SDOT director Greg Spotts leaving after two years

(WSB photo, July 27, 2022)

SDOT will be changing directors again. After 2+ years, Greg Spotts announced today that he’s leaving in 2025. “This morning I notified the Mayor of my intent to resign my position effective 2/12/25. On a personal level, moving to Seattle alone has been hard, particularly living so far away from my mother in CA and father in NY. In 2025 I will pursue professional opportunities closer to my loved ones.” Spotts was an executive in Los Angeles’s transportation department when Mayor Bruce Harrell hired him to succeed SDOT’s previous non-interim director, Sam Zimbabwe; he was confirmed right before the West Seattle Bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure ended in September 2022. Harrell at the time called him a “transformational leader.” Zimbabwe had the job for three years, hired by Harrell’s predecessor Jenny Durkan.

k December 10, 2024 (3:24 pm)

Those who work in the Department are saying he was asked to leave last week, before he tendered his resignation. SDOT was vocally against removing the safety curb on Delridge, so this was kind of predictable. Who wants to run a department that can have their workload driven by individual councilmembers’ commute peeves rather than data and generally accepted traffic principles?

Bbron December 10, 2024 (3:57 pm)

Still waiting for all of Saka’s data on what the curb impacts on public safety is…
- Jay December 10, 2024 (10:52 pm)
  
  That level of blatant corruption and abuse of his position just makes me sad. Why can’t we have someone who actually cares representing us? The least he could do is not rub our noses in it.
- Brizone December 11, 2024 (11:35 am)
  
  Time to #RecallSaka

CarDriver December 10, 2024 (3:26 pm)

Can’t think of anything positive that he’s accomplished. Won’t be missed.

Reed December 10, 2024 (6:08 pm)

Awww can you point and show me where the measures implemented to save pedestrian and cyclists lives hurt you?
- CarDriver December 10, 2024 (6:33 pm)
  
  ,Never been hurt. As a daily walker-and bike rider also. I’ve NEVER felt unsafe or had a close call-even before Spotts arrival. My little secret? Whether driving,walking,bike riding I pay attention and follow the rules.
- Rhonda December 10, 2024 (8:49 pm)
  
  Reed, Seattle’s streets are more deadly to pedestrians and bicyclists than ever:https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2024/04/seattle-walkable-city-pedestrian-death-rates-show-otherwise
  - Reed December 10, 2024 (9:14 pm)
    
    No surprise, people around here drive recklessly with no regard for others. All the more reason to redesign roads and add more restrictions.
    - Burgerman December 11, 2024 (6:20 pm)
      
      No. Time to start electing prosecutors and judges who will follow the rule of law and convict and sentence dangerous drivers to actual jail time. This will bring back some of the police who we can’t hire enough of because they won’t work here because they aren’t supported by the legal system when they attempt to enforce the law – even when they do it without racial bias or excessive force.
    - k December 11, 2024 (6:53 pm)
      
      The legislature creates the sentencing guidelines. The jail time given IS the judges following the law. It’s not the judge’s job to convict anyone. Road design is known to make driving safer, without consuming court resources that could be used on real crimes.
  - Bbron December 10, 2024 (9:42 pm)
    
    All streets are more deadly than ever to everyone*. We’re in the swell of another wave of the ever present dangerous driver epidemic. Any noticeable improvements from pedestrian focused infrastructure would’ve been drowned out by all the recklessness behind the wheel. But I agree that SDOT hasn’t put in the effort to step up and stop focusing on centering car drivers and subsidizing them.

millie December 10, 2024 (3:41 pm)

I was impressed with Director Spotts during the budget hearings. The period of his tenure with the City of Seattle does not give one an opportunity to evaluate one’s potential growth. Ultimately, could have ended up as one of the better SDOT Directors. Understandable the desire to be close to one’s family. Best wishes!

Marcus December 10, 2024 (4:42 pm)

You know I am really getting tired of people moving to Seattle and becoming entrenched in Seattle politics and then leaving. Might be the best thing for Seattle they go but I am tired of outside people using Seattle for their own purposes and then moving on. Not everybody is born here I get that yet a native or at least someone who have made Seattle their HOME is needed at all levels of Seattle leadership.

M December 10, 2024 (6:24 pm)

I agree, we need more Indigenous leadership here.
- JS December 11, 2024 (8:55 am)
  
  *chef’s kiss* Couldn’t agree more
Alki resident December 10, 2024 (6:33 pm)

I fully agree with you.,
Alki resident December 10, 2024 (8:39 pm)

I fully agree with you.

Darren December 10, 2024 (5:33 pm)

Good riddance!

Marcus December 10, 2024 (6:40 pm)

You know I am really getting tired of people moving to Seattle and becoming entrenched in Seattle politics and then leaving. Might be the best thing for Seattle if they go but I am tired of outside people using Seattle for their own purposes and then moving on. Not everybody is born here I get that, yet at least someone who has made Seattle their HOME is needed at all levels of Seattle leadership.

wetone December 11, 2024 (7:55 am)

Met Greg Spotts a few times 3yrs ago and he seemed like a very likable nice guy and wish him well. What I find so ridiculous and the real issues are with the people that are responsible within Seattle government that keep hiring people not qualified for the job. This is the third SDOT director we’ve had in a short time. How about SPD chiefs ? Mayor’s…You want positive growth and stability ? this sure isn’t the way to achieve it… Seattle government needs a total rebuild from top down. Then and only then will we see positivity in this city and hopefully get some good people to fill SPD openings……

K December 11, 2024 (9:04 am)

Seattleites keep voting with their feelings, so we keep getting crap mayors, and THEY make hiring and firing decisions with THEIR feelings and this is where we are. When you vote for candidates with actual, practical plans and proven track records of making things happen, they will in turn make better decisions about staffing for the city.
WS Res December 11, 2024 (7:47 pm)

We can thank Rob Saka’s self-serving determination to have his illegal left turn as one example of Spotts’ frustration. Anybody on that recall petition yet?

Admiral-2009 December 11, 2024 (9:30 am)

It’s time for the City to hire a real Traffic Engineer with a Professional Engineer License and a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer credential, AND a spine to push for proven Technical Criteria in making decisions versus the political options that have resulted in reduced traffic safety for all user’s in the City.

Sarge December 11, 2024 (10:58 am)

There are many such individuals at SDOT… including the chief safety officer . The question is who listens to them. I’m sure they could give Saka some good info …….

WSR December 12, 2024 (5:36 am)

Harrell thought he got a yes man that would cow tau to his campaign donors wants. What he missed was Spotts was more interested in his next photo opportunity than he was doing his actual job. Seattle needs a Director of Transportation that actually has transportation planning and engineering experience not a used car salesman. The entire city has paid the price for Harrell’s revenge hire after he ousted Zimbabwe. Was it worth it Bruce? How many taxpayer dollars did Spotts waste chasing the limelight?

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