Press Releases

Office of the Mayor Mayor Jenny A. Durkan

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan

City of Seattle

Mayor Durkan Applauds City Council Committee Vote to Advance Bill to Use New State Resources to Invest $50 Million in Permanent Supportive Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness

by

Seattle Poised to Take Advantage of New State Law That Allows Cities to Retain More Sales Tax to Fund Affordable Housing Development and Operations; City of Seattle and Mayor Durkan Had Advocated for New State Law in Olympia This Legislative Session  Seattle (August 1, 2019) – Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued the following statement […]

Transcript: Mayor Durkan Announces Two Initial Steps As Part of Her New “Housing Seattle Now” Plan

by

Seattle (July 24, 2019) –Today, at 12th Avenue Arts on Capitol Hill, Mayor Durkan laid out her vision for addressing Seattle’s housing crisis and announce her plan for a surge of new investments in housing for low- and middle-income families: “Housing Seattle Now.” Mayor Durkan also announced two initial new steps for “Housing Seattle Now” […]

Mayor Durkan Transmits Legislation to Renew, Improve Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program That Currently Provides Affordable Rent to Almost 4,500 Low- and Middle-Income Households in Apartment Buildings across Seattle

by

Improvement to Program Will Limit Rent Increases to No More Than 4.5 Percent Per Year So Apartments Can Remain Affordable; Program Expected to Support At Least Another 1,300 New Affordable Homes over the Next Three Years  Seattle  (July 24, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan transmitted legislation to City Council today to renew and improve the Multifamily Tax […]

Using New State Resources, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Announce Legislation to Invest at Least $50 Million in Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness

by

Seattle Will Be First City in Washington State to Take Advantage of New State Law That Allows Cities to Retain More Sales Tax to Fund Affordable Housing Development and Operations; City of Seattle and Mayor Durkan Had Advocated for New State Law in Olympia This Legislative Session    Seattle (July 24, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan […]

Mayor Jenny Durkan Disappointed in Council’s Irresponsible Vote to Create Budget Shortfall & Cut Funding for Vital Low-Income Programs

by

Mayor Durkan: “Because Council has refused to fund these vital programs or put forward a balanced plan, I will veto this bill.”  Council Legislation Changes Use of Short-Term Rental Tax and Sweetened Beverage Tax Revenue, Directly Eliminating Funding for Fresh Bucks, the Child Care Assistance Program for Low-Income Families and the Nurse Family Partnership, Which […]

Mayor Jenny Durkan Condemns City Council Plan That Would Cut $6.3 Million in Funding for Critical Services Like Food Banks and Child Care

by

Council Legislation Would Change Use of Short-Term Rental Tax and Sweetened Beverage Tax Revenue, Directly Eliminate Funding for Fresh Bucks, the Child Care Assistance Program for Low-Income Families and the Nurse Family Partnership, Which Provides Health Care to Low-Income Women Who Are Pregnant  Seattle (July 17, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today denounced a proposed […]

Mayor Jenny Durkan Commends City Council’s Confirmation of Bobby Humes, Her Nominee to Lead the Seattle Department of Human Resources

by

Seattle (July 15, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan commended the City Council’s 8-0 vote to confirm Bobby Humes, her nominee to serve as the permanent director of the Seattle Department of Human Resources (SDHR). Humes has served as the interim director of SDHR since February 2019. “Bobby is a dedicated public servant with a commitment […]

Mayor Durkan Condemns Trump Administration’s Threat to Escalate ICE Raids This Weekend

by

Seattle (July 11, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today responded to reports that beginning this weekend the Trump administration will escalate United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in communities across the United States. While Seattle is not on the initial list of cities where escalated raids are expected, the City of Seattle is […]

Mayor Durkan and Councilmember Herbold Announce City’s Next Steps to Protect Tenants from Eviction and Help Keep Seattle Residents in Their Homes

by

Mayor Has Directed the City to Update Tenant Protections Including the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance to Align with State’s New More Robust Residential Landlord-Tenant Act; Councilmember Lisa Herbold Will Also Introduce Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors from Being Held Liable for Property Damage Caused by Their Abusers Seattle (July 10, 2019) – As Seattle and […]

Mayor Durkan Signs Legislation to Create Path for More In-Law Apartments and Backyard Cottages by Reducing Regulatory Barriers, Also Signs Executive Order to Do More to Address Financial and Permitting Barriers

by

New Complementary Actions Work Together to Reduce Barriers for Development of More Accessory Dwelling Units in Single-Family Zoned Neighborhoods throughout Seattle  Seattle (July 9, 2019) – Standing next to a backyard cottage in the Whittier Heights community, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today signed legislation and an Executive Order to advance the development of more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like backyard cottages and in-law apartments in single-family zoned neighborhoods throughout Seattle.   Mayor Durkan signed legislation to loosen regulatory […]