Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
JANUARY 7, 2026
VOL. 107, NO. 1
Mayor Katie B. Wilson Sworn In, Calls on Seattle to Shape Its Future Together Staff Report
K CITY OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
atie B. Wilson was formally sworn into office on January 2, 2026, becoming Seattle’s next mayor during a public ceremony at City Hall that emphasized openness, community, and shared responsibility. The event, broadcast on Seattle Channel, drew residents, labor leaders, organizers, city employees, and families from across the city. In her inaugural remarks, Wilson framed the moment as one of collective ownership and possibility, repeatedly returning to a central theme: “This is your city.” She acknowledged the visible and invisible labor that keeps Seattle running, from city staff and service workers to volunteers and caregivers, and pledged to make belonging and dignity a lived reality for residents of all backgrounds and incomes. “This is your city - that means that you belong here,” Wilson said, adding that the promise of belonging also carries shared responsibility. “Because Seattle is what we make of it, together.” A MAYOR SHAPED BY ORGANIZING Wilson’s speech reflected her background as a community organizer and her transition
Seattle Center Announces Leadership Transition
Deputy Director Diamatris Winston Named Seattle Center Acting Director, Effective Jan. 17, 2026 Submitted, Courtesy of Seattle Center
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eattle Center announced today that Director Marshall Foster has decided to leave his position to take on a new leadership role at Sound Transit, where he will continue supporting the region at a pivotal moment for major mobility and infrastructure investment. Foster will remain at Seattle Center through Jan. 16, 2026. Deputy Director Diamatris Winston will assume the role of Acting Director of Seattle Center following Foster’s departure. “Serving Seattle Center has been one of the great honors of my career. Together, we have strengthened this campus as the cultural and civic heart of our city. I am incredibly proud of the Marshall Foster work we’ve done — from advancing the Memorial Stadium redevelopment, to managing Waterfront Park, to launching a powerful long-term vision for the Center’s future,” Foster said. “I’m grateful our partnership with the Seattle Center Foundation is stronger than ever, thanks to the leadership of Jane Zalutsky and Rob Johnson.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION, 7
into executive leadership. She spoke candidly about building her mayoral team, emphasizing character, judgment, and motivation as the most important qualities for those working in positions of power. While joking about the pace of hiring, she underscored her confidence in the people joining her administration and the values they bring to City Hall. She also addressed the early days of her mayoralty with humor and self-awareness, referencing national attention she received during the campaign and acknowledging the rapid shift from election night to governing. FROM CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO ACTION Wilson highlighted the launch of her transition team, a group of roughly 60 volunteers and community leaders tasked with translating campaign priorities into actionable plans. Rejecting what she described as performative transition processes, Wilson said the team was designed to do real work, expanding outreach and gathering insights from across the city. In just a few weeks, she noted, the group had already engaged with more than 700 additional residents and stakeholders.
KATIE WILSON, 7
Several New State Laws to Take Effect in 2026 By Brett Davis
The Center Square
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ew laws will take effect in Washington state, including several that involve worker and family protections, as well as consumer and business changes. MINIMUM WAGE In Seattle, the minimum wage is higher, reflecting the city’s cost of living. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Seattle’s minimum wage will be $21.30 per hour, up from $20.76 in 2025. Tukwila and SeaTac also have higher local minimums. Washington’s statewide rate remains the highest nationally, building on its top position from 2025. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEAVE Senate Bill 5101 will expand protections for hate crime victims by including them under the existing Domestic Violence Leave law, allowing paid or unpaid time off for safety planning, medical care, counseling, and legal assistance. It also strengthens protections against workplace retaliation and expands access to paid sick leave.
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SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE Most provisions of House Bill 1213, which expand job protections and benefits under the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, will take effect in 2026. Key updates include reducing the minimum leave increment from eight to four consecutive hours, expanding job protections for employees at smaller employers (25+ employees), ensuring job protection after 180 days with a qualifying employer regardless of hours worked, and clarifying health insurance continuation rules during leave. PLASTIC BAG FEES Washington’s plastic bag fees will increase in 2026 due to the 2020 statewide
plastic bag ban and modifications from House Bill 1293 in 2025. The minimum charge for plastic bags rises from 8 cents to 12 cents. A planned increase for thicker 4-mil bags (one-thousandth of an inch) is delayed until 2028. Retailers using compliant 4-mil or thicker bags may also face a 4-cent state penalty, bringing the total to 16 cents per bag. NICOTINE TAXES Starting in 2026, all nicotine products—including tobacco-derived and synthetic products such as ZYN pouches, vapes, and e-cigarettes— will be taxed at 95% of the selling price. This expansion is the result of Senate Bill 5814, passed during this year’s legislative session.
RIGHT-TO-REPAIR Under House Bill 1483, electronics manufacturers must provide independent repair providers and owners access to parts, tools, and repair information for their devices. The law aims to lower repair costs, support small businesses, and reduce e-waste. It applies to devices first sold in Washington after July 1, 2021, and prohibits software locks that hinder independent repairs. STATE IDENTIFICATION Senate Bill 5689 allows residents to voluntarily add their blood type to their driver’s license or identification card. The Washington State Department of Licensing may charge a one-time administrative fee of up to $2 for processing the request.