On the heels of the City's just-published broadband study, come listen to what one expert has to say about municipal broadband in Seattle this Thursday at noon in City Hall.
Category: Past Councilmembers
Post
Density is Key in Lowrise Code Deliberation
I recently wrote about Seattle’s growing pains and the many moving parts that are part of the affordable housing machine. One of these parts – land use – is so closely related to housing affordability, you might say they march in lockstep. Today, the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee will deliberate on a set of […]
Post
Seattle’s Advanced Industries
Source: The Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution has produced an interesting report about “the Advanced Industries Sector,” the 50 industries that spend higher amounts in research and development and focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs. It categorizes...
Post
Arts Community Reception for Candidates
What do you see as the most challenging arts issues facing Seattle? If you were a Councilmember, how would you advance the arts in Seattle?
Post
Seattle Deserves a Complete Housing Solution
Seattle is the fastest growing big city in the U.S., and Seattle’s infrastructure is bursting at the seams. Skyrocketing housing prices are squeezing low-income Seattleites — often people of color, immigrants, and refugees — out of Seattle. Efforts to improve the problem have been under way for some time. For example, subsidies help low-income renters […]
Post
UP # 369 – Why The Call From Some For Rent Control?
Housing affordability in Seattle has become a crisis with the highest rent increases of any major U.S. city in 2012 and 2013. Seattle is now among the nation’s ten most expensive cities. More than 45% of Seattle rental households are now considered rent-burdened. A 2015 Washington State Housing Needs Assessment found there are only 34 […]
Post
The Power of Books
The following article was sent out in my City View Newsletter, which you can sign up to receive here. Wednesday I traveled to Emerson Elementary in the Rainier Beach neighborhood because they have partnered with Page Ahead to provide free...
Post
Our Tax System: The Worst in the Country
The special session of the Washington State legislature will end today with no resolution to our state’s budget dilemma. Yet another special 30-day session will begin immediately. What a mess. The facts about the need for a complete top-to-bottom overhaul...
Post
UP #368 – Move Seattle Transportation Levy
Move Seattle Transportation Levy In early May, Mayor Murray proposed a “Move Seattle” transportation levy. The levy would be funded with $930 million in property taxes over nine years, with an annual cost of $275 for the owner of a $450,000 home. You can examine the details at the Move Seattle website; materials from the […]
Post
Artists at Play
Today I am excited to announce it was the grand opening of Artists at Play. This is a unique, interactive playground that children of all ages can enjoy at the Seattle Center. This playground includes a 35-foot Climb Tower, listening stations, sound swings, a colorful labyrinth and more. By many measures, this playground will prove a great benefit to Seattle. In particular, it will enrich the lives of both parents and their children. Parents will be able to bring their children to a safe and vibrant playground while children will have a creative and imaginative environment to play in. As an avid advocate for parks, I believe parks are essential in the health and happiness of our communities. … Continue Reading »