Tech CEOs join chorus of criticism for Seattle housing plan

Leaders from 28 Seattle tech companies, start-ups and tech-adjacent investment groups have joined a growing coalition of Seattle organizations calling on Mayor Bruce Harrell to bolster his proposed housing plan and allow more density across the city.

The CEOs’ letter, sent to Harrell and the Office of Planning and Community Development on May 20, comes one week after a group of more than 50 business leaders, affordable-housing advocates and community nonprofits sent their own letter to City Hall criticizing the mayor’s plan. The May 20 letter is identical to the earlier coalition letter, on which Cascade PBS previously reported.

The full list of May 20 signatories: AI Tinkerers, Allen Institute for AI, Anthos Capital, Arrived, Axon, Clearbrief AI, Cloud Paper, DreamBox Learning, F5, Flying Fish Partners, Forum3, Founders Co-Op, Logic, Madrona Venture Group, MediCoder, Mt. Joy, Outreach, Pioneer Square Labs, Qumulo, Redfin, Syndio, StatsIG, Tanium, Tola Capital, Truveta, University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, Unlock Venture Partners, and Zillow.

Kelly Fukai, Washington Technology Industry Association chief operating officer, said Seattle’s limited and expensive housing stock hurts tech companies’ ability to attract and retain talent, and is consistently a top concern voiced by their member companies. The WTIA helped the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce organize the tech signatories.

https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/05/tech-ceos-join-chorus-criticism-seattle-housing-plan