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Thanks! Progressive Income tax please!

The Millionaires’ Tax will apply to less than one half of one percent of Washingtonians, but make life more affordable for millions. I look forward to signing it.

that’s money straight back into the pockets of working families.

It saves working parents money and ensures our kids are prepared to learn by funding free breakfast and lunch for all Washington K-12 students, which has been a priority of mine since I ran for governor.

The Millionaires’ Tax passed by the House represents historic progress in rebalancing our unfair system.

It sends significant dollars back to Washington families and small businesses.

It expands the Working Families Tax Credit to 460,000 additional households...

🙃

WA income tax passes House after 24-hour debate

The state House has approved the high-earners income tax after more than 24 hours of debate.

The ICE detention center purchases appear to be money laundering:

HECK YEAH IT DID

WASHINGTON'S MILLIONAIRES TAX PASSES 51 - 46!!

After 24hr straight of debate through the night!

The City of Seattle City Council is considering approving renewal of the franchise agreement with Comcast for another 7 years, along with a side agreement. These have provided important digital equity benefits for residents and community organizations assisting residents. A public hearing is being held this Thursday, March 12th at 9:30 a.m., The City Council Government and Utilities Committee is holding a public hearing, briefing and possible vote. The agenda with link to agreement documents is here. It is possible to participate remotely or in-person. Info on the agenda. There is also a public notice of hearing here with info on how to contact the Council. Joy Hollingsworth is Chair of this Committee.

The new "Memorandum of Agreement" continues the valuable free broadband for community serving organizations providing access and training. It appears that the $500,000 contribution to digital equity programs that Comcast provided at last franchise renewal in the "2015 Side Letter Agreement" is not being continued. (See Summary Att A - Memorandum of Agreement & Summary Att A Ex 1 - 2015 Side Letter Agreement linked in the agenda.)

The City would be getting an increase of franchise fees in the renewal. These fees help enable the City to provide cable customer assistance, the Seattle Channel and Digital Equity Programs. With more people cutting cable tv, the revenue funding to the City has dropped. The City can't collect fees on broadband by current regulations. The franchise agreements also have ensured customer rights and technical standards for their services.

We need more advocacy and mobilization dedicated to issues with broadband & internet access.

After over 24 hours of debate and rejection of dozens of amendments sponsored by Republicans, the Washington state house FINALLY passes a tax on those earning more than $1 million per year (51-46 ). It now heads to the desk of gov. Ferguson, who is expected to sign it.🍾 Generous applause.

Senate Bill 6346, "establishing a tax on millionaires", just passed the Washington House on a 51-46 vote after more than 24 hours of floor debate.

Unified Design, Trusted Elections: Standardizing Ballots Across 39 Counties 39 counties, 1 unified system. Discover the UX research and design strategy behind Washington’s new standardized election ballot envelopes.

Cool case study

With inflation this is 50% larger than the last levy, though I don't expect that to get in the way of every "almost double" headline we're about to see.

This is ferry good

This is ridiculous.

@noahsbwilliams.com ? @typewriteralley.bsky.social ? @danielhep.me ?

What are the languages in the sound transit alerts / signs now?

“The Gulf Fears Whoever Wins This War”: U.S.-Israeli War on Iran Could Destabilize Entire Region We speak with Kareem Shaheen, Middle East editor at New Lines Magazine, about the regional response to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. He says the Gulf countries are in a no-win situation, stuck be...

Gulf countries are in a no-win situation.

WA State needs a full year legislature and we need people to challenge all these Republicans

Dem Rep Scott says an exception for gold and silver isn't exactly speaking up for "economic justice." 😂

What the Republicans are doing here is such a waste of resources and time and so infuriating.

Oh fun! Rico Quirindongo, the director of @seattleopcd.bsky.social followed me!

Director @ricoque-opcd.bsky.social: I don't know if you'll reply, but I will ask you ONE QUESTION A DAY until YOUR planning dept stops putting affordable & social housing ONLY on hazardous, polluted, and noisy roads.

City Inside/Out: Can Seattle's growth roadmap tackle affordable housing challenge? YouTube video by Seattle Channel

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q1: In Mar 2024 you said "one of the goals... is to provide density... and to do that surgically". youtu.be/f1G3Yr5A0FM?...

Your plan has crammed renters & dense housing solely onto polluted streets. Is this the outcome you intended when you said "surgically"? If so, why?

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q2: at the comp plan info session on Apr 3 2024, Michael Hubner stated that “transitions” between “different types of zones” should be “gradual”.

Which residents does this serve? The aesthetic preferences of wealthy homeowners, or people desperately looking for housing?

Exhibit 2.4-20. Acres and Growth by Place Type-Alternative 5: Combined Corridor Acres 17,736 Housing estimate 8,856 Job estimate 1,538

Exhibit 2.4-26. Acres and Growth by Place Type-Preferred Alternative Frequent Transit Corridor' Acres 1,572 Housing estimate 12,010

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q3: in FEIS exhibit 2.4-20 & -26, “Preferred Alternative” Corridors were cut down to 1,572 acres (=12,010 units). Alternative 5 Corridors had 17,736 acres but somehow only produce 8,856 units (0.5/acre ⁉️)

Please explain how Alt 5 had +1000% land, yet produce -26% housing?

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q4: on 07/21/22, sr. staff Patrice Carroll claimed that highrises are “only appropriate” in UDist and downtown, and “there is no interest” to build them around 130th/148th stations.

Can you provide data used to support this? If not, why do your staff spread misinformation?

Comparison between FEIS Alternative 5, where additional "Corridor" place type blobs were clearly visible near entrances to Carkeek, Magnuson, Discovery, Seward, and more. Yet they are completely gone without a trace in 2026 Corridors legislation. Additional caption on the figure read: "Why did you eliminate more housing near large parks? Do renters not deserve to live near parks?"

Final EIS January 2025, section 1-7 Place Types definitions Corridors are areas near frequent transit ***and large parks*** that allow a wide range of housing types in areas currently zoned primarily for detached homes (within a 10-minute walk from a light rail station and a five- minute walk from frequent bus transit service and ***entrances to large parks***). Corridors also include areas already zoned for multifamily and commercial use and could have small increases in height.

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q5: In all Environmental Impact Statements, you define Corridors as "areas near frequent transit AND LARGE PARKS". Yet dense housing near large parks were all eliminated from your plan.

Do you think renters of affordable & social housing do not deserve to live near parks?

@ricoque-opcd.bsky.social Q6: on 1/16/25 at a Queen Anne meeting, you actively participated in “pulling back” on your own plan by advising NIMBYs to preserve their “historic” Boulevard. What is the equity and displacement impact of preserving wealthy exclusionary areas? bsky.app/profile/qagg...