We are proud to announce Redmond’s Mayor, Angela Birney, has been elected to join the Climate Mayors Steering Committee. Climate mayors is a bipartisan network that has mobilized more than 750 U.S. mayors since 2014, demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities.
We are proud Angela Birney has received the endorsement of the Progressive Voters Guide. Here is their recommendation:
“Redmond Mayor Angela Birney is running for re-election this year. First elected in 2019, Birney was previously the president of the Redmond City Council and served as chair of the Redmond Parks and Trails Commission. Prior to running for office, she was a math and science teacher and an active community volunteer.
During her first term as mayor, Birney oversaw a period of rapid growth and development as Redmond prepares for the arrival of light rail next spring. She was also a key ally for King County’s Health Through Housing program, which seeks to accelerate the region’s response to chronic homelessness. In our interview, she said one of her most important accomplishments was leading Redmond through the pandemic and keeping the community safe and healthy by following the latest public health recommendations.
Birney is running to continue working to improve affordability and sustainability in Redmond. She was supportive of state legislation this year to expand housing options near reliable transit and will advocate for more as the city continues to grow. She emphasized the importance of ensuring Redmond is a welcoming city for the 40 percent of the community that has moved there from outside the United States. She also cited her efforts to prevent crime, especially retail theft, and divert non-emergency calls away from police and firefighters.
Birney has earned a broad slate of endorsements from progressive elected officials and advocacy organizations. Birney is the best choice for Mayor of Redmond.”
Source: Progressive Voters Guide, October 12, 2023
Redmond became the first city in King County to have its draft Housing Element updates for the comprehensive plan, known as Redmond 2050, reviewed and recognized by the King County Affordable Housing Committee (AHC). In a unanimously approved letter, the AHC highlighted strengths, including the Housing Element’s inventory and analysis and its focus on mitigating displacement as the city grows.
In this CitiesSpeak podcast from the National League of Cities, Clarence sits down with Mayor Angela Birney from Redmond, Washington and Mayor Mark Shepherd from Clearfield City, Utah to talk about the affordable housing crisis in America’s communities, and the innovative approaches they’re taking to address the challenge in their cities. Both leaders are involved in NLC’s Housing Supply Accelerator – an initiative focused on bringing partners from across the housing sector together, to increase and improve the supply of affordable housing stock for residents. (27 minutes)
RYPAC Forum Thursday, October 5th, 5:00 – 6:00pm, Old Firehouse Teen Center, 16510 NE 79th Street, Redmond About RYPAC: Redmond Youth Partnership Advisory Committee (RYPAC) is a longstanding youth leadership board focused on community service and giving back in Redmond. RYPAC members engage in monthly volunteer opportunities, large-scale community events, and service projects.
Eastside Candidate Forum Thursday, October 12th, 6:00 – 8:00pm, Together Center, 16305 NE 87th St Suite 110, Redmond. Hosted by Eastside Affordable Housing Coalition and the Eastside Housing Equity Coalition. Dinner provided, RSVP Required.
As a selected participant, Redmond will receive a $15,000 grant to advance the support of small businesses and entrepreneurs, along with five-month coaching from NLC.
August 11, 2023, 6:00 – 7:30pm, Angela Birney’s Birthday and Re-election Party
Redmond is pleased to have been one of thirteen cities selected to participate in a National League of Cities (NLC) Capstone Challenge Series. Redmond will be matched with strategic partners to work together on advancing road safety in Redmond.
July 15, 2023, 10am – 12pm, Walk with Angela in the Derby Day’s Parade!
ONCE THE TALIBAN arrived in Kabul in August 2021, Ahmad started hiding work documents under dishes in his family’s kitchen, stashing papers that linked him to the U.S. Embassy.
Ahmad, like many Afghan civilians, had been recruited by the American government following the invasion of Afghanistan; his job helped buy this four-level house, and support the family that lived there with him: his mother, his siblings, his wife and his newborn child.
America’s swift withdrawal from Afghanistan didn’t give him much time to leave it.
