We just wrapped up week eight of my time serving you on the City Council. My team has hit the ground running, attending events and meetings across the district, and preparing to introduce my first legislation.

In these eight weeks we have held 26 in-district constituent meetings, attended 9 community group meetings, met with 24 small businesses, helped 38 residents resolve issues with the City, and spoke with countless community members.

---

Black History Month

February was Black History Month! It was an honor to take a moment and celebrate the years of public service by our honorees Reverend Harriett Walden, City of Seattle’s own Mary Flowers, and of course our prominent black elected leaders Council President Bruce Harrell and King County Council Member Larry Gossett in council chambers last week. Their tireless work has helped Seattle get to where it is, and I commit to continuing the work of making our institutions reflect and serve all our Seattle residents equally.

---

In the District

Walking Tour: Green Lake

We regularly walk and talk with business owners and community members in different neighborhoods across the district. So far we have visited Ballard and Phinneywood. Most recently we were in the Green Lake neighborhood. Next we will be in Fremont and Upper Fremont, Phinney Ridge, and Crown Hill.

At Spud’s Fish and Chips, owners Pam and Craig shared the incredible opportunity they have to preserve their legacy business while adding affordable housing to the neighborhood. Spud’s has deep roots in the community and has built strong relationships with their neighbors and regular customers. Their story should be a model for how we can grow gracefully, welcoming new neighbors while still preserving the historic community spaces that make our neighborhoods unique.

Tacos Guaymas has amazing tacos, and should be high on your list the next time you pass by. Victor, who owns the restaurant, talked with me about the challenges he faces as a restaurant owner, including the fact that he has to pay for an annual sidewalk-cafe permit in order to let diners eat outside. Outdoor seating activates his storefront and makes the neighborhood more vibrant for all of us.

Leslie’s largest concern is an intersection outside her business which is not working as intended. A new four-way stop was created, and most drivers do not fully stop – posing a danger to pedestrians and drivers. As well, gaps were left between the street and new curb cuts. This is the type of issue I want to know about because we shouldn’t wait for someone to get hurt to create the needed solutions.

I also spoke with Marty, the manager of Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle. As an avid cyclist, who often bikes to work from the Eastside, Marty expressed that bicycle safety is important to him and to his customers to make sure that they feel comfortable getting around by bike. Marty keeps a framed Greg LeMond jersey in his office, which is a really big deal for cycling fans. LeMond won the 1989 Tour de France by eight seconds before doping was prevalent. Read more about LeMond’s legacy here.

Meeting face-to-face is vital to understanding the issues affecting people and businesses in our district. That’s why it is so important to me to be out talking to my neighbors in every corner of District 6. This is one of the best ways for me to ensure that I am advocating as well as I can for all of our needs.

Our fourth walking tour will be in Fremont this week. If you would like us to visit your business or favorite neighborhood spot, please reach out to Peter in my office at Peter.Nguyen@seattle.gov.

Community Council Meetings

My staff and I have been attending community council meetings throughout the district to hear about the issues directly impacting individual neighborhoods. I attended the Fremont Neighborhood Community Council meeting last Monday, the East Ballard Community Association before that, and heard about issues ranging from the need to strengthen protections for trees, to the desire to build more affordable housing in our neighborhoods. My staff also attended this month’s Ballard District Council meeting.

Office Hours

We host district office hours every week. Recently, we’ve heard from constituents regarding homelessness, public safety, and housing affordability. I will continue to meet you in the District, because you shouldn’t have to go downtown to have your voice heard. We are in the District Office throughout the week and always on Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m. We will also periodically host office hours on Saturday.

We will have district office hours on Saturday, March 14th. If you would like to meet with me or staff during this time please sign up online here. Please note: In order to respect constituents’ time, everyone requesting a meeting during office hours will need to schedule ahead of time.

