Newsletter | July 25, 2024 | |
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Seattle City Council raises penalties for illegal street racing
The Seattle City Council, led by Councilmember Bob Kettle, chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Councilmember Tanya Woo, passed new legislation targeting illegal street racing. Councilmembers Kettle and Woo worked closely with City Attorney Ann Davison in developing the legislation.
Spurred by violence at illegal street races, the Council reclassified the offense as a reckless driving gross misdemeanor. It also increased fines for illegal street racing:
$500 for a first infraction;
$800 for a second infraction; and
$1,500 for third and subsequent infractions.
Additionally, individuals who attend and support illegal street races can be fined $100 if they fail to leave when instructed by the police.
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Seattle City Light foresees higher rate increases
Facing higher demand, volatility in power markets, and climate change impacts, Seattle City Light is projecting higher electricity rates than previously expected.
Over the next two years, customers will experience annual rate increases of 5.4%, followed by 5% annual increases through 2030. Previous projections estimated 3% annual increases through 2028. The average customer will pay an additional $5 per month starting next year.
Several factors contribute to the increased demand: rapid population growth, government policies promoting the electrification of vehicles and buildings, and the proliferation of data centers. A recent forecast by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council predicts that data centers could consume up to 4,000 average megawatts of electricity by 2029 — five times the power consumed by the entire city of Seattle.
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Interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr takes on tough job
Following Mayor Bruce Harrell’s May 29th announcement replacing Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz, interim Chief Sue Rahr has been busy.
Chief Rahr took over a department facing enormous challenges. A slew of lawsuits reveals deep divisions in the upper command of the Seattle Police Department. While the City negotiated a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild to cover the three years that officers worked under an expired contract, the City must finalize a contract that will cover the next several years. Building stronger police accountability into that contract remains a stumbling block. The SPD still operates under a consent decree overseen by a federal judge.
Public safety is a serious concern of many Seattle residents, and Chief Rahr will have a hard time addressing it with low staffing numbers. In early 2020, the SPD had about 1,400 officers before a large exodus from the department. Despite increasingly aggressive recruitment efforts, SPD currently has about 950 officers.
In addition to running the SPD, Chief Rahr, along with former Seattle Chief Kathleen O’Toole, is leading the search to find a permanent chief. Despite all of the challenges facing SPD, Rahr is optimistic about the search, “If we can overcome the reputation of the political volatility and the acrimony between policing and the community, if we can show that stability, I really believe this will be a sought-after position.”
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Seattle Council approves record transportation levy for November ballot
The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved a significant property tax levy for the November ballot, marking the city's largest investment in transportation at $1.55 billion over eight years. This funding will enhance roads, bridges, sidewalks, and bikeways.
A last-minute amendment by Councilmember Dan Strauss allocated $20 million for the Burke-Gilman Trail's "missing link," a decision met with some opposition but seen as a way to resolve a long-standing debate. The levy will replace the expiring $930 million Levy to Move Seattle and will account for 30% of the Seattle Department of Transportation's budget.
Property owners will pay 65 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, leading to an estimated $520 annual cost for owners of median-priced homes. Key highlights include:
- $403 million for street maintenance
- $221 million for bridge repairs
- $193 million for pedestrian safety enhancements
- $160.5 million for Vision Zero and school safety programs
- $151 million for transit improvements
- $133.5 million for bikeways, including the Burke-Gilman Trail
- $69 million for climate initiatives
- $66.5 million for public space enhancements
This levy is expected to leverage additional funding, potentially exceeding $1.55 billion, and could access federal grants for further transportation improvements.
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Mayor Harrell calls for expansion of City’s CARE Department
Launched as a pilot program in 2023, Seattle’s Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department would expand to a citywide 24/7 behavioral health response program by the end of 2024 under a proposal announced by Mayor Bruce Harrell.
The goal of the CARE Department is to dispatch behavioral health specialists on 911 calls for people experiencing a mental health crisis or other issues that do not require police engagement. The deployment of CARE staff is designed to both provide appropriate help to the person and allow the City to focus police resources where they are most needed. City data shows that 88% of CARE calls come from Seattle police officers who have already responded to a call and are able to leave when a CARE team arrives.
