Seattle’s proposed business tax overhaul could ease costs for tech startups — until they scale Seattle voters will decide this November on a major overhaul of the city’s business-and-occupation (B&O) tax. Supporters pitch it as… Read More
Seattle approves new city budget that plugs shortfalls with surplus revenue from business tax Seattle’s big business tax is bringing in more revenue than expected. Now the city is using the surplus to help… Read More
Seattle approves permanent 15% fee cap on food delivery companies, with key compromise The Seattle City Council voted Tuesday to permanently implement a 15% cap on the fees that services such as Uber… Read More
Seattle adopts minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers Seattle became the second big city in the nation to establish a minimum wage standard for Uber and Lyft drivers… Read More
Emboldened by election day victory, new Seattle City Council launches next challenge to Amazon Just two weeks into 2020, the new Seattle City Council is already making good on its promise to take on… Read More
Defeated challenger to Seattle’s socialist City Councilmember blames Amazon donations The Seattle City Council candidate who had more financial support from Amazon than any other conceded to his opponent Wednesday,… Read More
Big Tech’s battle with Seattle is just getting started — and it could have implications nationwide Bernie Sanders reveled in Amazon’s defeat. Elizabeth Warren issued a warning about Jeff Bezos. And that was all before the… Read More
Amazon’s $1.45M fails to upend Seattle City Council, but tech giant wins small victories A heavily-funded campaign to elect a more business-friendly Seattle City Council saw some success in early election results released Tuesday… Read More
Seattle’s upcoming election is inundated with tech money — and it’s not just Amazon The tech industry is taking an unprecedented interest in Seattle’s upcoming election, spending big and turning the national spotlight on… Read More
Activists and politicians protest Amazon spending on Seattle elections: ‘The country is watching’ Amazon built its iconic “biospheres” as a gathering space for its 50,000 employees and an anchor to the Seattle neighborhood… Read More
Bernie Sanders slams Amazon over hometown political spending as Seattle elections become a national issue Sen. Bernie Sanders became the latest federal lawmaker to zero in on local Seattle elections Monday morning, slamming Amazon’s hometown… Read More
Warren denounces Amazon for ‘trying to tilt the Seattle City Council elections’ with $1.45M It’s unusual for an east coast senator and presidential candidate to wade into local politics in a city on the… Read More
Podcast Will Amazon’s $1.45M bid to shake up Seattle politics backfire, or work exactly as planned? Amazon took a million-dollar gamble this week, betting a last-minute cash infusion will help elect a new Seattle City Council… Read More
Seattle officials and activists protest at Amazon HQ over $1.45M effort to ‘buy our City Council’ On a rainy Seattle Thursday, a group of politicians and activists huddled under a bright orange canopy that matched the… Read More
Seattle progressives fired up over Amazon’s $1.45M spending on local elections Amazon’s $1 million political contribution announced Tuesday — on top of $450,000 the company previously spent on elections in its hometown… Read More
Amazon gives $1M to group seeking to upend Seattle City Council in upcoming election Amazon is dramatically increasing its financial commitment to reshape politics in its hometown, in a move that signals a big… Read More
Do tech workers vote? New survey shows they do — and these are the top issues on their minds Tech workers in progressive cities such as Seattle and San Francisco have a bad rap when it comes to civic… Read More
Washington tech industry works to influence critical Seattle election as top trade group endorses candidates for first time In tech hubs across the country, the technology industry is taking a more active role in politics. It’s certainly true… Read More
Amazon quietly works to reshape politics in its hometown after going to battle with Seattle officials For the first two decades of its life, Amazon avoided the political limelight. But over the past year, the Seattle… Read More
Which candidates do you align with? Seattle startup vet provides answers with new matchmaking site “You can’t really Google, ‘Which candidates most align with me on transit and zoning tradeoffs?’ So said Steve Murch, a… Read More
Why this early Amazon investor is backing an effort to shake up the Seattle City Council One of the biggest names in Seattle tech is a founding member of a new political action committee that wants… Read More
Seattle mayor forming council of tech leaders seeking solutions to the region’s growing pains Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is tapping problem solvers in the tech industry to develop solutions to some of the city’s… Read More
TLDR Editor’s Picks: How Tech is Changing Seattle This week on TLDR, we’re looking back at some of the top stories of 2018 so far. Today’s topic: Tech… Read More
Seattle repeals head tax 7-2 in dramatic reversal that leaves city divided over homeless crisis Seattle’s new per-employee tax on large businesses to fund affordable housing is officially dead, bringing an end to one of… Read More
Is Amazon serious about slowing its Seattle growth? Tech and community leaders weigh in There are two ways to read Amazon’s surprise announcement that it will pause construction on one big Seattle office tower… Read More
Amazon suspends construction in Seattle while the city considers a new tax on its biggest businesses Amazon is pausing construction on a new office tower at its Seattle headquarters and may put one of its biggest… Read More
Slice of Pittsburgh life: Pizza, politics, and renewal on the menu with activist chef Sonja Finn PITTSBURGH — Sonja Finn doesn’t think we should be fighting over one slice of the pie. That maxim dictates just… Read More
Seattle leader wants to double head tax because it’s still a fraction of Amazon’s $5B HQ2 plans Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant thinks that if Amazon plans to build a $5 billion second corporate headquarters, it can… Read More
Seattle considers employee head tax for the city’s top-grossing companies Two Seattle councilmembers want the city’s highest-grossing businesses to pay for a new program to curb homelessness. The H.O.M.E.S —… Read More
Seattle plans to tax Airbnb operators $10/night and limit short-term rentals to 2 properties per host The Seattle City Council has released a new set of regulations designed to prevent property owners from operating Airbnbs and… Read More
