This year residents of Seattle will vote for City Council candidates by geographic district. This measure, passed by voters in 2013, has brought forth forty-seven different candidates running for the nine council seats. In total, there are 62 candidates running for Seattle and King County offices. With ballots for the August… [ Keep reading ]
STEM programs, community radio stations, English language and literacy training, job finding assistance, expanding and upgrading computer labs for disadvantaged kids and low-income seniors, the recipients of the 2015 Technology Matching Funds grants have projects as diverse as their backgrounds. Part of Seattle’s commitment to digital equity, the Technology Matching Fund provides grants… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Channel is celebrating 10 years of “Community Stories”, the documentary series that spotlights Seattle communities with a focus on diversity and inclusion. In her blog, Community Stories producer Shannon Gee writes, “Since that first summer in 2005, Community Stories has told inspiring stories from all over the city. We… [ Keep reading ]
The City of Seattle today released the City of Seattle Fiber-to-the-Premises Feasibility Study, a feasibility study originally commissioned in December 2014 as part of Mayor Ed Murray’s three-part broadband internet strategy. Read the report here. “Broadband internet service is a necessity in the 21st century but many Seattle residents don’t… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s cable franchise with WAVE expires in 2017. We’re gathering community input as we prepare for negotiating the new franchise. Join our first community meeting on the WAVE franchise renewal: Monday, June 8, 2015 6 – 7:30 pm Douglass-Truth Library 23rd & Yesler, Seattle, WA Can’t make this meeting?… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Police Department already utilizes open data. Now, President Obama has announced the Police Data Initiative, based on recommendations from his Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Seattle is one of 21 communities currently participating in the federal Police Data Initiative. The recommendations cover policy, oversight, technology, social media, community policing, crime reduction, training, education, and officer wellness and… [ Keep reading ]
In the beginning it was books, then audio, then video. Years later, downloads were available on your own device. Now, you can check the internet out of the Seattle Public Library. Not ‘check out’ as in connect online at the library. You can literally go to your Seattle Public Library branch, check out the internet and… [ Keep reading ]
Across the country, big cities are investing in technology to connect people, improve cities and make government more effective. Cities, including Seattle, are hosting hackathons, developing technology plans and innovating alongside entrepreneurs and startups. What makes Seattle unique in civic tech and what can we learn from other cities? Microsoft’s… [ Keep reading ]
It took hours and hours of coding and planning, but “Hackcessible” is the winner of the latest “Hack the Commute” competition. Hackcessible is an app for those with mobility issues. It displays potential disruptions like closed sidewalks, steep hills, and ramp accessibility. Hackcessible helps plan walking trips for people who… [ Keep reading ]
It’s down to the final three. Three teams of coders competing for the “Hack the Commute” championship. To get here, it was hours of coding, collaborating and competing over several weekends in April. These teams move on to the Championship Round today (April 29) in the Bertha Knight Landes Room in Seattle City… [ Keep reading ]
