Newsletter | November 1, 2023 |
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On October 17, the King County Council’s Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee heard a presentation by Council staff on legislation that would establish a $18.99 per hour minimum wage with an annual inflation adjustment in unincorporated areas of the county. The current state minimum wage rate is $15.74 an hour.
Proposed Ordinance 2023-0310 would raise the minimum wage effective January 1, 2024, but would initially establish a lower wage standard for small businesses.
- For employers with 15 employees or less with an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million, a starting minimum wage $3.00 less. The reduction would decrease annually by $0.50 until no reduction is remaining, and
- For employers with 16 - 500 employees, a starting minimum wage $2.00 less. The reduction would decrease annually by $1.00 until no reduction is remaining.
The four King County Councilmembers sponsoring the minimum wage announced their intent to introduce it on September 6. Action on this proposed minimum wage standard has been deferred by the Council. We will keep you informed of further developments on this legislation.
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On September 26, the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee heard a presentation from Council staff on a potential new delivery fee. Presented as a means for the City to generate revenue to enforce several new worker protection ordinances, a fee of $.10 would be assessed on network companies “per online order for the delivery of goods or provision of other services in Seattle.”
The fee would finance the implementation and enforcement of five app-based worker ordinances:
- Domestic Workers
- Independent Contractor Protections
- App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time
- App-Based Worker Minimum Payment
- App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights
The fee would not be assessed on grocery item (as defined in RCW 82.84) deliveries. However, a single non-exempt item in a grocery order (e.g., batteries or a sponge) would trigger the delivery fee.
The fee would be implemented on January 1, 2024, but the first filing would be due in the fourth quarter of 2024 and quarterly after that. In addition, the OLS Director would have the authority to adjust the fee.
It was revealed this week that the City is expected to include an annual license requirement for network companies operating in Seattle.
John Engber, WR’s lobbyist in Seattle, testified against the potential fee at the September 26 committee hearing.
WR will inform its readers of this potential fee and license details as they come to light.
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Within hours of Seattle’s new law criminalizing public use and possession of illegal drugs taking effect, Seattle Police made 25 arrests. After passing out leaflets explaining the new law in the morning, police returned in the afternoon to arrest violators in two neighborhoods – downtown at 3rd and Pine and in Chinatown International District’s Little Saigon neighborhood.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said that 10 of the people arrested were jailed. Eight were jailed on outstanding felony warrants (including domestic violence, rape, and assault), and two were jailed on new charges (possession with intent to distribute and possession of a stolen gun). The other 15 people were referred to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program and thirteen of the 15 accepted referrals to caseworkers.
“We are going to be compassionate in our approach to getting people connected with services while still making sure our city streets are safe,” said Chief Diaz, adding that these arrests would not have happened without the city’s new drug law. The Chief expects similar action by the Seattle Police Department on a weekly basis.
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Downtown Seattle has witnessed a promising decrease in crime rates over the past year. However, safety concerns still linger in specific pockets of the city. Businesses in these areas, especially near open drug markets, encounter daily challenges, ranging from hiring difficulties due to safety concerns to increased costs for security and shoplifting, as highlighted by Jon Scholes, CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association.
Police data reveals an encouraging trend: violent crimes in several key districts, including Belltown, Pioneer Square, and the Chinatown International District, have reduced by 14%. Even more notable is the 40% decrease in homicides and a near 26% decline in property crimes. But public sentiment remains wary. A recent survey from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce indicates that almost half of the city's voters view crime and public safety as top concerns, marking a noticeable rise from previous figures.
A pivotal change is Seattle's new public consumption law, which is set to criminalize public drug use. This law comes after the 2021 state Supreme Court decision to invalidate the state's felony drug possession law. The police force, recognizing the implications of this new regulation, is strategizing to adapt, as shared by Interim Assistant Police Chief Dan Nelson.
In parallel, there's a strong public push to bolster the police force. Although Mayor Bruce Harrell faced initial criticism over the pace of police recruitment, revamped efforts have seen application rates soar to a two-year high. Optimizations in the hiring process have also expedited recruitments.
To further this momentum, the city is offering hiring incentives for both new and existing officers. The mayor's office has plans to amplify recruitment spend in the coming months, with the 2023 police budget set at $374.3 million and a proposal to increase it to $391.5 million for the following year. The combined efforts of legislation and augmented law enforcement aim to ensure Seattle's safety continues its upward trajectory.
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After an August primary election that saw the three incumbent Seattle City Councilmembers seeking reelection lead their challengers, new polling suggests that those incumbents are facing stronger headwinds as the general election approaches.
A new independent poll by Strategies 360 shows that approval of the City Council has plunged to 20% favorable and 70% unfavorable. It’s a dramatic change from polling last summer that showed Council favorability at 34% favorable and 48% unfavorable – net unfavorable has soared from 14% in 2022 to 50% this fall.
The reason for the change? Younger and more liberal voters have shifted from having a strongly positive view of the Council to a very negative one. For example, 18 – 24-year-old voters moved from a 50% favorable to 23% unfavorable opinion last summer to a net unfavorable rating of 40% this fall. Voters who self-identify as socialists give the Council a 21% net unfavorable rating.
One final interesting finding of the poll involves how Seattle voters describe their personal politics:
- Socialist 13%
- Very liberal 23%
- Somewhat liberal 26%
- Moderate 23%
- Somewhat conservative 8%
- Very conservative 3%
Stay tuned to see how these poor poll numbers impact this year’s City Council district elections.
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Are you still gathering information to inform your vote on November 7th? Here’s a terrific article from The Seattle Times with information about the two King County Council races, seven Seattle City Council races, and the affordable housing levy renewal. It includes links to candidates' responses to the Times questionnaire.
The Downtown Seattle Association also has a candidate scorecard. The highest-scoring candidates were:
District 1 Rob Saka
District 2 Tanya Woo
District 3 Joy Hollingsworth and Alex Hudson (tied)
District 4 Maritza Rivera
District 5 Cathy Moore
District 6 Pete Hanning and Dan Strauss (tied)
District 7 Bob Kettle and Andrew Lewis (tied)
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WR diversity statement
WR is committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment in which these principles can thrive.
We value all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, identity, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability, and that is the foundation of our commitment to those we serve.
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Renée Sunde
President/CEO
360.200.6450
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John Engber
Director, Retail Industry
Coalition of Seattle
206.850.5517
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Robert B. Haase
Director of Communications
360.753.8742
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