# Former Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez is one of six finalists to fill the District 5 vacancy on Council created by Cathy Moore's resignation. Insiders say she is the clear favorite for the appointment.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# On Wednesday, Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck unveiled a proposal overhauling the city's Business and Occupation tax that she hopes to put before voters this November – if she can win over her colleagues. Dubbed the Seattle Shield Initiative, it would broaden the exemption for small businesses, but raise taxes on larger businesses.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# District 5 Councilmember Cathy Moore's announced her resignation today, effective July 7. Moore's departure will queue up a 16-month term for the appointee the Council selects. In November 2026, D5 voters will elect a councilmember to a one-year term.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Seattle City Councilmembers and top planning officials are making the rounds visiting homeowner-dominated community councils in their district to get feedback on the One Seattle growth plan.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Corporations hoping to derail Seattle's JumpStart progressive payroll tax were thwarted in a court ruling released Friday. King County Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts ruled in favor of the City of Seattle, dismissing "with prejudice" the lawsuit that the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce brought against it. The City projects the tax will raise $214 million per| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# On Monday, the Seattle City Council voted 7-2 to pass a payroll expense tax targeting companies paying high salaries. The final spending plan is still being crafted, but Covid relief and affordable housing will be two focus areas for the new roughly $240 million per year stream of revenue. The seven vote majority included original| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
Council Member Alexis Mercedes Rinck is making Council President Sara Nelson sweat.Rinck and Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Seattle Shield Initiative would temporarily cut Business & Occupation taxes for 90% of Seattle businesses while hiking the rate for the city’s largest corporations. The policy is projected to raise $90 million for essential services. And it’s doing more than raising revenue — it’s breaking the spell. The usual business coalition is divided, and corporate-backed politic...| The Burner
California senator Alex Padilla was pushed out of the news conference by authorities after he interrupted Noem.| www.bbc.com
# Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmember Rob Saka unexpectedly skipped a housing committee meeting Wednesday, holding up 14 appointments to the shorthanded Seattle Renters Commission. Councilmember Alexis Rinck sharply criticized the "disrespectful" move, as did several nominees.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# As the Seattle City Council took its first look at Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle Comprehensive Plan on Monday, Cathy Moore delivered a slow-growth manifesto, tinged with derision for renters, who she portrayed an unengaged and a detriment to neighborhoods.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
