[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6188882,"mediaKeyId","5061812-c9806b4596424f3fcf4d3b48c3594d5e","parentId",5061812,"title","Seattle council bans algorithmic rent pricing, adds enforcement and damage remedies","audioSeconds",1750,"startMs",2561000,"endMs",4311000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5061812-c9806b4596424f3fcf4d3b48c3594d5e&start=2561&end=4311","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5061812-c9806b4596424f3fcf4d3b48c3594d5e/thumbnail_2561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6188882/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Seattle-council-bans-algorithmic-rent-pricing-adds-enforcement-and-damage-remedies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188882-b5642b976db86a52812ad915af025a92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987808&Signature=cJsEfAI51E1P8fX1ugiVTd2ZDPY-CNbMWsTpiw413~7XDZrlKIBAmKl85sj-45xKNHbEsiycB6JJfbHWxpIuMDhqZJCq6NpFYQJLMvZwigAQ4pwDtlUOQwIv69Qq6i~~t5O87ignFAu1NbHc8nBoqmP52o88de~~53a111x8uQ6ZGftcYb0IMuJVoCA1clR0Hd-RUbp1TuE60fGn8FaXHAqkwgWX6O5o7OaYdJ2A0r5h5js1mtZ9XQ~n-hyhcaQh6BJ2xbTyVPYm~LmPuzOMmI8NWzunp3QeMWJRWQg72l540pq9dPUGbjMMu0jwCyxeGfdU7XmlvBXvyrnYCMeydQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-06-25T01:48:50.563Z","article","The Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 121000 on June 24 to prohibit algorithmic coordination of rent pricing for residential units, adopting several amendments that clarify enforcement and remedies. The final vote on the ordinance as amended was recorded as seven in favor and one abstention.

Sponsor Council member Teresa Moore framed the bill as an anti‑competitive tool intended to reduce rent pressure and help prevent displacement. \"This ordinance ... has the power to change it,\" Lydia Felty, a renter in District 3 and co‑chair of the Seattle Renters Commission, said during public comment in support of the measure.

Council amendments adopted before final passage included:
- Amendment B (sponsored by Council member Strauss): requests that the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) conduct outreach to educate landlords about the ordinance and provide a report on outreach and potential implementation assistance by Jan. 31, 2026.
- Amendment C (sponsored by Council member Moore): replaces the term \"person\" with a defined \"service provider,\" narrows the ordinance to residential properties by excluding short‑term rentals and hotels, and clarifies that basic record‑keeping software is not prohibited.
- Amendment D (sponsored by Council member Rink): allows the city attorney to charge a separate violation per dwelling unit where prohibited coordinating services are used and expands the private right of action to permit recovery of actual damages in addition to attorney's fees; the amendment also emphasized penalties of up to $7,500 per violation.

Public testimony at the meeting reflected broad support from tenants rights advocates and renter organizations and opposition from industry. Kate Rubin, co‑executive director of b Seattle, urged the council to pass the ordinance with a strengthening amendment and said, \"Studies show that every $100 in median rent increases lead to a 9% increase in homelessness.\" Alan Francis and other tenant advocates described algorithmic pricing as a driver of displacement. RealPage, the property‑management software firm, registered opposition: Mike Semko, RealPage's vice president and legal counsel, told the council, \"We are opposed to item number 2 ... It is essentially a total band on algorithmic pricing.\"

Council debate focused on balancing enforcement and avoiding unintended consequences for basic software tools and small landlords. Council members agreed to amendments that the sponsors and central staff described as aligning local language with model or previously proposed state legislation while adding local implementation measures. The council adopted Amendment B and Amendment C by recorded votes of seven in favor and one abstention; Amendment D passed with six in favor, one opposed and one abstention.

