Author: Monica Nickelsburg

Monica Nickelsburg is GeekWire’s Civic Innovation Editor, covering technology-driven solutions to urban challenges and the intersection of tech and politics. Before joining GeekWire, she worked for The Week, Forbes, and NBC. Monica holds a BA in journalism and history from New York University. Follow her @mnickelsburg

In leaked video, Bill Gates candidly recounts surreal first meetings with President Trump

Al Gore predicts machine learning and other tech advances will usher in a ‘sustainability revolution’
Redfin CEO breaks ranks with tech community in maverick response to ‘unreasonable’ Seattle tax
Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on Amazon and other big companies after impassioned debate

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

A ‘punch in the gut’: Fast-growing Seattle startup eyes Bellevue after head tax vote

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 at 5:55 pmComment

Seattle-based sales automation startup Outreach announced a new $65 million funding round Monday — but its CEO, Manny Medina, also had another issue on his mind when GeekWire caught up with… Read More

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen donates $1M to gun reform initiative in Washington state

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 at 2:25 pmComment

Microsoft co-founder and Seattle real estate mogul Paul Allen donated $1 million to a new initiative that would enact tougher restrictions on the sale of semiautomatic weapons in Washington state.… Read More

Business coalition launching ‘No Tax on Jobs’ campaign to overturn Seattle’s contentious new head tax

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 18, 2018May 19, 2018 at 10:52 amComment

A business coalition launched a campaign Friday to reject Seattle’s new “head tax,” a polarizing piece of legislation signed into law this week. The group has until mid-June to collect about… Read More

Video

In leaked video, Bill Gates candidly recounts surreal first meetings with President Trump

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 18, 2018May 21, 2018 at 9:52 amComment

Bill Gates was unnerved by how much President Donald Trump knew about his daughter’s appearance the first time the two moguls met. The Microsoft co-founder tried to steer Trump away… Read More

Al Gore predicts machine learning and other tech advances will usher in a ‘sustainability revolution’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 17, 2018May 18, 2018 at 10:46 amComment

One of the world’s most visible environmentalists is optimistic about the future of the planet because of technology. Former US Vice President Al Gore believes advances in machine learning, artificial… Read More

Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire says Seattle head tax ‘undermines our international and national reputation’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 at 10:18 amComment

Christine Gregoire didn’t mince words when asked about Seattle’s controversial new head tax at the Museum of History and Industry’s Innovation Breakfast on Thursday. The former governor of Washington and… Read More

Uber Express POOL launches in Seattle and 3 other cities in an effort to make carpooling more efficient

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 at 8:30 amComment

If you’re an urbanite, you’ve probably experienced the sub-optimal uberPOOL. You decide to save some cash by splitting a ride with strangers but the trip ends up taking twice as… Read More

Senate votes to overturn FCC’s net neutrality repeal, kicking the process over to the House

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 16, 2018May 16, 2018 at 1:12 pmComment

The U.S. Senate took a critical step toward restoring regulations known as net neutrality Wednesday. Fifty-two Senators voted to overturn the FCC decision to repeal net neutrality late last year. Senators… Read More

Redfin CEO breaks ranks with tech community in maverick response to ‘unreasonable’ Seattle tax

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 at 4:28 pmComment

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman weighed in on Seattle’s controversial new head tax Tuesday, offering a sober perspective amid vitriolic responses to the legislation. He explained why Redfin didn’t join a… Read More

After Seattle passes ‘Amazon tax,’ mayor of neighboring city says ‘Bellevue is open for business’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 15, 2018May 16, 2018 at 6:49 amComment

Speculation that Seattle’s new head tax could be a boon for neighboring cities has been swirling since before the City Council approved the controversial legislation Monday afternoon. After all, what’s… Read More

Starbucks joins Amazon, lambasting Seattle’s new head tax on top-grossing companies

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 at 10:39 amComment

Two of Seattle’s top employers are taking the gloves off and pulling no punches in the wake of a newly passed tax on companies making more than $20 million a… Read More

Video

Amazon responds to tax vote: Seattle’s ‘hostile approach and rhetoric … forces us to question our growth here’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 at 6:18 pmComment

Amazon will resume construction on a Seattle skyscraper in the wake of the City Council’s decision to tax its top-grossing businesses $275 per employee, per hour worked, each year. But… Read More

Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on Amazon and other big companies after impassioned debate

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 at 6:17 pmComment

Updated below with Amazon statement. The Seattle City Council unanimously passed a smaller version of the controversial “head tax” on Amazon and other top-grossing businesses that has sent shockwaves through… Read More

Video

FAQ: Everything you need to know about Seattle’s proposed ‘Amazon tax’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 at 5:00 pmComment

UPDATE, Monday afternoon: Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on big companies, but will compromise appease Amazon? The full Seattle City Council is poised to vote on a controversial tax on… Read More

Video

March on Amazon HQ: Seattle housing activists demand ‘head tax’ on big business

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 12, 2018May 12, 2018 at 3:28 pmComment

Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood — a.k.a. Amazonia — is typically sleepy on the weekends without thousands of Amazon employees buzzing around. But that wasn’t the case Saturday; hundreds of affordable… Read More

Seattle mayor’s compromise voted down as original ‘Amazon tax’ on big business moves forward

by Monica Nickelsburg & Nat Levy on May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 at 2:34 pm 3 Comments

The Seattle City Council rejected a compromise version of the so-called “head tax” proposed by Mayor Jenny Durkan late Thursday night, setting up a showdown and possible veto of the… Read More

Amazon would resume Seattle construction if mayor’s ‘head tax’ alternative passes

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 10, 2018May 11, 2018 at 10:10 am 9 Comments