Testifying in Olympia

Last Saturday, I testified in support of the Block the Box legislation in Olympia. Blocking the Box violations occur hundreds of times per day in downtown Seattle, causing congestion, hurting transit reliability, and making our streets dangerous for vulnerable road users. This legislation will help us move people through our downtown core by automating enforcement in order to reduce the number of violations by as much as 80%. Watch this video from Rooted in Rights that powerfully illustrates the problem.

I am dedicated to ensuring our transit-only lanes work effectively with enforcement that doesn’t require SPD to use officer hours. You should be able to catch your bus and get where you’re going without getting stuck in traffic. This legislation is critical to making this a reality and I was honored to have the opportunity to testify along with Chief Scoggins of our Fire Department and Captain O’Donnell of our Police Department.

---

District 6 Issues

Supporting the Ballard P-Patch

The Ballard P-Patch is an important asset in our community, serving as much-needed open-space and as a vital resource in addressing food insecurity in North Seattle. The P-Patch dedicates 1,200 square feet of space to food access efforts, and donates more than 2,500 pounds of food annually to the Ballard Food Bank and Phinney Neighborhood Association’s Hot Meals program.

This week, my office spearheaded a letter in support of the Ballard P-Patch’s application for a Conservation Futures Tax grant to help purchase and preserve their land in Northwest Seattle. The letter was signed by every Councilmember and the Department of Neighborhoods. We coordinated the 36th District legislators also signing and sending a letter in support. We are happy to be supporting such a great cause to ensure this P-Patch keeps its home.

Green Lake Community Center and Evans Pool Renovation

The Green Lake Community Center and Evans Pool is one of the oldest community centers in our city. In order to extend its usable life, the center and pool are scheduled for renovations between May and October 2020. This project will replace the boilers and air handling system, install pool pump improvements, make electrical repairs, level the gym floor, and more. The work is necessary to extend the life of the building another ten years while Seattle Parks and Recreation designs a new facility. The pool and center will remain open until May.

The first outreach meeting for the project is scheduled March 25^th at the Green Lake Community Center and will focus on site options for the new center.

More information from the Department of Parks and Recreaction can be found here.

Your Voice, Your Choice

Every year the Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets initiative seeks projects for small-scale park and street improvements. The program is currently collecting ideas for projects to be funded in 2020. Proposals are reviewed by a team of community members who narrow the list to 8-10 projects per district. Community members will vote for their favorite projects during the summer, with the selected projects receiving a share of $2 million in funding.

Last year’s District 6 project winners included traffic calming on Ashworth Avenue North in Green Lake, crossing Improvements at 15th Ave. NW and NW Market St. in Ballard and Crossing Improvements on N39th St. and Phinney Ave. N in Fremont.

Project collection ends March 18^th so if you have an project in mind don’t delay getting in an application!

Jacob A. Riis at the Nordic Museum

Through March 15th the Nordic Museum is hosting “How the Other Half Lives,” an exhibit featuring the work of Jacob Riis, a newspaper reporter and social reformer who used photographs to illustrate the plight of impoverished residents of New York. The exhibit includes photographs, handwritten journals, and personal correspondence. The messages Riis’ work conveys are powerful and the call for social justice work that they elicit continues to be relevant today.

Take the time to experience this exhibit for yourself before it’s gone!

Please never hesitate to reach out to me or my team – we are here to serve you.

Best,

It has been a very full first month as your District 6 representative. I have spent considerable time throughout the District, attending community meetings, participating in walking tours of Phinneywood and Ballard and going on a ride-along with Seattle Police Department’s North Precinct Officers.

I also began my tenure as one of Seattle’s representatives on the Association of Washington Cities Board of Directors. I will advocate for Seattle and District 6 by building partnerships with cities throughout the State so we can properly tackle some of our most serious problems with our regional partners. Issues such as homelessness, criminal justice, the climate crisis and more are not just Seattle problems, these issues need our collective effort to create real results.

It was a great first month and I look forward to the months ahead tackling important issues for our community. Read on to learn about what’s going on in my committee, District 6, and city wide.

---

Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee Highlights

Our first meeting of the Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee will be on February 12th.  At this meeting we will receive a report by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections on an update to the Tree Protection Ordinance.

