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Less than a decade ago, Seattleites voted to tax themselves to invest in transit and critical transportation projects through the creation of the Seattle Transportation Benefit District.
And on Tuesday, Seattleites again voted for transit, for free ORCA for our young people and low-income residents, for bike and pedestrian safety, and for safer roads by rejecting a ballot measure, I-976, that would cut millions of dollars from the Seattle Transportation Benefit District.
Here in Seattle, we vote with our ballot. And every day, we vote with our ridership, too. That's why we are one of the few major American cities where transit ridership is actually going up.
But unfortunately, I-976 ? Tim Eyman?s latest gambit ? was approved statewide.
The cuts required by this initiative would be potentially catastrophic for Seattle and our region at a time when we need to invest in more transit, not less.
I-976 will require $24 million in cuts from Metro bus service and ORCA Opportunity and $8 million in cuts from basic services, like filling potholes ? right in the middle of the Seattle Squeeze when we?re doing all we can to get more people out. But I-976 doesn?t just jeopardize our public transportation service, it also restricts the amount of money we can invest in critical public safety infrastructure improvements like building traffic circles or repairing potholes.
I-976 would hurt the public by:
- Cutting more than 100,000 hours of bus service;
- Taking away a free ORCA pass from 12,000 high schoolers and 1,500 low-income residents; and
- Making our roads more dangerous, because fewer potholes will be fixed.
 As Mayor, my core job is to protect the will of Seattle voters and provide critical services like transit.
This measure is not only unfair and unwise, it?s unconstitutional. That is why on Thursday City Attorney Pete Holmes announced litigation to fight I-976.
We respect the right of voters in other communities to decide what is best for their community. But the state should not override Seattle voters and tell us how to invest our tax dollars in our priorities.
The Seattle Transportation Benefit District is a taxing authority granted to us as a City, and we believe we have a strong case defending that right.
If implemented, I-976 will create irreparable harm on people who rely on public transportation the most: our young people and low-income seniors, our neighbors with disabilities, and residents of every neighborhood who don't own a car and rely on transit and transportation services to get around. We need bus lines that run frequently, and at all hours of the day so our communities can get to work, to school, or anywhere else.
As always, please continue to write me at?[email protected], reach out via?Twitter?and?Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we?re doing for the people of Seattle on?my?blog.
Sincerely,
 
 Earlier today, Mayor Durkan, Sounders FC General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey and fans raised the Sounders FC flag over City Hall to show our support for their upcoming 2019 MLS Cup match against Toronto FC that will take place this Sunday, November 10 at Seattle?s CenturyLink Field.?
In addition, Mayor Durkan and Toronto Mayor John Tory also made a friendly bet on the outcome of the match. If Toronto FC wins, Mayor Durkan will:
- Send Mayor Tory three albums from Seattle-area artists, including Brandi Carlile?s "By The Way, I Forgive You"; TacoCat?s "This Place Is A Mess"; and Nirvana?s "Nevermind";
- Send a basket from Seattle Made;
- Light Seattle City Hall up in red on the following Friday; and
- Wear a Toronto FC scarf for a full day.
If the Sounders prevail, Mayor Tory would:
- Send three albums from Toronto-area artists, including Drake's "Take Care"; The Weeknd's "Starboy"; Blue Rodeo's "Lost Together";
- Send a basket of Toronto-made products;
- Light the giant Toronto sign in front of City Hall green on the following Friday; and
- Wear a Sounders FC scarf for a full day.
 Go Sounders!
 This past Monday, Mayor Durkan, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, and Councilmember Sally Bagshaw launched Seattle?s new ?Health One? unit into service to help address non-emergency 9-1-1 calls downtown. Beginning this week, the Health One unit, which is staffed with a team of specially trained Seattle Fire Department (SFD) firefighters and a civilian social worker, will help people with non-emergency 9-1-1 requests for issues like substance use, non-emergency medical issues, and a need to access services.
Read more about Health One
 This week, Mayor Durkan had the opportunity to visit the construction site of the new arena at Seattle Center. From the beginning of development for this new arena, the City had two goals: to get the best possible deal for Seattle and our taxpayers and create a world-class sports and music facility for the next 50 years. The redevelopment of the arena at Seattle Center has helped to create good, family-wage jobs and make critical investments in transportation.
The finished arena will be home to a brand new Seattle NHL team, the three-time championship winning Seattle Storm, incredible musical talent ? and maybe someday even our Seattle Sonics. Stay up to date on development of the new arena here.
This weekend, the SR99 tunnel begins tolling. From our partners at WSDOT:
The SR 99 tunnel will have a toll in both directions.?Tolls will be collected via cameras; there will be no toll booths.?Tolling will begin Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019.
Toll rates will range from $1 to $2.25 for drivers with a?Good To Go!?pass, depending on time of day. Drivers without a?Good To Go!?account will pay an extra $2 per toll. Toll rates will also be higher for vehicles with more than two axles. The toll rates were set by the?Washington State Transportation Commission?in October 2018 after a five-month-long public input process.
MLS Cup Match Sounders FC v. Toronto FC: Sunday, Nov 10; 12:00 p.m.
For the first time in club history, the Seattle Sounders will host the MLS Cup at CenturyLink field as they take on Toronto FC . Tickets are sold out, but the Seattle Times has helpfully put together a list of places where you can watch the game.
ShortRun Comix + Art Festival: Saturday, Nov. 9th, 2019, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
NW Chocolate Festival: Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov 10
Hmong New Year Celebration: Saturday, Nov. 9
 For this edition of the weekend read, we encourage you to read why small business owners in Seattle are supporting the Mayor?s Fare Share plan in the Seattle Times:
One effect of being the fastest growing city over the last decade and skyrocketing housing costs is that it?s made it harder and harder for hourly workers like our employees to live in the same communities where they work. Think about your barista, your server at your favorite restaurant, or the nursing assistant at your doctor?s office. Too many of them have been pushed out of the same communities they serve. For many, getting to work now means an expensive, long and frustrating commute into Seattle.
That?s why we believe the city and our region needs to do more to invest in housing, especially near transit.
Mayor Jenny Durkan?s ?Fare Share? plan for Uber and Lyft is a step in the right direction. As small business owners, here?s why we support it:
First, it would ensure Uber and Lyft follow the same wage regulations we as small business owners have been following for several years. With this proposal, Uber and Lyft drivers would make at least a minimum wage after expenses. No worker in Seattle should earn below the minimum wage.
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