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is proposing a smaller “head tax” on the city’s largest businesses instead of controversial legislation currently under consideration by the City Council. Durkan’s office confirmed the… Read More

Microsoft pledges $300K to study high-speed train linking Seattle-Vancouver, B.C. in under an hour

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 at 3:25 pmComment

Microsoft is committing an additional $300,000 to continue studying whether a high-speed train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., is possible. The funds are in addition to Washington state’s $750,000 contribution… Read More

Seattle’s proposed ‘Amazon tax’ would also hit Facebook, Google and other out-of-town tech titans

by Nat Levy & Monica Nickelsburg on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 at 11:04 am 4 Comments

Seattle’s proposed “head tax” would cost Amazon about $20 million annually, earning it the nickname of the “Amazon tax.” But tech giants headquartered hundreds of miles away — including Facebook,… Read More

Senate is forcing a vote to restore net neutrality, backed by Reddit, Mozilla and other tech companies

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 at 11:26 am1 Comment

Senate Democrats filed a petition that would force a vote to overturn the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality regulations Wednesday. What comes next is a Senate vote on a Congressional… Read More

Tech workers, labor unions, and housing advocates pack Seattle City Hall to debate tax on big business

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 at 2:03 pm 6 Comments

A sea of signs filled Seattle City Hall Wednesday displaying slogans like “Tax Amazon,” “Don’t Vote Our Jobs Away,” “Homeless People are our Neighbors,” and “Will the last business leaving… Read More

More than 100 tech leaders warn Seattle’s tax plan sends dangerous message: ‘If you create too many jobs, you will be punished’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 at 5:56 pm 15 Comments

The Seattle tech community is following Amazon’s lead, publicly pressing the City Council to drop a proposed tax on top-earning companies to fund affordable housing and homeless services. On Tuesday… Read More

Amazon, Facebook and other big companies to attend a White House AI summit Thursday

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 at 9:47 amComment

Dozens of the nation’s biggest companies — including Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and Google — will attend a White House Summit on artificial intelligence Thursday, according to The Washington Post’s Tony… Read More

Video

Clash at Amazon HQ: Construction workers shout down councilmember over plan to tax big business

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 3, 2018May 4, 2018 at 11:10 am 44 Comments

On an unseasonably warm day at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, tension over a proposed tax on the city’s wealthiest businesses reached a fever pitch. Previously: Is Amazon serious about slowing its… Read More

Is Amazon serious about slowing its Seattle growth? Tech and community leaders weigh in

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 at 10:16 am 9 Comments

There are two ways to read Amazon’s surprise announcement that it will pause construction on one big Seattle office tower and reconsider moving into another until the City Council votes… Read More

Amazon suspends construction in Seattle while the city considers a new tax on its biggest businesses

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 at 12:43 pm 24 Comments

Amazon is pausing construction on a new office tower at its Seattle headquarters and may put one of its biggest future office spaces back on the market in response to… Read More

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Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Top Stories from Monica Nickelsburg

In leaked video, Bill Gates candidly recounts surreal first meetings with President Trump

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

A ‘punch in the gut’: Fast-growing Seattle startup eyes Bellevue after head tax vote

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen donates $1M to gun reform initiative in Washington state

Business coalition launching ‘No Tax on Jobs’ campaign to overturn Seattle’s contentious new head tax

In leaked video, Bill Gates candidly recounts surreal first meetings with President Trump

Al Gore predicts machine learning and other tech advances will usher in a ‘sustainability revolution’

Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire says Seattle head tax ‘undermines our international and national reputation’

Senate votes to overturn FCC’s net neutrality repeal, kicking the process over to the House

Redfin CEO breaks ranks with tech community in maverick response to ‘unreasonable’ Seattle tax

After Seattle passes ‘Amazon tax,’ mayor of neighboring city says ‘Bellevue is open for business’

Starbucks joins Amazon, lambasting Seattle’s new head tax on top-grossing companies

Amazon responds to tax vote: Seattle’s ‘hostile approach and rhetoric … forces us to question our growth here’

Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on Amazon and other big companies after impassioned debate

FAQ: Everything you need to know about Seattle’s proposed ‘Amazon tax’

March on Amazon HQ: Seattle housing activists demand ‘head tax’ on big business

Seattle mayor’s compromise voted down as original ‘Amazon tax’ on big business moves forward

Amazon would resume Seattle construction if mayor’s ‘head tax’ alternative passes

Microsoft pledges $300K to study high-speed train linking Seattle-Vancouver, B.C. in under an hour

Seattle’s proposed ‘Amazon tax’ would also hit Facebook, Google and other out-of-town tech titans

Senate is forcing a vote to restore net neutrality, backed by Reddit, Mozilla and other tech companies

Tech workers, labor unions, and housing advocates pack Seattle City Hall to debate tax on big business

More than 100 tech leaders warn Seattle’s tax plan sends dangerous message: ‘If you create too many jobs, you will be punished’

Amazon, Facebook and other big companies to attend a White House AI summit Thursday

Clash at Amazon HQ: Construction workers shout down councilmember over plan to tax big business

Is Amazon serious about slowing its Seattle growth? Tech and community leaders weigh in

Amazon suspends construction in Seattle while the city considers a new tax on its biggest businesses

Interview: Sen. Maria Cantwell on the fight for net neutrality, Facebook hearings and T-Mobile merger

Amazon confirms plans to expand Boston outpost by 2,000 tech workers

T-Mobile plays Trump card to convince regulators Sprint merger will be good for consumers

INTA Annual Meeting

ChefConf 2018

Under the Boughs with Mike Koppel: Creating a Customer-centric Health Care Experience