Legislation to keep the toll at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge at a flat rate has passed both chambers, awaits signature from Gov. Inslee. A $5 million loan has been approved in the transportation budget that will enable tolls to remain steady through July 2018.

City of Seattle employees have the right to skip work and join May Day activities without retaliation. The Seattle City Council approved Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s resolution on Monday, granting city employees permission to take an unpaid day of leave on May 1^st for “a reason of faith or conscience.”

Seattle police are preparing to defend businesses and themselves against May Day riots. “We’ve seen officers hit with sticks, we’ve seen bottles, rocks thrown at officers, we’ve seen members of the media assaulted by those devices, we’ve seen the Molotov cocktail,” Police Captain Chris Fowler said. KIRO Radio’s Josh Kerns adds to the concern, saying, “There is definitely more of a threat of violence in the air [this year] than in past years.”

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announces plans to propose an income tax. Murray joins a growing list of liberals campaigning for City Council to create legislation that would demand people with an adjusted gross income above $250,000 be taxed 1.5%. No matter how many times voters push away an income tax… liberals keep bringing the idea back to the table.

Seattle public schools will revert back to having two start times in the fall. After a year of having three start times, families have requested reverting back. Mayor Murray is advocating for an additional $2.3 million from the Seattle Families and Education Levy to help fund the additional school buses needed.

Seattle Department of Transportation is reporting quicker commutes through Mercer Street due to reactive traffic signals. 18 intersections along Mercer Street have gained these new lights, which will respond to traffic rather than a pre-set time, and 14 other lights have been added throughout the city to help reduce traffic congestion.

Spokane City Council voted to loan $1.75 million to the renovation of the Ridpath Hotel into apartments. “We hear it everyday: The lack of affordable workforce housing that we have in this community… we have an opportunity here to stand up, and get a solution going, and it’s the best thing I’ve heard in the last two years,” Councilperson Karen Stratton said.

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