Policy & Regulations
NHL Will Consider Seattle Expansion
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league has approved the investment group's bid to bring a team to the soon-to-be redeveloped KeyArena.
Just one day after Mayor Jenny Durkan signed a memorandum of understanding with Oak View Group to redevelop KeyArena to bring NHL and NBA teams to Seattle, the NHL has reportedly agreed to consider Seattles bid for an expansion franchise. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league would accept and consider the application from…
Seattle Is Officially One Step Closer to Having NHL, NBA Teams
Mayor Jenny Durkan signed an MOU with Oak View Group for a $640M+ redevelopment of KeyArena at Seattle Center
Mayor Jenny Durkan and Oak View Group co-founder and CEO Tim Leiweke made the agreement to redevelop KeyArena officially by signing the MOU passed this week by the Seattle City Council in symbolically Sonics green ink. Durkan, Leiweke, and councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5) each spoke at the ceremony, which you can watch below. Durkan…
Seattle City Council Passes MOU for Oak View Group’s $600M+ KeyArena Redevelopment
The council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, which could bring the NHL and NBA back to Seattle.
The Seattle City Council has passed an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Oak View Group (OVG) to redevelop the KeyArena at Seattle Center. As expected, the vote was 7-1, overwhelmingly in favor of moving forward with the agreement. Lisa Herbold (District 1), Bruce Harrell (District 2, council…
Seattle City Light CEO Resigns
Mayor Jenny Durkan said she asked Larry Weis, the city's highest-paid employee, to resign.
Larry Weis, the CEO of Seattle City Light, has resigned, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced during a press conference on the resignation of Seattle Police Chief Kathleen OToole. Weis was the highest paid public employee in Seattle, making $340,000 a year. According to Crosscut, he was also looking for a bonus. His hire was confirmed in…
Seattle City Council is Looking For People to Join the “Head Tax” Task Force
The council is opening up applications for a task force to re-visit a "head tax," and the deadline is fast approaching.
This article originally ran on SCC Insight. The Seattle City Council announced that it has started taking applications for its newly-created task force to look at progressive revenue sources to fund new homelessness and affordable housing investments. Last week, the council passed a resolution establishing the task force and setting the expectation that it would…
Jenny Durkan Sworn In as Mayor of Seattle
The former U.S. Attorney is Seattle's first woman mayor in nearly a century.
Jenny Durkan is now officially the mayor of Seattle. The former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington was first sworn in at the Ethiopian Community Center. Shell also visit the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the Wing Luke Museum, the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association and the Elliott Bay Public House and Brewery. In a series of tweets…
Oak View Group’s KeyArena MOU Passes Through Committee
Seattle councilmembers voted 5-0, and it heads to a full council vote on December 4.
This article originally ran on SCC Insight. This morning the Councils Committee on Civic Arenas met to discuss the proposed MOU with Oak View Group for renovating Key Arena, and in the end the moved it a big step forward. Six of the nine Council members were present (Sawant, Harris-Talley and OBrien were absent). After…
Seattle City Council Set to Consider Oak View Group’s Key Arena Plan
The proposed MOU with Oak View Group will be up for discussion in the Council's Select Committee on Civic Arenas this week.
This article originally ran on SCC Insight. Thursday morning, the Seattle City Councils Select Committee on Civic Arenas meets to continue its discussion on the proposed MOU with Oak View Group and to have a first round of deliberations on possible amendments to the agreement. Committee chair Debora Juarez noted today that the councils independent…
Seattle City Council Votes Down ‘Head Tax’ Proposal — For Now
By a 5-4 vote, the proposed "Employee Hours Tax" on big business to fund homeless services failed, but all indications are that the issue will return very soon.
The proposed H.O.M.E.S. tax, or head tax on large businesses that would pay for services to address Seattles homelessness crisis was voted down in the Seattle City Council today. Councilmembers Bruce Harrell (District 2), Rob Johnson (District 4), Debora Juarez (District 5), Sally Bagshaw (District 7) and Lorena Gonzalez (Position 9) voted against the tax….
Next Step in Seattle’s Affordable Housing Plan Includes 6,000 Rent-restricted Homes
Mayor Tim Burgess and city leaders unveiled the latest plans to address the city's housing affordability crisis.
Mayor Tim Burgess and Councilmember Rob Johnson have unveiled a new plan to add more affordable housing in Seattle. As the city deals with a housing affordability crisis and rents continue to increase, this new plan aims to add 6,000 new rent-restricted homes for low-income people by 2027. A new interactive map allows you to…
Oak View Group’s KeyArena vs. Chris Hansen’s SoDo Arena: Will Either Bring Back the Sonics?
In the latest rush to create a new sports arena and woo the NBA back to Seattle, should the city consider both options available to it? Or is the glossy remake of KeyArena the slam dunk weve all been waiting for?
The city clearly prefers Oak View Groups KeyArena revamp to Chris Hansens SoDo project. But is it the best bet to hook the NBA? Photo by Jay Kelvin. This article appears in print as the cover story for the December 2017 issue. Click here for a free subscription. Fifty years ago, the SuperSonics basketball team…
How Climate Change, Conservation and Renewable Energy are Changing Seattle City Light
Seattles electric utility doesnt have to make a profit. But as customers conserve more and modern appliances consume less, City Light must get creative so it can at least break even.
RECALCULATING: Seattle City Light must rethink its business plan as it confronts dramatic changes in power generation, wholesale markets and retail consumption. Photo courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives, Item No. 129637. This article appears in print in the November 2017 issue. Click here for a free subscription. The trading desk at Seattle City Light is a…
Following Trump’s Executive Order, Washingtons Insurance Premiums are Set to Jump 36%
The executive order that stops funding a key piece of the Affordable Care Act will result in higher premiums for people in Washington state.
Following President Donald Trumps executive order on health care, the average monthly premium in Washington state is set to jump 36.4 percent, according to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) of Washington State. The office issued new information on the number of health insurers (11) who are selling plans (74 of them) on Washingtons…