Economics

Bring on the Clusterwohnungen

A few years ago, Seattle ran an interesting experiment on radically densifying low rise neighborhoods with microhousing--a typology of small, minimal units that provide...

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 public mural from the New Deal arts program. (William Gropper / Public Domain)

Should The Government Invest in High-Speed Rail to Boost a Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery?

As we live through the current moment, it is difficult to understate the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the world. While...
A sign says 4,128 square feet of retail are available.

Seattle to Boost Downtown with Additional Street-Level Uses

On Monday, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to energize Downtown Seattle and South Lake Union (SLU) with new street-level uses. This...
Downtown Seattle wall with City Hall sign on it and buildings in the background.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Seattle Budget Fix Is Slashing City Services and Freezing Wages

While running government like a business is a dream of chambers of commerce, businesses don’t freeze wages and spending when they need to hire...
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...

Off-Street Parking Regulations Aren’t An Equalizer, They’re A Segregater

Seth Goodman of Reinventing Parking shared some nuanced perspectives on the negative social, economic, and environmental impacts of off-street parking requirements in article yesterday. Backing...
A group of about 15 campaign volunteers hold clip board and campaign signs at a mall plaza.

Voters Set to Decide on Raise The Wage Renton in February Ballot Measure

Renton voters have until February 13 to vote in a special election on the measure putting the city's minimum wage in line with Tukwila and SeaTac.