Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Zillow Search Analysis Shows People Want to Stay in the Northwest – And Outsiders Want In

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | September 8

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/stay-go-zillow-search-analysis-shows-people-want-stay-northwest-outsiders-want/

“Where you live and where you’d prefer to live can often be opposing entities, especially if where you live isn’t an attractive location for job growth, for instance. A new study by Zillow sheds light on some of the most popular housing markets in the United States — including tech epicenters like Seattle, San Francisco, Portland and Austin — and whether search trends demonstrate outsiders’ desire to get into those cities as well as whether those who currently live there are looking to get out. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest, the boom is well documented and its effects on Seattle are certainly felt by those who have searched for a place to buy or rent or tried to drive across town at rush hour. Competition is fierce for new recruits among the biggest of the tech giants — such as Amazon and Microsoft — and the smallest of startups.”

 

Seattle-Area Coding Schools Offer Discounts to Displaced ITT Students

Puget Sound Business Journal | Ashley Stewart | September 7

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/09/seattle-area-coding-schools-offer-discounts-to.html

“Hundreds of Washington students training for careers in technology will likely have to start over after for-profit ITT Technical Institute shuttered 130 campuses – including three in Washington state. Seattle-area coding bootcamps, however, are offering discounts and credits to displaced ITT students to help soften the blow and keep moving talent through the pipeline. ITT offered programs in tech roles including software engineering and application development but recently shut down following Department of Education sanctions. While credits won’t transfer to coding bootcamps – which typically teach fundamental computer science skills in weeks-long programs that help solve the region’s talent shortage — the schools could help former ITT students transition more quickly into technology careers.”

 

Seattle Cuts Greenhouse-Gas Emissions 6 Percent in Six Years, Report Says

Seattle Times | Hal Bernton | September 7

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/seattle-cuts-greenhouse-gas-emissions-6-percent-in-six-years-report-says/

“Seattle’s greenhouse-gas emissions are on a downward trend, dropping 6 percent between 2008 and 2014 despite a building boom and 13 percent surge in population, according to a report released Wednesday by the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. But these emissions would have to fall a whole lot farther — and the pace of decline quicken — for the city to meet the goal set in an “action plan” of a 58 percent cut by 2030 over the 2008 baseline…The biggest source of the city’s greenhouse emissions is combustion of transportation fuels, 66 percent of the 2014 total. Over the six-year period, those emissions declined by 2 percent as vehicles have become more fuel-efficient and residents have been traveling fewer miles.”

 

Metro Bus-Service, Security Would Get Big Boosts from Constantine Plan

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | September 7

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/constantine-pencils-metro-bus-service-security-boosts-into-next-budget/

“King County’s prosperity would allow more bus service and increased security in 2017 and 2018, according to a budget proposal announced Wednesday. Metro Transit intends to add 300,000 service hours during the next two years for $30 million, said County Executive Dow Constantine. Another $11 million would go to equip every bus with cameras and hire more transit police. That doesn’t include service already being added within Seattle, including increased trips in south and northwest Seattle this month, using the city’s new $60 car-tab fee, approved by voters in 2014. Metro’s largest funding source is sales tax, which brought in $527 million last year and is growing 11 percent so far this year.“

 

PAX Gaming Festival to Bring $30M to Seattle this Labor Day Weekend

Puget Sound Business Journal | Casey Coombs | September 2

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/09/pax-gaming-festival-to-bring-30m-to-seattle-this.html

“The largest annual gaming festival in the country is about to descend on Seattle. More than 100,000 people will participate in PAX, which includes four days of panels, demos, booths and street celebrations, generating upwards of $30 million for the city. “The hotel and lodging is a beneficiary of any convention,” said Tom Norwalk, president and CEO of the nonprofit tourism group Visit Seattle. “But if you look at the impacts on food and beverage, transportation, retail and everything else the attendees are doing with these kinds of numbers you can see why it gets up there to $30 million.””