The regulatory reform initiative is, in fact, designed to create jobs and economic opportunity in Seattle in the near term by improving some features of the city’s land use code. That’s why the Building Trades and King County Labor are enthusiastic supporters. The hope is that these changes can be enacted within a month or two.

It’s from noon to 1:30.

I’ve updated the post too.

Jobs TODAY need to be the focus, e.g. wouldn’t more and immediate Building Trade jobs be created per dollar spent paving streets for bike lanes, buses, etc. than high-tech engineering boring, shoring, etc. of a tunnel. Yes the tunnel creates jobs like wars create jobs but they are not the best return on your dollars spent. Simple, low-tech, expanding on what is currently being accomplished could employ immediatly the young and old.

Another low tech-example currently being accomplished is through WA State’s set aside of several million dollars to pay incentives for Community Solar participants (ref. RCW458-20-273). This is currently helping to creating living wage green mfg. and construction jobs. Expand-it and more immediate employment.

Another, City of Portland’s United Streetcar company is developing their own Streetcar, have orders from Arizona, has bid on Seattle’s First Hill Streetcar and over half their suppliers are from the NW. Follow Portland, S.F. and other cities, require the City of Seattle, Sound Transit and King County’s tens of millions to be spent on the mfg. of transportation vehicle’s final assembly be performed locally.

Yes, your ideas are good, … long-term. Opportunities TODAY for living wage green jobs NOW appear to be over looked.