city council

Seattle plans to tax Airbnb operators $10/night and limit short-term rentals to 2 properties per host

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 13, 2017September 13, 2017 at 10:36 amComment

The Seattle City Council has released a new set of regulations designed to prevent property owners from operating Airbnbs and other short-term rentals as if they were hotels — part… Read More

Seattle investor questions city plan to spend up to $250K defending income tax on the rich

by Monica Nickelsburg on August 24, 2017August 24, 2017 at 4:52 pm 13 Comments

Matt McIlwain believes Seattle is wasting resources defending an income tax ordinance passed by the City Council in July. The Madrona Venture Group managing director, who is leading a legal… Read More

Former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan takes big lead in Seattle mayoral primary

by Monica Nickelsburg on August 1, 2017August 1, 2017 at 11:28 pmComment

In Seattle’s mayoral race, former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan looks highly likely to advance based on early results of Tuesday’s primary. She is leading by more than 15 percentage points… Read More

WTIA assesses Seattle mayoral and City Council candidates based on tech issues for first time

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 18, 2017July 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm 9 Comments

Today, the Washington Technology Industry Association unveiled a voter guide to help members of the Seattle tech community decide who to vote for in the upcoming mayoral and City Council… Read More

Seattle income tax set for City Council vote following committee approval

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 5, 2017July 5, 2017 at 10:45 am 17 Comments

A Seattle City Council committee unanimously approved a plan to implement an income tax on the city’s wealthiest residents Wednesday. With the approval from the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods, and Finance… Read More

Seattle City Council unveils plan to tax the city’s wealthiest residents

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 at 8:59 am 10 Comments

The Seattle City Council released a proposal Tuesday to place a 2 percent income tax on the wealthy, which could have big repercussions for the tech industry’s highest earners. The… Read More

This Week in Seattle: Beer, pot, music, and a city-wide income tax

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 6, 2017May 6, 2017 at 2:24 pm 3 Comments

Seattle takes first steps toward an income tax The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a motion that establishes a timeline to begin consideration of an income tax bill by May 31, with… Read More

Seattle City Council votes to move ahead with income tax on city’s wealthiest residents

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 2, 2017May 2, 2017 at 10:04 am 19 Comments

The City of Seattle is ready to take the income tax debate to court. A bill passed unanimously by the Seattle City Council on Monday sets in motion a plan to enact… Read More

Seattle goes after commercial Airbnb operators with revised rules for short-term rentals

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 24, 2017April 25, 2017 at 10:28 am 5 Comments

The Seattle City Council is taking a new approach to regulating short-term rentals, hoping to crack down on businesses that operate Airbnbs like hotels while still allowing residents to rent… Read More

This Week in Seattle: Mayor fights abuse allegations, City Council recovers $3M in unpaid fees for affordable housing, and more

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 15, 2017April 15, 2017 at 6:38 am1 Comment

This week in Seattle: Washington state tries to block businesses from selling customer data and fingerprints; South Lake Union gets an upzone; Microsoft strikes a deal on renewable energy; and… Read More

Seattle’s landmark Uber union law temporarily blocked by federal judge

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 4, 2017April 4, 2017 at 1:56 pmComment

A first-of-its-kind law that would allow Uber drivers in Seattle to organize as a union has been temporarily blocked by a judge in Seattle. Federal Judge Robert Lasnik sided with… Read More

Seattle City Council hopeful says he’ll let constituents control his decisions with an app

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 at 10:41 am 2 Comments

What happens when a politician crowdsources every policy decision? Ryan Asbert, a 31-year-old freelance web developer, intends to find out. He’s planning to run for Seattle City Council seat eight, the position… Read More

Seattle City Council expected to add municipal broadband to long-term master plan

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 at 9:41 am 4 Comments

Advocates of municipal broadband in Seattle are expected to win a small victory at Thursday’s City Council meeting. Councilmember Rob Johnson is planning to add an amendment to the Mayor’s… Read More

Airbnb fights crackdown with new data, claiming year-round entire home rentals are a small fraction of Seattle housing stock

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 28, 2016July 28, 2016 at 10:35 am 7 Comments

Councilmember Tim Burgess told an impassioned audience that short-term rentals account for 12 percent of available housing inventory in Seattle last week at a meeting of the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods, and Finance… Read More

Regulating Airbnb: Seattle residents pack City Council chambers for hearing on short-term rentals

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 at 11:26 am 11 Comments

Seattle residents lined up Wednesday morning to speak out about housing affordability and short-term rental regulations at the Seattle City Council chambers, a window-lined section of City Hall overlooking a small… Read More

Hey, Seattle leaders: Let’s regulate more than just Airbnb and VRBO

by Greg Gottesman on June 3, 2016June 6, 2016 at 11:05 am 51 Comments

Guest Commentary: Two years ago, after the Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to cap the number of UberX, Lyft and Sidecar drivers on our streets, I wrote that the City… Read More

