CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION stating the City Council's intent to consider legislation in 2020 that would expand Chapter 14.30 of the Seattle Municipal Code to require employers to provide employees with transit subsidies, and to consult with City of Seattle departments and relevant stakeholders in the development of such legislation and related policies.
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WHEREAS, climate change is a defining crisis of our times, calling for urgent and decisive action by governments, businesses, and individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2013, establishes the goal that Seattle reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS, in August 2019 the City Council ("Council") unanimously passed, and the Mayor signed, Resolution 31895 calling for a Green New Deal, including the goal of making Seattle climate pollution-free by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the most recent report from the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment shows that Seattle's greenhouse gas emissions rose from 2014 to 2016 by 2.5 percent, including a one percent increase in pollution from passenger vehicles, moving Seattle further away from its climate goals; and
WHEREAS, according to the April 2018 Seattle Climate Action Plan update, 50 percent of Seattle's greenhouse gas emissions were from passenger transportation; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, on average, commuting by single-occupancy vehicle produces over twice the greenhouse gas emissions of riding public transit; and
WHEREAS, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation's 2018 Traffic Report, 51 percent of Seattle commutes were drive-alone trips in 2017; and
WHEREAS, the 2015 Move Seattle Plan states, "Decisive action to meet our goal of 75% of commuters getting to work without their personal cars by 2035 is needed to keep us on track to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050"; and
WHEREAS, the "Seattle Squeeze," a period from...
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