🏘️ Is Wilson’s shelter plan impossible?

Is Wilson’s Shelter Plan Impossible?

Mayor Wilson has pledged to create 4000 shelter units in her first term, with 500 up and ready by the start of the World Cup. We are now less than 60 days from the games beginning, and while Wilson has already stood up 75 units and her commitment seems unwavering, there are a lot of open questions. [Seattle Times]

• Land: The city has been looking at both city-owned property and private sites, but the places that meet the requirements (land for building, size, electrical and water hookups) are few and far between, with fewer than 10 possibilities of locations that may work.
• Cost: The original estimate was that the shelter units would cost about $25,000 a year, but the city council wants to see these units offer more services, which could run upward of $45,000, a much higher price.
• The right fit? Just because these shelters exist doesn’t mean people will commit to them. Workers at the outreach program REACH are working to build relationships with those in encampments and figuring out what their needs are, but some have just had bad experiences in shelters in the past.

🤖 RoboZuck: This year, Meta has laid off around 500 Washington area employees to focus on its shift to AI. What kind of AI? An AI of CEO Mark Zuckerberg to interact with employees. I don’t think it will look like this nightmare from the metaverse days. The company also launched Muse Spark to help customers count calories and plan vacations. [The Guardian]

💯 First 100 days: The South Seattle Emerald has a check-in on how reps Eddie Lin and Dionne Foster are faring. Lin has focused on bills to make housing and business development efficient and on legislating how law enforcement can look into an individual's immigration status. Foster has tried to distance herself from Sara Nelson by focusing on bills to help social housing. [South Seattle Emerald]

🏫 ‘Toxic’ principal: Anitra Jones was removed from Rainier View Elementary in 2024 after a community outcry of a ‘toxic environment’ and breaking state labor laws. So why has SPS assigned her a new role at Adams Elementary? Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, who appeared on an episode of KUOW’s Adults in the Room to talk about plans to keep kids safe, had no comment. [The Beacon]

⚽ Plan around the World Cup: With two months until the World Cup arrives in Seattle, the city is outlining its plans to keep folks moving and offering ways to use alternate travel to get around more easily. This includes stopping construction, adding 24/7 buses, increased service on game days, and more. Visit FlipYourTrip.org to plan alternate travel and SDOT’s blog to learn more.