James Street was born August 9, 1942. He received a bachelors degree and Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University. Street served four years as an Air Force intelligence officer during the Vietnam War. Following the war, he was employed as an economist and budget analyst at the World Bank (1971-1974), but then enrolled at the University of Puget Sound where he received his law degree in 1977. Street practiced anti-trust and labor law with Schweppe, Krug, and Tausend, a Seattle law firm, from 1977-1983.

Street ran for City Council in 1983, defeating incumbent Jack Richards; his tenure began in January 1984. Street's primary issues while on Council were land use and regional growth and education issues. He served as chair of the Land Use Committee (1984-1989), Growth Policies and Regional Affairs Committee (1990-1995), and was Council President in 1994-1995. He also proposed and chaired the Council's first Education Committee (1988-1989). Street also served as president of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 1992 and 1993.

Street was a driving force behind the creation of the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the development of the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant program within DON. The bulk of his records documents Street's influence in land use issues, particularly in development of the City's comprehensive plan, establishing policies for major institutions, environmental protection, and downtown planning. He was also an advocate for low income housing and housing preservation. In the area of education, Street pushed hard for the City's Families and Education Levy and implementation of the Children and Youth Action Plan for at-risk families.

Street made an unsuccessful run for mayor in 1989. He chose not to run for reelection to City Council in 1995. Following his tenure on the Council, Street spent four years as a Superior Court judge, including one year in juvenile court. In 2001, he became a steering committee member and director of the Reinvesting in Youth program, a regional effort in prevention and early intervention with at-risk youth.