pSeattle

Keeping an Eye on SEATTLE

by Doug Mah, Doug Mah & Associates, Thurston Chamber Public Policy Director

There is no doubt that Seattle, its voters, residents, city government and the businesses that call the Emerald City home, have dominated and shaped the region and the State for decades. All sectors of our community, private, public and nonprofit, can find inspiration, innovative and cutting-edge solutions to problems and challenges coming out of the unique culture and environment that is Seattle. But what “works” in Seattle cannot and does not automatically work around the rest of the State. It is pretty common to hear some Thurston County residents and policy makers advocating forcefully for Seattle solutions to our South Sound challenges. As the Thurston region continues to grapple with difficult problems, it is tempting to short cut the process and assume that politically popular ideas, initiatives and regulations founded in Seattle will work in Thurston County and the region’s cities. We have seen public policy proposals for raising revenue for social services, programs for addressing addiction, efforts to create more affordable housing and initiatives to provide more renter protections come out of Seattle. As rules, regulations and taxes trickle down from Seattle and are presented as viable for the South Sound region, the Thurston Chamber of Commerce and the Public Policy Division believe we must ask key questions of our policy makers and elected officials. Questions such as: • What are the intended and unintended outcomes associated with the policy change? • Does the Thurston region have the infrastructure, experience and ability to successfully start and sustain a solution? If not, why? What is an acceptable period to go from start to success? • Are there valid, reliable and timely data specific to the Thurston region to correctly identify the problem and evaluate the solution? What does success and failure look like? • Has the Seattle solution been audited, measured and confirmed to achieve the intended outcomes? Are there any lessons to be learned from Seattle or other communities? • Can we demonstrate that Seattle solutions can effectively and efficiently be “scaled down” to fit Thurston region and a different local economy and business ecosystem?

The Thurston Chamber recognizes that our region’s policy makers are facing numerous calls for action, and for our most urgent challenges there is pressure to “just do something”. But we need to recognize that the Thurston region is unique and differs greatly compared to Seattle. What works in one community does not necessarily work in all communities. Good public policy requires that we ask good questions.

Yes, Seattle can be a source of incredible innovation and the source of inspiration. But the Thurston Chamber and Public Policy Division expects that our regional enthusiasm for Seattle solutions be weighed against good public process and rigorous questioning and examination of the data. We urge members of the Thurston Chamber of Commerce to remain engaged, alert and participate in our public policy efforts and to help us ask some good questions.