Seattle Growth Podcast

What happens to an artist and a locally owned coffee house in a rapidly growing city when they encounter a for-profit developer? The events of this podcast might surprise you. And this unexpected true story has implications not just for developers, artists, and small businesses, but for anyone concerned about the future of their community. Featuring Jane Richlovsky, Greg Smith, Ali Ghambari, and Karen True

It is time for us to decide as a people : what do we want for this city as it undergoes a transformation? In today’s episode you are going to hear what the highest leadership at the city and state levels want. You will hear an in-depth interview with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. You will also hear an in-depth interview with a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s executive cabinet, Brian Bonlender. You will also hear appearances by Maggie Walker, Friends of Waterfront Seattle Greg Smith, CEO of Urban Visions; Jane Richlovsky, partner in Good Arts Building; Benjamin Zuercher, founder of StuffMapper; Ali Ghambari, owner of Cherry Street Coffee; Tasha Meyer, student; Bojie Mageo, cofounder of Swurveys; Mikaela Kiner, CEO of uniquely HR; Ty Sanders

Listen to the first ever taping of Seattle Growth Podcast before a live audience at the Impact Hub in Seattle. University of Washington's Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship organized the event on October 17th, 2016. Host Jeff Shulman moderated a panel of three individuals who have made immeasurable contributions to Seattle and will play a major role in its future: Maggie Walker, John Connors, and John Creighton. Maggie Walker is well known in Seattle as a philanthropist and civic leader. Walker was a founding member of Social Venture Partners and of the Washington Women's Foundation. She is Chair and Board President of Global Partnerships. She is Vice Chair of the National Audobon Society Board of Directors. She is a member of the UW Foundation Board of Directors and the Seattle Art Museum Board of Trustees where she previously served as President. She is a board member of Friends of Waterfront Seattle. She is an advisory board member for the University of Washington's College of the Environment, the Evans School of Public Policy, and the College of Arts & Sciences. Walker previously served as chair of The Bullitt Foundation's Board of Trustees, co-chair of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) Board of Trustees, chair of the Washington Women's Foundation (founding member and first Chair) and was the first vice-chair of The Seattle Foundation Board of Trustees. John Connors is a managing partner at Ignition Partners, an early stage, business software venture capital firm. Connors was named to the 2013 Forbes Midas List, a ranking of the world's top venture capital investors, and to Business Insider's 2013 list of top enterprise technology VCs. Connors joined Ignition in 2005 after a distinguished career as a software-industry executive. Connors spent sixteen years at Microsoft in several high-level, strategic roles. From January 2000 to April 2005 he was senior vice president of finance and administration, as well as the company's chief financial officer. Connors is a member of the board of directors of Nike (NKE), Splunk (SPLK), FiREapps, DataSphere, Motif Investing, Chef, Azuqua, Tempered Networks, and Icertis. John Creighton has served on the Port of Seattle Commission since 2006. He came to the commission with broad experience as a lawyer specializing on complex international transactions in the port cities of Singapore, Helsinki and Istanbul prior to returning home to Seattle. Creighton currently has a solo practice focused on business law and public policy. As a commissioner, Creighton has focused on keeping the Port strong as a jobs creation engine while increasing the agency's commitment to the environment and making it a more accountable, socially responsible public agency. Creighton grew up on the Eastside and graduated from Interlake High School in Bellevue. He earned a B.A. and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, a J.D. from Columbia University and a Certificate of Administration from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

Are Seattle’s public utilities prepared for the influx of people? Hear from Ray Hoffman, former Director of Seattle Public Utilities, which oversees water, sewage, and solid waste management. In an in-depth interview, he shares which utilities are ready to expand with demand and which utilities concern him. Hear from Larry Weis, CEO of Seattle City Light, share the impact of new development on electricity usage. He also shares what changes have been made in reaction to the population growth and his vision for the future. Through this episode you will have a better understanding of how growth impacts the public utilities and the scalability of these services.

This special episode of Seattle Growth Podcast brings you more information about the proposed ordinance that can change the way public spaces are used in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. Seattle City Council is considering a proposal that will set rules dictating the city’s response to unsanctioned encampments on public property. The proposal has made headlines, but Seattle Growth Podcast is the first to bring you in-depth interviews from multiple perspectives closest to issue. City Councilmember Rob Johnson discusses the proposal and why he co-sponsored it. City Councilmember Tim Burgess discusses why he is opposed to the proposal and what he believes should be done instead. For a perspective outside of government, the episode also includes an interview with the CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association: Jon Scholes.

What does Seattle’s growth mean for the future of the city’s transportation network? This epsiode will look at land transportation through an in-depth interview with the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, Scott Kubly. He will share details about the projects underway and what he sees for the future of how Seattle residents will move about the city. The episode also features an interview with the editor-in-chief of the Seattle Transit Blog, Martin Duke. The episode also looks at air transportation through an in-depth interview with Port of Seattle commissioner John Creighton. He will share the fascinating history and future of the Port of Seattle. This episode will give you unique insight into the far reaching impact of how growth affects the city’s transportation network and what the future holds for Seattle mobility. With appearances by: Brian Bonlender, Director of the Washington State Dept. of Commerce Mark Plunkett, Seattle Aquarium Conservation Coordinator Nicole Bell, Executive Director of Cambia Grove Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember Harold Scoggins, Chief of Seattle Fire Department Geoff Austin, Interim Executive Director of UW Medical Center Dr. Susan Stern Steve Smith Leslie Basil Dan Morgan

A teacher, a parent, and the associate superintendent at Seattle Public Schools discuss school crowding and how schools adapt to a growing population. Hear from in-depth interviews with Kirk Wohlers, Liz MacLennan, and Dr. Flip Herndon about Seattle’s growth and the impact on its public schools. You will learn specifics about the growth in the student population, how Seattle Public Schools forecasts the number of students, and the process by which it expands capacity. You will hear a surprising way in which PTSAs have shifted their priorities. Through this episode, you will have a better understanding of the challenges facing the city’s public schools and what can be done about these challenges.

