Issues Management
The Municipal League of King County takes pride in reviewing issues important to our
community to offer researched opinions and foster discussion. This page highlights
the issues that we are currently working on, our annual Ballot Issues reports, research
projects the league has commissioned to report on issues facing our region, and links to
other resources of information.
Recent Issues
- Muni League Supports Seattle Public Schools Operating Levy 01/19/07
The Municipal League of King County announces its endorsement of the 2007 Seattle Public
Schools' Operating Levy and Capital Bond. The school levy and bond are an integral part of
the ongoing operating and capital budgets of the Seattle School District.
Read the release
- Seattle PI - Levy isn't leadership, it's a cop-out 10/30/06
The Seattle PI columnist Joel Connelly wrote an article discussing Seattle Proposition 1.
Connolley qouted from the Municipal League's Ballot Issue position opposing Proposition 1.
Read the article
- Seattle Times - Candidates for Eastside judge spot trade criticisms 10/26/06
The Seattle PI columnist Joel Connelly wrote an article discussing Seattle Proposition 1. Connolley
qouted from the Municipal League's Ballot Issue position opposing Proposition 1.
Read the article
- Seattle Times - Vote no, for now, on Fairwood cityhood 9/14/06
In the Editorials & Opinion section, the Seattle Times opposed the incorporation of Fairwood. The
Municipal League and the state Boundary Review Board for King County were both referenced as also
opposing this measure.
Read the article
- Seattle Times Editorial - How to pick judges 8/29/06
The Seattle Times published an editorial discussing the League's
involvement in the Voting for Judges
website, which groups a number of legal and civic organizations
together to give information to voters on picking judges in Washington state.
Read the article
- Seattle PI - Municipal League Chair, Steve Marshall 8/27/06
Municipal League chair Steve Marshall wrote a letter to the editor
of the Seattle PI stating that sanctions would be unfair to citizen
volunteers on unpaid citizen advisory boards and commissions.
Read the letter
- King County Elections Oversight Committee 5/11/06
The King County Council recently passed Proposed Ordinance 2006-0813,
which makes the Citizen's Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) and
ongoing panel. This ordinance states that this committee would
include members from such organization as the League of Women Voters
and the Municipal League of King County.
Read about the ordinance
- Drug Policy Project Letter 1/10/2006
The Municipal League joined a dozen other professional and civic
organizations in support of the King County Bar Association's Drug
Policy Project, which would establish a special commission to study
regulatory options for controlling psychoactive substances to study
alternative forms of regulating the production and distribution of
psychoactive substances.
Read the resolution
Transportation
- Proposed Regional Transportation Commission 04/09/07
The Municipal League sent a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and Rep.
Judy Clibborn with recommendations on a proposed agency with authority to prioritize,
plan and finance transportation projects.
Read the letter
- Regional Transportation Commission's Draft Report 11/29/06
The Municipal League sent a letter to John Stanton and Hon. Norm Rice, co-chairs of the
Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), making comments and recommendations on the
RTC's draft report.
Read the letter
- Puget Sound Transportation Reform 3/15/06
The Municipal League sent a letter to Governor Christine Gregoire,
State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, and State Representative Ed
Murray applauding their leadership in getting the Puget Sound
transportation reform package passed.
Read the letter
- Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) Letter 1/17/2006
Bob Klein, Chair of the Municipal League Transportation Committee,
delivered testimony to the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee
urging the legislature to address the immediate regional transportation
crisis. His testimony supported adopting short term remedies during the
2006 legislative session including a local option for motor vehicle excise
tax to fund transportation projects.
Read the letter sent to Governor Gregoire
The Viaduct
- Seattle Times Op/Ed - Cast a Blank Viaduct Ballot 3/5/07
In a Seattle Times Op/Ed piece, the Municipal League's Board Chair Bruce Carter recommended
that Seattle voters cast a blank ballot for the March 13th Viaduct advisory ballot.
Read the piece
- Replacement of Alaska Way Viaduct 12/07/06
The Municipal League sent a letter to Gov. Christine Gregoire recommending that any
decision regarding replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct should follow the four step
process outlined by the Expert Panel.