According to Mayor Harrell, “Since we launched this innovative public safety pilot, the CARE responder team has done outstanding work to both help people in need and to free up police officers to respond to the calls where they’re needed most. That’s why we are announcing our plan to expand CARE to answer calls citywide, seven days a week.”
Initially, CARE was focused on SODO, the Chinatown-International District, and downtown. According to the Mayor’s proposal, the first phase of CARE expansion would cover Capitol Hill, Central Area, First Hill, Judkins Park, Madison Park, Montlake, and upper Pike/Pine. In the fall, CARE would expand to North Seattle, then to South and Southwest Seattle by the end of the year.
The Mayor also announced that he is nominating Acting CARE Chief, Amy Smith, to the role of permanent Chief. This nomination will move on to the City Council for confirmation.
Acting Chief Smith praised the work of her Department, saying, “Our integration and partnerships with community and nonprofit organizations is both significant and vital because the objective is not just to provide the best first response to a 911 call, but then to swiftly help someone onto whatever rehabilitative or supportive path they need.”
Councilmember Bob Kettle, chair of the Public Safety Committee, also lauded the work of the CARE Department: “We can’t succeed in public safety if we don’t also succeed in public health. Our CARE Team is central to that mission. When we create a more diversified and targeted response to 911 calls, we create a more efficient and effective response system that resolves emergencies faster. That’s life-saving work.”
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AG Ferguson’s Organized Retail Crime Unit files two new prosecutions
Attorney General Bob Ferguson's Organized Retail Crime Unit has filed two new felony cases, marking a total of five prosecutions since the unit's establishment last year. Victor J. Matt is charged in Snohomish County with theft and forgery for stealing outboard boat motors worth $58,729 using fake checks and forged documents. In King County, Jerrell Davis and Tahj Franklin face charges for stealing over $10,400 in high-end alcohol from Fred Meyer and Safeway stores.
The unit, created in 2023, offers centralized resources and coordination across jurisdictions. With nine other states having similar task forces, Washington's unit, led by Assistant Attorney General Kent Liu, is set to bolster efforts against organized retail crime. The unit has secured its first conviction and is currently prosecuting two other cases.
Read the full release
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Former Governor Gregoire addresses ORC Task Force
Former Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire addressed the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force yesterday in Seattle. Gregoire, the CEO of Challenge Seattle, an alliance of 23 of the region’s largest employers and most successful innovators, shared plans for an Organized Retail Crime Summit on October 2. WR is partnering with Challenge Seattle to present the summit, which will be hosted by Microsoft at their Redmond campus. Attendance is by invitation only and will include King County mayors, police chiefs, prosecutors, the county executive, sheriff, and retail loss prevention and asset protection leaders.
In addition to Attorney General Bob Ferguson, attendees from WR included President/CEO Renée Sunde, Senior VP of Policy and Government Affairs Mark Johnson, and State and Local Government Affairs Manager Crystal Leatherman. Over 100 individuals attended the event either in person or remotely.
The unit staff provided updates on ORC cases filed and convictions made. A panel of western states ORC task force leaders shared their experiences, best practices, and challenges.
WR appreciates and supports the focus by Governor Gregoire, Challenge Seattle, and Attorney General Ferguson on this critical issue. Together, we are confident in making progress to hold these retail crime rings accountable, sending a message that such activities will not be tolerated in Washington State. This effort aims to create a safer community, a safer working environment for retail employees, and a more pleasant shopping experience.
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Blake Garfield of Bedrooms and More heads to D.C. as finalist for America’s Retail Champions
WR is excited to highlight Blake Garfield of Bedrooms and More in Seattle, WA, who has been named a finalist for the 2024 America’s Retail Champions program by the National Retail Federation. This prestigious recognition celebrates small business retailers who are outstanding advocates for the retail industry and their communities.
Blake, along with WR President & CEO Renée Sunde, will be heading to Washington, D.C. for the America’s Retail Champions banquet on July 25, where one retailer will be honored as the 2024 America’s Retail Champion. We wish Blake the best of luck at this important event!
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Law firm suing thousands of businesses over website accessibility – Are you a target?
