Auburn is finalizing ‘asks’ for state lawmakers
For months, Auburn city leaders have been trying to determine what the city’s wants and wishes will be for the upcoming legislative session in Olympia, which begins Jan. 3 and is expected to end by April 27. Among Auburn’s priorities are a number of carryovers city leaders have sought for years. Generally, they fit into six major classes: public safety; regulatory and land use; public works, transportation and infrastructure; parks and open spaces; and social services budget and finance. Continue reading at The Kent Reporter. (Kent Reporter)
Costs remain high for WA affordable housing projects
Many affordable housing projects in Washington are funded in part by the state’s Housing Trust Fund. A new report from the Department of Commerce looked at the cost of building more than 1,200 new affordable units with money from the fund last year. It shows project costs dipped but remained up overall statewide. According to the data, the Housing Trust Fund helped build 21 multifamily projects across the state in 2023. That’s a drop from 32 the year before and way down from 2019 when there were 51. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Dan Reynolds)
Adult entertainers to see safety and wage improvement starting in 2025
Starting on Jan. 2, 2025, those who work in the adult entertainment industry will see an increase in safety measures and wage improvements. On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced that adult entertainers will be able to keep more of their wages and be safer. The rules were approved and signed into law in March 2024. “Like any other worker in the state, adult entertainers deserve job-site safety and protection from unfair labor practices,” said Celeste Monahan, L&I assistant director for Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards. “These new rules make sure safety and a level playing field are the standard.” Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)
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