the place, use this form to nominate a city employees who you think deserves the spotlight. And if you work at the city yourself, feel free to nominate yourself or a co-worker! I want to hear about front-line providers, behind-the-scenes administrators, and everyone in between. This is your city, and Seattle’s public servants are a big part of what makes us the best place to live in the whole country.
Your mayor,
Katie B. Wilson
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