One of my top priorities as your City Councilmember is to strengthen our Tree Protection Ordinance. Trees are a vital part of our urban ecosystem, cooling our city, and cleaning our air. As our neighborhoods grow and change, we must preserve the tree canopy and plant new trees where they are needed. I am looking forward to working with the Mayor and my colleagues on the City Council to address this issue.

---

In the District

Seattle Police Department Roll Call and Ride-Along

I joined the North Precinct’s Second Watch roll call last Friday and accompanied Officer Sergio Garcia for a full day ride-along throughout District 6. Neighborhood safety is an issue I’ve heard repeatedly from constituents. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy community, and I am thankful for all the work our Police Officers do to protect our community.

This was my second ride-along in the last six months and I have found that officers are primarily responding to social service and behavioral health calls. There is a better and higher use of our officer’s time: investigating and following up on criminal behavior. The result from not providing our officers with the resources they need to address social issues, is that the individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis do not receive the prevention, care, or treatment they need. Our neighborhoods need more programs and services like Health One which responds to individuals with low acute behavioral health needs. I will be working with the Mayor and my council colleagues to expand the availability of those services throughout District 6. Ultimately, we need a centralized emergency crisis line similar to “311” for our city to respond to people in crisis with the resources they need.

Office Hours

We host district office hours every week. We heard from constituents regarding tree protections, homelessness, and ways to support local small businesses. I will continue to meet you in the District so you don’t have to go downtown to have your voice heard. We are in the District Office throughout the week and always on Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m.; if you would like to meet with me or staff during this time please sign up online here. Please note: In order to respect constituents’ time, everyone requesting a meeting during office hours will need to schedule ahead of time.

Walking Tour: PhinneyWood

Even having grown up in northwest Seattle, it’s not clear to me where Phinney Ridge ends and Greenwood begins, which is how we get our beloved Phinneywood.

Last Wednesday, I had my second small-business walking tour. We walked and talked in the PhinneyWood neighborhood, visiting with business owners, workers, and community members to discuss the issues impacting them most. We heard about issues of needing more trash cans and patching potholes, how to respond to people in crisis, and how to balance growth with neighborhood character.

No matter how large or small your issue is, please reach out to us to help you get the solutions you need.

Thank you everyone who took time to share their stories and perspectives with me. We live in such an incredible part of the City, and I am thankful to be able to take the time to meet you on your block, in your store, and in your neighborhood. As one community member put it, “the best days are the days I don’t leave PhinneyWood.” Which I think is sentiment we can all appreciate in D6.

It is important to me to be out in the district talking to neighbors and seeing what they are confronting daily to be able to best advocate for their needs. Our next walking tours will be visiting Fremont and Green Lake. If you would like us to visit your business or favorite neighborhood spot, please reach out to Noah in my office at Noah.An@seattle.gov

Ballard Alliance January Luncheon

On January 15, I attended and spoke at the Ballard Alliance Luncheon at Ray’s Boathouse.  We started off the discussion with a review of how the local area has developed and transformed over the decades before transitioning to topics of current interest, including land use and neighborhoods, reliable public transportation, affordable housing, a regional approach to homelessness, the Seattle Police Department’s Community Service Officer program launch, and upcoming public works projects such as the SPU mega project, status of the Ballard Bridge, and repairing Market Street.  One of my priorities is to support small businesses in Seattle, and it was great to interact with business owners in our community.

Addressing the Climate Crisis

I attended two great environmental events last week. On Monday I met with members of the 43^rd district Enviro Caucus, which focused on how the city can respond to the climate crisis today. On Tuesday I joined the “Urgency of Now Seattle Jewish Climate Festival” as part of the Tu bsvat holiday which is similar to the Jewish Arbor day where we discussed how the Jewish community can respond to the climate crisis. I am inspired by the both night’s conversations and will put every piece of legislation through a climate crisis lens. In the following months I will be pushing for bus only lanes which will reduce pollution while streamlining commute times.

