Policy & Regulations
Washington Gov. Inslee Announces New Event-Size Restrictions as Coronavirus Continues to Rattle Seattles Business Community
Local business leaders say they are grateful for public health officials response to the crisis, but also stress more economic relief is necessary
Gov. Jay Inslee raised the bar on defending against unchecked spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) by prohibiting gatherings of more than 250 people in Seattle and across a three-county area through the end of March. Inslee made the announcement, which affects King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, at a press conference today, March 11, pointing out…
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO Marilyn Strickland is Stepping Down to Run for Congress
The former Tacoma mayor is making a bid for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Denny Heck
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO Marilyn Strickland says she is running for Congress with a focus on making the economy more inclusive and resilient for all of us.
Washington Exceeds the National Average in a Measure of Average Tax Debt
The consequences of that unpaid tax debt can be severe for individuals, a new report states, including wage garnishment and asset seizure
The consequences of that unpaid tax debt can be severe for individuals, a new report states, including wage garnishment and asset seizure
Washington Ranks Third Among the States in Black Market Cigarette Consumption
High levels of cigarette smuggling are linked to high excise taxes on legal tobacco, report claims
Washington has the third highest rate of inbound cigarette-smuggling activity in the nation, with an estimated 42.8% of total cigarette consumption in the state involving smuggled tobacco, according to a new report by the Tax Foundation. The Washington, D.C.-based think tank, devoted to analyzing and assessing tax policy, puts the blame for the high rate…
Seattle Earns High Marks for Enacting Policies That Improve Residents Health and Quality of Life
Nationwide study examined nine key areas to determine which cities excel at smart policymaking
Seattle is one of only eight of cities nationwide to earn an overall Gold City designation in an assessment of its success in enacting policies that improve the health and well-being of its residents, an improvement from an overall silver award last year, according to CityHealth. Policy advances over the past year that led to…
Seattle Mayor Seeks to Bolster Contract Opportunities for Women and Minority-Owned Firms
Efforts will be focused on improving outreach, assessment and feedback with an eye toward reaching contracting goals
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan this week signed an executive order designed to speed efforts to achieve contracting equity for the citys women and minority-owned business enterprises (WMBEs). It puts into effect several measures to better monitor and assess contracting outcomes and promote community feedback and contracting opportunities for WMBEs. The executive order calls for the…
Pedestrians Needed: Seattle Waterfront Project Rethinks Life Post Viaduct
A spiffy new version of Seattles waterfront hinges on a build it and they will come strategy
PIER REVIEW. A grand Overlook Walk will offer a connection between Pike Place Market and the waterfront, taking pedestrians over the new Alaskan Way
Seattle City Council Approves 2019 Budget
Plus, the council resolves three outstanding issues.
This story originally ran on SCC Insight. After a handful of tweaks Monday morning, the City Council gave its final approval Monday afternoon to the $5.9 billion city budget for next year. In Monday mornings final Budget Committee meeting for the year, the Council approved a handful of technical corrections to the budget they assembled…
Understanding Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Proposed Budget: Homelessness Response
The Mayor's proposed 2019-2020 budget, explained.
See what changes Mayor Jenny Durkan is proposing on the spending side here and the revenue side here. This story originally ran on SCC Insight. On October 3, the Mayors Office walked through for the City Council the parts of the proposed budget related to responding to the homelessness crisis, which span several departments. Lets…
Seattle’s Expenditures: Understanding Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Proposed Budget
Take a deep dive into how the city's money is being spent.
This story originally ran on SCC Insight. Earlier I posted a review of the revenues side of the Mayors proposed budget. Heres the flip side: how the moneys being spent. A reminder: its a 2-year budget proposal for 2019 and 2020; the 2019 budget will be officially adopted and the 2020 one will be endorsed…