On Nov. 7, Seattle will elect a new mayor to guide the city through a period of unprecedented growth, driven largely by the booming technology industry.
Tonight, candidates Cary Moon — an urban planner — and Jenny Durkan — a former U.S. Attorney — are going head-to-head in one of the last debates before election day. The winner will be charged with addressing the city’s housing affordability crisis and transportation and traffic woes — two of the most visible manifestations of Seattle’s population boom. She will also be expected to bridge the growing chasm between the city’s business community and government.
Taking place at Starbucks’ corporate headquarters, the debate will be moderated by KING 5 political reporter Natalie Brand and KUOW’s Ross Reynolds.
Watch the live stream above (to be posted at 6:25 p.m.) and stick around until the end for a special post-debate show hosted by KING 5’s Chris Daniels and me. We’ll interview both candidates, take questions from social media, and connect them with audience members. Let us know if you have any questions you’d like asked. There are important issues percolating as the election nears.
The Seattle City Council’s new income tax on high earners is an example of one issue driving a wedge between some members of the tech community and the city’s famously progressive lawmakers. The Council is also considering regulations to curb Airbnb and a head tax on each employee at the city’s biggest companies.
The leaders behind the new taxes say big business needs to pay its fair share to address the homelessness crisis in Seattle, which has been exacerbated by the rapidly rising cost of housing, driven by an influx of well-paid newcomers.
Many of those issues came to a head last month, when Seattle’s largest private employer announced plans to open a second headquarters in another city. Amazon — and the tech industry it represents — is a lightning rod in Seattle.
GeekWire is tracking these issues closely and tonight we are co-hosting the debate with KING 5, KUOW, and Seattle City Club.
If you want to join in the discussion, tweet with the hashtag #SeaMayor, comment on KING 5’s Facebook Live stream or share comments here on GeekWire. And some of the Tweets here:
Seattle mayoral candidate @CaryCMoon starts debate by proposing a "welcome wagon" for tech workers. #seamayor https://t.co/mu1GY2UpVW
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
Candidate @JennyDurkan gets some big laughs when she suggests that her opponent @carycmoon could be a good addition to her team. #seamayor
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
.@CaryCMoon: "Our housing should be for people who live and work here not a commodity for rich people to make money off of." #seamayor
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
Moon on Seattle housing affordability: 'Our housing should be for people who live and work here, not a commodity for rich people' #SeaMayor pic.twitter.com/YEXDPHJ6Ha
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) October 25, 2017
"A city as progressive as ours, #Seattle should have solved #homelessness by now." – @CaryMoon4Mayor #SEAMayor
— SeattleCityClub (@SeattleCityClub) October 25, 2017
Durkan: RV camps special problem for us.
Moon: We need more, like they do at a KOA.Definitive difference between two #SEAmayor candidates
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels5) October 25, 2017
Cary Moon promises to cut the budget of the mayor's office. "There's a lot of extra money in the city budget." #SEAMayor
— Monica Nickelsburg (@mnickelsburg) October 25, 2017
"We invent things here…we have to do a much better job supporting and protecting small businesses," @CaryCMoon #seamayor
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
.@CaryCMoon gushes about small biz, says city should not let big firms control Seattle, or we'll be a 'playground for the rich.' #seamayor
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
First applause for Durkan at proposal to forgive B&O tax for 3 years for startups. #seamayor pic.twitter.com/lOa9ou7DYZ
— Amy Radil at KUOW (@AmyRadil) October 25, 2017
"Part of it breaks my heart," says @JennyDurkan of the 238 cities vying for #AmazonHQ2 #seamayor, lamenting Seattle's rapid growth.
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017
Advice to cities courting Amazon: @CaryMoon4Mayor 'Be careful what you wish for' and make sure Amazon pays for growth #SEAMayor
— Gil Aegerter (@GilAegerter) October 25, 2017
#Seattle Arena: SODO or Seattle Center:
Moon – support looking at Key, not satisfied on OVG transit solution.
Durkan – Neutral.#SEAMayor
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels5) October 25, 2017
Candidate @carycmoon says she wants municipal broadband in the city #seamayor, and tosses opponent under bus for support from Comcast.
— GeekWire (@geekwire) October 25, 2017