Seattle

Justice Department Dubs New York, Seattle, and Portland as ‘Anarchist Jurisdictions’

The three cities were flagged for “permitting anarchy, violence and destruction” as part of the Trump administration’s bid to cut funding to cities where recent protests over racial injustice and police brutality have occurred.

  • By Andrea Noble

Seattle Police Chief Announces Retirement As City Council Cuts Department Budget

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | A federal review finds racist practices at an Alabama public housing authority … Oregon legislature cuts state budget in one-day session … California vows to replace archaic technology that led to Covid undercounts.

  • By Laura Maggi and Emma Coleman

Seattle Region Local Governments Will Continue Remote Work Until 2021

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Rental mopeds pulled out of NYC after fatal crashes … Tennessee governor disagrees with White House aide on closing bars … Police in New Jersey break up 700-person house party.

  • By Laura Maggi and Emma Coleman

Seattle Mayor Says Police Will Return to 'CHOP' Protest Zone

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Correctional officers complain about discrimination in guarding of Derek Chauvin ... A city council member is arrested in Los Angeles corruption case ... San Francisco's mayor wants to move ahead with reopening.

  • By Laura Maggi and Emma Coleman

Seattle Mayor, Washington Governor Blast President Trump’s Warning to ‘Take Back’ City

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Orange County loosens mask requirement ... Libertarians in Alaska sue over presidential election ... FEMA denies Texas' request for a disaster declaration for a 2019 tornado and other storms.

  • By Laura Maggi and Emma Coleman

In an Attempt to Help Struggling Restaurants, Cities Regulate Food Delivery Apps

Several cities have set caps on the commission a food delivery app can take from a restaurant in recent weeks, a measure officials say will relieve some of the burden on struggling local businesses.

  • By Emma Coleman

Health Officials Recommended Canceling Events with 10-50 People. Then 33,000 Fans Attended a Major League Soccer Game.

As COVID-19 fears grew, public officials and sports execs contemplated health risks—and debated a PR message—but let 33,000 fans into a Seattle Sounders soccer match, emails show.

  • By Ken Armstrong, David Gutman and Lewis Kamb, ProPublica

‘Everyone’s Losing Money’: Coronavirus Strains Small Businesses in Seattle

The situation offers a window into the pressures the disease outbreak could create for local economies. Government officials are scrambling to come up with relief programs.

  • By Bill Lucia

In a First, Seattle City Council Moves to Ban Winter Evictions

If the measure is signed by Mayor Jenny Durkan, the city would prohibit evictions of low- and moderate-income renters during the coldest months.

  • By Emma Coleman

Containing the Coronavirus

In King County, Washington, the public health department is relying on temporary staff hired for measles and hepatitis A outbreaks to help investigate a confirmed case of coronavirus.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Seattle Passes Campaign Finance Restriction Targeting Corporate Donations

The bill approved by the city council would prevent any company with 5% of its stocks held by foreign individuals or companies from donating to local elections.

  • By Emma Coleman

Amazon Is Spending an Unprecedented Amount on City Council Races

In Seattle, Amazon has spent over a million dollars trying to get pro-business candidates elected to the city council.

  • By Emma Coleman

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Trying to Stop ‘Swatting,’ a City Creates a Registry to Flag False 911 Calls

Seattle police created the first online registry that asks residents to help them identify potential swatting victims.

  • By Emma Coleman

An Experimental Housing Assistance Program Produces a Striking Result

Providing customized help to housing voucher recipients in the Seattle area raised the odds participants moved to neighborhoods where kids have better economic outcomes.

  • By Bill Lucia

A City With a Booming Real Estate Market Sees a Slip in Home Prices

Meanwhile, new research suggests people in high-cost metro areas are searching for more affordable places to live.

  • By Bill Lucia

Seattle Will Open Clean-Air Shelters As Relief From Wildfire Smoke

Five public buildings will get filtration systems to keep the air inside clean on days when smoke affects the city, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced last week.

  • By Hallie Golden, CityLab

Collaboration Key to Managing Scooters, Bike Shares

Proactively communicating with transportation companies can help ease the pain of integration, according to a new report from the National League of Cities.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Soda Taxes Lead Some to Cut Down on Sugary Drinks, Fizzle With Others

But the full cost of the taxes does appear to be getting passed to consumers in at least two cities.

  • By Bill Lucia

Using Nudges and Shoves to Encourage Better Transportation Choices

Yes, you can close a major urban highway and the world won’t end.

  • By Michael Grass

Microsoft’s Big Pledge to Help Build Affordable Housing in the Seattle Area

The move by the company is “potentially groundbreaking” and an acknowledgment that “government alone cannot really solve” the housing crisis.

  • By Laura Maggi

Metros Should Focus on Attracting and Upskilling Workers in ‘Opportunity Industries’

There’s a difference between a good job, a promising job and other jobs, particularly for people without bachelor’s degrees, according to a recent Brookings report.

  • By Dave Nyczepir