State of Seattle is "stronger than ever," mayor says

While citing such accomplishments as building a new streetcar and persuading other cities to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced no striking new initiatives at his State of the City address Tuesday.

"It is my pleasure to report that the state of Seattle is stronger than ever," he said in his annual speech, which was held at the Pacific Science Center. Laced together with the theme of innovation, Nickels spoke of Seattle's progress in fighting climate change, creating affordable housing and solving transportation problems.

"As a city, we are driven to confront the problems we face," he said. "We prosper because we challenge conventional wisdom, and when we put our minds to it, we overcome the intractable."

Given the location, many had expected Nickels might propose a property tax to make improvements to Seattle Center and Pike Place Market. While the mayor mentioned the need to repair the Market's aging buildings, he did not mention a new levy.

"What was most interesting about the speech was what was missing, which was the announcement of a levy for Seattle Center and Pike Place Market," said City Councilmember Nick Licata, who criticized Nickels last year for delivering his speech at a Rotary Club lunch instead of in council chambers.

Nickels said he will start working on renewing the low-income housing levy, which does not expire until 2009, but did not bring up renewing the Pro Parks Levy, which expires this year.

The mayor plans to start a green-building program, by first convening a community panel, to increase energy efficiency in homes and businesses, reduce energy costs and create "green-collar" jobs.

He also circled back to last year's proposal for a $9 million 311 phone system, to respond to city complaints, which the council refused to fund. This year, Nickels said, he intends to create a "Customer Bill of Rights" with the public.

A few hours after the speech, several community members offered their own assessment of the city's health at a City Council meeting, including the need to address a slew of apparently gang-related homicides this year.

Dione Tyson, who runs the Multi-Media Center youth program in South Seattle, said the city needs to put money into programs that prevent kids from getting involved with gangs.

"It's all well and good to talk about the health of the planet, but if kids are dead, who cares?" she said.

"Those people communicated effectively to my heart," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "I'm very concerned about youth violence and gangs. Unfortunately, it has resurfaced with a vengeance."

In his speech, Nickels said the city is the safest it has been since 1968, but acknowledged that "for all the progress we have made, we still have our tragedies."

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com