Seattle Mayor

Mayor Durkan with Ferris wheel and Seattle waterfront in background

Mayor Durkan’s Budget Raids JumpStart Payroll Tax for $100 Million Pledge to Communities of...

Mayor Jenny Durkan launched her next skirmish with Seattle City Council today as she released a 2021 budget that skimmed revenue from the their...
Protesters react with fists raised in solidarity as Nikkita Oliver takes the stage at City Hall on Wednesday June 3rd. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Council Overrides Mayor Durkan’s Budget Vetoes

The veto overrides preserve $17 million for community safety programs, $3 million for participatory budgeting, and budget provisos intended to trim 100 positions from...
Mayor Jenny Durkan gave soon-to-retire Police Chief Carmen Best some flowers to express her gratitude during a press conference about blocking police budget cuts in the Norm Rice room at City Hall. (Seattle Channel)

Mayor Durkan Vetoes Rebalancing Package Decrying Police Cuts, ‘Irresponsible’ Investments

Mayor Jenny Durkan again reached for her veto pen today, nixing the entire rebalancing package passed on August 10th. The Seattle City Council was...
Mayor Durkan flanked by the American flag and Washington state flag.

Durkan Vetoes $86 Million in Covid Relief Citing Fiscal Restraint

After Mayor Jenny Durkan vetoed a Covid relief package saying it depleted the City's rainy day fund, Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda fired back that...
Protestors gather behind a police barricade at the East Precinct building, chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot,” on Sunday, May 31.

Durkan Declares Seattle Fed-Free, but Her Own Violent ‘Troops’ Dig In

Mayor Jenny Durkan did a victory lap on national media yesterday declaring Seattle free of federal agents, but local residents noted that the Seattle...

Seattle Will Defund Police, But By How Much?

Mayor Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best remain at odds with the City Council over reducing the police budget. The Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP)...
Mayor Jenny Durkan signs the Fare Share Plan into law at city hall. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

JumpStart Seattle Passes 7-2–Will Mayor Durkan Sign It or Force Veto Override?

On Monday, the Seattle City Council voted 7-2 to pass a payroll expense tax targeting companies paying high salaries. The final spending plan is...

Mayor Durkan Launches Offensive Against Sawant and CHOP After Protest Outside Her Home

This morning, as police swept the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) of tents, barricades, protesters, and journalists, it become clear Mayor Jenny Durkan was...