Why Seattle Needs Inclusionary Zoning, Explained By The Bid-Rent Curve

“Barriers to spatial mobility are barriers to social mobility.” - American Apartheid Every morning Sandy McKay gets in her Volvo hatchback and joins the flow...
Credit: Doug Trumm

The Case for Rent Control

If you've taken introductory economics, you've likely heard some bad things about rent control. Most economists (e.g., 81%) don't like it. Generally, economists argue...
Mayor Durkan flanked by the American flag and Washington state flag.

Durkan Vetoes $86 Million in Covid Relief Citing Fiscal Restraint

After Mayor Jenny Durkan vetoed a Covid relief package saying it depleted the City's rainy day fund, Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda fired back that...
A triplex in Magnolia. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Conventional Conforming: The Quiet Hurdle to Increasing Density

How Federal Subsidy of Loan Interest Rates Block Missing Middle Housing Earlier in the pandemic, I was searching around Zillow. Looking at houses was a...
A cloud of smoke

Sagging Revenue Forecast Prompts Seattle Council to Push Back Budget Timeline

A “grave” report from the new Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts (OERF) showed a hit to the general fund and a steep decline...
The Capitol building in Olympia is marble colored and include pillars and a dome in the classic style.

Lessons from Washington State’s New Capital Gains Tax

Taxing the rich works like a charm. Last week we learned that the capital gains tax — which was passed by the state legislature in...

Concrete Companies Stonewall Striking Truck Drivers, Threatening Cascading Construction Delays

Concrete is not flowing in King County and several high-profile infrastructure projects threaten to be delayed as a result. Concrete mixer drivers are striking...
Recreation of the Seattle flag. Cent sign on a blue back ground with text "Penny Wise Pound Foolish"

Op-Ed: Seattle is the Capital of Toxic Frugality

Next week is standardized testing at the kiddos’ school. The normal seven-class-a-day schedule will be reorganized to allow morning and afternoon blocks long enough...