The surge in lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has seen small businesses facing significant challenges. A New York-based firm, Mizrahi Kroub, has been notably aggressive, filing over 1,000 cases in 2022 alone, which accounted for a quarter of all ADA lawsuits that year. The firm’s tactics often target small to mid-sized businesses, leading to costly legal fees and settlements.
Many websites fail to meet ADA standards, with recent data showing that 96.3% of surveyed sites do not comply. Mizrahi Kroub's strategy has drawn criticism for prioritizing financial gain over genuine advocacy for accessibility improvements. The lack of clear standards under the ADA exacerbates this issue, leading to a rise in what some describe as "cut-and-paste" lawsuits.
One example is Bob Kramer of Kramer Knives in Bellingham, WA, who incurred nearly $40,000 in expenses due to a lawsuit alleging that his website was not accessible to disabled individuals. This case underscores the financial strain such legal actions can impose on small businesses.
As the trend of ADA lawsuits continues to grow, calls for reform are increasing. Legal experts suggest establishing clearer guidelines for website accessibility and allowing businesses a chance to address issues before facing litigation. Balancing the need for accessibility with protecting small businesses is crucial for fostering a fair digital environment.
Small businesses should be proactive in ensuring their websites comply with ADA standards to avoid potential legal actions that can result in significant financial burdens.
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Energy choice initiative headed to the ballot
WR endorsed Initiative 2066 – protecting energy choice – is headed to the November 5, 2024 general election ballot.
The initiative is all but guaranteed to qualify with an astonishing 546,000 signatures turned in of the 325,000 needed to qualify. The Washington Secretary of State recommends a minimum of 405,000 signatures to ensure meeting the threshold to account for duplicates and errors. The signatures were collected in a record time of only 44 days.
This measure would repeal or prohibit laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and require certain utilities to provide natural gas to eligible customers.
On behalf of its members, customers, and employees, Washington Retail has endorsed the initiative to allow energy consumers to make their own choices. The current law would eventually phase out natural gas use and force businesses and homeowners to retrofit their homes when they sell and lead to costly new construction requirements.
I-2066 restores consumer choice in their energy needs. WR encourages voters to approve Initiative 2066 November 5, 2024.
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Supreme Court ruling on homelessness policies: Implications for retail and local autonomy
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the authority of local governments to regulate public encampments, a ruling with profound implications for the retail industry and cities like Seattle. Ann Davison, Seattle City Attorney, welcomed the decision, emphasizing the need for local autonomy in addressing homelessness. She stressed that while supporting the homeless is crucial, cities must also manage the impact of encampments on community safety.
The ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson reaffirms municipalities' discretion to enforce laws regarding public spaces, despite concerns about adequate shelter availability. Retailers, represented by the Retail Litigation Center, view this decision as pivotal for community vibrancy and public safety.
Seattle, already navigating complex legal landscapes like Martin v. Boise, expects minimal immediate changes due to existing local policies. As legal challenges loom, including potential state-level disputes, the retail sector remains attentive to how cities balance public safety with compassionate solutions for homeless populations.
SeattleTimes.com
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Washington leads nation in OSHA inspections: Retail heavily impacted
Washington State has the highest rate of inspections to employee ratio in the nation, with over 10% of Washington’s inspections occurring within the retail trade. Alarmingly, more than 84% of inspections are focused on small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
The data reveals some concerning trends:
- Washington accounts for over 7.5% of inspections nationwide.
- The state’s inspection rate is three times the national average.
- Year-over-year, Washington’s inspection rate has increased 10%.
- Washington ranks as the second most inspected state in the nation.
As inspections increase among small businesses, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that your safety standards and regulations are up to date. WR can assist with any safety needs or questions you may have. WR provides free onsite safety visits to our members, offering a specialized breakdown of any safety concerns or incidents that need to be addressed.
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WR diversity statement
WR is committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment in which these principles can thrive.
We value all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, identity, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability, and that is the foundation of our commitment to those we serve.
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Renée Sunde
President/CEO
360.200.6450
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John Engber
Director, Retail Industry
Coalition of Seattle
206.850.5517
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