Seattle City Council

Politics

Will Seattle voters choose 'back to basics' candidates or stick with 'activists'?

The big day is near, and time is running out for voters to turn in their ballots. (Have you turned yours in, by the way? You should take care of that.)

Government

'We cannot promise every employee an accommodation'

Even if your request for an exemption is approved, you are still at risk for losing your job.

Government

Vaccine exempt Seattle staff may not have 'same job' or 'same rate of pay'

As Seattle city officials plan the next step to getting Covid jabs in the arms of those who want them, the city is also grappling with those who do not. The city will open Covid-19 vaccination sites soon to get ahead of an expected run on doses in the coming months.

Politics

This week in politics

"This is just a lot of political theater that's completely unnecessary."

Crime

Seattle City Council will spend extra police salaries on community groups, not hiring bonuses

The Seattle Police Department says it has a $15 million surplus in police salaries after hundreds of officers left the department in recent months.

Politics

'If you believe conspiracy theories about vaccines' this week in politics is for you

The City of Seattle, King County and Washington state have issued Covid-19 vaccination mandates for public employees to get vaccinated or face possible termination. Many people affected are complying, but not everyone. And that means things could get awkward.

Government

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says City Council bill restricting crowd-control tactics 'doesn't change anything'

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says she wants to improve policing in the city, but City Council members recently overstepped some legal boundaries to do so.

Politics

Have Seattle's democracy vouchers combated big money?

Seattle's "Democracy Voucher" program is being touted as a national model for campaign financing in articles and books, and even in Congress this year, where a version made its way into the Democrat's giant voting reform bill HR 1. But the results in this year’s August mayoral primary – which is the first time vouchers have ever been used in a Seattle mayor’s race-- were mixed.

Seattle's 2021 primary just set up a 'battle royale' in November

The 2021 August primary may have set up more than just the top candidates Seattle will be voting for in November. It could also be viewed as a status check on how residents feel about the direction of the city, and the solutions to the problems it faces, such as police reform and homelessness. Voters will be considering ths