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Seattle City Council

Future of Seattle tenant protections is slow-moving, but bright

A law requiring landlords to accept the first qualified candidate is the latest Seattle housing law to get the green light.

The Seattle Monorail takes a big step toward transit integration

Now nearly 60 years old, the Monorail will finally accept ORCA cards—and even some transfers—thanks to an agreement between the operator and Seattle Center.

Measure to reduce barriers to building ADUs in Seattle gets mayoral boost

After half a decade of planning, changes to laws governing backyard cottages are on the way—with more experimentation ahead on making them feasible.

Seattle City Council votes to reduce barriers to building ADUs

After half a decade of planning, changes to laws governing accessory dwelling units—like backyard cottages and mother-in-law apartments—are on the way.

Seattle Office of Housing works toward a community preference policy

The years-long effort to fight displacement is being put on paper

ADU legislation can move forward after clearing appeal

An appeal to ADU reform wasn’t successful (this time)—and the city council is getting ready to fine-tune the policy

How ADU legislation could rein in Seattle’s McMansions

Legislation to make backyard cottages more accessible could also prevent future massive single-family homes

Effort renewed to make landlords pay when tenants are priced out

The bill is similar to a Portland ordinance

Seattle City Council could prep the city for a day without a rent-control ban

Rent control is still illegal on the state level, but Kshama Sawant wants to get ready, anyway

Proposed changes to Seattle bike plan add to mounting frustration from cyclists

A proposed watering-down of the city’s Bike Master Plan comes after slow progress on bike lanes—and a controversial change to a project

Seattle mayor signs denser zoning with housing affordability requirements into law

The long-planned MHA measure exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements

Upzones and affordable housing requirements approved by Seattle City Council

The policy exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements

Mandatory housing affordability package emerges from Seattle City Council committee

The policy exchanges building capacity for affordable housing requirements

Seattle mayor endorses community preference policies with executive order

The order strengthens a years-long effort to fight displacement

Housing affordability rezones (mostly) clear appeal

Some groups are going to bat for 6% of single-family zones.

One approach to long-term shelter: Tiny grants for tiny homes

City Councilmember Mike O’Brien is floating a new city program to help tackle the homelessness crisis

New coalition pushes for deeper investment in Seattle’s transit

It’s called Move All Seattle Sustainably, or MASS

Durkan shows both support and reservations in signing Showbox legislation

The mayor didn’t stand in the way of recent City Council legislation, but expressed concerns

Seattle will implement long-term rules for private bike shares

With the City Council’s rubber stamp on the fee schedule, a permanent program is all set to go

Seattle City Council sets timeline for connected downtown bike lanes by 2020

A resolution attempts to hold SDOT to a timeline for a delayed bike network

Seattle City Council passes new labor standards for domestic workers

Under the new law, nannies, housecleaners, and gardeners will be guaranteed minimum wage and rest breaks

Seattle City Council looks toward connected downtown bike lanes by 2020

Mike O’Brien wants to hold SDOT to a timeline for a delayed bike network

Seattle plans long-term rules for private bike shares

After evaluating a pilot program, the city is adjusting its expectations for bike-share operators

Bill seeks to raise labor standards for housecleaners and nannies

The ‘Domestic Workers Bill of Rights’ could change working conditions for 30,000 people in Seattle

Referendum campaign to repeal ‘head tax’ turns in signatures, despite repeal

The employee hours tax would have raised between $40 and $50 million a year for affordable housing and homeless services

Seattle City Council repeals business tax for housing and homeless services

The vote followed a heated public hearing

Seattle City Council likely to repeal business tax for housing and homeless services

The council appears to have enough votes to repeal the "head tax" after outcry

Rentberry sues Seattle over temporary rent-bidding ban

The ordinance had called for a year’s moratorium and more study

Business group launches campaign to overturn ‘head tax’

The measure passed by City Council would raise between $40 and $50 million a year for affordable housing and homeless services

Amazon will resume Block 18 construction

The company resumed plans for short-term expansion, but expressed wariness about long-term growth in Seattle.

Lower ‘head tax’ passed by Seattle City Council

The revised employee hours tax raises between $40 and $50 million a year

Business tax for housing and homeless services advances out of City Council committee [Update]

The tax on employee hours and payroll could raise $75 million a year

A higher court rules in Uber and Lyft unionization—and it’s complicated

The short version: more court ahead.

Seattle appeals ruling against first-in-time rental law

The rule required landlords to accept the first qualified candidate to apply

Landlord group sues to block Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing law

The lawsuit seeks to overturn a law barring rental restrictions based on criminal convictions.

Seattle tree law could be getting a revision

A proposed update to the city’s Tree Protection Ordinance would ideally create a more streamlined, equitable framework.

Revised business tax for housing and homeless services heads to City Council

The proposal could raise $75 million a year

Seattle City Council passes suite of parking reforms

The legislation aims for more flexibility around parking—including the flexibility to not build any at all in some cases

The Center City Connector streetcar project is on hold

The mayor has halted any ongoing work pending an internal review