July 07 , 2015 - Mary Strow
New transportation reforms become law
We’re still waiting on some elements of the new transportation funding package to clear the Legislature (the transportation revenue bill has passed; the spending bill with the project list and the bonding bill have not). In the meantime, Gov. Inslee yesterday signed some important bipartisan reform bills that should help reduce costs and speed up […]
June 29 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Operating budget and transportation package deals reached, but no numbers yet
Early Saturday Gov. Inslee and legislators reached an agreement on a 2015-17 operating budget. Unfortunately, at this point we’re still short on details — they are expected to be released this evening. The Seattle Times has a good story on the available information, and here’s a one page summary that was handed out to the […]
June 26 , 2015 - Emily Makings
New brief: A Current Law Transportation Budget is Enacted; Will a New Transportation Revenue Package be Next?
Although a new transportation revenue package has not been agreed to yet, a current law transportation budget for 2015-17 has been enacted. We take a look at what’s included in a new policy brief. Briefly: The Legislature has enacted a current law transportation budget for 2015–17. It appropriates $7.619 billion in operating and capital funds, […]
June 25 , 2015 - Mary Strow
June 18 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Transportation trumps rent control
Josh Feit at PubliCola points out a poll from EMC Research that asked likely Seattle voters about affordable housing policy. Apparently they were asked whether they would support a candidate who supports either (a) “strict rent control, capping costs to protect affordability” or (b) “a variety of policies for affordable housing, including developer fees, increasing […]
May 22 , 2015 - Emily Makings
West Coast ports labor contract ratified
Today the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) voted to ratify the contract that union leaders and the Pacific Maritime Association had tentatively agreed to earlier this year. (See here and here for more.) The ILWU says that 82 percent of its members voted to approve the five-year contract. Also, The new agreement provides approximately […]
May 07 , 2015 - Emily Makings
How to get goods to market
The current Puget Sound Business Journal cover story is titled: “Knocking on the world’s door: Here are five key steps to making the region a global center for the 21st century.” They are: (1) Move people and goods; (2) Fully fund education; (3) Fix the waterfront; (4) Develop the workforce; and (5) Keep land for […]
April 15 , 2015 - Emily Makings
April 09 , 2015 - Emily Makings