Thursday news roundup

Microsoft starts a loan program for affordable housing, and more.

The Seattle Times, New York Times, US News and World Report, Financial Times, Puget Sound Business Journal, KUOW, Patch, GeekWire, TechCrunch, and Business Insider all report that Microsoft has committed $475 million for a new loan program for affordable housing projects in the greater Seattle region, and $25 million for homelessness response programs.

The Stranger has the latest election news.

KING recaps the state of the Waterfront Park project and the LID.

The Urbanist covers the Council’s discussion of the MHA legislation under consideration.

MyNorthwest looks at the city’s attempt to get Olympia to grant it authority to expand camera enforcement for “block the box” and transit-lane violations.

Seattle Bike Blog looks at what the lack of “doom” in Viadoom tells us about the region’s need for major road investments.