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. 1,205 votes

    Make Seattle the first US city to be carbon neutral

    A number of the ideas already proposed (unifying transportation systems, more mass transit, bicycle right-of-way improvements, higher density, green innovation) can all be included in this one target. We should aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. Any new city policy or law should be judged on wheth... more

  2. 628 votes

    Secure a new source of funding for City libraries similar to King County Library, to avoid closures.

    The Seattle Public Library is funded from the general city budget, "off the top" of an already strained source of funding. The King County Library System has a secure form of funding in the form of property taxes, thus avoiding budget cuts and enabling the library system to better serve... more

  3. 477 votes

    bring an anchor tenant back to key arena

    the health of key arena is very important to me. that said, if we can find a fair, fiscally responsible deal that is not overwhelmingly on the backs of taxpayers to renovate key arena and bring an anchor tenant like an NBA team back to seattle center., we should consider it. working with the new ... more

  4. 276 votes

    Ranked-Choice Voting for all elected offices

    Our outdated 18th-century democracy needs an upgrade! Ranked-Choice Voting is simple: allow voters to rank candidates for mayor, city council, school board, etc. in order of preference (1, 2, 3...). When the votes are tallied, if your first choice gets the fewest votes, that candidate is eliminat... more

  5. 177 votes

    Create a way for citizens to buy municipal bonds at $100 denominations.

    Right now we have to have $5,000 to be able to buy even one municipal bond. Nobody I know has $5K. We need to reduce that down to something the people can afford.

    Make the city something that we CAN invest in, and you'll find people who WANT to invest in it.

  6. 162 votes
  7. 99 votes

    Ban leaf blowers from downtown Seattle. They pollute in so many ways - senses and environment.

    Plus,do they work? I suggest bringing back the broom for a more civilized and peaceful community.

  8. 77 votes

    Tool Lending Libraries

    Tool Lending Libraries have been around for 30 years. We have one already in Phinney Ridge. We should have one in every neighborhood in Seattle. These are an opportunity to bring community together to share resources to make Seattle a better place. Working together builds community. How bett... more

  9. 47 votes
  10. 43 votes

    Build a comprehensive volunteer plan to leverage community time and resources.

    Tap into Cities of Service Rockefeller Grant to develop a citywide volunteer plan.

  11. 43 votes

    Bring an NHL team to Seattle

    Hockey is a great sport Seattle is without. It would give the city something to do between football and baseball season. Also Seattle is without a spectator hockey team for the first time in over 90 years since the Thunderbirds went south.

  12. 27 votes

    This creates Immortality

    I am one to be amazed at how many are killed by the gov like walking zombies and shit.. Anyway, to create immortality fast and easy. with todays resources, we need to use fast text audio on randomized elaborate technician jargon in equation for brain storming while advertising invention submissio... more

  13. 26 votes

    Zombie Epidemic Emergency Plan

    Seattle is not prepared for a Zombie epidemic. Zombies are a likely result from possible future chemical war-fare (releasing a type of Human-Rabies as an example) - In a worst case scenario, we have few escapes, shelters and response teams to deal particularly with zombie hordes - including tradi... more

  14. 24 votes

    a zero tollerance policy for graffiti

    I have seen a huge increase in graffiti in the Seattle area, and it, unlike mobile homeless people, trash, or junk cars used as homes, serve as a permanent and highly visual statement on the decline of our city and neighborhoods. New York instituted this in their subway system, and this tactic (a... more

  15. 24 votes

    Legalize Gay Marriage

    Start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

  16. 23 votes

    More Garbage Can through out downtown and Belltown

    In our beautiful city, our extreme lack of garbage cans on each block leads to extreme over stuffing of the existing one leading to litter on sidewalks, streets and bus stop areas. We should have a solid garbage can on each heavily traffic'd city block like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. This... more

  17. 22 votes

    Support local video/board game makers with public events, incentives, and more

    Seattle is one of the nation's leading regions for interactive game makers, from iPhone games to "casual" to video to board and just about everything in between. And many of the people making games for huge companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, and Wizards of the Coast live right here in ... more

  18. 20 votes

    FATHER's RIGHTS advocacy/clinics

    Children need both parents. The city and area is full of advocates for mothers in custody battles and those who make false domestic violence claims in order to get free legal service and leverage in custody battles. There is nothing to help fathers who cannot afford attorneys. I got custody of... more

  19. 18 votes

    Seattle Center rent more affordable for more agile short notice gatherings, made common via the web.

    Seattle Center doesn't currently have flexible room layouts for multi-purpose small community events. Currently most events that host less than a hundred people are relegated to a coffee shop or restaurant. Seattle Center should be designed to allow for larger more flexible gatherings that won... more

  20. 14 votes

    Host an Annual International Science Fair, For Adults

    Seattle is one of the most influential cities on the planet for professional scientist, and hosts one of the most educated populations.

    There is a dire need for science exhibitions for adults in the United States. Seattle could easily host one, bringing in the smartest minds from around the worl... more

powered by UserVoice