Ahmad, with his wife and 2-month-old son, crammed onto a U.S. military plane that Aug. 27 to fly out of Kabul. He clutched a thermos of hot water to turn baby formula into food as they headed west with hundreds of other refugees.
The thermos grew lighter as time passed. Even after they landed at a military base in Germany, it was nearly impossible to get hot water.
Source: www.seattletimes.com
Regional leader pledges to continue working on livability, sustainability, and connectivity priorities that benefit all residents of growing eastside city
For Immediate Release: February 1, 2023
REDMOND– Mayor Angela Birney has announced that she will seek re-election to the office she has held since 2019. Birney, a recognized regional leader who has pushed for greater investments in affordable housing, public safety, and transit connections, wants to build on her record in a second term as Mayor.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done in collaboration with regional and state leaders to find innovative solutions to our most challenging problems,” said Birney. “By representing our community and our priorities, we’ve supported small businesses, addressed the homelessness challenge, increased housing supplies, expanded behavioral health solutions, and invested in public safety.
Other accomplishments Birney touts include building the new Redmond Senior and Community Center, opening Westside Park – an inclusive renovation of a neighborhood park – and bringing back community events including a more environmentally sustainable Derby Days and a month-long Redmond Lights.
Connecting the growing city of Redmond to the great Puget Sound region is an area where Birney has worked as well, starting work on the final section of the Redmond Central Connector Eastrail project, successfully lobbied the state legislature to begin the bike and pedestrian bridge over 520, and completing infrastructure projects around the stations to serve our community.
“Redmond is not only a growing commercial and technology center, but home to thousands who travel from home to other cities in our region for work, education, and recreation,” said Birney. “By making sure we get our share of state and federal resources, we’re building the infrastructure we need to meet current and future needs, while protecting our quality of life and environment.”
In her next term, Birney hopes to build on her record, including continued improvements in public safety and housing, completion of light rail, and ongoing economic recovery efforts as the city’s retail core and employers continue to recover from pandemic disruption.
“Redmond is a city with incredible potential, rooted in our great neighborhoods, diverse communities, and strong businesses – large and small,” said Birney. “I’m excited to continue the work we have done, mapping out the housing needs for the next 25 years and our commitment to climate action, and implementing the bold plans we have set in motion. It would be an honor to continue to serve as Mayor of Redmond.”
Pre-Filing Week Party to Re-elect Mayor Angela Birney, PostDoc Brewing Company, 17625 NE 65th St #100, Redmond – RSVP by emailing Katherine@bobmanconsulting.com
REDMOND, WA – Redmond Mayor Angela Birney is participating on the steering committee of the Housing Supply Accelerator, a partnership between the National League of Cities (NLC) and the American Planning Association (APA) to bring together local governments, community planners, builders, financial institutions, housing policy associations, and state and federal partners to develop, align, and advance solutions for housing supply challenges at the local level.
“There is simply not enough housing in our country, including in Redmond, the eastside, and our state,” said Mayor Birney. “I’m excited to work with others across the nation to help guide actions that will improve housing capacity, identify critical solutions, and accelerate our efforts to ensure quality housing for all.”
This solutions-oriented campaign aims to develop model practices, ordinances, and resources to accelerate and incentivize local approaches to land use, housing development, and preservation.
Under Birney’s leadership, the City of Redmond has slated 10 million towards affordable housing in the current budget, contributed four million towards the construction of the Together Center, worked to support the development of more affordable and transit-oriented housing, implemented tenant protections, and housed many individuals experiencing homelessness. The City is currently engaging community members on updates to housing policies as part of Redmond 2050, the periodic update of the Redmond Comprehensive Plan.
Mayor Birney serves on the Sound Cities Association Board as the past president, the King County Council Regional Policy Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, King County Regional Homelessness Authority Governing Committee, and Hopelink Board of Directors, among other regional boards and committees.
To learn more about the Housing Supply Accelerator, visit the NLC blog post.
Registration, program 8:00 – 9:00 am, Mayor Angela Birney Campaign Kickoff Breakfast, Marriott Redmond, 7401 164th Ave NE, Redmond — Photo Gallery Now Available