Seattle, WA

Mayor Katie Wilson proposes $410 million Seattle Public Library Levy to city council

Published

4 weeks ago

March 10, 2026

Mayor Katie Wilson proposes 0 million Seattle Public Library Levy to city council

SEATTLE — Seattle voters could decide next year whether to dramatically expand dedicated funding for The Seattle Public Library under a proposed $410 million Library Levy that Mayor Katie Wilson transmitted to the Seattle City Council on Tuesday.

The proposed 2026 replacement levy would fund the library system for seven years, from 2027 through 2033, replacing the expiring $219.1 million 2019 Library Levy, which currently accounts for one-third of the library’s total budget.

Most Seattle libraries will be open daily thanks to 2019 levy

“Seattle is a city of readers. From toddlers discovering their first stories to seniors finding connection and lifelong learning, our libraries belong to everyone,” Wilson said.

Investing in our libraries means investing in every community member, and in the shared public spaces that help our city learn, grow, imagine, and thrive together.

The 2026 levy proposal maintains the 2019 levy’s focus areas: Operating Hours and Access; Helping Children; Collections (Books and Materials); Technology and Online Services; Building Maintenance; and Administration and Central Costs.

If voters approve the 2026 Library Levy, it would invest in access, programming, collections, building maintenance, and technology and online services across Seattle’s library system. The proposal includes maintaining open hours at all 27 neighborhood branches, adding more physical books along with e-books and audiobooks, expanding technology and online services, and funding building maintenance and capital improvements. It also includes additional facility and janitorial resources intended to keep libraries “safer, cleaner and more welcoming for everyone.”

Chief Librarian Tom Fay thanked the mayor for the proposal.

“We thank Mayor Wilson for putting forward a levy proposal that reflects community needs and interests and invests in Library open hours, collections, programs, buildings, and technology,” Fay said. “We look forward to working in partnership with Mayor Wilson and City councilmembers through a public process that will ensure this package is something all Seattle residents can be proud to support in August,”

The proposal will be reviewed by a select committee of the Seattle City Council chaired by Councilmember Maritza Rivera, who represents District 4. Rivera joined Wilson, Fay and Library Board of Trustees President Yazmin Mehdi for the transmittal of the levy proposal to the City Council on Tuesday.

“This proposal reaffirms Seattle’s reputation as a world-class library system. We are a City of avid and curious readers who rely on our libraries for information and engagement,” Rivera said. “For decades, library patrons have described their branches as beloved third places, centers of learning, and safe spaces that are worth the investment.”

Rivera said the levy renewal also upholds “the city’s commitment to preserving library open hours, providing books in the format that readers want, delivering programming for tots all the way up to seniors, and maintaining welcoming branches that reflect the diversity of their neighborhoods.”

According to the proposal’s spending plan, major investments include:

Continued open hours across Seattle’s 27 neighborhood libraries ($176.1 million)
Early literacy through multilingual Play & Learn sessions and other programs ($7.5 million)
Social service referrals ($1.2 million)
Security personnel ($11 million)
Additional all-ages programs such as story times, literacy programs, classes and workshops, and events ($12.6 million)
Increased security and emergency preparedness ($7.7 million)
Establishment of an Office of Inclusion and Belonging ($2.4 million)
Expanded physical books and materials to maintain the library’s collection of 2.9 million items ($30.8 million)
Fine-free borrowing ($9 million)
Collections and shelving staff ($14 million)
Additional e-books, audiobooks and multilingual books ($4.6 million)

The proposal sets aside funding for routine and major maintenance, including:

Facility maintenance and custodial support, furniture, capital improvement staffing ($57 million) and administration ($6.7 million)
A seismic retrofit of the historic Columbia Branch ($13 million)
Priority and deferred maintenance for library locations ($10 million)
Additional maintenance and custodial support ($5.9 million)

Technology investments include:

Public and staff computers, printing and copying services, Wi-Fi hotspots, and staffing for Information Technology and Online Services ($25.8 million)
Strengthening IT systems and cybersecurity ($7.4 million)
Upgrading IT infrastructure ($5 million)

The first Select Committee meeting, which will include an overview of the 2019 Library Levy, is scheduled for March 11. The Select Committee will vote on a final proposal to place on the ballot in August 2026. Rivera will lead the council’s levy renewal process as chair of the Select Committee on the Library Levy.

“I want to thank Mayor Wilson’s office for their collaboration on this levy renewal,” Rivera said. “Any time we can work together on projects like this, the City benefits.”

If the updated package is approved by the City Council, it would go to voters on the Aug. 4, 2026, ballot. More information is available on The Seattle Public Library’s website.

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Seattle, WA

New York Sirens beat Seattle Torrent in front of sold-out MSG crowd in historic game for women’s hockey

Published

12 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

New York Sirens beat Seattle Torrent in front of sold-out MSG crowd in historic game for women’s hockey

History was made Saturday night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Sirens played the Seattle Torrent before a sold-out crowd.

It was the first time a Professional Women’s Hockey League game was played at the iconic arena.

The ceremonial puck drop didn’t just signify the start of a game, but a new era in women’s sports.

“We got women in space right now. We got women on the ice,” Queens resident Aaimz Davis said. “We got women everywhere.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 04: A closeup view of the game puck during the game between the New York Sirens and the Seattle Torrent at Madison Square Garden on April 04, 2026 in New York City.

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

For Sirens season ticket holders, a sold-out MSG to see their ladies play was less of a “who would’ve thought?” and more of a “it’s about time.”

“Women’s sports have come a long, long way and this just means– this is just an awesome feeling,” fan Patricia Fraser-Morales said.