Hey, Seattle tech community: Here’s why you need to vote in this historic election

by Heather Redman & Chris DeVore on October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 at 11:44 am 8 Comments

Guest Commentary: We’re all super-busy keeping track of the new University of Washington president, layoffs at Twitter, Dell’s blockbuster acquisition of EMC (including local subsidiary Isilon) and worries about the… Read More

Once foes, now friends: Uber, for-hire drivers team up for ‘Driver Appreciation Day’

by Taylor Soper on July 30, 2014September 1, 2014 at 10:50 am1 Comment

Earlier this year, drivers from for-hire companies in Seattle would attend City Council meetings and publicly voice their displeasure with new startups like Uber and Lyft. Now, though, those feelings have appeared to… Read More

Seattle City councilmember explains why he voted against law that legalized Uber, Lyft

by Taylor Soper on July 15, 2014July 15, 2014 at 12:38 pm 11 Comments

A majority of the Seattle City Council voted on Monday to approve a new regulatory framework for transportation startups like UberX, Lyft, and Sidecar. But there was one councilmember who stood… Read More

Protestors attack Uber vehicles in Seattle, vow to take down a ‘disgusting tech company’

by Taylor Soper on April 28, 2014May 3, 2014 at 7:03 am 72 Comments

Uber is already battling the Seattle City Council over laws and regulations allowing the operation of its business. Now, though, it looks like the transportation company has a new opponent in… Read More

Seattle will issue cease-and-desist to ride-sharing companies if deal can’t be reached

by Taylor Soper on April 18, 2014September 5, 2014 at 10:43 am 70 Comments

Seattle will issue a ceast-and-desist letter to app-based transportation startups like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar if an agreement between the companies, taxi drivers and city leaders cannot be made by the… Read More

Seattle ride-sharing regulations suspended; Mayor wants to negotiate with stakeholders

by Taylor Soper on April 17, 2014April 18, 2014 at 1:15 am 70 Comments

Seattle’s ride-sharing controversy just took an unexpected turn. A coalition group has collected enough signatures to suspend a newly-passed ordinance regulating companies like UberX and Lyft, and now Mayor Ed Murray wants to work… Read More

Seattle’s ride-sharing rules headed for city-wide vote — with one potential roadblock

by Taylor Soper on April 11, 2014September 5, 2014 at 11:46 am 48 Comments

The fate of app-based transportation companies like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar may soon be decided by the people of Seattle. A coalition group that is collecting petition signatures to suspend a newly-passed… Read More

Fighting Seattle City Council: Coalition group aims to suspend ride-sharing legislation

by Taylor Soper on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014 at 5:06 pm 4 Comments

A new coalition group in Seattle wants to collect enough petition signatures in hopes of suspending a newly-passed ordinance that regulates app-based transportation companies like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar. The… Read More

Uber shares commercial insurance policy just days after leak

by Taylor Soper on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014 at 12:56 pm 49 Comments

For the past several months, members of the Seattle City Council have called out companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar for not sharing their insurance policies, saying that they need… Read More

Lyft to battle Seattle City Council: ‘We’re prepared to fight for your right to share rides’

by Taylor Soper on March 25, 2014September 5, 2014 at 6:58 pm 21 Comments

Even though the Seattle City Council already voted to enact laws that will regulate app-based transportation companies like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar, the California-based startups are still letting their displeasure… Read More

Taxi drivers defend suit against Uber in Seattle, say they want level playing field

by Taylor Soper on March 25, 2014September 5, 2014 at 7:01 pm 76 Comments

Taxicab drivers in Seattle are suing Uber not because they’re scared of competition. In fact, they say they welcome it. Rather, members of The Western Washington Taxi Cab Operators Association argue that… Read More

Breakdown: What the key players are saying about Seattle’s ride-sharing cap

by Taylor Soper on March 17, 2014March 18, 2014 at 11:09 am 29 Comments

UberX, Lyft and Sidecar will need to play by Seattle’s rules if they want to operate in the Emerald City. The Seattle City Council today voted 9-0 to enact new legislation that will… Read More

Seattle City Council approves cap on Lyft, UberX, Sidecar drivers

by Taylor Soper on March 17, 2014March 18, 2014 at 11:10 am 102 Comments

After nearly one year of deliberation, the Seattle City Council voted 9-0 Monday afternoon to enforce new legislation that will regulate app-based transportation companies like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar. These companies… Read More

UberX accuses Seattle City Council of ‘not following its own rules’

by Taylor Soper on March 17, 2014March 17, 2014 at 12:42 pm 5 Comments

The marketing folks at UberX are once again revving up their engines with a crucial vote looming Monday afternoon in Seattle. The Seattle City Council is expected to approve a regulation… Read More