Seattle City Council

Sara Nelson Warns She Can Kill Any Transit Project She Wants

A budget amendment put forward by Council President Nelson asks for information on how and when the city creates priority space for buses, citing opposition to Route 40. At a meeting last week, Nelson suggested that if she had wanted to kill a controversial project she already could have done it.

Progressive PAC Helps Rinck Keep Fundraising Pace in Seattle Council Race

A pro-Woo PAC pumped $70,000 into the race Friday as a last ditch effort to swing the election. So far, Alexis Mercedes Rinck had been able to keep pace, with help from the Progressive People Power PAC.

Louisa Hotel Tenants Speak Out, Calling Councilmember Woo ‘Slumlord’

Tanya Woo has brandished her affordable housing credentials as owner of the Louisa Hotel in Chinatown. However, some of her tenants portray her as a 'slumlord' based on the practices of building management, including frequently pressuring eviction and letting issues like a broken elevator go long unresolved.

Transportation Chair Saka Questions School Zone Camera Expansion Plan

A plan to expand the number of school zone speed cameras has been in the works for nearly two years. But Councilmember Rob Saka is raising questions about the idea and funds allocated to make it happen.
Rivera sits at the dais at council chambers.

Seattle Council Puts Competing Measure Against Social Housing on February Ballot

Seattle Councilmember Maritza Rivera and three other councilmembers sponsored a competing measure seeking to elbow out a ballot initiative funding social housing. The two measures will go to voters in February. Only one can pass.

Op-Ed: Local Leaders Pioneering a New, Undemocratic Seattle Process

While the Seattle City Council has recently stifled opportunity for public participation and dissent, Seattle Public Schools is even further along, having already adopted many of the same undemocratic practices now seen at City Hall.
The view down 5th Avenue S with the King County Jail and skyway passage.

Seattle’s Rushed Plan to Jail Low-Level Offenders Passes Its First Hurdle

On Wednesday, Seattle Council’s public safety committee advanced Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposal to contract with the South Correctional Facility (SCORE) jail to house a limited number of people accused of simple misdemeanors, such as criminal trespass and shoplifting. The proposal comes with logistical challenge and its share of critics.
Two servers behind the counter at a cafe, one at the register and another at the espresso machine.

Op-Ed: Seattle Council Won’t Get Away with Gutting Minimum Wage Law

The Seattle City Council is queuing up a debate on appropriate wages for service workers at smaller employers. At the behest of restaurant owners, Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth is seeking to cancel a scheduled minimum wage increase.