Committee opens confirmation hearings for Quynh Pham as Seattle Department of Neighborhoods director

The Seattle City Council Library, Education and Neighborhoods Committee convened April 22 to begin the two‑part confirmation process for Mayor Katie Wilson’s nominee, Quynh Pham, to lead the Department of Neighborhoods (DON).

Chair Maritza Rivera opened the meeting at 9:32 a.m., the committee adopted the agenda without objection and then heard public comment. Multiple community leaders and neighborhood representatives—including Jamie Lee of the Seattle 10 Development Authority and Mike Stewart of a neighborhood improvement organization in Ballard—urged the committee to confirm Pham, citing her work at Friends of Little Saigon and leadership on the Little Saigon Landmark Project. “I watched her learn and grow, and adopt to whatever was thrown her way, with a practical mindset and balanced decision making,” Jamie Lee said in support.

Mark Ellerbrook, deputy director for city operations in Mayor Katie Wilson’s office, introduced Pham and noted her 14 years of nonprofit and community leadership and her membership in the inaugural cohort of the City’s People’s Academy for People’s Engagement (P.A.S.E.). “To have a member of the inaugural class now be the Department of Neighborhoods director feels like a circle coming all the way around,” Ellerbrook told the committee.

Acting Director Quynh Pham spoke at length about her background growing up in Kent, working in the Chinatown‑International District and Little Saigon, and her goals for DON. Pham said her vision rests on three pillars: strengthening trust between neighborhoods and government, aligning cross‑department collaboration, and ensuring strategies match current priorities. She framed community engagement as essential to public safety and neighborhood vitality and described DON programs and metrics, saying the Neighborhood Matching Fund awarded $2.1 million to 112 community‑driven projects in 2025, and that city programs support food security and volunteer efforts across neighborhoods.

Several councilmembers expressed support and asked questions about community safety and capacity building. Councilmember Rinck pressed Pham on how DON would work on community safety and whether P.A.S.E. (People’s Academy for People’s Engagement) would expand; Pham said DON’s role is to help communities define safety and to convene departments and partners to implement community‑led plans. Councilmember Foster and Councilmember Lin offered positive remarks about Pham’s leadership and collaborative approach.

Not all public comment was supportive. A remote caller identified as David Haynes delivered a critical and confrontational statement about conditions in Little Saigon and library facilities, alleging widespread drug activity and references to criminal behavior; those allegations were not substantiated or addressed in committee testimony during the session.

The committee did not vote on the nomination. Chair Rivera said the meeting convened April 22 was the first of two sessions; the committee will accept written questions and Pham will respond before the next hearing, which is scheduled for May 13 at 9:30 a.m. The April 22 meeting adjourned after members had an opportunity to ask questions and offer comments.

What’s next: The committee will reconvene May 13 to continue the confirmation process and consider any additional questions or formal action on the nomination.