Two members of the Seattle City Council are pushing to delay a crucial vote on a contentious rezoning of the industrial lands in the Stadium District of SODO, initially slated for today. Councilmembers Dan Strauss and Alexis Mercedes Rinck have called for the postponement following the introduction of nine new amendments to the proposal less than a day before the final decision was due to take place. Councilmember Strauss told the Seattle City Council's official website, "This is a decision with huge implications and we cannot afford to rush it."
Originating from a proposal by Council President Sara Nelson, the rezone issue has been polarizing, to say the least, and in play since mid-January. The late influx of amendments, coupled with a new legal briefing, seeks to amend Nelson's bill, which is focused on the development of the highly debated area. Despite being welcomed by Strauss, released yesterday afternoon, these amendments call for more scrutiny. Strauss believes they "deserve to be fully researched and better understood by the Council and the community before we vote on them."
The proposed delay would not just provide council members more time to assess the new information but also offer a better opportunity to engage with various stakeholders and attempt to reconcile differing interests. The relationship between the creation of union jobs through both affordable housing development and port operations has been a particularly critical issue. Councilmember Rinck highlighted the necessity of collaboration, saying, "We need to be doing this work together."
Despite the implications of the legislation, which are potentially vast for the area's economic future, Councilmember Rinck is seeking to bridge gaps by drawing regional partners back to the table. They hope to resolve the divisions born from the legislative process and identified by missteps in handling the matter, she states, "Now is the time for transparency and close collaboration; I believe there is a path to compromise." Rinck is clear that the issue is not a one-or-the-other choice, emphasizing the potential to align housing needs with job protection. Rinck said, "We do not have to choose between protecting union jobs at the port or creating union jobs building affordable housing. We can and should find ways to do both."
The vote on Nelson's bill and the new amendments was initially set for a 2 p.m. meeting of the full Council today. However, the call by Strauss and Rinck to postpone the vote could allow further deliberation over the proposal that has clearly exhibited its capacity to both divide and unite the stakeholders in Seattle's economically vibrant SODO district.
