This page highlights the issues that we have worked on, research projects the League has commissioned and links to other resources.

	Issue:			Year:
	Port of Seattle			2009
	Transportation			2008
	Alaskan Way Viaduct			2007
	Seattle City Light			2006
	Seattle Monorail			2005
	Public Disclosure Legislation
	Campaign Contribution Limits
	Other

2009

• KUOW's The Conversation - Port Report 6/26/09
  KUOW's The Conversation interviews Muni League Board Chair, Brad Meacham and Port of Seattle Commissioner, Gael Tarleton on the Muni League's recent report criticizing the Port of Seattle's use of tax money.
  Listen to the story
• Seattle PostGlobe - Harsh Municipal League report steers Port of Seattle in new direction 6/25/09
  The Seattle PostGlobe published an article highlighting findings from the “The Port of Seattle: Where It’s Been, and Where It’s Going With the Public’s Dollars” report published by the Municipal League of King County following a year-long study.  Accountability, transparency, ethics and use of public resources all need improvement, along with a renewed focus on the port’s core responsibility: supporting freight, passengers and the maritime industry, according to the critical report.
  Read the article
• Seattle PI - Port of Seattle's use of tax money rapped in report 6/25/09
  The Seattle PI published an article discussing key findings from the League's report on the Port, including the Port's use of tax money.
  Read the article
• Muni League Publishes Review of Port of Seattle 6/25/09
  The Municipal League of King County released recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Port of Seattle. The report follows a year-long study by a committee of citizens with expertise in public policy and Port-related issues. The review, conducted under the auspices of the Municipal League Foundation, made findings and recommendations in four areas: mission, use of public resources, accountability and transparency, and ethical culture and best practices.
  Read the report

2007

• Muni League Supports Seattle Public Schools Operating Levy 1/19/07
  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 report

2006

• 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.
  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

Port of Seattle

• KUOW's The Conversation - Port Report 6/26/09
  KUOW's The Conversation interviews Muni League Board Chair, Brad Meacham and Port of Seattle Commissioner, Gael Tarleton on the Muni League's recent report criticizing the Port of Seattle's use of tax money.
  Listen to the story
• Seattle PostGlobe - Harsh Municipal League report steers Port of Seattle in new direction 6/25/09
  The Seattle PostGlobe published an article highlighting findings from the “The Port of Seattle: Where It’s Been, and Where It’s Going With the Public’s Dollars” report published by the Municipal League of King County following a year-long study.  Accountability, transparency, ethics and use of public resources all need improvement, along with a renewed focus on the port’s core responsibility: supporting freight, passengers and the maritime industry, according to the critical report.
  Read the article
• Seattle PI - Port of Seattle's use of tax money rapped in report 6/25/09
  The Seattle PI published an article discussing key findings from the League's report on the Port, including the Port's use of tax money.
  Read the article
• Muni League Publishes Review of Port of Seattle 6/25/09
  The Municipal League of King County released recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Port of Seattle. The report follows a year-long study by a committee of citizens with expertise in public policy and Port-related issues. The review, conducted under the auspices of the Municipal League Foundation, made findings and recommendations in four areas: mission, use of public resources, accountability and transparency, and ethical culture and best practices.
  

• Seattle Times - Opinion: Port of Seattle: Don't increase tax revenues 11/22/08
  The Seattle Times published this opinion piece by Brad Meacham, chair of the Municipal League of King County, and Bruce Carter, chair of the League's Port Study Committee, discussing why the Municipal League of King County urges the Port of Seattle commission to reduce its $8.1 million increase in the proposed 2009 real estate tax.
  Read the article

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 [not currently available]
  

Alaskan Way 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 Alaskan 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 [not currently available]
• 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 [not currently available]
• 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 [not currently available]:
  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 Op Ed 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

• Shortchanged: King County's Fiscal Crisis
• Report on Initiative 80 to Save Seattle Creeks
• Do You Want a Free Pony? - An Analysis of the Initiative and Referendum Process in Washington State