Whether he’s on the radio, or live on Facebook to address affordable housing plan questions, at the C40 Mayor’s Summit in Mexico City talking about city-led climate action or issuing a ‘sanctuary cities’ response to President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to deport immigrants, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has been a prominent figure in local government news in 2016.
One reason the Seattle mayor makes headlines and garners media traffic is because how the fast growing city develops will provide lessons for all municipalities and metro regions projecting growth. Seattle’s population increased by 2.3 percent between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015, making it fourth among the 50 largest U.S. cities, and the region’s growth has reached historic highs.
As a result, Murray’s administration is overseeing some of the most interesting and fastest developing public transportation projects in the country. He’s entertaining efforts to rebuild KeyArena or build a new arena, which could usher a return of the NBA or bring in the NHL, and must weigh how siting a new arena could affect traffic to Seattle’s port. Dominating the agenda, the nation is watching how the Murray administration’s actions will address the city’s homelessness and the affordable housing crisis.
Gov1 asked Mayor Murray for his insights on aspects of city government that residents have high expectations of -- housing, transportation and civic progress -- and his responses in the following Q&A provide a glimpse not only into his leadership, but what he thinks all cities should be working on.
What have been your three greatest challenges in terms of housing and homelessness in 2016?
Mayor Murray: The greatest challenge with housing and homelessness has been the decades-long decline in federal and state resources. This has been compounded by skyrocketing housing costs, an opioid epidemic and a lack of access to mental health services and facilities. These issues are intertwined and cities alone cannot solve these complex, national problems. However, we have made progress by doubling our city housing levy and requiring all new development to contribute to affordable housing. We are working with our regional partners to find ways to reduce harm and public health impacts from opioid abuse. And we were pleased to see that [Washington Governor Jay Inslee] increased funding for mental health services in his latest budget proposal. However, only with the return of robust state and federal resources will we begin to make lasting progress for people experiencing homelessness or on the brink of having no home.
Where do you see Seattle in terms of transportation achievements in the next five years?
Mayor Murray: Seattle voters have stepped up to ensure the region has a 21st Century transportation system and we will see these investments come online in the next few years. In 2014, voters approved increasing bus service in Seattle to the highest levels in history, which will continue in the years to come. Seattle approved the Move Seattle levy by a wide margin, which creates new Rapid Transit lines, protected bike lanes and better pedestrian access over the next five years. Two new LINK Light Rail stations will open in the University District and Northgate by 2021, connecting our northern neighborhoods and job centers with the rest of Seattle and our international airport. And in November, regional voters approved a $50 billion package expanding the LINK Light Rail system to cities across the Puget Sound in the decades to come. During a time when we see less investment -- and innovation? -- from state and federal government, Seattle continues to create solutions to our transportation needs and challenges.
As an incubator of ideas, what can cities and your peers learn from Seattle’s innovations?
Mayor Murray: We always look to improve how city government works and to lead in successfully addressing issues facing Seattle. This summer we recognized that our way of engaging residents was outdated and inherently unequal, so we took the drastic step of reforming engagement with a focus on equitable and modern outreach strategies. We are looking at how we can use city data to better understand delivery of services and how we can crowdsource solutions for things like storm information and homelessness. Seattle, like other growing cities, is facing an affordability crisis, so we’ve worked collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to increase our minimum wage, create a universal pre-school program, increase transit and harness our growth to provide affordable homes for working families. These initiatives are the building blocks for how Seattle can be a livable, affordable and equitable city for all -- something that all cities should strive for.
