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A little over two years ago, when I was sworn in as Mayor of Seattle, I promised the people of Seattle that I would act with urgency to surge our investments in housing for our low- and middle-income neighbors.
We need more housing in every part of this city. And we need it as quickly as we can get it.
It?s getting harder and harder for low-income and middle-income people to live in Seattle. The lack of affordable housing is helping fuel our homelessness crisis. And rising costs and the lack of affordable housing has had a direct and disproportionate impact on communities of color in Seattle.
Over the last two years, I?ve gone to work every day to deliver on that promise. And working with community and our partners across the region, we?ve made some progress.
In 2017 and 2018, the City and its partners invested over $700 million to build more housing for our low- and middle-income neighbors.
Working with City Council, we brought affordable housing choices through the Mandatory Housing Affordability law.
We?ve moved ahead on building affordable housing at Magnolia?s Fort Lawton.
We?ve lowered the barriers for more backyard cottages and in-law apartments.
This summer, I announced our ?Housing Seattle Now? initiative to deliver a new surge of investments in both low- and middle-income housing.
 And my 2020 budget plan that I signed into law on November 27 keeps that momentum for more affordable housing going.
With that budget, we are investing nearly $80 million from the sale of underused, City-owned properties on Mercer Street to build and support more affordable housing and prevent displacement.
We took advantage of a new state law that lets us use existing revenues and add another $25 million this year to awards to build more housing.
And my Fare Share plan I signed last month makes sure we can invest another $52 million in housing near transit over the next five years.
We?ve done a lot. But there?s so much more work to do.
That?s why we?re going to take some more big steps next week on more housing options for Seattle. On Monday, I?ll announce some new ? and historic ? investments in more housing. And later in the week, we?ll move ahead on considering more ways to create more homes ? both for rent and for sale ? that are affordable to our middle-income neighbors, like teachers, nurses, and construction workers.
I am excited to share more details with you next week on what we?re doing for more housing options in Seattle. Please stay tuned!
In the meantime, I hope you have a great weekend. Please 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. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
 Last month, Mayor Durkan and Chief of Police Carmen Best announced that, to help enhance public safety for Seattle residents and visitors during the holiday season, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) would begin extra holiday patrols in nine areas across Seattle. Those extra patrols are now underway, and will run through December, with SPD deploying specific plans on New Year?s Eve.
Click here to learn more.
Almost one year ago, Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and regional leaders announced a series of steps they will take to?unify our region?s homelessness prevention and response system. Since August, there?s been valuable input and feedback on the plan for realizing that vision from service providers, people with lived experience, mayors, elected officials, City councilmembers, County councilmembers, and Sound Cities Association members who have been part of the working group as well as the Regional Policy Committee.
On Thursday, the King County Council?s Regional Policy Committee voted unanimously to approve the transition to this regional approach to homelessness.
?I applaud the members of the Regional Policy Committee for moving the proposal forward. Our crisis doesn?t end at our City borders, and we have seen suburban cities committed to this new regional entity,? said Mayor Durkan. ?Their support of this plan reflects our shared principles and sets us down the path of embracing this chance to more effectively address homelessness in the region.?
The plan will now go before the King County Council and Seattle City Council.
Read Mayor Durkan?s full statement here.
This week, the City of Seattle celebrated its 150th anniversary since being incorporated! Seattle was officially incorporated on December 2, 1869, when we became the very first city in King County.
While the City was officially incorporated 150 years ago, we must remember that Indigenous people have lived on these lands since time immemorial. This week and every day, we remember that we are honored to reside in Coast Salish territories.?
If you have a moment, we encourage you to explore the Seattle at 150 archive, which tells the story of Seattle?s history through objects in the City?s archives. Click here to explore the archive.
 Arboretum Winter Sale: Saturday, December 7, 10:00 a.m. ? 3:00 p.m.
Don?t miss this popular annual holiday sale on December 7, 2019. It features a?great?selection of botanical decorations and nature-inspired gifts, including many local, seasonal specialty items.
Presents with a purpose: Shop for everyone on your list, while helping support maintenance, environmental education, and volunteerism at the Arboretum!
What You?ll Find
- Pre-bundled, fresh-cut loose greens:?Donated to the Foundation by area gardeners and Arboretum horticulturists.
- A?unique?selection of holiday wreaths and centerpieces, hand-crafted by Foundation volunteers.
- Nature-inspired gifts and stocking stuffers: Including locally crafted jewelry, garden decor, and soaps.
- Whimsical ornaments, for decorating holiday trees, mantelpieces, and more.
- Local honey: From beehives managed by the?Puget Sound Beekeepers Association.
- Bird-seed pine cones, handmade by Foundation volunteers.
- Kids games and activities?hosted by?UW Botanic Gardens
- Free hot drinks: Warm up with complimentary beverages, including coffee, hot chocolate, and cider.
The 33rd Annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition: Friday, December 6; 6:00 p.m. ? 8:30 p.m.
Ballard Holidayfest: Saturday, December 7; 2:00 p.m. ? 5:00 p.m.
33rd Annual Dickens Fair: Saturday, December 7; 10:00 a.m. ? 4:00 p.m.
Winterfest at Seattle Center: Through December 31
 For this edition of the Weekend Read, we encourage you to check out KING5?s story on the Seattle Department of Transportation?s (SDOT) preparations for another season of winter weather. SDOT deployed their snow plows and other equipment on streets across Seattle this week to help ensure the City is prepared to keep residents, goods, and transit moving during potential winter storms. The story begins:
It's all hands on deck for the city of Seattle and the Department of Transportation as they prepare their snowplows and other equipment for the winter season.
Snowplow operators were up bright and early Thursday to hit the streets of Seattle while they're still dry for a test run.
?It?s a good change of pace from what we?re usually doing,? said Roman Brazier, a Senior Construction Maintenance Equipment Operator for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).
Read more
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