And More!

You may have also seen my staff at community meetings and events these past few weeks, including attending the Phinney Ridge Community Council, Groundswell NW, and the North Precinct Advisory Council.

---

District 6 Issues

Neighborhood Street Fund

Northwest Seattle is getting a new crosswalk and pedestrian safety improvements at 15th Ave NW and NW 83rd St thanks to the Neighborhood Street Fund! Design work will begin this year, with construction in 2021. This was one of 15 projects across the city chosen to receive funding. More about the project can be found here.

Want to secure funding for a street improvement in your neighborhood? The next Neighborhood Street Fund application period will open in late 2020 or early 2021. More information can be found here.

Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation Study

The Seattle Department of Transportation kicked off their public briefings on the Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation System Study, which will evaluate how to improve mobility through the Ballard-Interbay corridor and identify funding options to replace the Ballard bridge. I was proud to work with former Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, as well as our delegation to the Washington State Legislature, to secure $700,000 in funding for this study. My staff joined the briefing in Ballard on January 28th at the Ballard Branch Library.

A final report is expected in November that will recommend transportation improvements to the Ballard and Interbay neighborhoods, including funding sources to replace the Ballard Bridge. You can learn more about the study, or sign up to receive updates, here.

Nordic Museum Receives 2020 Buildy Award

Congratulations to our National Nordic Museum for receiving a 2020 Buildy Award from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums! The National Nordic Museum received this award for outstanding design and planning, incorporating neighborhood input from cultural organizations, educational institutions, business owners and local government officials to orient plans for the future. The National Nordic Museum remains the only Museum in the US that collects, preserves, and displays material artifacts from each of the five Nordic countries and incorporates Nordic sensibility into every aspect of design and employs a fjord motif that the Buildy Award Committee noted serves as a clear and concise organizational element and supports the whole storyline of the museum. We are lucky to have such a well-designed and nationally recognized museum in our district.

---

Citywide Issues

Seattle Promise

The Seattle Promise scholarship program application deadline is February 15, 2020.The Seattle Promise brings college education to every Seattle student by offering a scholarship for the first two years of tuition to a Seattle College as well as additional financial support for books, transportation and housing to those in financial need.  All Seattle public high school students in the 2020 graduating class are eligible.

Please submit your admissions application to North Seattle College, Seattle Central college, or South Seattle College. Learn more about the Seattle Promise and how to apply here

Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness

On January 30^th I joined Mayor Durkan, community members and the parents of Gabe Lilienthal, a Ballard teen who died after unknowingly ingesting a fentanyl laced counterfeit prescription pill in September, to announce the city’s effort to raise awareness regarding fentanyl and counterfeit pills. Opioid addiction is a disease many in our community face. The spread of fentanyl and counterfeit oxycodone pills poses a large threat that we must address with the expansion of substance misuse, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation resources. If this can happen to a ‘straight A’ student, it can happen to anyone and any family. We must turn Gabe’s tragedy into triumph, for his family and our community.

To address the crisis, the City is partnering with community-based organizations to convene a series of 25 Naloxone trainings to distribute 700 Naloxone kits. Naloxone is a drug which can reverse an opioid-related overdose. Ensuring that our community members far and wide have access to and are trained in the usage of Naloxone, will save lives.

International Clash Day

Last week we celebrated International Clash Day! I joined John Richards on KEXP’s Morning Show today to discuss what our City can do to address the climate crisis.

International Clash Day began through the efforts of Seattle’s Community minded, nonprofit radio station KEXP to celebrate the enduring influence of their music and human rights message. Throughout their career, The Clash band members, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon, used the power of music to share messages of peace, unity, anti-imperialism, anti-racism, poverty awareness and freedom of expression.

KEXP has designated this year’s celebration as Clash for Climate, celebrating artists around the world who are confronting the climate crisis as well as highlighting activists, public servants, and organizations who are working toward solutions for our planet’s dire situation.To learn more check out KEXP’s website.

