This week, the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena opened, and tomorrow night, our Seattle Kraken will play their first home game tomorrow night. I cannot wait for every resident to step foot in the new arena – it is a transformational destination to Seattle Center and our downtown.
One of the first things that I did as Mayor was move forward on this new arena. The agreement that I signed did not put the City on the hook for even a single cent of project construction, and even in the pandemic, our City departments worked hard to ensure the arena could open as quickly as possible. And every step of the way, we fought for a new hockey team and a place that could be home to our championship Seattle Storm and the Sonics.
Climate Pledge Arena is a space for all Seattle residents to enjoy sports, concerts, and events as we being to reopen and recover, and importantly, Climate Pledge is the world’s first net-zero arena for greenhouse gas emissions. No fossil fuels are consumed for the arena’s daily use.
Climate Pledge isn't the only recent investment we have made in our city’s facilities. We recently announced partnership with Seattle Pubic Schools that would allow the City of Seattle to work with the district to expand the scope, scale, and functionality of the new Memorial Stadium, with the City and private philanthropy providing additional funding.
Earlier this month, City Council passed legislation that would allow for a state-of-the-art training facility for the Seattle Storm to be built in Interbay. Seattle is always proud to be home to the four-time champions, the Seattle Storm, and legendary sports leaders like Sue Bird who inspire our community both on and off the court. We can ensure generations of young girls and our city will root for the Seattle Storm for years to come with the new Climate Pledge Arena and a new practice facility.
This weekend especially, welcoming the Kraken fans, and players, to the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena is a milestone in our City’s recovery. This team is great for our economy, and the City as a whole. As Seattle’s number one sports fan, and I am so excited to be here to finally add hockey to the list Seattle sports teams.
“Seattle has the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of every major city while having one of the highest vaccinations rate because we have followed the science and advice of public health officials. Vaccines keep our children, colleagues, and community safe,” said Mayor Durkan. “Over the last 20 months, our city employees and first responder have been on the frontlines of helping our
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With SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced this week, that the City will now accept applications for the Small Business Stabilization Fund (SBSF) provided by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED). OED will award an additional $4 million in grants to help stabilize micro and small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 as the City transitions from emergency response to economic recovery. This new round of the SBSF will provide $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 grants to be used on operational expenses such as rent, wages and equipment. Applications will be accepted from October 19, 2021, through November 9, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
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This week, King County Executive Dow Constantine was joined by Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, Public Health – Seattle & King County Interim Director Dennis Worsham, and Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce CEO Rachel Smith to kick off a vaccine verification preview campaign aimed at highlighting what businesses and customers can expect – and how to get prepared – once the new policy takes effect across King County on October 25.
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As part of the overall effort to bring the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to Seattle – the globe’s biggest sporting event that crowns an international champion of the world’s game every four years – Seattle’s local organizing committee today announced its official Executive Committee and officially revealed its brand marks and digital platform. Known as SEA 2026, the local organizing committee is a multi-agency organization representing years of hard work behind the scenes on behalf of several public and private entities that have been acting to ensure the Emerald City’s participation in this generational event. The Executive Committee will guide SEA 2026 in executing its vision for hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Seattle and its legacy, as well as serving as ambassadors for the City of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
A pile of raked leaves. Photo: Jeanne Clark
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In autumn, we all need to do our part to keep our sidewalks, planting strips, and gutters clear where we live or own a business.
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Even though it seems like winter is still far away – it’s important to get ready now for snowy, icy conditions before they arrive.
This time of year, it’s everyone’s responsibility to help clear fallen leaves to prevent the sidewalk from being a slipping risk when it gets wet or becomes frozen.
Clearing away leaves keeps the sidewalk safe and accessible so that everyone can travel, particularly people who have accessibility needs or have a harder time getting around. It’s not only the neighborly thing to do – it’s also the law. The area between your curb and property line, including sidewalks, planting strip areas, and vegetation, is your responsibility to maintain.
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Just hours before the deadline, the city of Seattle reported Monday morning that 99% of its employees are in compliance with the mayor’s vaccine mandate.
By 11:59 p.m. Monday, all Seattle city employees have to be vaccinated against COVID-19, per an August order by Mayor Jenny Durkan. As of Monday morning, 94% of the city’s 11,000 employees had been vaccinated, and an additional 5% had filed paperwork to be exempted from the order. The remaining 150, or about 1%, had not yet complied.
At a news conference Monday, Durkan said she was “so proud” of the compliance numbers, and made a last-minute plea to those who hadn’t filed paperwork.
Asked what would happen to those out of compliance at midnight, Durkan put the onus on employees to make the choice about maintaining their jobs.
“If people make the choice that they don’t want to keep their jobs because they don’t want to be vaccinated, they will have that choice,” she said. “I hope they don’t make it.”
Durkan also said the city would work with those employees who make an effort to comply.
“At 12:01, if they’re not vaccinated, it depends on whether there’s an exemption process or whether they just haven’t filed their paperwork,” she said. “Everyone has to be vaccinated, but we will try to provide a last chance for every city employee who has not complied with this. Our goal here is not to lose employees. Our goal is to get everybody vaccinated.”
In the Seattle Police Department, over 350 officers had not yet submitted proof of vaccination at the beginning of the month, causing concern about police staffing. But as of Monday morning, 91% of department employees and 90% of sworn personnel had been vaccinated. An additional 7% of department employees and 8% of sworn employees had filed for exemptions, according to information provided by Stephanie Formas, Durkan’s chief of staff.
The remaining 2% of the department — or 24 employees — had not submitted, as of the late-morning update.
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