[8] Holmes promised not to prosecute marijuana possession, in line with a 2003 voter-approved initiative making it the lowest priority for law enforcement.

[11] In the winter of 2010-2011, opponents of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel collected signatures to place both an initiative and a referendum opposing the project on the ballot.

[18] A year later, the Washington State Legislature changed the maximum sentence for misdemeanor crimes to 364 days, in part at Holmes' urging.

[21][22] As one of its earliest sponsors, Holmes edited drafts of the initiative and secured the support of John McKay, a former United States Attorney.

The Justice Department alleged that one in every five uses of force by an officer violated the Constitution's protections against illegal search and seizure, and further noted concerns about discriminatory policing.

[30] Following a series of last-minute negotiations, the City and Justice Department arrived at a workable compromise on July 26; a settlement agreement announced the next day included substantial reforms of police practices.

[33] At the March 12, 2013 status conference, U.S. District Ct Judge James Robart approved[34] Bobb's proposed monitoring plan, effectively ending the public feud between Holmes and the mayor.

Mayor Murray, the candidate endorsed by Holmes, pledged to embrace federal reforms and appointed[37] Kathleen O'Toole to be Seattle's Chief of Police.