“You had the Liberty, yeah, OK, then you have Gotham, the soccer,” fan Myrna Morales-Fraser said. “Now you have hockey.”

It was a history-making game for the sport — both the first home game at the legendary arena for the Sirens, and the first time it’s drawn a crowd this big for women’s hockey.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 04: The New York Sirens and the Seattle Torrent play in PWHL action at Madison Square Garden on April 04, 2026 in New York City.

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

On hand to mark the occasion was 39 Grand Slam-winning tennis great and trailblazer Billie Jean King.

“My dream has always been to help women’s sports grow because I come from a time when nobody cared about women in sports. It was horrible,” she said. “So when I see this, and I’m so happy I’m still alive to see it, you have no idea.”

Girls from the New Jersey Colonials youth hockey team, coached by Sirens Coach Greg Fargo, were excited and inspired. They see themselves going far, hoping to see their names up alongside the legends’ banners at New York’s center-stage arena.

“Maybe it’s gonna start growing more and more, and it’s gonna inspire more girls,” player Quinn Doherty said.

To give fans even more reason to celebrate, it ended up being a thrilling 2-1 shootout win for the Sirens.

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Seattle, WA

Salk: 2 caveats for a Seattle Seahawks first-round trade up

Published

24 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Salk: 2 caveats for a Seattle Seahawks first-round trade up

The NFL draft is less than three weeks away, and one of the things I keep hearing is people excited about the idea of the Seattle Seahawks trading up from pick No. 32 in the first round.

Stacy Rost: What we can learn from Seahawks’ NFL Draft history

I’m not necessarily opposed the idea of trading up, but I want to throw two big caveats in that. One, I’m not giving up any of the picks from next year, certainly not next year’s first round. Next year is supposed to be an incredible draft. This is supposed to be a mediocre draft where there are starters, not stars. If you got the opportunity to get stars next year, I want to take as many of those as possible, so please do not trade away certainly your first-round pick for next year.

But then Brock Huard has brought up this whole idea of trading up for Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love because he’s the best player in the draft. He might very well be right that he is. You know what I just can’t get myself to agree to? It’s trading up for a running back and certainly not trading next year’s first-round pick and this year’s first-round pick and probably more than that to get up into the top 10 for a running back, for a skill-position guy.

Should Seahawks consider trading up for NFL Draft’s top RB?

Look, you were just barely able to keep me on board with paying $225 million for wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed knowing that you’re gonna be spending a whole bunch of money on cornerback Devon Witherspoon. I love all those players. I get nervous about spending that much money that far away from the line of scrimmage.

You wanna now go trade two first-round picks and try to get a running back? I’m sorry, that’s where you lose me. I just can’t go that far. I don’t care how good he is. I’m out.

This post is a transcript of the video at the top of the post. It is edited for clarity. Catch Mike Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.

Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage

• Seahawks’ 2026 OTA, minicamp schedule announced
• What GM said about Seahawks making ‘Hard Knocks’ debut
• Why Daniel Jeremiah isn’t concerned about Seattle Seahawks’ FA losses
• Why Macdonald envisions Shaheed as bigger WR threat in ’26
• Stacy Rost: Who makes most sense to play Seahawks in NFL opener

Follow @themikesalk

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Seattle, WA

FOLLOWUP: City Light’s Brace Point project now one-third complete

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

FOLLOWUP: City Light’s Brace Point project now one-third complete

If you live in the Fauntleroy-area neighborhood where Seattle City Light is working on long-needed underground repairs and updates, Brace Point, you’ve probably closely followed their progress. For those who haven’t, here’s the latest of SCL’s periodic updates:

Seattle City Light contractors continue to work on the underground electrical infrastructure serving the Brace Point neighborhood. They are installing new duct banks, conduits, cables, vaults, and streetlights. The new infrastructure will help reduce the risk of outages and improve service for residents.
Underground civil construction is approximately 32% complete. Our crews have installed 3,470 linear feet of conduit and 13 underground electrical vaults. We expect to finish most civil construction by the end of 2026. After that, crews will focus on cleaning staging areas and restoring the project area to the same, if not better, condition.
You can reach our team at bracepointcable@stephersonassociates.com or 206-312-0021.
If you would like to talk to a member of the project team in person, you can find us in the upstairs meeting room at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library on Wednesday, April 8 from 12-1 PM.
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Current work areas:
Southwest Brace Point Drive: Crews are working near the intersection of 46th Ave. SW and SW Brace Point Drive.
47th Ave. Southwest: Crews are working north along 47th Ave. SW near the intersection of 46th Ave. SW and SW Roxbury St. Please drive carefully through this intersection and expect changing traffic patterns as the work progresses.
Longer than usual delays: Concrete pours are scheduled to occur on Wednesdays from 8 AM – 2 PM for the remainder of the project. Due to the narrow streets, trucks may have to park in the right-of-way. Please plan for longer than normal delays during these times.
Pedestrian trail: Crews are running new conduit and replacing the streetlight on the trail between 47th Ave.
Southwest to 48th Ave. Southwest. The trail is closed and expected to reopen in mid-April, once crews have finished the foundation for the new light pole. They will restore any areas disturbed by the project to City standards.
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Upcoming work areas
46th Ave. Southwest: After crews complete work on Brace Point Drive, they will start utility work on the segment of 46th Ave SW between Brace Point Drive and the intersection of SW Roxbury St and 47th Ave SW.
47th Ave. Southwest: This spring, crews will start working near the south end of 47th Ave. SW and work north towards the intersection of SW 98th St.