Ideas for Seattle

On behalf of Mayor Mike McGinn, welcome to Ideas for Seattle. The strength of our city comes from our talented citizens. We need your input so that we can work together to make Seattle a better place for all of us. Join in the conversation. Sign up today.

City Forum

Welcome to Ideas For Seattle. Here you can contribute your ideas for the future of our city. You can also vote on existing ideas submitted by your fellow citizens.

To get started, simply choose a category from the list on the right. Then search to see if your idea has already been submitted. If it hasn't, you can then submit it for others to discuss or vote on.

  1. 735 votes
  2. 655 votes

    Increase late-night transportation options

    Work with Metro to run certain bus routes later to help people get home from bars and events. The Capital Hill to downtown routes are thin late at night.

    Many companies offer cab vouchers after company parties. Could this somehow be implemented on a larger scale, maybe working with colleges?... more

  3. 304 votes

    Work With Local Arts' Organizations To Create Participatory Art

    Please work with local artist organizations which promote participatory art (not just art that people go look at, sigh and walk away). Examples:, green spaces with art that people can touch, climb on, etc.; temporary art that people can write on.

    The city can reach out to schools as well as org... more

  4. 207 votes

    Permit liquor sales after 2am in licensed establishments

    Lobby the state to permit liquor sales after 2am by venues (bars, nightclubs, etc) with a special license. This license would be more expensive than the standard liquor license, with the additional revenue going to fund additional (post 2am) police services. This would help the city become a true... more

  5. 161 votes

    Support all-ages venues and offer more youth programs

    Seattle has a vibrant all-ages scene. Offer City support and engage venue staff to learn what the City can do for their programs--more streetlights? What kind of policing would they like to see?

    Offer more youth programs--especially during school breaks. Engage nonprofits to help with this.... more

  6. 149 votes

    Enhance the Smoking Ban by Allowing Cigar Bars

    Most of the modern cities that we look up to have allowed the smoking ban and those of us who enjoy cigars to co-exist peacefully.

    New York, San Francisco, Portland and others maintain a smoking ban while allowing limited cigar bars to operate, especially if they are owner operated.

    When th... more

  7. 138 votes

    Encourage development that keeps Seattle a liveable city for all--artists and arts orgs included

    aka - Keep Seattle Interesting.

    Affordable space to live and work is something that the majority of residents, organizations and small businesses need and is absolutely mandatory to keep Seattle a vibrant home for artists and arts organizations. What would Seattle be without its music, dance,... more

  8. 129 votes
  9. 104 votes

    Bring back NBA basketball to Seattle.

    I'll take a NHL team if this won't fly, but lets fill that void the Sonics left behind (and no the Sounders have not done that).

  10. 101 votes

    Permit a Waterfront Casino

    As part of the remake of the waterfront, a single casino license should be auctioned, with the buyer (developer) free to build a full Vegas style casino with revenues shared with the city. These revenues could in turn be earmarked for education, police or whatever purpose is deemed critical. This... more

  11. 96 votes

    support the creation of a nationally prominent arts festival - a la Portland's T.B.A.

    Support the creation of a nationally prominent cultural festival focused on an underrepresented art - along the lines on Portland's "TBA" - Time Based Art - performance festival.

  12. 70 votes
  13. 64 votes

    allow open containers at street fairs and festivals

    Beer drinking should be allowed on the street during festivals. This is done in other cities (Baltimore) and doesn't cause problems. Beer gardens are crowded and not fun! They exclude parents with babies because they are minors (how silly).

  14. 59 votes
  15. 49 votes

    Stop the city's anti-nightlife agenda and good neighbor agreements

    Greg Nickels, the City Attorney's office, the SPD and the Washington State Liquor Control Board have spent far too much time, money and other resources attempting to criminalize a completely normal part of urban life. The campaign against Seattle's nightlife community has got to stop.

    The backwa... more

  16. 47 votes
  17. 46 votes

    Build a world-class performing arts center on the waterfront (The August Wilson P.A. Center)

    With our entire downtown waterfront area being redesigned with the tunnel / viaduct / whatever...we have an opportunity to build a "world class" music and performing arts center on piers 62/63 where the Summer Nights concert series once took place.

    We have an awesome opportunity to n... more

  18. 44 votes

    open container

    Allow open container alcoholic beverages in public areas, sidewalks, parks, etc.

  19. 39 votes
  20. 37 votes

    Offer grants for more neighborhood news blogs

    The West Seattle Blog, MyBallard Blog, Central District Blog, and others have been great for developing community, but they serve the most affluent corners of the city.

    We need a good Rainier Valley blog, Lake City blog, Georgetown blog, etc. for neighborhood news and to build neighborhood com... more

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