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VOL. 107, NO. 4
MARY FERAKIS
JANUARY 28, 2026
Mary Fertakis proudly displays the commemorative towel and her Seahawks Happy Birthday button at Sunday’s National Championship game at Lumen Field.
M
ary Fertakis is a Consultant and Chairs the Washington State Board of Education. She was born & raised in Seattle and has been a Seahawks fan since the franchise arrived in 1976. Fertakis was excited to be in
attendance for the big win on Sunday and had a lot to say: This has been an amazing season! I thought we could have an 11-6 record and make the playoffs. It was not on my bingo card that we’d go 14-3, take the #1 seed, or that the road to the Super Bowl would
go through Seattle! I’m happy to be wrong! Attending my first NFC Championship game in that stadium with the incomparable 12’s was an awesome bucket list experience. Funny story: I was at the insane Dec. 18 game vs. the Rams, which
was my birthday….I aged not one, but several years that night. But that W was the best birthday gift. When it was clear we’d be playing the Rams again in the playoffs, I went for full mojo & wore exactly the same thing today - and I mean everything - that I wore to that
game…including my Seahawks “Happy Birthday” button. Many people wished me a happy birthday today & it was fun to explain why I was wearing it. They were in full agreement that whatever it takes to support a W makes total sense. Go Hawks!!!
Seattle Parks Superintendent Seattle Officials Weigh Potential Impact of Trump Threat to Cut Federal Anthony-Paul Diaz Departs as Mayor Wilson Reshapes City Leadership Funding to Sanctuary Cities Staff Report
S
eattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Anthony Paul Diaz has departed from his role after new Mayor Katie Wilson chose not to renew his contract, marking one of the first
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
Staff Report
T
he potential impact of former President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to suspend federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions remains uncertain, but Seattle officials appear cautiously confident that such action would face significant legal hurdles. During a Jan. 13 speech at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said his administration would halt federal payments to
sanctuary cities and states, claiming those jurisdictions undermine public safety by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. “Starting Feb. 1, we are not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities,” Trump said, adding that such jurisdictions “do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”Seattle currently
SANCTUARY CITIES, 3 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
major leadership changes under the new administration. Diaz, who was hired in 2022 under former Mayor Bruce Harrell, will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Superintendent of Policy and Finance Michele Finnegan, according to an announcement from the mayor’s office. The change comes as Wilson reviews leadership across several city departments following her narrow election victory last fall. The decision follows increased public scrutiny of Diaz’s travel while serving as superintendent. Reporting by the local outlet Seattle Red documented numerous domestic and international trips taken by Diaz during his tenure, including travel to Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Some of those international trips reportedly exceeded $6,000 each. City officials have said taxpayer funds were not always used to pay for the travel,
and there has been no indication that Diaz violated any city policies or rules. The Parks and Recreation Department has previously stated that some of the travel was related to conferences or professional obligations and that outside entities sometimes covered costs. The department also noted that Diaz forfeited a significant amount of vacation time during his tenure. Still, the frequency and cost of the trips drew criticism at a time when many Seattle residents have expressed frustration over conditions in neighborhood parks. Mayor Wilson’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on whether the decision not to renew Diaz’s contract was related to the travel controversy or whether any formal review of the trips would be conducted. Seattle Parks and Recreation also declined to comment. SALARY AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION According to city wage data, an Anthony Diaz is listed as an “Executive 4” with Seattle Parks and Recreation, earning an hourly rate of $153.70. Based on a standard 40-hour workweek, that equates to an annual salary of nearly $320,000. For critics, that compensation — combined with extensive travel — stood in contrast to ongoing challenges within the city’s park system. Several parks across Seattle have faced closures, fencing, or restricted access in recent years due to maintenance backlogs, vandalism, drug activity, and safety concerns. Parks such as Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Seven Hills Park, and Blanche Lavizzo Park have at times been partially or fully closed, prompting complaints from nearby
SEATTLE PARKS, 3