David Brewster
Here’s an admirably complete and nuanced story by Paul Roberts on the Seattle economy, and whether the signs of a mild slowdown could turn into another one of Seattle’s periodic busts. The signs would indicate the wisdom of a cautious path in government spending and projections. History would indicate that Seattle never heeds these warning signs in time. My worries: Seattle has bet a lot on footloose industries such as tech; the impact of trade reductions or conflict with China needs to be factored in; Seattle will be out of favor with Trump administration programs; next-wave cities such as Omaha, Salt Lake City, Boise will start attracting workers pushed out of coastal cities by high costs and congestion.
Each morning on his way to work at City Hall, Seattle’s budget director Ben Noble bikes past two under-construction office towers. Both are slated for completion next year, Noble says, and both “are going to deliver a lot of product to the market.” But he…
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