Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
DECEMBER 24, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 52
Seattle Welcomes 2026 with New Year’s at the Needle Staff Report
Seattle’s EV Adoption Surges, but Charging Infrastructure Lags Behind Staff Report
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eattle drivers are adopting electric vehicles at one of the fastest rates in the country, but the city’s public charging infrastructure has not kept pace. Recent growth in EV ownership, combined with slow expansion of charging stations, has created an emerging gap that is beginning to affect daily drivers, apartment dwellers, and visitors alike. While Seattle is often viewed as a national leader in sustainability, the city trails far behind regions such as Los Angeles when it comes to convenient and reliable charging access. A CITY BUYING EVS FASTER THAN IT CAN CHARGE THEM Washington State now has one of the highest per capita rates of electric vehicle ownership in the nation, and the Seattle metro area accounts for a large share of that growth. Local dealerships report wait lists for newer EV models, while Tesla registrations continue to climb year after year. Despite this momentum, the public charging network within Seattle’s city limits is expanding at a slower rate than the adoption curve. A recent City Light system update confirms the city now oversees 14 DC fast chargers and 58 Level 2 curbside chargers across 37 public sites. These numbers reflect only the infrastructure owned and operated by the City or the utility and do not include privately operated equipment accessible to the public. HOW LOS ANGELES PULLED AHEAD Los Angeles offers a useful comparison. Both cities have strong environmental commitments and high EV adoption. However, Los Angeles has invested heavily in partnerships with private businesses, parking operators, and storefronts. Instead of relying primarily on city owned stations, Los Angeles has thousands of chargers located at grocery stores, strip malls, office buildings, and public parking garages.
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SEATTLE CENTER
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s the final seconds of 2025 tick away, millions of eyes will turn toward a familiar silhouette on Seattle’s skyline. From living rooms in Queen Anne to coastlines hundreds of miles away, New Year’s at the Space Needle has become one of the most widely watched New Year’s celebrations on the West Coast — a burst of light, music, and shared excitement that reaches as far south as San Diego. What unfolds at midnight is more than a local fireworks show. Each year, the Space Needle’s New Year’s display is broadcast and streamed well beyond Washington, offering a synchronized countdown that allows viewers across the region to ring in the new year together. For a few electric minutes, Seattle becomes the visual heartbeat of the West Coast, sending out a wave of celebration, optimism, and unmistakable joy. For Queen Anne residents, the experience is both intimate and expansive. The Space Needle is a constant presence, rising above the neighborhood yearround. On New Year’s Eve, that familiar landmark takes on a different energy,
Viewers were wowed from San Diego to Seattle as the Pacific Time Zone rang in the new year with North America’s largest structurally launched pyrotechnic display transforming into a shared signal that a new chapter has arrived. Whether viewed from a living room window, a nearby street, or a favorite neighborhood vantage point, the moment feels personal. New Year’s at the Needle has evolved significantly over the years. What began
decades ago as a traditional fireworks display has grown into a carefully choreographed spectacle that combines light, pyrotechnics, and music.
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Seattle Mayor-elect Wilson’s Staff Completes Standard Ethics Review Process By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
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eattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson’s incoming senior staff is undergoing the city’s standard ethics disclosure and review process, a routine step for new administrations as officials transition into government roles. Wilson announced her senior leadership team earlier this month, drawing from a mix of nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and public sector experience. City ethics laws require that mayoral staff disclose prior professional relationships and, in some cases, seek waivers or recuse themselves from matters connected to former employers or organizations. “This is a team that’s ready to get to work,” Wilson said when announcing her staff. “They bring deep community ties, exceptional issue expertise, and most important of all, a track record of getting things done.” Under Seattle Municipal Code, individuals classified as
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“covered persons,” including city officials and employees, are prohibited from participating in city decisions where they or certain related parties have a financial interest. The
“Barnett noted that this process is consistent with previous mayoral transitions” rules also apply when an official worked for an employer within the previous 12 months that has a financial interest in a matter before the city, or when participation could reasonably appear to impair independent judgment. In such cases, officials may request waivers or recuse themselves from specific decisions. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC)
oversees compliance with these requirements. SEEC Executive Director Wayne Barnett said he has been in communication with members of the incoming mayor’s staff for more than a month. “Incoming administration officials have to disclose certain past ties, request waivers for others, and I generally recommend they get off most boards on which they sit,” Barnett said. “I am confident we will get Mayor-elect Wilson squared away.” Barnett noted that this process is consistent with previous mayoral transitions, including those under former Mayor Jenny Durkan and current Mayor Bruce Harrell, both of whom appointed staff with prior professional connections to organizations that work with the city. Policy experts say Wilson’s staffing approach reflects common practice in city government. Andrew Villeneuve,
founder and executive director of the Northwest Progressive Institute, said incoming officials frequently turn to candidates with nonprofit, advocacy, or private-sector experience. “There’s a lot of valuable experience in the nonprofit and private sectors, and that’s why incoming elected officials like Katie Wilson turn to those spheres for help with their transitions and staffing needs,” Villeneuve said. Wilson’s senior team is led by Brian Surratt, who will serve as deputy mayor. Surratt previously served as CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, a public-private partnership focused on regional economic development. Before that, he directed the Seattle Office of Economic Development, where he was involved in negotiating the city’s Climate Pledge Arena development agreement and helped lead Seattle’s effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Following Surratt’s departure, Greater Seattle Partners named Rebecca Lovell interim president and CEO on Dec. 4. The organization maintains ongoing relationships with the city, including participation in Mayor Harrell’s One Seattle Civic Partnership.
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