Nickels Newsletter - April 2006

Dear Friends,

There is comfort in predictability. With March comes "March Madness" and each year we anticipate an exciting month of college basketball at its best, but especially this year with our own Huskies' appearance. Then the unpredictable happened and March Madness took on a much darker meaning here in Seattle in a blue house on Capitol Hill. We may never know why six young lives were so violently cut down on that Saturday morning. While we grapple with trying to find a reason for this unspeakable act, reasonable people at least agree on what were not the reasons -- it was not the music, it was not out-of-control young people, and it was not parental irresponsibility. It was about a disturbed man who decided he was going to kill people and had the firepower to do it. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of these young people: Melissa Moore, Suzanne Thorne, Christopher Williamson, Justin Schwartz, Jeremy Martin, and Jason Travers.

For a couple of days Seattle again took center stage in the fight against global warming. Former Vice President Al Gore came to town to make his powerful presentation on the threat of global warming and my Green Ribbon Commission presented its report, calling on the entire Seattle community -- residents, businesses and government -- to make Seattle "the most climate-friendly city in the nation," by taking actions now to curb the harmful emissions that are contributing to global warming. I believe that if we take action in our city today, we will show other communities, states, and eventually the federal government, that we can choose a better future. And the word is spreading. We were featured in Time magazine,on ABC News, and now on the newsstands, the May issue of Vanity Fair.

As I reflect on the events in March, it's clear that we, as a city and as individuals, can come together and take the lead in trying to meet global challenges. But, we as a society still have far to go to prevent tragedies such as befell those young people in the primes of their lives in the very heart of our city.

Sincerely,


GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle

Vera Project moves to Seattle Center

It was a pleasure to announce our helping fund the Vera Project’s move to the Seattle Center. The project is a national leader in providing opportunities for youth through music. The money will go to renovating the Snoqualmie Room into a 9,000 square foot facility that includes performance space, a recording studio, classroom space, a café, an art studio, art gallery and administrative offices. Vera is conducting a $1.5 million capital campaign to build and equip the new venue. This is what music-loving teenagers need – a safe, fun place to explore their love of music. What better place to foster and encourage our youth than in the heart of our cultural community at Seattle Center.
Read the news release

Green Ribbon Commission presents recommendations

Culminating two days of events focusing on Seattle’s leadership in the fight against global warming, my Green Ribbon Commission presented its recommendations for how we can become the most climate-friendly city in the nation by taking actions now. The commission, which I convened last year, includes 18 leaders from Seattle's business, labor, nonprofit, government and academic communities. Over the next several months, the community will learn more about the commission’s recommendations through a series of events. I will use the recommendations and public input to create Seattle’s Climate Action Plan, to be released later this year.
Read the news release

Historic Cedar River Agreement with the Muckleshoot Tribe

Following 26 months of talks on unresolved issues, we reached agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe on a plan to ensure long-term benefits for fish and wildlife in the Cedar River. Subject to approval by the city council, the Muckleshoot Tribal Council and the federal district court, the historic pact settles both a 2003 federal lawsuit over Seattle’s withdrawal of water from the Cedar River, and a longstanding tribal claim over declining fish runs in the Cedar River/Lake Washington Basin. This long-overdue agreement puts things right between the city and the tribe. It’s great for salmon, great for our regional drinking water supply, and great for Seattle’s already strong relationship with the Muckleshoots.
Read the news release
Read the Settlement Agreement - Acrobat PDF 100kb

Meet Henny the arson dog

Our Fire Department's newest member is a 53-pound Black lab with a nose for sniffing out arson. Henny is more than a great dog, she is also a fire investigator’s best friend and she’ll help us crack some of the most difficult crimes to solve. Henny and her handler, Lt. Steve Baer, took six weeks of intensive training. These dogs are specially trained to sniff out commonly used ignitable liquids such as gasoline, paint thinner, kerosene, diesel or lighter fluid. Research has shown that arson dogs can detect traces of an accelerant down to one tenth of a part per million. Henny is one of three arson dogs in Washington State.
Read the news release

Making Seattle streets safe for walkers

We took another step forward in making Seattle streets safer for walkers by committing $2.5 million to my "Safe Crossings" campaign. This will go for crosswalk, sidewalk, and other critical improvements. Seattle is one of the best cities in the country for walking, and I want Seattle to be the best city for walking safely. We will continue to make our crosswalks safer, and reduce the chances of pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles. We can’t eliminate the hazards of everyday life, but we can reduce the risk at certain roadways, and reduce accidents in our crosswalks.
Read the news release
Read the Safe Crossings Program Fact Sheet - Acrobat PDF 25kb

Opposing federal firearms bill

At the end of March I wrote a letter to U.S. Reps. James Sensenbrenner Jr. and John Conyers Jr., opposing the Firearms Corrections and Improvement Act. I oppose the legislation because it would severely restrict the ability of our Police Department to investigate the sources of crime guns and stop those who illegally provide guns to criminals.
Read the news release

Viaduct is still on the move

The results of the recent semiannual inspection of the Viaduct show it continues to move. We are an inch and a half away from the day of reckoning. We have a responsibility to protect the people of Seattle and the region. We are poised to begin construction on the tunnel in early 2008. The tunnel can be completed sooner than building a larger aerial structure. Time and time again tunnels have proven to be safer in an earthquake than elevated structures. We can't afford to magnify past mistakes by building a bigger, uglier double-decker highway through the heart of our city.
Read more about the Alaskan Way Tunnel

Clean & Green in South Park

We had a great crew for the Clean & Green in South Park. A lot is happening in South Park -- Consejo, a Latino-based social service agency just opened a branch in the neighborhood, a new library will open next year, we’re making sidewalk improvements, and we awarded $150,000 in neighborhood matching funds for Cesar Chavez Park. Thanks to the South Park Neighborhood Association, South Park Community Center teens, Arts Council, Boxing Gym and the many volunteers who came out to help.

Celebrating the completion of the Interurban Trail segment

It was cause for celebration when we opened the one-mile segment of the Seattle-Everett interurban trail system between North 110th and North 128th. At the beginning of the 20th century, people traveled this corridor in interurban streetcars, now in the 21st century, people will travel by wheels and on foot. Planning for the regional Seattle-Everett trail system began in 1984 and is a joint effort between seven agencies in King and Snohomish Counties. I would like Seattle to be the most bicycle-friendly city in the nation – this trail brings us one trail closer to that title.