Going into 2021, there will be new faces at the helm of the Human Services Department, the Office of Arts and Culture, and the Office of Emergency Management.
Continue readingTag: Jason Johnson
Jason Johnson resigns as HSD Interim Director
Today Jason Johnson resigned as Interim Director of the city’s Human Services Department, effective in June. This follows a disastrous hearing with the City Council on Wednesday that further undermined his credibility and leadership. Erica Barnett broke the story yesterday morning, and provided a full report Saturday morning.
Continue readingDurkan withdraws nomination of Jason Johnson as Director of HSD, sort of
This morning, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she is withdrawing the nomination of Jason Johnson as permanent Director of the Human Services Department, though he will continue on as interim Director.
Continue readingJason Johnson confirmation hearing cancelled
Tomorrow’s scheduled meeting of the Select Committee on Homelessness and Housing Affordability has been cancelled. The meeting was intended to continue — and perhaps conclude — the confirmation hearings for Jason Johnson’s appointment as Director of the Human Services Department.
Continue readingHSD Director nomination avoids a backslide, but still stuck in neutral
By a 3-5 vote, the Council narrowly defeated Council member Sawant’s effort to send Mayor Durkan’s nomination for HSD Director back to her for a do-over. But that doesn’t mean the nomination has a clear path forward to confirmation.
Continue readingAssessing the city’s homelessness response
Yesterday Mayor Durkan, Interim Human Services Director Jason Johnson, and other city officials briefed the press on the Human Services Department’s (and the city’s) response to the homelessness crisis in 2018, in advance of releasing selected statistics to the public. In addition, HSD delivered its quarterly report to the City Council this morning on the performance of the Navigation Team. This follows a report from the City Auditor’s office earlier this month criticizing HSD and the Navigation Team for aspects of its response. Let’s dive in to the 2018 numbers.
Continue readingHSD Director appointment still in limbo after chaotic Council hearing
Tonight’s Council committee hearing lasted for two and a half hours. At the end, a resolution was voted out of committee — barely — but the future of Mayor Durkan’s nomination to fill the position of Director of the Human Services Department is as murky as ever.
Continue readingSawant introducing resolution to send HSD Director nomination back to Mayor
As promised, Council member Kshama Sawant will be formally introducing a resolution on Monday to send back Mayor Jenny Durkan’s nomination of Jason Johnson as Director of the Human Services Department.
Continue readingDurkan makes two more appointments
Today Mayor Durkan announced two more department head appointments: Jason Johnson as Director of the Human Services Department, and Mariko Lockhart as Director of the Office of Civil Rights.
Continue readingHSD Director Catherine Lester resigns
Today Human Services Director Catherine Lester announced that she is resigning so that she can move to Toronto to be closer to her family.
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