Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Newsletter

Dear friends and neighbors,

Yesterday, we received the wonderful news that Seattle will be one of just a few host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As one of the best soccer cities in the country, Seattle is ready to show the world what makes our city exceptional and set an example as we foster community through competition, togetherness through teamwork, and civic pride through united action.

As mayor, my commitment to you is to bring our communities together in pursuit of shared progress and a better city for every resident. Last month, we brought this principle to life with the first ever One Seattle Day of Service, uniting 4000 people through more than 125 community service events. This day is a symbol for what we can achieve together – and we’re just getting started.

Screen Capture of Video of One Seattle Day of Service with Play Button

Click here to view a video on this effort. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to organizing more Days of Service in the future.

We also recently released our One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan and public-facing dashboard. For the first time, we are presenting to the public never-before-collected data about the state of the crisis, as well as our efforts to address it. In responding to this crisis, we are leading with transparency, collaboration, compassion, urgency, and action.

Finally, this Sunday is Juneteenth, which we will for the first time recognize as a City of Seattle holiday. The oldest national celebration marking the end of slavery, Juneteenth is a reminder of the joy marked by the arrival of federal troops in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed.

I was proud to sign the legislation making this observance official and recognizing the values we associate with this special day, and which we aim to make real here in the city of Seattle: opportunity, justice, and freedom.

In that spirit, as part of our One Seattle Mayor’s Concert Series, I am excited to invite and welcome the public to a free concert this Sunday on Juneteenth at 6:00 PM at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. In collaboration with community churches and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, this event will center the diverse musical traditions that have creatively evolved from Black communities including gospel music, jazz, R&B, and hip hop. You can learn more and get your free ticket at one-seattle.ticketleap.com/juneteenth. I hope you can join us.

Thank you,

Bruce A. Harrell
Mayor of Seattle
Working Together to Build One Seattle

Mayor Harrell at FIFA World Cup Announcement Event

One Seattle is ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What We're Taking Action

Bruce Harrell Press Conference at Woodland Park

Addressing Homelessness with Urgency and Compassion

The City is charting a new path forward on homelessness with our One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan to create more places to live, bring people indoors, and help residents in new ways. This approach was seen in action at the Woodland Park encampment, where after extensive engagement we made a record 89 referrals to shelter and housing as we cleared the last large park-based encampment.

- One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan
- Read more about the plan and what people are saying
- Addressing Homelessness at Woodland Park

Responding to Unprecedented Gun Violence

It has been nearly a decade since the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary school and following mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde the sense of anguish and frustration, hurt and mourning, is all too familiar. Mayor Harrell has been leading the call for the state to give cities the freedom to set their own gun laws, along with joining the national Mayors Against Illegal Guns initiative to demand Congress act to protect our communities and children.

- Seattle Lights Up Orange for Gun Violence Awareness Day Day
- Mayor Harrell’s Statement on the Uvalde School Shooting
- Mayor Harrell’s at the Seattle King County NAACP gun violence memorial

Taking Steps to Improve Public Safety

To ensure public safety, Seattle needs the right leadership up top. Mayor Harrell has launched national searches for a Police Chief and Director for the Office of Police Accountability. Placing a priority on improving public safety and public trust, Mayor Harrell has been visiting with police officers and seeking their input as he works to address SPD's staffing crisis.

- Mayor Harrell Launches Police Chief Search, Seeks Community Input
- Forum with Office of Police Accountability Director Candidates
- Mayor Harrell’s Response to the Federal Monitor’s Report
- Mayor Harrell Praises Seattle Police Management Association Contract

Mayor Harrell with Efrem Fesaha and SBA PNW Administrator Mike Fong

Celebrating Seattle and Our Exceptional Communities

Seattle’s future is bright thanks to entrepreneurs like Efrem Fesaha who won the Small Business Administration's Small Business Person of the Year award in Washington and projects like the Village Gardens which will provide affordable housing through an innovative community-driven model. As we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Seattle’s World Fair, let's embrace that same spirit of innovative thinking to move forward.

- Efrem Fesaha’s Boon Boona Coffee Celebration
- Village Gardens Ribbon Cutting
- 60th Anniversary of Seattle’s World Fair

President Biden hands Mayor Harrell the pen from his Executive Order

Building a Sustainable Seattle

Seattle celebrated Earth Day with President Biden, who signed a climate Executive Order at Seward Park, and the City opened a new solar microgrid at the Miller Community Center. In June, we marked more milestones in our re-opening of parks and events with a ribbon cutting at the Pratt Park Spraypark and the first Seattle Animal Shelter Furry 5k race since the pandemic started.

- Watch President Biden’s Speech at Seward Park
- Learn about Miller Community Center’s Solar Microgrid
- See Photos from the Spraypark Ribbon Cutting
- See Photos from the Furry 5k

Mayor Harrell stands with advocates encouraging immigrants to become naturalized US citizens

Making Seattle a Welcoming City by Leading with Inclusion

Everyone should feel safe and welcome in Seattle. Mayor Harrell is committed to uplifting and showcasing that inclusivity – from celebrating all expressions of love and identity by raising the Pride flag at City Hall to supporting naturalization for immigrant communities and partnering with local ethnic and multicultural media outlets to find new ways to reach and support Seattle's diverse communities.

- 2 Million by 2022 Naturalization Event Photos
- City’s Pride Flag Raising Ceremony
- Mayor Harrell’s Ethnic and Multicultural Media Roundtable

Meeting Other Mayors

In May, Mayor Harrell met with fellow mayors in the Bay Area and on the East Coast before joining the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Reno, Nevada in June. These kinds of meetings allow Seattle to learn and share the best lessons from other cities facing similar challenges, while also identifying new partnerships and future opportunities to collaborate.

Mayor Harrell meets with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff (displaying multiple NBA Championship rings)

In California, Mayor Harrell met with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. Mayor Schaff showed off the Warriors' well-earned championship rings (with another now on the way), which only further stoked Mayor Harrell's commitment to bringing back our Sonics.

On the East Coast, Mayor Harrell met with Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. He also met with national leaders, including former mayors like Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, to advocate for continued federal investment and support.

Mayor Harrell stands with mayors from across the country at the US Conference of mayors

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor Harrell joined mayors from across the country to discuss best practices, new ideas, and solutions to the issues facing communities. The conference also featured visits from Vice President Kamala Harris and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to highlight additional ways cities can partner with the federal government.

What We’re Hearing From Constituents

"Thank you so very much for taking care of the people living long term in Woodland Park. I've watched them live there through snow, pouring rain and horrible heat. It was a terrible situation - for the people and for the park. Thank you so much for keeping your promises and finding these people proper housing and returning the park to its intended purpose, available for all to enjoy." – Lisa B., 5/10/22

"Thank you (and your team) so much for organizing the One Seattle volunteering day. It was such a breath of fresh air to see SO many generous, caring, and committed people come together to care for our city in a positive and productive way." – Ellen G., 5/25/22

"Congrats on creating the homelessness dashboard. It is so smart to have a place for all data on this subject, so you politicians and we citizens can readily access all the relevant info. Please keep us updated on your actions and data collections regarding homelessness. I sincerely thank you for actually making a real difference." – Rosemary F., 6/01/22

"Thank you, Mayor Harrell, for creating an environment of hope and one where everyone pulls together to rebuild our city and neighborhoods!" – Paula M., 5/12/22

Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Newsletter

What We're Taking Action

Meeting Other Mayors

What We’re Hearing From Constituents

Follow Mayor Harrell on Social Media