City of Seattle

Event Calendar

ONLINE EVENT: COVID-19 Technology Innovation Summit

by Todd Bishop on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 at 2:53 pmComment

No one would argue that, today, we live in highly uncertain and historically unprecedented times. The world-wide effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic have permanently changed our lives forever. But… Read More

Tech Moves: Ex-BMW ReachNow CEO Steve Banfield joins Madrona Venture Labs; Starbucks hires sustainability chief; and more

by Cara Kuhlman on January 27, 2020January 27, 2020 at 3:13 pmComment

— Former BMW ReachNow CEO and INRIX executive Steve Banfield has joined Seattle-based “startup studio” Madrona Venture Labs as founder-in-residence. “Steve’s proven talent and leadership make him uniquely suited to… Read More

Tech Moves: Smartsheet taps leader for new Sydney office; Payscale adds CMO; Vulcan names CFO; and more

by Cara Kuhlman on January 14, 2020January 14, 2020 at 3:28 pmComment

—Former Microsoft general manager Adrianna Burrows is now chief marketing officer at Seattle-based compensation startup PayScale. Burrows is one of several new executives appointed by new CEO Scott Torrey, who… Read More

Tech Moves: Tech policy adviser Kate Garman leaving City of Seattle; Starbucks hires new diversity leader; and more

by Cara Kuhlman on December 3, 2019December 4, 2019 at 12:15 pmComment

— Technology Policy Adviser Kate Garman will be leaving the City of Seattle and moving to Washington, D.C., she told friends and colleagues in an email today. Garman arrived in… Read More

Seattle startup mainstay Rebecca Lovell leaves city economic development role to join Madrona’s Create33 ‘founder center’

by Taylor Soper on November 2, 2018November 2, 2018 at 11:09 am1 Comment

After nearly five years helping drive economic development initiatives at the City of Seattle, Rebecca Lovell is jumping back into the startup world as a director at Create33, the new… Read More

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City of Seattle says it’ll challenge FCC ‘overreach’ on 5G telecom transition policy

by Alan Boyle on October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 at 11:01 am1 Comment

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes say they intend to appeal an order from the Federal Communications Commission that mandates how much municipalities can charge for letting… Read More

Working Geek: Stephanie Gowing aids clean energy entrepreneurs and companies eager to go green

by Lisa Stiffler on September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 at 9:06 amComment

As the Green Business Advocate for the city of Seattle, Stephanie Gowing is working to boost the city’s eco enterprises and help interested business become more environmentally friendly. Recently that’s… Read More

Working Geek: Privacy chief Ginger Armbruster guards Seattle’s data from surprising threats

by Lisa Stiffler on April 27, 2018April 30, 2018 at 4:42 pm 2 Comments

Open records laws that let people keep an eye on their government are generally seen as a net social good. But with privacy concerns top of mind — see Facebook… Read More

Armed with 3D-design skills and a sustainability vision, 17-year-old creates better roadways

by Lisa Stiffler on January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 at 1:29 pm 7 Comments

How many of us have traveled along a poorly designed street and thought, “I could come up with a better solution.” Joe Mangan felt the same way about the roadways… Read More

Tech Moves: Seattle appoints first Smart City Coordinator; Fred Hutch adds to leadership; and more

by Clare McGrane on July 25, 2017July 25, 2017 at 1:48 pm1 Comment

Seattle has long been a hub for innovative technology, and today the city is taking advantage of that technology more than ever with its Smart City program. To lead that… Read More

Tech Moves: Meet Social Venture Partners’ new CEO; Seattle hires new Chief Privacy Officer; and more

by Clare McGrane on July 11, 2017July 18, 2017 at 10:23 amComment

Social Venture Partners isn’t your typical venture fund. It’s a nonprofit, community-focused group that acts as an important hub for social innovation and investment in the Seattle area, and it’s… Read More

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Seattle mayor joins Oak View Group in promising to turn KeyArena into world-class sports, music venue

by Kurt Schlosser on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 at 4:17 pmComment

Updated 4:15 p.m. Wednesday: Promising to build a world-class arena, and with it potentially lure an NBA or NHL team to Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray announced Wednesday that he has selected Oak… Read More

Those big white signs posted on Seattle development projects are getting a makeover

by Nat Levy on May 8, 2017May 8, 2017 at 3:08 pm1 Comment

They’re as much of a symbol of the changing face of Seattle as the hoard of six-story apartment buildings going up and the thousands of blue Amazon badges attached to people… Read More

Judge sides with city of Seattle in legal dispute with Uber over historic driver unionization law

by Nat Levy on March 17, 2017March 17, 2017 at 5:30 pm 2 Comments

A King County judge today rejected a request from Uber subsidiary Rasier to block several key provisions of Seattle’s historic law that lets drivers for ride-hailing companies decide if they want to bargain… Read More

