city council

Washington tech industry works to influence critical Seattle election as top trade group endorses candidates for first time

by Monica Nickelsburg on July 10, 2019July 11, 2019 at 8:00 am1 Comment

In tech hubs across the country, the technology industry is taking a more active role in politics. It’s certainly true in Washington D.C., where many tech titans’ public policy teams… Read More

Amazon quietly works to reshape politics in its hometown after going to battle with Seattle officials

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 at 11:43 am 3 Comments

For the first two decades of its life, Amazon avoided the political limelight. But over the past year, the Seattle tech giant has started raising its voice on a wide… Read More

Which candidates do you align with? Seattle startup vet provides answers with new matchmaking site

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 12, 2019June 13, 2019 at 10:36 am 6 Comments

“You can’t really Google, ‘Which candidates most align with me on transit and zoning tradeoffs?’ So said Steve Murch, a veteran Seattle entrepreneur who has spent the past few weeks… Read More

Why this early Amazon investor is backing an effort to shake up the Seattle City Council

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 29, 2019May 30, 2019 at 8:40 am 4 Comments

One of the biggest names in Seattle tech is a founding member of a new political action committee that wants to see fresh faces on the City Council this fall.… Read More

Seattle mayor forming council of tech leaders seeking solutions to the region’s growing pains

by Monica Nickelsburg on August 2, 2018August 2, 2018 at 1:44 pm 5 Comments

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is tapping problem solvers in the tech industry to develop solutions to some of the city’s greatest challenges. She plans to sign an executive order creating… Read More

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TLDR Editor’s Picks: How Tech is Changing Seattle

by Starla Sampaco on July 2, 2018July 5, 2018 at 10:44 amComment

This week on TLDR, we’re looking back at some of the top stories of 2018 so far. Today’s topic: Tech companies and workers are changing changes in cities around the… Read More

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Seattle repeals head tax 7-2 in dramatic reversal that leaves city divided over homeless crisis

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 12, 2018June 13, 2018 at 8:13 am 27 Comments

Seattle’s new per-employee tax on large businesses to fund affordable housing is officially dead, bringing an end to one of the most polarizing debates in city history. The City Council… 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 8 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, 2018October 17, 2018 at 2:21 pm 23 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

Slice of Pittsburgh life: Pizza, politics, and renewal on the menu with activist chef Sonja Finn

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 at 9:56 am 3 Comments

PITTSBURGH — Sonja Finn doesn’t think we should be fighting over one slice of the pie. That maxim dictates just about everything Finn does. It’s why tipping is verboten at… Read More

Seattle leader wants to double head tax because it’s still a fraction of Amazon’s $5B HQ2 plans

by Monica Nickelsburg on November 8, 2017November 8, 2017 at 4:10 pm 7 Comments

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant thinks that if Amazon plans to build a $5 billion second corporate headquarters, it can afford to pay more taxes in its hometown. She said… Read More

Seattle considers employee head tax for the city’s top-grossing companies

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 at 8:50 am1 Comment

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 — Housing, Outreach, and Mass-Entry Shelter — program would increase the… Read More

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 am 13 Comments

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 10 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 17 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