Seattle Mayor

Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell Is a Failed Mayor on Homelessness 

This fall voters will decide whether to give Bruce Harrell another term as Seattle Mayor. In the third article in a series, Ron Davis argues that Harrell's current term has been a failure on the issue of homelessness.

Ex-SPD Employee Jamie Tompkins Alleges City Allowed “Sexually Hostile Work Environment”

Evidence that led to the ouster of former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz is now coming into question, and Jamie Tompkins, the department's former Chief-of-Staff is pushing to negotiate a $3 million settlement from the city.
A photo of a tent in front of a glass window with exhibiting large portrait style photos of people.

Op-Ed: Harrell’s Record on Homelessness Is Cynical, Cruel, and Cosmetic

Homeless encampment sweeps have tripled under Mayor Harrell, but shelter capacity has shrunk, and the number of people who are unsheltered remains stubbornly high.
Washington is a black woman with short hair. She holds the microphone and looks to her left toward Natalie Walton-Anderson and the auditor as she delivers her rebuttal.

Auditor Criticizes Seattle’s Approach to Gun Violence, Deputy Mayor Fires Back

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell pushed back against an auditor report calling for more coordination around gun violence prevention and criticizing SPD’s haphazard approach to investigations. Deputy Mayor Tiffani Washington said she felt disrespected by the audit process being reinitiated by Council President Sara Nelson and that the issue was already under control.
Bruce Harrell in a suit standing at a lectern. MLK Labor’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow is to the left and OSE Director Jessyn Farrell to the right. A hazy Seattle skyline is in the background from Queen Anne vantage.

Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell Is a Failed Mayor on Housing

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has failed on housing, Ron Davis writes. Whether kickstarting a homegrown social housing push, encouraging a wide diversity of market-rate housing, or scaling up traditional nonprofit low-income housing to meet the need, Harrell’s halfhearted efforts have fallen flat.
A sign reads Resilient communities on the lectern in the lobby of city hall and people stand behind the speaker holding signs saying a protest JumpStart commitments and invest on Seattle's future.

Op-Ed: Seattle Voters Want Progressive Change, Data Shows

A recent Change Research poll found progressive Alexis Rinck is the only Seattle municipal official with a positive approval rating. In contrast, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Council President Sara Nelson, City Attorney Ann Davison were all under water. Precinct results for the recent social housing funding measure indicate widespread progressive buy-in as well.
Torgelson wears glasses, a blue checkered tie and a dark suit. He's a bald White man.

Harrell Sacks Seattle Construction Director as Clock Ticks on Permitting Reform

Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections Director Nathan Torgelson announced his resignation in an email to staff today. Torgelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell said the decision was mutual and pledged a smooth transition. Much work is on the department's plate in coming months.
Harrell stands at a lectern with a grin. His deputy mayors and Burgess wear masks.

Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell’s Long History of Covering for Abusers

Over his career, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has repeatedly covered for abusers, exhibiting a dismissiveness toward women and a pattern of punching down against vulnerable people rather than standing up to the powerful, Ron Davis writes.