Nickels Newsletter - August 2006

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying a safe and fun summer with family and friends. I know many of you enjoyed Seafair events, such as the Torchlight Parade and the hydro races. The high points for me are the summer events that celebrate our many diverse communities all across the city, from the Maple Leaf neighborhood ice cream social to the colorful Bon Odori festival.

We have also seen some tragedies -- the July attack on the women of the Seattle Jewish Federation shocked us all. The loss of 26-year-old Seattle Police Officer Lito Barber reminds us all of the risks our police officers may face every time they report for duty.

Through it all we continue to work on my four priorities -- keeping us safe, getting Seattle moving, creating jobs and economic opportunity for all, and building strong families and healthy communities.

As we head in to the fall, we are seeing more activity around the Alaskan Way tunnel project. The Downtown Seattle Association just released a study assessing the economic benefits of a tunnel. (Acrobat PDF 171 kb) The Expert Review Panel, appointed by the governor, will issue its findings on the tunnel project on Sept. 1. WSDOT will spend next week testing the condition of the Viaduct rebar. And just this week we unveiled a new underwater camera system to monitor deterioration along the Alaskan Way Seawall. We’ve learned from New Orleans not to wait for catastrophe to strike. The Seawall is our levee and is under constant attack by marine borers and worms. The deteriorating Seawall must be replaced, along with the Alaskan Way Viaduct, before Mother Nature does it for us.

And I’m in the midst of preparing a budget to deliver to Council at the end of September. I expect to be able to deliver a budget that invests in our priorities as we continue to experience an improved economy. A lot is happening. Stay tuned.

Sincerely,


GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle

Supreme Court narrowly upholds same-sex marriage ban

Last month the Washington State Supreme Court, by a narrow vote of 5-4, chose not to grant to gay and lesbian people the basic right everyone else enjoys -- the right to marry and share a life with the person they love. Although this was not the outcome we had hoped for, it is certainly not the end. We will continue to work until the laws of the land grant every American family the same protections, responsibilities and validity regardless of the gender of the parents. I am committed to this just cause and was proud to add my name to a full-page ad that ran in the New York Times in July.
View the ad - Acrobat PDF 135 kb

August is Catch a Cure for Cancer Month

In proclaiming August "Catch a Cure for Cancer Month," I joined with Jamie and Karen Moyer and local youth teams to encourage everyone to support the Gregory Fund for early cancer detection research. The fund is named for Gregory, a 2-year-old Jamie met in 1993. Gregory was being treated for leukemia and his prognosis was not good, but his parents brought him to our world-renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for a bone marrow transplant. Gregory was 3 years old then. Gregory is now 15, lives in Pennsylvania and is in good health. In 2003, Jamie joined with the Hutch to create the Gregory Fund. We are fortunate to have community charities like the Moyer Foundation working together with the Hutch to improve the chances of survival and quality of life for cancer patients. I hope you will be able to participate in some of the many fundraising efforts around town this month for this worthwhile cause.
Visit the Catch a Cure for Cancer Web site

"Bridging the Gap" proposal moves ahead

In May I proposed my 20-year plan to get us out of a $500 million transportation fix that has been growing for 35 years. The plan includes a commercial parking fee, a business transportation fee and a levy lid lift. Now with City Council approval of a strong transportation funding package, we are closer to accomplishing all of the major goals I outlined in my May proposal. The proposed levy lid lift, subject to voter approval this fall, would cost the owner of a median-valued Seattle home about $155 the first year. A recommended 10 percent commercial parking fee would be phased in over several years, and rounding out the plan is an annual business transportation fee of $25 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee, which is about 1 cent per hour per FTE. This is a great step forward in tackling our transportation problems and finally dealing with the growing backlog of repairs plaguing our city’s streets and bridges.
Read the news release

Transforming Seattle’s waterfront

It seemed only fitting that it was a beautiful summer day on our waterfront when I had the pleasure of joining with environmental, transportation and community leaders to unveil our “Central Waterfront Plan.” It envisions reclaiming the waterfront for civic space, public promenades, shoreline restoration, environmental improvements, historic preservation, education, arts and new connections to the city. This plan reflects the values we hold as a city and shows how we can create a waterfront for people -- a place where people can touch the water -- and get in touch with our past.
Read the news release
Read the plan

Renaissance on Capitol Hill

Broadway is to Capitol Hill what the Ave is to the U District -- the heart of the neighborhood. And great things are happening on Broadway. We are making a first investment of $125,000 and another $220,000 in City resources to do a major makeover of Broadway. The vibrancy and quality of life here keeps growing, with a revitalized Cal Anderson Park and more retail and housing. In March when I convened the Broadway Economic Vitality Action Agenda Team, I asked for plans that would continue the resurgence and make Capitol Hill an economically vital and livable urban community. The team of business owners, residents, property owners, developers, community leaders and the community college did a great job. Now we’re investing in Broadway and partnering with local businesses and community partners to leverage all of our efforts.
Read the news release

Hillman City P-Patch lives on

Through our P-Patch Program we provide community garden space for more than 4,600 urban gardeners in 44 Seattle neighborhoods. Not only do these gardeners cultivate wonderful produce, but they also cultivate a sense of community. And every P-Patch counts. I was pleased to send legislation, which the Council approved, that will save the P-Patch in Hillman City from losing much of its land. Now, instead of a parking lot, Hillman City will still be home to a thriving P-Patch where gardeners can continue to harvest good produce and goodwill.
Read the news release

Panama Hotel declared a National Historic Landmark

The city of Seattle is now the proud home of eight National Historic Landmarks -- the latest designation going to the Panama Hotel located at 605 S. Main St. and pictured here in 1929. This is the highest level of recognition for historic properties and is held by only 2,500 properties in the entire nation. The Panama Hotel was designed by Sabro Ozasa, one of the first Japanese-American architects of the time, and the first to practice in Seattle. It houses a Japanese-style bathhouse in the basement and is part of Seattle’s rich history. The Panama stands as a great symbol of Japanese-American contributions to building this city in the early 20th century. And the building still provides temporary lodging after more than 90 years.
Read the news release

City Light cuts rates for the first time in 35 years

As Seattle electricity customers, we have finally come to the end of the 2001 energy crisis. Thanks to prudent planning, good financial management, and living within our means, I was able to propose the most sizable rate cut for City Light customers for at least the past 35 years. Under my proposal, rates will drop 2.2 percent for residential customers, and 14 percent for medium-sized commercial customers. This sets the stage for steady and reliable power rates for City Light customers for years to come.
Read the news release