Seattle CIty Council
Seattle Chamber Files Lawsuit Challenging Payroll Tax
The lawsuit alleges that the City Council imposed a tax on 'the right to earn a living'
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court challenging the city’s recently enacted payroll tax. The lawsuit alleges that the Seattle City Council imposed a tax on the right to earn a living. It cites as precedent Cary v. City of Bellingham, in which the state Supreme Court ruled…
Seattle City Council Sets New Airbnb Rules
The council passed three changes in its short-term rental regulatory structure that applies to Airbnb.
This story originally ran on SCC Insight. The Seattle City Council voted to approve the third piece of the short-term rental (i.e. AirBnB) regulatory structure, completing the councils work on regulating the nascent but quickly growing market. In the last few weeks, the Council passed the first two pieces: a tax on short-term rentals, and…
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…
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….
Mayor Warns Seattle City Council Against Blocking Removal of Illegal Homeless Encampments
In a memo this week, Tim Burgess and several city officials warned councilmembers that blocking the removal of unauthorized homeless encampments would raise health and safety concerns.
Mayor Tim Burgess warned Seattle City Councilmembers in a memo yesterday that adoption of a proposal to block the removal of unauthorized homeless encampments would create an elevated public health and safety risk to the people of Seattle and hamper the citys efforts to move the homeless into safer, more stable housing. The proposal, by…
Business Community to City of Seattle: Work with Us
Chamber President Maud Daudon calls on the mayor and the City Council to collaborate more closely with employers.
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has long been a true partner to the region. Weve supported and put muscle behind many key initiatives to make our region an economically vibrant place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and to access a thriving quality of life. Whether it is supporting transit expansion, a major…