Please never hesitate to reach out to me or my team – we are hear to serve you.

Best,

Dear friends and neighbors, I am honored to be your District 6 Councilmember, representing the neighborhoods that shaped me and made me the person I am today. My top priority as your Councilmember is to steward our growth to be a sustainable, equitable, and affordable city that provides a high quality of life for everyone. I am excited to engage with you as community members and residents of D6. My team and I are prioritizing constituent and community services; whether it is filling a pothole, navigating city bureaucracy or making neighborhood improvements, we are excited to work for you! We will regularly send this newsletter outlining issues important to you, what is happening at City Council and City Hall, events in the community, and information you can use. Let us know if there is a topic area you would like us to include. I’ll also be providing regular updates on my social media channels, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please never hesitate to reach out to me and my office to let us know how we can best serve you. I look forward to serving you and all of D6 in City Hall!

---

Taking the Oath of Office

On Monday, alongside my Council Colleagues, I took the Oath of Office. I was honored to have Nestor Tamayao swear me into office. Nestor has dedicated his life to public service and sets the example of what service without the desire for reward truly means. He served as a King County Superior Court Deputy Clerk for 30 years and in the Army and Army Reserve for 32 years. Our swearing-in ceremony was 14 years (to the day and hour) after he retired from King County. Nestor has not stopped his public service and has held the roles of Commander at the Ballard-Eagleson VFW and as the Exalted Ruler of the Ballard Elks lodge. I am fortunate to have Nestor as a mentor and friend and we are all lucky to have him as our neighbor. I look forward to following in Nestor’s footsteps with a lifetime of service to our community.

You can watch my swearing in speech here:

---

District Office

My first action as Councilmember was opening our District Office, so you don’t have to go downtown to have your voice heard.

Our District Office is co-located with the Ballard Community Service Center which is in the same building as the Ballard Library. We will hold hours both during and outside of normal business hours, with availability on some (not all) weekends. This is in addition to us being present throughout the district at community meetings, coffee hours, and at your house. Please use this form to schedule a community or constituent meeting.Schedule an In-District Office Hours Meeting

---

Hitting the Ground Running

On our second day on the job just after opening our District Office, myself along with my staff hit the ground running by doing our first District 6 Walking Tour. We spent nearly four hours meeting with local business owners and community members in Ballard to talk about the issues that matter most to them. We were joined by Officer Sergio Garcia and Sergeant Stevens of the North Precinct who are exemplary members of our Police Department.

Officer Garcia sets the example of what policing in Seattle should look like by walking his beat, building relationships, and solving intense problems for our community. We stopped by ten small businesses, including Bop Street Records, Trove Vintage Boutique, and Hattie’s Hat.

We heard concerns about public safety, the ongoing construction work in Ballard, and interest in playground equipment for Ballard Commons Park as well as additional REACH outreach workers for our neighborhood.

We will regularly host walking tours in District 6 and if you would like me to stop by your business, please reach out to Noah An in my office at Noah.An@seattle.gov.

---

New Committee Assignment

The Council voted on Monday to reassign Council committees. For the next two years, I will be overseeing the Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee. Much of my work in this committee will cover the basics of city planning, including zoning, design, community development, land use regulations, historic preservation, and quasi-judicial land use decisions. Additionally, my committee will also oversee the work of the Office of Planning and Community Development, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and the Department of Neighborhoods. One of the primary goals for my time at Council and serving as Chair of the Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee is to ensure the City is working hard to create adequate housing, transportation and other infrastructure. As I said at my swearing-in ceremony on Monday and was quoted in the Seattle Times, “Seattle today is not the city I grew up in … We are already a decade behind addressing the growth we are experiencing with commensurate infrastructure.” It is important our city’s regulations and zoning codes mirror our infrastructure needs so everyone can have a safe and healthy life. As our city changes, we need to work together to build a Seattle that is inclusive and reflective of our values to create a good quality of life for everyone. My committee will meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 9:30 a.m. The committee will first meet on January 22^nd at 9:30 am. You can sign up to receive agendas for the committees here, and you can watch the committee meeting live from home or your mobile device at seattlechannel.org/watch-live. I will
also be serving as Vice-Chair on the Transportation & Utilities Committee, and as a member on the Governance & Education and Finance & Housing Committees.

