🧊 Opposition to ICE growing in tech

The Latest on Seattle’s Omnipresent Companies

Tech Workers Sign Petition Against ICE: Outrage and anger are brewing over the actions of the Trump Administration and ICE in Minneapolis. In the tech industry, workers are organizing to ask CEOs to step up and speak out. This includes many of our locals like Google, Amazon, and more. [Wired]

• Councilmember Wants Surveillance 💰 moved to Immigrant Resources: Newly-elected Councilmember Eddie Lin wants Mayor Wilson to move the $4 million set aside for the Real Time Center surveillance hub to help immigrant communities. [The Burner]

Microsoft Offers Recommendations on Housing: In 2023, The WA State Dept of Commerce said that the state needs over a million homes over the next twenty years, and over half must be affordable for low income earners. Microsoft, which has donated $750 million to develop housing in the Puget Sound, has come forward with proposals to close the housing gap. This includes, among other things, using artificial intelligence to speed up the elements of the process, like permitting technology, which Microsoft sells. [Seattle Times]

Starbucks Sued Over Labor Violations and Dangerous Chemicals in Decaf: Seattle firm Hagens Berman has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks for allegedly working with farms that used child labor and unsafe working conditions, among others. The suit also alleges that their decaf beans were tested in January 2025 and found to have volatile compounds. [Seattle Times]

Mayor Wilson Announces Exec Orders on Unhoused, Transport 🏙️

In her transition team meeting today, Katie Wilson announced the expansion of emergency shelters and affordable housing, as well as the establishment of a bus lane along Denny Way. The order on housing will establish a team to coordinate and plan these additional units. Wilson has promised 4,000 additional housing units. The additional bus lanes will cover the most congested sections of Denny Way, which apparently is faster to walk than ride.

Wilson Delays Planned Removal of Ballard Encampment ⛺

Wilson has also released a statement saying she is delaying the removal of a Ballard Encampment to ‘allow more time to assess whether we can improve outcomes for the people living there, for their neighbors, and for local businesses.’ This comes as KOMO and Seattle Times reports the city has removed around 100 encampments or RVs already this year.

Hey 12s, Time for Another Beastquake! 🏈

In a beautiful fusion of PNW science and sports, Lumen Field is going to be measuring the seismic energy caused by fan enthusiasm during Saturday’s playoff game. As a dad, I’m often telling people to quiet down, but this time I want you to scream and dance like you mean it, Seattle! [Seahawks]

Attorney General Brown Talks First Year ⚖️

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown sat down with the Hacks and Wonks podcast to talk about his first year as AG, protecting $15 billion in state funding, and challenging federal overreach with lawsuits. Worth a listen! [Hacks and Wonks]

King County Won’t Prosecute Sex Crime, Owing to WA State Law 🧑‍⚖️

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is not pressing charges against Pedro Gomez (a one-time director of external affairs for Bruce Harrell), despite believing the victim, Cheryl Delostrinos. The reason? The office thinks it’s “legally” insufficient under WA state law. More on today’s podcast and in The Stranger from Hannah Winter Murphy and City Cast Contributor Marcus Green.

Trump Admin Briefly Cuts Mental Health Funding, Worrying Local Orgs 🧑‍⚕️

On Tuesday, the Trump administration cut $2 billion in funding to treat mental health and addiction. On Wednesday, it was restored. In the short term, that’s good news, but it has local agencies in WA and across the country worried about the future of funding that helps run programs for suicide prevention, addiction recovery, and more. [Seattle Times]