Seattle Forward

Vote on Taxis, Caps for App-Based Transportation Network Companies

Update: the Full Council vote has been rescheduled for Monday, March 17.

This evening the City Council voted in committee to expand the number of licensed drivers who can drive for app-based transportation network companies (TNCs) like UberX and Lyft. The latest version of the legislation had capped the total number of TNC driver endorsements at 300, but the committee changed the limitation to 150 drivers active on a single TNC system at any one time. This approach allows for unlimited TNC driver endorsements to be issued, but limits the number of vehicles on the road for a TNC.

Two weeks ago I wrote to explain why I do not favor a cap. I voted for no caps today; when that measure failed to garner a majority of votes I supported this compromise proposal.

This debate has layered complex policy choices with the recognition that the City’s regulatory function will directly affect people’s livelihoods. I know none of my colleagues made this decision lightly and we will monitor its impacts closely.

Local Tax Burden Comparisons from DC Report

Every year the District of Columbia government issues a report comparing tax rates and tax burdens in the most populous city of every state. These reports provide a good opportunity to see how Seattle ranks with other major cities across the country. As we continue to look at issues related to affordability in Seattle, we must keep in mind an individual’s or a family’s tax burden—even if the tax structure is set at the state level.

The latest report looks at 2012 data. Overall, the report placed Seattle 45^th out of the 51 cities reviewed (meaning the tax burden here is relatively low compared to the other cities).

A look at the detailed analysis reconfirms what we already know: Washington State’s regressive tax structure hurts those who have the least. Relative to income, the tax burden is nearly double for a family of three making $25,000 (13%) compared to a similar family making $150,000 (6.6%).

Income Inequality in American Cities

The Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program—the same team that has raised awareness about the suburbanization of poverty—released another interesting research paper today exploring income inequality in the top 50 most populous U.S. cities. The paper examines the ratio between the income level of the 20^th percentile (i.e. those who earn more than 20% of households) and the 95^th percentile (those who earn more than 95% of households).

The paper’s author, Alan Berube, has traveled to this area multiple times and knows it well. Here is what he has to say about Seattle:

“Seattle, where the inequality debate has fueled calls for a $15/hour minimum wage, turns out to have a relatively low inequality ratio (31st out of 50 cities). This fact is largely attributable to the relatively high incomes earned by its 20th-percentile households—$26,000, third-highest among the 50 cities. Like San Francisco, Seattle may have less poverty not only because people there earn more, but also because the region’s poor increasingly live in suburbia. For its part, the Emerald City experienced no measurable increase in inequality from 2007 to 2012, indicating that either its low-income households held their own during the recession, or that there were just fewer places for them to live in the city by 2012. If the latter is true, it seems as though residents of south King County may need a minimum wage boost at least as much as their central-city neighbors.”

Thoughts on Taxis, Flat-Rate For-Hires and App-Based Car Services

The intensity of the debate about regulations for taxis, flat-rate for-hire vehicles and app-based services like UberX and Lyft has been rivalled only by its complexity. With a meeting this morning on this issue, and a final vote coming soon, I wanted to share my position in more detail.

Let’s start with the basic question that many have asked: why regulate this industry at all? Why not just let the free market take control?

Workforce Housing Forum

This afternoon I will join several of my Council colleagues at a Workforce Housing Forum here in City Hall. Affordable housing will continue to be one of the City's major challenges in the coming years and this forum gives us an opportunity to learn how other cities are aggressively tackling this challenge.

Based on the RSVP count, we are expecting quite a crowd. If you aren't able to make it downtown, the Seattle Channel will be there recording some of the presentations.

Here is a more detailed agenda. Below are links to the presentation materials for the day.

Governor Issues Capital Punishment Moratorium

Governor Inslee today issued a moratorium on executions in Washington State while he serves as governor. He explained the reasons behind his decision in a statement to the media.

As I’ve written before on this blog, many of these same reasons have led me to oppose the death penalty. Bravo to the governor for his thoughtful review of this issue and his principled stand.

Annexation of Duwamish Area Takes Step Forward

The Council approved a resolution this afternoon, with the Mayor concurring, to allow the residents in unincorporated area along the Duwamish Waterway to vote to join the City of Seattle. The City’s proposal will now go before the Boundary Review Board for King County, which must consider whether to advance it to the approximately 103 registered voters in this area, commonly referred to as the South Park Sliver by the River and the Duwamish Industrial Triangle.

When you look at the map and the cultural boundaries of the South Park neighborhood, it just makes sense to give these residents a chance to be a part of the City of Seattle and to receive City services. A ‘yes’ vote would solve a longstanding anomaly in our City limits.

We heard testimony at the Full Council today about South Park residents who are just outside of the City limits and therefore don't receive emergency assistance from the Seattle fire company stationed just a few blocks away. If this annexation goes through, the emergency response times for these residents will dramatically improve.

Civic Cocktail: A Family-Friendly Downtown

Earlier this week I sat on a panel for the Seattle Channel's program Civic Cocktail to discuss strategies that make for a family-friendly downtown. The first half of the video below is a one-on-one discussion between host Joni Balter and Mayor Murray; the second half is the panel discussion.

The Need for Preschool in Seattle

City Council Chambers was packed yesterday as councilmembers heard more compelling evidence from national experts on the immediate and long-term benefits for children and society when cities invest in high-quality preschool. While national expert Dr. Steven Barnett presented similar preschool benefits to the Council in June 2013, yesterday’s presentation by Dr. Hirokazu Yoshikawa and Dr. Christina Weiland further validates those benefits with the most recent research. They also showed a powerful video about Boston’s preschool program.

Tomorrow, my committee will receive a report on the findings of the “Gap Analysis” commissioned by the Council, which shows how many 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in formal preschool care. We’ll also hear about how the City’s Office for Education plans to conduct community outreach around the Preschool for All initiative.

Go Hawks!

Yesterday's Super Bowl was amazing. What a complete team effort by the Seahawks! They proved without a doubt that they're the best team in the NFL.

The Council and the Mayor signed a proclamation today designating Wednesday as Seattle Seahawks Day and urging all you 12s to come to Wednesday's victory parade, which starts at 11 a.m.

Full text of the resolution is below the jump.