Published June 24 2026
In the City of Bellevue’s annual State of the City Tuesday, the mayor and deputy mayor said Bellevue is “next-level,” with partnerships and a culture that position it for the future.
Presented in partnership with the Bellevue Downtown Association at the Meydenbauer Center, Mayor Mo Malakoutian and Deputy Mayor Dave Hamilton talked about Bellevue’s focus on affordability, quality of life, connectivity, municipal efficiency, human-centered innovation, creativity and economic range.
“I am proud to tell you all, the state of our city is strong,” Malakoutian said during his address. “But to me, the real story is that Bellevue is progressing with purpose. Greener, safer, more affordable, more connected, more practical about growth. And I’m not saying we are perfect; we have our challenges. Housing is hard. Transportation is hard. Managing growth is hard. But Bellevue has something very important. We listen, we plan, we build and we keep coming for the hard work.”
The program also featured a sit-down question-and-answer session with Malakoutian and Hamilton. Each shared how they feel Bellevue is reaching new levels of influence in the region as a global innovation and jobs center while retaining its neighborhood feel and commitment to remaining a “City in a Park.”
They also discussed major challenges facing Bellevue and many other cities, including affordability and housing, and the progress being made to use available tools to find workable solutions for long-term success.
“I think there’s a pretty wide belief that Bellevue is having a moment and Bellevue is ascendant, and that’s not by accident,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s decades of community investment that is thoughtful – it’s purposeful and it’s consistent. We have invested in transportation, in housing, parks, public safety. The projects we’ve planned are no longer on paper. They’re real and they’re impacting people’s everyday lives.”
The program also featured guest speakers, including a local high-school senior asking the mayor about housing and affordability. Cooperative partnerships with businesses and peer agencies in the region were also highlighted.
A full video recording of the program is available via the link at the beginning of this news release.