It is not really news that the city of Seattle is facing a serious budget problem, because, after all, what else would you expect. But the extent of the problem is deep, as Crosscut reports, with “a general-fund deficit of more than $220 million. In the coming years, the city’s general fund will face even worse shortfalls if inflation outpaces revenue as currently projected.” And now that the primary is behind us, finding solutions to previous monetary mismanagement requires firing up the tax-raising machine.

The latest “group of Seattle officials, business and labor representatives and community advocates” called together to provide political cover for the elected officials has done that by suggesting “ideas for nine new taxes”. You can see how many of the new Seattle taxes you could get to pay here… Crosscut.

Democrats have taken a bit of heat over the last few years about stealth – and direct – attempts to dictate future American home appliance choices, namely by banning the use of gas stoves in future construction. The Washington State Standard reports that here Governor Jay Inslee and his bureaucrats looked to impose their no-gas-stove will, but “regulators derailed earlier this year when they tried to mandate electric heat pumps, rather than natural gas, be used to warm newly built homes and apartments.”

However, “no” never really means “no” when liberals have an agenda to impose, so now “a path is emerging for them to offer builders incentives to choose heat pumps instead of gas and to make obtaining a construction permit more difficult if they don’t.” You can learn more about the latest shakedown attempt by Gov. Inslee to get his fossil-free way here… Washington State Standard.

Shift was moved last week to ask who was the wallet behind the latest liberal political maneuvering in Spokane to keep local voters from making local decisions, after noticing a very Seattle connection to a lawsuit trying to remove a citizen initiative (on redistricting) from the city’s ballot. That call has now been picked up by the re-election campaign of Mayor Nadine Woodward, so you can find out why political transparency matters, and to who, here…Shift, Mayor Woodward campaign.

Of course, that means six homes won’t be built, but, hey, it’s a nice tree. You can read more about what KUOW reports as Mayor Bruce Harrell’s deep learning from this experience (“Trees and housing are both critically important to Seattle’s future”) here… KUOW.

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