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News Seattle

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Report Shows Seattle Tech Salaries Stagnant with Record Profits
A new analysis by the tech recruiting firm HiringSolved shows that median salaries for software engineers and product managers in Seattle have seen near-zero growth over the past 18 months, despite record profits at local giants like Microsoft and Amazon. The trend is attributed to post-pandemic hiring corrections, fewer competing offers, and a focus on profitability over growth, cooling the once-red-hot market.

Seattle Art Museum Secures Pivotal Gift of 100+ Works by Modernists

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) announced a transformative gift from local philanthropists of over 100 works by seminal Northwest School artists, including Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, and Guy Anderson. The collection, valued in the tens of millions, solidifies SAM as the definitive global repository for this unique, moody, and influential 20th-century art movement.

Fashion: REI Launches "Re/New" Full-Circle Trade-In and Recommerce Program Nationwide

The Seattle-based outdoor retail cooperative REI launched "REI Re/New," an ambitious nationwide program where members can trade in used gear (of any brand) for REI gift cards, with items then repaired, cleaned, and resold. The program, developed at its Seattle HQ, aims to build a circular economy for outdoor gear and directly compete with platforms like The North Face Renewed and Patagonia Worn Wear.

Real Estate Market: Downtown Seattle Office Vacancy Rate Hits Record 34%, Conversions Gain momentum

Data from commercial real estate firm Kidder Mathews reveals the office vacancy rate in downtown Seattle reached a historic high of 34% in Q1 2024. In response, the city is fast-tracking permits for two major office-to-residential conversion projects, including the "Westlake Conversion" of a 1970s tower into 400 apartments, seen as a critical test for revitalizing the urban core.

Washington's New "Cap-and-Invest" Program Drives Up New Car Prices, Dealers Report

Seattle-area auto dealers report that the state's new Climate Commitment Act (cap-and-invest program) is adding an estimated $400-$600 to the sticker price of new gasoline-powered vehicles. The cost, passed through from fuel distributors to dealers, is creating consumer sticker shock and giving a new, price-based advantage to electric vehicles, whose "fuel" is electricity not directly subject to the same fee.

SPD Deploys New "Real-Time Crime Center" with Controversial Live Camera Network

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) officially activated its new "Real-Time Crime Center," which will monitor a network of hundreds of live, publicly and privately owned cameras downtown and in other business districts. While SPD argues it is a force multiplier for responding to shootings and major incidents, civil liberties groups have raised significant concerns about pervasive surveillance and the lack of a robust public oversight ordinance.

Transportation: West Seattle Corridor Study Proposes Light Rail, Angers "RapidRide" Advocates

A long-awaited draft environmental impact statement for the West Seattle transportation corridor presented a preferred alternative that includes a new light rail line but excludes a parallel, high-quality Bus Rapid Transit (RapidRide) line. The decision has angered transit advocates and some community members who argue it leaves the peninsula without a robust transit solution for the decade-plus it will take to build light rail.

Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals

When: Friday, May 10 - Sunday, May 12 (Series)

Where: T-Mobile Park

What: The M's continue their homestand in a weekend series against an American League rival.

Theater: The Notebook (Musical) - Pre-Broadway

When: Runs now through May 12 (Closing Soon!)

Where: The Moore Theatre

What: The highly anticipated new musical based on the bestselling novel premieres in Seattle before its Broadway debut. A must-see for fans of the story.

Music: Seattle Symphony - "H Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert"

When: Thursday, May 9 - Saturday, May 11

Where: Benaroya Hall

What: The full film projected in HD while the Seattle Symphony performs Patrick Doyle's magnificent score live.

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Opening Weekend

When: Thursday, May 9 - Sunday, May 12 (Festival runs through May 19)

Where: SIFF Cinema Egyptian, SIFF Downtown, and other venues

What: The 50th Annual SIFF kicks off with galas, filmmaker appearances, and hundreds of films from around the globe. The opening night film is Thelma.

U District StreetFair

When: Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19

Where: University Way NE ("The Ave")

What: Seattle's first and longest-running street fair features over 300 craft and food booths, multiple music stages, and a vibrant community celebration in the U District.

MoPOP's "Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic" Exhibit Opening

When: Opens Saturday, May 11

Where: Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

What: A major new interactive exhibit exploring the art, science, and lore of fantasy world-building across games, film, literature, and tabletop RPGs.

A Case for the Existence of God at ACT Theatre

When: Runs now through May 26

Where: ACT Contemporary Theatre

What: A critically acclaimed, intimate play about two men in Idaho whose friendship becomes a profound exploration of fatherhood, finance, and faith.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

When: Saturday, May 11

Where: Paramount Theatre

What: The positive, peace-loving musician brings his high-energy, feel-good rock/reggae/hip-hop show to Seattle.