---

Staff

I am proud to have an incredibly talented and dedicated staff who will support me and you. They are compassionate, with a wide range of experience, who will ensure District 6 is well represented and your voices are heard.

Peter Nguyen

Peter Nguyen is a proud Ballard resident and comes to Councilmember Strauss’ Office from the Seattle Department of Human Resources where he served as the Labor Negotiator primarily responsible for representing the City to labor organizations in the Seattle Police Department, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Housing, and Labor Standards Department.  He has also served as a Technical Advisor to the Seattle Community Police Commission and is currently a member of the City’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Steering Committee.  Peter came to this country, along with the rest of his mother’s family, as a political refugee from South Vietnam.  As a long-time advocate for Civil Rights, immigrants, and socioeconomic equity, he has served on the board of directors of both the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the California Tax Reform Association.  Peter eared a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of California, Davis. You can reach Peter at: Peter.Nguyen@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8806

Alyson McLean

Alyson is a Puget Sound local, from Vashon Island and Ballard Resident. She previously worked as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, the Center for Children and Youth Justice, and several political campaigns including President Obama’s 2008 and Senator Patty Murray’s 2010 campaigns. She attended the University of Washington, first for her undergraduate degree majoring in International Studies and Human Rights and then returned to receive her Master’s Degree in Public Administration focusing on youth immigration and international development. After a small stint in DC working at the National Democratic Institute on international democracy access, Alyson decided to shift her focus to working on local human rights in the city she loves most; Seattle. Alyson is excited to serve the City of Seattle by working on issues related to Human Services, Public Health, Affordable Housing, Public Safety, Finance, and the City’s Budget. In her free time, Alyson enjoys traveling, music, camping, and spending time with her community. You can reach Alyson at: Alyson.McLean@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8806

Noah An

Noah An was raised in Woodinville, WA before moving to Seattle to study political science at the University of Washington. Noah has previously worked in the offices of Councilmembers Rob Johnson and Abel Pacheco. Prior to joining Council staff, he interned for Senator Patty Murray in Washington, D.C., was elected as a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and held various leadership positions in Democratic Party organizations. Passionate about promoting progressive change, Noah is excited to support Councilmember Strauss’ work on land use, neighborhoods, and transportation, as well as coordinating his in-district presence. In his free time, Noah is a Seattle sports fan, avid re-watcher of The Office, and an explorer the Pacific Northwest. You can reach Noah at: Noah.An@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8806

Lean Tebeau

Lena Tebeau is passionate about serving the needs of District 6 and has had a long career in public service. In her current role for Councilmember Strauss, Lena controls the calendar and manages policy related to Parks, Libraries, and Education. She also assists with community and constituent services.  Lena previously worked as a Legislative Aide for Councilmember Sally Bagshaw working on issues related to age friendly cities, parks and public assets, and youth justice issues. She has also worked for the City’s Legislative Department, provided administrative support to mayor Paul Shell, and Councilmember Richard McIver. Lena is passionate about mentoring at-risk youth and assisting her aged-neighbors. One of seven siblings, Lena grew up traveling around the country based on her dad’s Army assignments. She has called Seattle home for 10 years and is currently pursuing a degree in Public Policy at Evergreen State College. You can reach Lean at: Lena.Tebeau@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8806

It is an honor and privilege to represent and serve you as the District 6 councilmember. Thank to everyone who supported my campaign and for those who didn’t, I look forward to earning your support and trust. I am excited to kick off 2020 and my tenure serving you by hitting the ground running. Do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you would like me to attend a meeting, if you would like to come to our office, or if there is a concern I can assist you with or should know about. I hope to see you soon.

Best,

Councilmember Dan Strauss
Seattle City Council // District 6