Policy Lab: Why Are Seattle Restaurants So Expensive?
Seattle service workers are set to get a major wage hike, unless restaurant lobbyists get their way. But policymakers can support the restaurant industry in better ways than simply cutting worker pay.
Breaching Locks and Sen. Ericksen’s Stunt Legislation
With the start of the annual Washington State Legislature session comes the annual parade of stunt legislation. Like the return of swallows to Capistrano...
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...
Harrell Hopes to Fill Downtown Storefronts by Easing Code Restrictions
In a bid to reactivate Downtown Seattle, Mayor Harrell has proposed easing code restrictions in hopes of filling vacant storefronts with newly permitted uses like crafting studios, greenhouses, medical offices, art installations, public restrooms, and research laboratories.
The Unfinished Promise of the Center City Connector
Pioneer Square has the most to potentially lose--but also gain--from the connection of Seattle’s downtown streetcar lines.
During her daily commute into Pioneer Square...
Seattle Seeks to Close Internet Access Gap
In September, the City of Seattle released the Internet for All Seattle Report. This report follows the City's July 27th resolution to establish the...
Rents In San Francisco Are Determined By Demand, New Data Show
Slightly better than the worst possible outcome (detail), by Christine Hou
By putting together 60+ years of housing data, much of it gathered from newspaper microfiche,...
Seattle Booms Because Amazon Is The Master Of Platform Capitalism
Earlier this month Amazon announced a deal to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in cash. The news precipitated a $32 jump in Amazon's...








