News

On Dec. 6, 2022, the Seattle City Council passed a resolution supporting the implementation of universal health care in the state of Washington and Whole Washington’s ballot initiative. The ballot initiative, I-1471, proposed by Whole Washington, a grassroots volunteer-led organization of health care workers and citizens from across Washington, aims to create the Washington Health Trust, a publicly financed health care system paid for by a tax on employers’ payrolls and employees’ payroll deductions, as well as on the earnings of investors and sole … Read More

The land use committee meeting on Wednesday was an eventful one, as several councilmembers shared their critiques of the Seattle comprehensive plan work thus far. Councilmember Alex Pedersen had already attacked the plan from a conservative ‘slow the growth’ perspective, but most of his colleagues urged OPCD to think bigger and add more housing options. Some also critiqued the legislation extending the design review exemption for affordable housing, which is up for a vote later this month ahead of the year-end lapse of … Read More

Thousands of Seattle students walked out of class and rallied in front of Seattle City Hall on Monday morning, calling for better mental health support, more restrictions on gun access and more training for security staff in the wake of a shooting Tuesday at Ingraham High that left one student dead. Carrying hand-lettered signs, they crammed onto public transit and marched along city blocks to air their demands and grievances about student well-being and school violence. Students, accompanied by some … Read More

Dozens of human services workers rallied at Seattle City Hall plaza on Tuesday morning, calling for the city and King County to adjust their wages to keep up with inflation and to preserve homelessness services that could go away as one-time federal funding expires. Staff from major homelessness and social service organizations held signs that read “I do essential work” while chanting “Poverty wages have got to go!” As the city and county approach finalizing their budgets later this month, … Read More

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has proposed using approximately $6.5 million from the JumpStart payroll tax to fight climate change as part of the city's Green New Deal. The larger plan was formulated by the Seattle City Council in 2019. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support community resilience to climate change and increase net zero affordable housing throughout the city. “As a councilmember, I voted to establish a Green New Deal — with a goal of ensuring Seattle … Read More

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s JumpStart Housing Community Self-Determination Fund promises to allocate 13% from JumpStart’s progressive payroll tax to support community-based organizations (CBOs) and their efforts to combat displacement, gentrification, and housing insecurity. This fund comes out of JumpStart Seattle, which was approved by Seattle City Council in 2020 to raise money for affordable housing and small businesses by requiring large businesses to pay a tax for all Seattle employees who make $150,000 a year or more. The Community Self-Determination Fund is focused on … Read More

More than 1,700 affordable housing units will be built in the Seattle region thanks to money used from the city’s new payroll tax on big businesses. Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda held a press conference Thursday to announce the first group of projects funded by “JumpStart Seattle,” the controversial payroll tax that brought in $248.1 million in its first year. Nearly $80 million of that will fund affordable housing developments in Seattle, with the money going to 17 groups that run buildings serving … Read More

Incumbent Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda faced off against challenger Kenneth Wilson. SEATTLE — Incumbent Teresa Mosqueda has won her re-election bid for Seattle City Council position 8. Mosqueda has captured 56% of the vote as of Nov. 4. Her challenger, Kenneth Wilson, has garnered 43% of the vote. Mosqueda has served in position 8, which is a city-wide seat, for one term since 2018. She previously worked as a political and strategic campaign director at the Washington State Labor … Read More

SEATTLE - Incumbent Teresa Mosqueda is leading challenger Kenneth Wilson in the race for the Seattle City Council at-large position for District 8. Mosqueda received 56% of the votes while Wilson received 44% of the votes. On Nov. 4, FOX 13 projects Mosqueda to win. Mosqueda has served in Position 8, which is a city-wide seat, for one term since 2018.  Wilson is a small business owner who says the current council does not understand day-to-day city operations. Mosqueda declared herself winner … Read More

Teresa Mosqueda says she wants to return to City Hall so she can continue working on solutions to crises like homelessness, gun violence and systemic racism. For her, that means funding more affordable and supportive housing, shifting dollars to police alternatives and allowing apartments to be built throughout neighborhoods. Kenneth Wilson says he wants to replace Mosqueda on the City Council so he can help repair damage that’s being done. For him, that means shutting down unauthorized homeless encampments, boosting … Read More