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Sincerely,


GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle

It was a great day for a streetcar ride. On schedule and on budget, we officially dedicated the South Lake Union streetcar and now it's rolling along its 1.3 mile route between South Lake Union and Westlake Center. Hundreds of people came out to celebrate and ride the streetcar on its first day of operation. And for the month of December all trips are free. This streetcar line is more than just wheels and rails. It’s a commitment to the future of our city -- the first of what I hope will be a network connecting our city’s neighborhoods.
Learn more about the Seattle Streetcar

And more good news -- since 2004, the growth in housing and jobs in South Lake Union has outpaced our projections. A study we commissioned in 2003, projected just over 6,400 jobs would be created between 2000 and 2007, and predicted the neighborhood would add just over three million square feet of new homes, offices, labs and retail space between 2004 and 2007. Instead, as of October 2007, we now estimate nearly 7,000 jobs have been created and we’re at more than four million square feet. Our vision of transforming this once neglected area of our city into a diverse and thriving neighborhood is becoming a reality.
Read more about projections

We all know it's getting harder for many people to afford decent housing. Twice a year we award funding for multifamily housing projects in different parts of Seattle. In this funding round, we focused on housing for working families, specifically in the Rainier Valley and the Central Area and awarded $14 million to four projects -- two in southeast Seattle near light rail train stations, a development in the Central Area and housing for chronically homeless individuals in Belltown. These projects will help us in our efforts to keep Seattle an affordable place to live for working families and to end homelessness in our community. In southeast Seattle, the new homes will help maintain the wonderful diversity of this neighborhood and ensure that those who live there today will benefit from the changes taking place as light rail opens.
Read the news release

Watch Mayor Nickels sing the praises of Seattle Opera's move to Mercer Arena

Just as the fat lady was about to sing for Mercer Arena, we have found a new use for this old mothballed building. It will house Seattle Opera’s operations -- administrative, rehearsal, educational, technical support, costume and scenic studio space. Currently these functions are spread out into several facilities throughout the greater Seattle area. Our Opera company is the sixth largest in the country and the largest employer of theatrical trades in the state. This is a great opportunity to make this art form more popular by bringing the back of the house into the public eye and allowing the Opera to expand its extensive educational programs. Bravo!
Read the news release

The good news is that the rate of reported major domestic violence crimes in Seattle has fallen about 36 percent in the past decade, according to a new report just released this month. But domestic violence continues to be a pervasive and destructive societal problem that affects individuals of all socioeconomic, racial, gender, age and other demographic groups. This first biennial report on domestic violence in Seattle aims to raise public awareness on all aspects of domestic violence. We are making progress in keeping people safe, but domestic violence is a problem we must work even harder to end.

I had the pleasure of celebrating the reopening of another one of our branch libraries in the Broadview neighborhood. These events are always major community celebrations. The people of Seattle love their libraries and Seattle always ranks as one of the smartest and most literate cities in the country -- I think there's a correlation here. With the reopening of Broadview's branch, we have kept our commitment to the voters on this Libraries for All project -- it's on time and on budget. And the new library has almost twice the space, growing from 8,400 square feet to 15,000 square feet, with an updated collection of books, more seating, more computers, a larger meeting room, and a lot of energy efficient features. We have just two more branches left to renovate under Libraries for All -- Magnolia and Sally Goldmark in the Madrona neighborhood. I look forward to those openings.

I am pleased to announce my nomination of Julie Nelson to head up the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR). Julie has worked for the City since 1988 and most recently has served as the acting director of SOCR. Julie not only has excellent qualifications, but she also has a real commitment to civil rights and understands the challenges ahead as Seattle’s population becomes more diverse. I’m confident Julie will provide the leadership to ensure Seattle remains an inclusive and livable city for all of our residents.
Read the news release