# On Monday, the City Council voted unanimously to send the Seattle Shield Initiative to voters this November. Sponsored by Alexis Mercedes Rinck, the proposal shifts B&O tax burden away from small businesses and toward larger ones, raising an estimated $81 million annually to shore up the City budget.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# At the city and the county level, local leaders are preparing for the impacts of the new federal reconciliation bill, described as "devastating." Those impacts will be felt everywhere from hospitals to food banks.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Last Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted 7-1 to pass changes to the city’s 16-year-old nuisance property ordinance that will expand the powers of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to declare a business or residence a “chronic nuisance.” As Council ramps up criminalization and weighs funding more addiction treatment services, do their plans add up to a cohesive strategy?| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Northwest Progressive Institute has released a new poll showing razor close races for Seattle Mayor and City Attorney. Incumbents Bruce Harrell and Ann Davison are both well below the 50% mark, pointing to vulnerability. Meanwhile, progressive mayoral challenger Katie Wilson is rolling out big endorsements.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Juarez, who represented District 5 from 2016 to 2023, will immediately become one of the most experienced members of the council. But she pledged to defer to former Councilmember Cathy Moore when it comes to the city's growth plan, a move that likely worries housing advocates.| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
Monthly Archives: June 2025| www.theurbanist.org