Also in this issue: Be There Rally, Seattle's first Resilience Report, and an update from the Innovation Advisory Council

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Today marks the start of a new era in the fight against homelessness not just for the City of Seattle, but for our entire region.

For years, leaders in our region have talked about the need for one unified regional system that has governance, authority, and resources to address the crisis of homelessness.

So today after months of really hard work and shared commitment King County Executive Dow Constantine and I are both transmitting legislation to finally create that system our region needs and that people deserve: the King County Regional Homelessness Authority [ [link removed] ].

With this new step, we are taking years of talk and turning it into action.

This new entity we are creating wont prevent everyone from falling into homelessness in the first place, and, it wont help every person experiencing homelessness transition into a safer place.

But its a historic step. It will help us do more to prevent homelessness, to serve people experiencing homelessness, and to center race and social justice in everything we do.

Three-photo collage of Mayor Durkan, Colleen Echohawk and Mayor Nancy Backus speaking at Regional Governance event.

Ive long said that truly addressing this challenge will take everyone at the table: government, business, service providers, people with lived experience, communities of faith, and so many more. We are coming together because we need to tackle this together.

In the last two years, weve seen more alignment in our region than ever before.

Last year, working closely with King County, we increased our shelter capacity by 25% - the largest increase in shelter capacity in the history of Seattle. Weve also expanded our Navigation Team to help us reach more people experiencing homelessness than ever before. And this May, the annual Point in Time count showed the first decline in homelessness in Seattle and King County since 2012 [ [link removed] ].

We need to keep that progress going, and thats why this next step to unify our regional response is so important.

True regional participation is critical to the success of this new homelessness authority. Thats why weve knocked down barriers that can otherwise limit participation: We have invited cities and housing authorities across King County to join us either immediately, or at their own pace over time.

I know that sometimes people feel that government cannot come together to take new steps to tackle some of the biggest challenges but today, we showed we can.

Three-photo collage of Mayor Durkan and Executive Constantine shaking hands, CM Sally Bagshaw and members of the lived experience coalition speaking

I will keep you updated as we continue the important work of unifying our regions response to the crisis of homelessness and work together for a better future.

As always, please continue to write me [email protected], reach out viaTwitter [ [link removed] ]andFacebook [ [link removed] ], and stay up-to-date on the work were doing for the people of Seattle onmyblog. [ [link removed] ]

Sincerely,

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan's SignatureSpacer
Mayor Durkan, Chief Best and Superintendent Juneau Welcome Students Back to School at West Seattle Elementary

Screencap of Mayor Durkan's tweet welcoming West Seattle Elementary School Students back for the new school year

Photos courtesy of Marcus Donner

At the fourth annual Be There Rally, Mayor Durkan joined Chief of Police Carmen Best, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Denise Juneau, and members of the community to welcome West Seattle Elementary school kids back to school for the first day of classes. The Be There Rally is an opportunity for the community to come together to greet and encourage kids as they enter into the new school year.

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Seattle Releases Its First-Ever Resilience Roadmap

As a member of the former 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) network, Seattle committed to increasing our capacity to survive and thrive, regardless of the challenge. Our first-everResilience Roadmap [ [link removed] ]lays out a path to do exactly this. It includes our vision for a city of the future and outlines how our City can become more resilient to the shocks and stresses facing many major cities today.

Read the full roadmap here. [ [link removed] ]

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Mayor Durkans Innovation Advisory Council Releases Update on Work and Progress

Established by Mayor Durkan via executive order in August 2018, the Innovation Advisory Council acts as an advisor on issues and policies affecting the City where data and technology solutions could be of benefit.

Two image collage of IAC members during a meeting at the Artefact studios in Seattle

Since its creation in August 2018, the Innovation Advisory Council has been working on seven phase one projects focused on solutions for homelessness, affordability, and delivery of basic services. Many of these projects are nearing completion, with all of them expected to launch either in beta or as a final product by the end of 2019.Recently, the Innovation Advisory Council released an update on the work that has gone into identifying the next phase of projects.

Read more [ [link removed] ]
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Seattle Police and Fire Departments to Host 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Seattle Center
Social media post for the 9/11 memorial featuring SPD and SFD logos

Members of the public are invited to join first responders from the Seattle Police and Fire Departments on Sept. 11 as they commemorate the 18th anniversary of 9/11. This is an opportunity to gather as a community to remember the lives that were lost that day and the lives that were forever changed. Mayor Jenny Durkan, Police Chief Carmen Best and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins will speak at the event, followed by a Moment of Silence. The honor guards from both departments, and the Seattle Fire Pipes and Drums will be part of the ceremony.

*WHEN:*Wednesday, Sept. 11 from noon - 12:30 p.m.

*WHERE:*Seattle Center Memorial Garden (south of the International Fountain) 305 Harrison St., Seattle* *

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Recommended Read: Washington Post: What American workers need most

For this editions recommended read, we encourage you to read Mayor Durkans op-ed in the Washington Post about the unique challenges facing workers today and what we must do to address these challenges.

"We are living through the most disruptive era since the ""Industrial Revolution" [ [link removed] ]". From lifesaving discoveries to green technologies to better ways to stay connected, the new economys gains have been enormous. But, for too many workers, the shifts have been dramatic and unsettling. Hard-fought worker protections, wages and benefits have faded along with the brick and mortar of the old economy."

"Now, long-term jobs are ""giving way to gig work" [ [link removed] ]". Real wages have ""barely budged" [ [link removed] ]" for workers. ""For many Americans" [ [link removed] ]", owning a home is out of reach. The transition is threatening the fabric of our country. We need to change course."

Read the full op-ed [ [link removed] ]





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