On final passage the roll call showed seven yes votes and one abstention (Council member Rivera recused herself because she said she is a small landlord). The chair signed the legislation, and the clerk was directed to affix signatures. The ordinance adds a new chapter to the Seattle Municipal Code (new chapter 7.34) prohibiting the use of coordinated algorithmic rent‑setting services for residential properties and provides enforcement and private‑rights mechanisms described above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Seattle City Council 6/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Seattle City Council on June 24 passed Council Bill 121000, prohibiting algorithmic rent fixing for residential units and adopting amendments that add landlord outreach, narrow coverage, per-unit penalties and a private right to actual damages; final vote was 7 in favor with 1 abstention.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6188886,"Seattle council approves downtown digital kiosks despite safety, advertising concerns",543,1958000,2501000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5061812-c9806b4596424f3fcf4d3b48c3594d5e&start=1958&end=2501","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5061812-c9806b4596424f3fcf4d3b48c3594d5e/thumbnail_1958000.jpg","/articles/6188886/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Seattle-council-approves-downtown-digital-kiosks-despite-safety-advertising-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188886-84e59dfd812160000d6851e6b1a6ecce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987808&Signature=FRpx-DOmQV285zCgZn2ZsZuEVw4ln~9jLL26v5Fc8jrwlVNXrJuHkr13SDk-8459Zn2I6lkXDBjOHPdb94xUhZ2BBI3H~dZFdMt9jOsrfSFp5YljiAUddCtmmWuTc-qgIKCoN9w07v628x9fUkAfhHkm0-MxvdI15q3FutUGv85apWYPXpoBZqOGI1aZ3-QrJG9GWOorJ18c2Ny8Mnq0SuU4SMhjzygqdDjUxNG4VS1IC1tAJxiHUReMvHY2HShaIrxdcMtNtDs7XGjXMSpI0iZ8b9vmaAq-bbjz94aQwLtAe6YP9aRCWm1wGBukDTf7EuGyAqlGDOZrNI5JLve3Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Seattle City Council voted 6-2 on June 24 to approve Council Bill 120992, authorizing the Downtown Seattle Association to install, maintain and operate interactive digital kiosks in the public right-of-way in downtown and participating business improvement areas under a long-term term permit and memorandum of understanding.

Council members and supporters said the kiosks will provide multilingual, ADA-accessible wayfinding, free Wi-Fi and public-safety features and will generate revenue for business improvement areas at no cost to the city. \"These kiosks will really help to provide real time, multi lingual, ADA accessible information to help visitors navigate, explore neighborhoods, and support local businesses,\" said Michael Woody, chief strategy officer at Business Seattle, during the public comment period.

The ordinance authorizes a vendor term permit and an MOU with the Downtown Seattle Association; a clerk reading of the legislation described a 16.5-year initial term renewable for one successive 13.5-year term. Supporters said the program will fund neighborhood improvements and help manage visitor flows for major events next year, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Opponents and public commentators warned the kiosks will primarily display commercial advertising and could create distractions for drivers. \"Approximately 90% of the time, it will be commercial advertising,\" public commenter Ellen Solid told the council. Council member Teresa Moore (full voting roster appears in the official roll call) said she would not support the bill, citing concerns the proposal could conflict with the city's sign code and could increase driver distraction, a safety concern for Vision Zero goals. \"I do have concerns about the impact of this proposal on the city's sign code,\" Moore said during debate.

Council members who supported the measure said the city charter permits exceptions where a public benefit is provided, and emphasized vendor maintenance responsibilities and neighborhood revenue sharing. The council adopted an amendment offered by Council member Hollingsworth that directs any kiosk-generated revenues in excess of $1,100,000 to citywide streetscape improvements.

Public commenters also pressed practical questions about maintenance and vandalism. \"Who has to pay for the kiosk when they get smashed? Is Seattle gonna have to pay for it, or is the company gonna come out for free and fix it?\" asked David Hanes during public comment.

On the roll call the final tally was 6 in favor, 2 opposed. The chair signed the legislation at the conclusion of the vote, and the clerk was directed to affix signatures. The council said deployment will proceed in phases with initial kiosks placed in the Metropolitan Improvement District and other participating BIAs; maintenance, software updates and routine upkeep were described in committee and sponsor remarks as vendor responsibilities under the MOU and permit.","The Seattle City Council on June 24 approved Council Bill 120992 to allow interactive digital kiosks in downtown and participating business improvement areas; supporters cited visitor wayfinding, ADA access and revenue for BIAs, while opponents raised concerns about sign-code exceptions, driver distraction and commercial advertising.","actionData","errors"]

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Seattle council bans algorithmic rent pricing, adds enforcement and damage remedies

Seattle council approves downtown digital kiosks despite safety, advertising concerns