How are Seattle’s hospitals affected by the city’s growth? Today’s episode features an in-depth interview with Dr. Susan Stern who is the head of the Division of Emergency Medicine, in charge of two of Seattle’s premier emergency departments: Harborview and UW Medical Center. You will hear the shocking way in which growth is impacting Suzanna, a nurse in a Seattle hospital’s orthopedics department. You will also hear from the executive director of Harborview Medical Center, Paul Hayes, and the interim executive director of UW Medical Center, Geoff Austin. This episode will give you a better understanding of capacity issues in our region’s hospitals and the resource needs of our region’s hospitals in the changing city.

How are emergency services affected by Seattle’s growth? Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins (4:25) describes how Seattle’s increasing density affects service calls and deployment of personnel and resources. Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Police Department, Brian Maxey (19:50), shares how Seattle’s economic and population growth affects emergency response. Through these in-depth interviews, you will get an inside look at how the city’s first responders think about growth and adapt to Seattle’s changes. With an appearance by Ben Noble, Director of Seattle’s City Budget Office (0:00)

Where should Seattle put the people who are moving to the city? Hear from City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (4:55) about his plan for more density in single-family residential neighborhoods. Also listen to University of Washington architecture professor Rob Pena (24:35) and land use planner Theresa Greer (37:15) discuss how various places to put density affect the community and sustainability of the built environment. With an appearance by Jeremy Zaretsky, Wirespring (0:00)

Hear from two Seattle natives why Seattle’s character and culture matter to them: Hazel Margaretes (5:30) and Dan Morgan (15:47). Also hear from artist-turned developer, Sam Farrazaino (28:25) who shares his perspective on the importance of culture and how catering to the arts community can be financially rewarding. With appearances by: Nate Daum; Startup Hall (0:00) Taylor Graham; Seattle Sounders FC (1:45) Bogie Mageo; Swurveys (2:13) Kathy Kelley (2:55) Jeff Mangalin (3:25) Mike Lang (3:55) Don Schulze; Owner of Shultzy’s Restaurant & President of University District Parking Associates (4:25) Greg Smith; CEO of Urban Visions (51:00)

Get an inside look at the effect of rising rents on the lives of some of Seattle’s workers and what Seattle's Socialist City Council member thinks should be done. You will hear in-depth interviews with a chef named Carrie (3:30) who works two jobs to make ends meet, Steve Smith (13:55) who builds for people in Seattle and Kshama Sawant (26:52) who is Seattle’s first Socialist City Council member in over a century. The episode also has an appearance by Jeff Mangalin.

Hear from the neighbors you’ve noticed but likely know little about. Learn about life in a Tent City, what a mother thinks about when living in a car with her two children, and why someone might move to Seattle without having a home to move into. This episode gives you an inside look into the lives of some of Seattle's residents who struggle with homeless: Ty Sanders (4:49) who lives on the streets, Stu Tanquist (11:18) who I met in Tent City 7, and Charlotte Wheelock (22:25) who I met in Mary's Place family shelter. You will also hear from Janie Hendrix (2:40), CEO of Experience Hendrix and sister of the late, great musician Jimi Hendrix; and from Parker Ferguson (3:01), founding partner at Flinn Ferguson commercial real estate services. The episode features an in-depth interview with the executive director of Mary's Place, Marty Hartman (35:42), who provides expert opinion on how to address the challenges of the rising homeless population. With an appearance by Mike Gibbons of Tent City 7.

Learn what it takes to buy a starter home in Seattle and how that has changed over the years. First hear Seattle Mayor Ed Murray share what the people of Seattle can do to help improve their neighborhoods. Then Rob Wasser (5:02), owner and designated broker of Prospera Real Estate and a member of the Northwest MLS board of directors, shares data on affordability in Seattle, as well as how the conversion of single-family homes to townhomes is affecting that affordability. Brad Evered (25:41), a broker with Caliber Home Loans, discusses the changes in lending standards over his 20 years in the business, and translates the current parameters to the levels of income, debt and savings necessary to buy a home in Seattle today. The episode also features appearances by Seattle homeowners and house hunters Kathy Kelley, Leslie Basel, Loren West and Dan Morgan.

Why is Seattle's tech sector booming? What challenges does Seattle's growth create for business leaders? To find out, listen to: Rob Johnson; Seattle City Council (1:25) Parker Ferguson; Partner at Flinn Ferguson (2:30) Chris Devore; Techstars, Founders’ Co-Op, Seattle's Economic Development Commission (3:20) Sunil Gowda; Founder of Garmentory (25:35) Vinayak Hegde; Chief Marketing Officer at Groupon (36:15)