How big data can improve cities and save lives: UW and Seattle brainstorm solutions on education, homelessness, and transportation

by Taylor Soper on January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 at 12:04 pmComment

Using data and analytics to help improve the bottom line is now common practice in the technology and business worlds. But how can city governments use those same techniques and… Read More

How a popular park on an abandoned NYC rail line will influence Seattle’s $700M waterfront makeover

by Nat Levy on January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 at 5:55 am 4 Comments

NEW YORK — It’s a chilly Thursday afternoon, and throngs of people from around the world have come to New York’s Chelsea neighborhood to take a walk on an abandoned… Read More

City of Seattle hosting ‘Let It Snow’ hackathon to get ideas for better storm communication tools

by Kurt Schlosser on December 9, 2016December 9, 2016 at 3:40 pmComment

Seattle experienced its first snowfall of the season on Thursday night and into Friday and now the city’s leaders are calling upon technologically adept folks to do more than just share pictures of… Read More

Uber and Lyft criticize new Seattle proposal to decide which drivers could vote to unionize

by Nat Levy on November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 at 2:30 pm 3 Comments

The city of Seattle Wednesday released a set of proposals that aim to settle some of the toughest questions in the landmark law that would let drivers for ride-hailing companies decide if… Read More

City of Seattle awards $320,000 to programs bringing tech to underserved communities

by Clare McGrane on August 18, 2016August 18, 2016 at 10:29 am 2 Comments

While Seattle is renowned for its role as a global tech hub, many communities in the city still have little or no access to technology. For citizens who are homeless, members of… Read More

Seattle councilmembers spar with city staff over timeline for landmark Uber union law

by Nat Levy on August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 at 6:00 pm 5 Comments

A Seattle City Council committee denied a request from city staff Wednesday for an additional six months to figure out some of the key issues with the landmark ride-hailing unionization law… Read More

Court dismisses U.S. Chamber’s suit over Seattle’s Uber union law — but fight is likely to continue

by Nat Levy on August 9, 2016August 9, 2016 at 7:04 pm 2 Comments

A federal judge on Tuesday threw out the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s lawsuit over the city of Seattle’s landmark Uber unionization law, but the legal fight is likely far from over. The… Read More

Seattle wants six more months to implement landmark Uber union law

by Nat Levy on August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 at 5:30 pm1 Comment

Seattle’s controversial Uber unionization law is the first of its kind in the nation, and the city wants more time to get it right. During a meeting of the Seattle City Council’s Education, Equity and… Read More

City of Seattle and U.S. Chamber face off in hearing over Uber union law

by Nat Levy on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 at 5:03 pm 5 Comments

Lawyers representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the City of Seattle met in court Tuesday for the first of what could be many showdowns in a lawsuit over legislation that would allow… Read More

Showdown over Seattle’s Uber union law: City asks court to toss U.S. Chamber’s lawsuit

by Nat Levy on July 18, 2016July 18, 2016 at 11:11 am 3 Comments

The city of Seattle will ask a federal judge this week to throw out a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over legislation that would allow Uber, Lyft and other… Read More

Retiring Seattle city archivist reflects on history, growth, digital age — and the subway that wasn’t

by Kurt Schlosser on June 22, 2016June 22, 2016 at 9:37 amComment

Scott Cline has a unique perspective on Seattle and the massive changes taking place in the city. As the city archivist with the Seattle Municipal Archives, Cline preserves a wide range of materials… Read More

Google donates $344K for free WiFi in Seattle community centers and affordable housing units

by Taylor Soper on March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 at 11:32 am 8 Comments

Free WiFi is coming to Seattle community centers and affordable housing developments thanks to a $344,000 grant from Google. The tech giant today announced the donation, which is part of Mayor… Read More

Seattle mayor signs new open data policy that makes city information more accessible

by Taylor Soper on February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 at 12:53 pmComment

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today signed an executive order that instructs city departments to make their data more accessible to the public. The new open data policy was developed by city… Read More

Grass greener, Internet faster? Why Seattle is mapping broadband speeds across the city

by Madeline Vuong on February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 at 1:08 pm 2 Comments

The City of Seattle has announced an online broadband speed test that will create a map of internet speeds and prices across different Seattle neighborhoods. Using the map, city residents will be able compare their… Read More

City of Seattle unveils new privacy program to ‘build public trust’ about use of personal information

by Taylor Soper on October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 at 11:23 amComment

The City of Seattle is moving forward with its commitment to help citizens understand how it uses their personal data both internally and with outside third-party organizations. Representatives from the city’s… Read More

Heads up, Car2Go drivers: The city is coming for your tickets

by Molly Brown on October 9, 2015October 9, 2015 at 11:10 amComment

If you often drive a Car2Go, and have gotten a ticket or two, you might want to just go ahead and pay those. The City of Seattle is coming for… Read More