Back at the beginning of the City Council’s discussion of secure scheduling, retail and food-service employers adamantly insisted that while national labor surveys showed serious issues, there was no evidence that those issues existed in Seattle. They further insisted that the Council commission a study on scheduling issues in Seattle before it took any action. So the Council called their bluff and commissioned a study; the results are now in, and yesterday they were presented to the Council. It turns out that in many ways the national trends in low-wage worker scheduling are also true in Seattle. And indeed, there …
Continue readingAuthor: Kevin Schofield
Kevin Schofield is a freelance writer and the founder of Seattle City Council Insight, a web site providing independent news and analysis of the Seattle City Council. After graduating from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he worked for Microsoft Corporation for 26 years. That culminated in a term as Chief Operations Officer for Microsoft Research, the division of the company focused on advancing the state of the art in computing. Upon leaving Microsoft in 2014 he decided to embrace his love of writing. Kevin volunteers at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. He is also Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. Beyond writing, his personal passions are his twin daughters, photography, cooking, and playing the guitar. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
Solid waste rates are going up. Here’s why.
This morning the Council took up a potential increase in rates for solid waste disposal services in Seattle. The reason for it is fairly simple, but the execution is fairly convoluted. Seriously, you’ll want to understand this, but it’s going to make your head hurt.
Continue readingGonzalez moves to ban “conversion therapy” on minors
Council member Lorena Gonzalez, in her first time sponsoring a piece of legislation, proudly put forth an ordinance to ban the practice of “conversion therapy” to try to “cure” LGBTQ minors.
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So many oars in the water this week for the City Council…
Continue readingInitiative 124 headed for the November ballot
The City Council voted 8-0 this afternoon to send Initiative 124 to the November ballot. The initiative enacts several important protections for hotel employees.
Continue readingUnderstanding the minimum wage study
Earlier this month, a UW research team released its first report from its city-funded longitudinal study on the impacts of Seattle’s increase to the minimum wage. This morning they presented their findings to the City Council.
Continue readingNews roundup: Minimum wage, secure scheduling, conversion therapy
Good morning! Kshama Sawant is making noise at the DNC in Philadelphia, but back here in Seattle it’s going to be a very busy week…
Continue readingBias-free policing
Last Wednesday, Council President Harrell’s Education, Equity and Governance Committee had a discussion on “bias-free policing.” It was a far-ranging discussion that named many of the problems with trying to hold SPD accountable for their biases — if occasionally short on solutions.
Continue readingCouncil tackles Comprehensive Plan’s take on schools
Last Wednesday the Comprehensive Plan’s “road tour” made its scheduled stop at the Education, Equity and Governance Committee to discuss the future of schools in the city.
Continue readingThis week: I hope you caught up on your sleep this weekend
For the past several weeks the Monday afternoon Full Council meetings have been pretty tame affairs, with not a lot of legislation of substance up for approval. That streak ends tomorrow. Oh, and the committee meetings this week are equally full of important legislation and presentations.
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