Read the letter
- No-Build Viaduct Option 5/9/06
The Municipal League sent a letter to the Seattle City Council encouraging
them to maintain rigorous standards regarding the study of the viability
of the Transit and Streets option for the Alaska Way Viaduct.
Read the letter
- Discussions on the Viaduct 3/15/2006
Bob Klein, Chair of the Municipal League Transportation Committee,
hosts a number of different video perspectives about the Seattle Viaduct.
Should it be torn down and replaced with a tunnel? Left as is and
strengthened? Or perhaps removed entirely and not rebuilt at all —
using our resolve to reroute and improve existing surface streets and other
structures; recasting our vision of downtown life and traffic? Watch our video
exchanges with the different advocates and talk with your friends and neighbors
about what you think is the best way forward for the next 100 years.
View the following videos:
- Tim Ceis — Deputy Mayor of Seattle
- Jessyn Schor — Transportation Choices
- Cary Moon — Peoples' Waterfront Coalition
- Gene Hoglund and Viktor Gray — Citizens for an Elevated Solution
Seattle City Light
- Seattle Times - Oversee City Light, keep council out of dark 8/17/06
The Seattle Times discusses how the Seattle City Council wisely
reinstated its energy advisory committee. Members of the Municipal
League have spoken in front of the Seattle City Council supporting
this advisory committee.
Read the article
- Seattle Times Editorial - Don't Defang City Light 7/7/06
The Seattle Times today published an editorial discussing the League's
opinion that the City Light Advisory Committee should not be weakened.
Read the article
- City Light Advisory Committee 6/27/06
Members of the Municipal League spoke before the Seattle City Council
opposing draft ordinance #10, which would reduce the independence of the
Seattle City Light Advisory Committee. The League sent a letter
detailing its opinion.
Read the letter
- Seattle City Light Advisory Board 1/30/06
The Municipal League sent a letter to Seattle
City Councilors Jean Godden and David Della supporting the continuation
of the independent City Light Advisory Board. The League supports bill
#115467, which renews the City Light Advisory Board without amendment.
Read the letter sent to the Seattle City Councilors
- City Light Budget Recommendations 11/07/2005
The League sent a letter to Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver laying out our recommendations on budget issues.
Read the letter
- City Light Study: Seattle City Light And The Storm
Seattle Monorail
- 3/15/2005
The League sends a letter to Monorail Authority Chair Tom Weeks, City of Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels and Seattle City Council Member Richard Conlin.
Read the letter
- 6/15/2005
The League sends another letter to Monorail Authority Chair Tom Weeks on the need
for the Seattle City Council to be given time to complete public
hearings on the monorail project's financial viability.
Read the letter
- 6/20/2005
The League's Board approves a resolution to the Seattle City Council reiterating our
positions regarding the timing and process that we believe should be
followed leading up to the final determination of the financial
feasibility of the Monorail project.
Read the resolution
- 7/21/2005
Municipal League intern Brian Hodder reviews the status of the Seattle Monorail,
and the role that the Municipal League has played in the planning
process.
Read the article
- 7/27/2005
On July 27th, the Municipal League authored an OpEd piece in the Seattle Times
regarding the current problems facing the Monorail. In the piece we ask and
answer two important questions, "What can be learned from how SMP
governed the project?" and "What should be done to put the Monorail back
on track?"
Read the OpEd piece
- 8/2005
Did you miss our forum at Town Hall this month? You can watch "The
Monorail: What Do We Do Now?" by streaming video on the
Seattle Channel's website.
View the forum
Public Disclosure Legislation
- 3/14/2005
The League's letter to Governor Gregoire and Attorney General McKenna regarding public
disclosure bills being considered in the Washington State Legislature.
Read the letter
Campaign Contribution Limits
- Judicial Campaign Contributions 1/25/06
The Municipal League joined other local organizations to support
Washington House Bill 1226, which seeks to impose campaign contribution
limits on judicial campaigns comparable to those in place for other states.
Read the endorsement letters
- 3/14/2005
In January, the League Board sent an open letter to the Judicial Selection Task Force,
strongly endorsing campaign contribution limits for judges.
Read the letter
Other Issues
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