🏀 Seattle Storm season is coming!

Pay Is High, but Unemployment and Affordability Remain an Issue

Seattle pay is among the best in the nation, according to a U.S. News & World Report. This has to do with the type of industries here, like tech. But there are other issues complicating the high pay and affordability. [Axios]

• Inflation Remains High: Our inflation rate is among the top 20 in the nation as of October, and it doesn’t feel like that’s going to fall anytime soon. [WalletHub]
• Everything Is Expensive: Inflation and supply chain issues only add to the cost of groceries, but so do surveillance and surge pricing.
• Layoffs Are Unrelenting: Just this week, Meta laid off hundreds of workers, and 2025 was a really bad year for layoffs overall. In Nov. 2025, Seattle unemployment was over 5%.
• Health Insurance Is Getting Pricier: Many WA residents are foregoing insurance this year due to the expiration of subsidies, which helped them afford their high premiums. 28,000 people have cancelled their coverage. [Seattle Times]

Wilson 'Reviewing Options' Regarding the Pause of Camera System 📷

Like many Seattleites, Mayor Wilson is concerned about the presence of ICE in Seattle and its access to the surveillance systems in the city. She is considering a pause to the expansion of the Real Time Crime Center camera system that would include Capitol Hill and the Central District. This news also comes as ICE is exploring an expanded detention center here in the PNW. [Capitol Hill Seattle Blog]

City Council Hears Comment Over Police Brutality 👮

This week, City Council heard public comment from eight people over the way SPD handled a non-violent protest at Cal Anderson Park last Memorial Day, at which 23 people were arrested and thrown to the ground. On bodycam footage obtained through a public records request, officer Matthew Didier can be heard riling up his fellow cops, saying, “We’re here to fuck people up now.” [The Stranger]

It’s Almost Storm Season Again 🏀

We love our women’s sports here in Seattle, so it brings me joy to announce that the Seattle Storm has released its upcoming 44-game season schedule commencing on May 8! There’s a big caveat here, which is that the league and the players’ union still need to come to an agreement. Cross your fingers! [Seattle Sports]

Wilson Naming New Cabinet Members At Rapid Pace 🏢

Mayor Katie Wilson is putting together a cabinet made up of mostly women, which is quite different from previous Mayor Bruce Harrell. She is also replacing many of Harrell’s appointees and doing so quickly. A full list is available at PubliCola.