Lawsuits, shelter space, and who's running for mayor, this week

Bill Radke reviews the week's news with Publicola publisher Erica C Barnett, Crosscut reporter David Kroman and Seattle Channel producer and host Brian Callanan.

Last month the Seattle city council required big grocery store chains to give their employees hazard pay - an extra four dollars an hour. This week, that hazard pay kicked in, and two grocery associations countered by suing the city. Is it feasible to ask grocery stores to pay their workers more? And why not make hazard pay necessary for all essential workers?

One suggestion offered by grocery chains - instead of paying workers more, get them vaccines sooner. And they're not the only ones asking for that. Teachers unions have also requested teachers be moved up the line and vaccinated before being asked to return to in person classes. Of course, plenty of people skip the line all together, getting the shot before they're supposed to. So what is the best way to distribute the vaccine? And should the state be working harder to punish so called 'line jumpers'?

Plus, this week Seattle formally rejected a proposal by the Public Defender Association to operate a shelter in the Executive Pacific Hotel downtown. Meanwhile, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority has just chosen their first CEO, nearly one year after starting the search. What does the future of shelter and homelessness assistance in Seattle look like post covid?

Also, this week city council president Lorena González announced she would be running for Mayor. That brings the total number of filed candidates to eight, including Colleen Echohawk, executive director of the Chief Seattle Club. González also leaves an open council seat by announcing her run. So, what will this year's campaigns look like? How big a role will issues like covid, police violence and the economy play? And will big tech companies once again jump in with donations to pro-business candidates?

Speaking of big tech companies, Jeff Bezos has announced he will step down as CEO of Amazon, instead becoming executive chairman. He’ll be switching roles in the third quarter of this year, and in a letter to employees said that “As Exec Chair I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions.” Taking his place is Amazon Web Services leader Andy Jassy. How big a deal is this change in leadership?

Finally, we touch on what's making us happy this week (spoiler: it involves axes).