Seattle continues efforts to kill jobs...

Also as time goes by (the increases won't be at $15 until 2021 for employers of less than 500 employees) the authors of the study will have more, hopefully significant, data.

It's also worth looking at Oregon, since the state's minimum wage laws mandate graduated increases to $12.50/hr for non-Portland Metro counties by 1 July 2022, and $14.75 for the Portland Metro (link). Also worth noting, the City of Portland has mandated sick pay.

I think a big part of the problem is that originally one of these Faith Based Economics zealots misread the Executive Summary (and who would actually read the full report before spewing about it) and so thought that hours 'decreased' 4 hours a week compared to 'synthetic Seattle'. In reality it was 4 hours a quarter.

Also I don't think many have the capability to understand the concept of 'synthetic Seattle' in the first place. They see decrease and yell out 'gotcha!' without understanding what it means.

So RW blogs being RW blogs this of course spread across the web, netting gullible fools like dinner who refuse to read the actual report.

You are a great salesman for your city. I'm sold. I wanna move to Seattle!

I just don't get how people can afford it. I know wages are higher overall, but isn't housing just insanely expensive?

Housing is... a crisis. We simply aren't building enough for all the people that move here (1,000 a week). We're working to speed up building but it is a process. However if you are willing to live small or not have a car it is definitely doable.

And yeah, I love this town. It's a great place and I like sharing it with folks. Especially friends stuck in shitholes and are looking to get out. So far my basement apartment has been the launching pad for 4 Alabamians, 3 Kansans and a Georgian. And we've only been here a little over 3 years!

Can I move in with ya?

If I ever decide to settle back in the US, Seattle is my first choice. My only concern is the lack of sunshine.

Don't worry. Global Warming will fix that soon enough.

The cool, overcast, rainy days are actually a big part of why I would want to live somewhere like Seattle. Also the reason Ireland sounds great to me.

I could definitely live in a small place, but giving up my car would be really hard. I'm sure you just adjust to commuting with strangers, but I love driving. Makes me feel free. But if push came to shove, I could probably live without it.

I sure would miss my $700 mortgage payment though.

I've visited Seattle several times and I think I'd love living there. I've got a good gig in Nashville where I only have to work 35 hours per week and get 4 weeks of vacation each year. On top of that I'm paying below market rent, so I'm inclined to stick with it while I can.

I hate the Seattle area. It's a fucking nightmare.

This can be an issue, however I think most people misread the issue. For me at least the issue isn't the overcast it is the latitude. Due to our maps and the way we see our country, most don't realize how far north Seattle is. Something crazy is that 75% or some other high ass number of Canadians live SOUTH of Seattle. What this means is high variability in day length. Height of summer it's fucking awesome to have 16h days. Depth of winter, 8h days not so cool.

I fight it by leaving my office everyday for lunch. I walk to a restaurant, to a park or interior public space if I brought lunch or just to the waterfront and walk if I'm only drinking a shake. I also walk to and from the train in the mornings and afternoon. Good way to fight the 'I drove to work in the dark (actually twilight) and back home in the dark (actually twilight)' complaint many voice in the dead of winter.

said nobody anywhere ever.

Currently rented out. But when it's free...

You didn't do it right. Remember: Seattle is not Bellevue, it's not Kirkland, it's not Redmond. Ideally it's Queen Anne Hill, maybe a houseboat on Lake Union.

While it drove my mother nuts, being born there I enjoy a good rainy day. Preferably a drizzle with low clouds and a chill in the air.

Summers are glorious.

You people are all mad.

Too many people.

But, Portland is Seattle-lite, so if you want an alternative...

I hear Yakima's a great alternative...

Yeah, I'm not an Amazon millionaire, so my family can't afford to live there.

Fuck you, dude.

There's no place like home.

Yes, the author made great pains to point out longer term studies need to be done. That quote was very good by the way. It shows what economists are saying vs Anc's spin.

No, you simply are wrong and it seems clear you haven't read the links.

The comparison was the rest of the metro area outside the city limits. So, yet again, you are wrong. They also included a statistical analysis, which might be where you are getting confused, but really you don't seem to understand what you are pontificating on.

The roads there were designed by a blind monkey on crack, the weather is depressing, and the housing prices make Southern California look rational. It is a place I like to visit but would never chose to live there.

I would actually seriously consider Vancouver, WA.

Yeah, definitely couldn't buy a place for that much a payment. Could rent a micro apartment though (~200sqf). Thing to keep in mind about a car is that if you are in the city core it is a prison, not freedom. Traffic SUCKS. So much longer to get to and around DT than to just take the train (at least from where I live). Plus, then you've got to find parking, pay for parking, etc.

No. u.