Economics

Sunday Video: The 15 Million Home Vacancy Conspiracy Theory Debunked

Ray Delahanty of CityNerd debunks the myth that vacant homes could single-handedly solve the housing crisis, explaining with data why America doesn't have anywhere close to 15 million homes readily available to fill the national housing shortage.
Harrell stands at a lectern with the Seattle City Seal and the skyline visible behind him from a midrise rooftop.

Katie Wilson to Inherit Seattle’s Budget Woes

Katie Wilson may have won the mayoral election, but her challenges are just beginning. Outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell is leaving a budget mess behind him.
Passengers lug their suitcases toward the train under an awning

Cascadia Forges Ahead on High-Speed Rail Despite Headwinds

Leaders from across the Pacific Northwest recently gathered at the Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference in Seattle and reaffirmed their commitment to building high-speed rail linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. President Trump has created headwinds for the project by slashing transit funding and slapping tariffs on Canadian imports.

Sunday Video: How Did We Create the Housing Crisis?

America's housing crisis is a complex and persistent problem. There isn't just one reason for the housing crisis, but rather many compounding policy, demographic,...
A BNSF freight train heads north along the Puget Sound coast, passing under the pedestrian bridge at Carkeek Park. A tree-covered ridge is on the left.

Op-Ed: PCC Provides Model for State Rail Ownership in Washington State

Railroad giants like BNSF have often deferred maintenance on their tracks and pressured government to pay for it. This had led some officials to consider taking over ownership, like Washington State did with the Palouse River & Coulee City (PCC) Railroad. Collin Reid lays out the case for greater government intervention in freight rail.
More than 100 advocates hold signs urging a balanced tax code on the steps of the state Capitol building with its many marble columns.

Op-Ed: Tech Workers Must Challenge the Political Power of Their Bosses

Tech workers like me don’t enjoy being a bargaining chip to protect our CEO’s bottom line. And we know better than anyone else that their claims are false: corporate giants can afford higher taxes.
Rinck stands at the lectern and a group of supporters stands behind her, including colleagues Rob Saka and Sara Nelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell.

Seattle Council Greenlights Rinck’s B&O Tax Overhaul

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.
A diagram of the stadium proposal with surrounding buildings.

Everett Forges Ahead with Downtown Stadium for Minor League Sports

Is Everett's plan to move the AquaSox from aging Funko Stadium to a brand new downtown stadium an economic jolt or a costly gamble? The City of Everett will be leading financing on the project projected to cost at least $82 million.