Food & Drink: Ballard Brewfest

When: Saturday, May 11, 1-6 PM

Where: Ballard Commons Park

What: A celebration of Ballard's dense brewery district, featuring tastes from over 20 local breweries, food trucks, and live music.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers (MLS Rivalry)
* When: Saturday, May 11, 7:30 PM
* Where: Lumen Field
* What: The fiercest rivalry in MLS, the Cascadia Cup clash between Seattle and Portland. Expect an electric, sold-out atmosphere.

Starbucks Shareholder Meeting in Seattle Eclipsed by Union Protests and Investor Resolutions

Starbucks' annual shareholder meeting at Seattle's WaMu Theater was dominated by tensions over the company's unionization fight. Hundreds of workers from Starbucks Workers United protested outside, while inside, investors voted on (but did not pass) several union-backed resolutions demanding a third-party assessment of the company's labor practices and a change to its board election process.

County Declares Invasive European Green Crab an Emergency, Closes Shellfish Beds

Following the discovery of a significant population of the destructive invasive European green crab in Puget Sound's Lummi Bay, the King County Executive declared a local emergency. The county, in coordination with tribes, closed several public shellfish harvesting beds to prevent the spread and is mobilizing rapid-response teams to deploy traps, as the crabs threaten native shellfish, eelgrass, and shorelines.

Alaska Airlines Unveils Major Base Expansion at Paine Field, Plans New West Coast Routes

Alaska Airlines announced a significant expansion of its operations at Everett's Paine Field (Snohomish County), adding two new gates and basing more aircraft there. The move signals a strategic shift to grow its footprint outside the congested Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and will include new routes to destinations like San Diego and Phoenix, boosting the north-end economy.

Pike Place Market Fishmonger "Pure Food Fish" Announces Closure After 114 Years

Pure Food Fish Market, a fourth-generation, family-owned staple at Pike Place Market since 1910, announced it will close its doors permanently at the end of May. The owners cited the combined pressures of soaring rents at the historic market, changing consumer habits, and the physical toll of the demanding work, marking the end of an era for one of the market's most recognizable businesses.

"Block the Box" Initiative Qualifies for Ballot, Would Allow Up to Four Homes on Any City Lot

The citizen-driven "Seattle Homes for All" initiative officially qualified for the November ballot. The measure would dramatically overhaul city zoning by allowing up to four homes—including duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard apartments—on any residential lot currently zoned for single-family homes, bypassing the City Council and setting up a high-stakes citywide vote on density.

Coast Guard Investigates Major Fuel Spill in Lake Washington Ship Canal After Vessel Allision

The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the response to a spill of over 100 gallons of diesel fuel into the Lake Washington Ship Canal after a 150-foot commercial fishing vessel struck a dock near the Ballard Locks. Containment booms were deployed, but the spill has raised concerns about water quality and wildlife in the ecologically sensitive canal that connects salt and freshwater ecosystems.

Arts & Controversy: Henry Art Gallery Exhibit on Palestinian History Vandalized, Reopened with Increased Security

The Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington reopened its exhibition, "From Palestine with Art," after it was temporarily closed when vandals defaced several pieces. The gallery has reinstalled the show with enhanced security and a statement reaffirming its commitment to academic freedom and artistic expression, highlighting the local impact of global cultural and political issues.

Economics: Seattle Minimum Wage Hits $20.76 for Large Employers

Effective January 1, Seattle's minimum wage saw its annual adjustment. For large employers (500+ employees), the rate rose to $20.76 per hour. Smaller employers saw an increase to $18.14 (or $20.76 if they do not pay toward medical benefits). This remains among the highest municipal wages in the United States.

Science: "Wolf Supermoon" and Jupiter Alignment Dazzles Seattle

On the night of January 3, Seattleites were treated to a rare celestial event as the "Wolf Supermoon" rose alongside a brilliant Jupiter. Local astronomers at the University of Washington noted that the proximity made for one of the most luminous lunar displays in years, despite the typical winter cloud cover.

Fashion: Dress for Success starts

On January 2, the organization Dress for Success Seattle announced the opening of a significant new location at the Pacific Place Mall. The move is designed to make professional attire and career development services more accessible to women entering the workforce, aiming to close the local gender pay gap.

New Washington "Luxury Vehicle Tax" Takes Effect

Starting January 1, a new state law adds an 8% tax to the portion of a vehicle's purchase price that exceeds $100,000. Dealerships in Bellevue and Seattle’s "Auto Row" report a flurry of year-end sales in late December as buyers raced to beat the new surcharge.

Protests: "No War on Venezuela" Rallies at Westlake Center

On January 3, hundreds gathered at Westlake Center for an emergency protest following U.S. military strikes in Venezuela. The demonstration was one of several across Washington state, reflecting the city’s historically active anti-war community.