New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell says it's time to be 'creative and bold'
In an address after his swearing-in ceremony Tuesday, Mayor Bruce Harrell laid out a broad "One Seattle" vision, which includes ensuring everyone has health care and a pledge to show "visible progress" on the issue of homelessness.
"In One Seattle we will have affordable housing for all. ... That's why I'll be issuing an executive order order demanding a full review of the approval processes, policies and implementation to expedite construction of affordable housing," said Harrell, who also promised action on a range of issues, including gun violence, racial bias in policing and climate change.
On the horizon is the Jan. 15 expiration on the moratorium against evictions of apartment residents who have been unable to pay rent due to Covid-19. The new mayor said that in deciding whether to extend it he will consider the situations of both renters and small landlords.
"First of all we don't want anyone to be homeless because they're getting evicted. ... We also realize many of the small landlords that own one or two places are at the risk of losing their places as well," said Harrell. They can't pay mortgages and taxes if their stream of rental income dries up.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/01/04/harrell-swearing-in.html