The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council has published its September update. Some highlights and lowlights: GDP forecasts are reduced for 2022 and 2023. Consumer confidence is up. Employment is a mix, with some sectors now above pre-COVID levels and others (like hospitality) still well below. Washington employment as …
Continue readingMonth: September 2022
City Council briefing on I-135
On Tuesday the Seattle City Council will consider its options on Initiative 135, which would create a new “social housing” public development authority. On Monday, the Council will hear a presentation on the initiative and review its three options: vote I-135 into law, removing the need for a special election; …
Continue readingAppointment of Dr. Faisal Khan as Director of Public Health
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has nominated Dr. Faisal Khan to be the new Director of Public Health for Seattle-King County. Dr. Khan must be confirmed by both the Seattle City Council and the King County Council. I hope you found this article valuable. If you did, please take a moment …
Continue readingSeattle Public Utilities solid waste rate study
Seattle Public Utilities has published its solid waste rate study report for the next three years. The report analyzes trends and shifts in solid waste service (which have shifted away from commercial towards more residential during COVID as work-from-home skyrocketed), as well as SPU’s key financial and business metrics. It …
Continue readingCity of Seattle ARPA spending quarterly update
The City of Seattle’s budget office has submitted a new quarterly report on how federal ARPA funds have been spent to-date. I hope you found this article valuable. If you did, please take a moment to make a contribution to support my ongoing work. Thanks!
Continue readingDSA Third Avenue Vision
The Downtown Seattle Association has published a report outlining its vision for remaking Third Avenue through downtown. It points out that the number of bus trips per hour during the day along Third Avenue is 290, far outstripping any downtown corridor in any other city. It argues, however, that the …
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