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Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Newsletter

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*Neighbors and friends,*

As we close out the year and I end my term as mayor, I want to reflect on the progress we made together and the values that guided our work through moments of challenge and opportunity. In Seattle, we met uncertainty with action, and we continued to demonstrate that when we lead with compassion, collaboration, and accountability, we can deliver real results for our communities.

Together, we made real sustainable change to bring our city from the depths of the pandemic and put us on a new trajectory for a better future. Over the past four years, we made historic investments in affordable housing, including a record $349.5 million investment [ [link removed] ] – the largest in City history. We also rebuilt public safety by reversing officer staffing declines [ [link removed] ], reduced unauthorized tent encampments in public spaces by 80%; hired over 350 police officers while reducing crime, including a 42% decline in homicides in 2025; and established and made permanent the CARE Department’s unarmed behavioral health response – now a national model. My office recently published a summary report [ [link removed] ] of our shared record, including my reflections on the past four years. I encourage you to read it here [ [link removed] ].

Our work didn’t stop in 2025 [ [link removed] ], we made even further strides toward the city we want to be. Reflected in our 2025 End of Year Report [ [link removed] ], we worked to ensure neighborhood safety through police recruitment and expanded CARE Department behavioral health responses; deliver historic investments in affordable housing; protect and support communities, including LGBTQ+ residents, immigrants, and those in need of emergency assistance; and lead with compassion, innovation, and accountability to build a safer, more equitable, and opportunity-rich city.

In November, when Trump and Congressional Republican’s manufactured government shutdown led to federal SNAP funding [ [link removed] ] faced uncertainty, Seattle stepped up. I issued a Limited Civil Emergency [ [link removed] ] and directed up to $8 million in emergency food assistance to support local food banks and meal providers, ensuring families could continue putting food on the table. No Seattle resident should go hungry because of political dysfunction beyond our control, and we will always act to protect our most vulnerable neighbors.

This fall, voters overwhelmingly approved the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy – reaffirming Seattle’s commitment to a great future for youth and families in our city. I signed Seattle’s 2026 budget [ [link removed] ] into law, making strategic investments in public safety, housing, climate action, and essential services — while maintaining fiscal discipline and long-term stability. We also took steps to strengthen public safety and accountability by signing a new police contract that permanently expands CARE Department [ [link removed] ] roles, improves recruitment, and reinforces transparency. These developments reflect our shared belief that government must be both compassionate and effective.

We have so much to be proud of in this city, and there’s much more work to do. I wish Mayor-elect Wilson and her incoming administration all the best. Thank you for being part of this journey together. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your mayor.



Bruce signature

 



Bruce A. Harrell

Mayor of Seattle

*"Working Together to Build One Seattle"*

Read Building One Seattle: The Harrell Administration, 2022 - 2025 [ [link removed] ]

 

Read Building One Seattle - Year Four - 2025  [ [link removed] ]




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Driving Progress

This month has included multiple announcements driven by Mayor Harrell and his administration to build a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable city, including:


* Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Limited Civil Emergency [ [link removed] ]was unanimously confirmed by City Council. Due to ongoing uncertainty about the amount and timing of federal funding for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program [ [link removed] ] (SNAP), the City of Seattle will continue funding up to $1 million per week in emergency assistance to local food banks and meal services. The City will continue this support through the end of 2025 or until the federal government fully restores SNAP funding.  
* Mayor Bruce Harrell, Councilmember Maritza Rivera, leadership from the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), and education partners celebrated voters’ approval of City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 [ [link removed] ], the renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy [ [link removed] ]. 
* Mayor Bruce Harrell proclaimed the end of the City’s Limited Civil Emergency [ [link removed] ]issued on October 30 in response to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [ [link removed] ] (SNAP) funding uncertainty due to the federal government shutdown and efforts by the Trump Administration to withhold full payments to beneficiaries. Through this executive action, the City made $1 million in emergency funding available per week to contracted agencies to meet increased food demand citywide.  
* Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the City of Seattle’s 2026 budget [ [link removed] ] into law, totaling $8.9 billion in appropriations overall and $2.0 billion toward General Fund priorities.
* After two years of active participation, the City of Seattle is proud to announce the completion of its second and final year in the *United Nations Generation Restoration Program*. In recognition of Seattle’s strong climate-action leadership and long-standing commitment to restoring natural ecosystems*, **Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) *was selected  [ [link removed] ]to join the United Nation’s Generation Restoration  [ [link removed] ]cohort as a *“Role Model City”* — the only city in the United States to receive this distinction. 
* Mayor Bruce Harrell announced $27.8 million in awards [ [link removed] ] to 33 projects through the Equitable Development Initiative [ [link removed] ](EDI), part of the City’s effort to support property ownership among Seattle’s diverse communities in neighborhoods at high risk of displacement.
* Mayor Bruce Harrell signed a new contract [ [link removed] ] with rank-and-file Seattle police officers that will allow for the permanent expansion and direct dispatch of the CARE department’s crisis responder teams, marking a significant milestone for efforts to diversify emergency response options. The contract was approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

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Four Year Review
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During his four years in office, Mayor Harrell attended *1065 community events* throughout all Council districts, hearing directly from constituents and community leaders about their top priorities. He attended *364 press and media engagements*, demonstrating a commitment to open communication, transparency, and accountability.

Working to restore faith in local government, Mayor Harrell maintained an effective working relationship with the City Council. During his tenure, the Harrell Administration transmitted *639 pieces of legislation* that were passed by the City Council, over *90% (578 bills) were unanimously approved* by the Council, and none were voted down. Mayor Harrell appointed *29 department directors* that were approved by Council, putting diverse, community-focused leaders at over half of the City’s 40 departments.

Over the course of four years, the Harrell Administration created, preserved, and funded* 8,200 *affordable homes; reduced unauthorized tent encampments in public spaces by *80%*; hired over* 350 police officers* while reducing crime, including a *42% decline in homicides in 2025*; and established and made permanent the CARE Department’s unarmed behavioral health responders – now a national model. Read more about the Harrell Administration’s record here [ [link removed] ].

In 2025 alone, Mayor Harrell attended *270 **community engagements* across Seattle to hear from residents, attended *95 press events*, *passed 182 bills*, confirmed *4* department directors, and proposed and signed the City’s 2026 budget [ [link removed] ].

Read Building One Seattle: The Harrell Administration, 2022 - 2025 here [ [link removed] ].

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Building One Seattle
Mayor Harrell and First Lady

Mayor Harrell, Seattle's 57th mayor, delivered his concession speech on November 13 from City Hall. He thanked the public, his supporters, his cabinet, and local leaders for their partnership and collaboration. Harrell also congratulated mayor-elect Katie Wilson and pledged to support her team throughout the transition.

Watch here [ [link removed] ].

















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