While the 2024 budget plan invests in housing and social programs, city leaders warn the city will face a shortfall of almost $250 million in 2025.

A post on the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog outlines the city of Seattle’s ‘largest-ever investment into affordable housing,’ which the city passed as part of its 2024 budget, which allocates $600 million over a period of two years to housing efforts. “The administration’s 2024 spending plan also emphasized affordable housing plus a boost for treatment and diversion to join a crackdown on public drug use while also including spending for the city’s existing first responders at Seattle Police and the Seattle Fire Department to be maintained at status quo levels.”
Much of the revenue comes from the city’s JumpStart tax on the largest employers. However, the 2025 budget may be a harder fight as the gap between revenue and expenditures is expected to grow to over $247 million with no new funding sources planned yet. According to a report on the 2024 plan, “Our city values do not align with a budget that assumes this level of coming austerity. The future of our city and the sustainability of our community is too important to gamble on.”

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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