5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Candidate Forum, 25-27 Budget Recap, Citywide Food Drive

1. Candidate Forum = Complete

Our first Chamber Lunch of the season is in the books, and each of the City Council candidates made a great showing up on stage.

Check out our blog recap of the event here, watch the video recording here, and be sure to join us for our next Candidate Forum on October 16, where we will be grilling the folks running for King County Executive. (Yeah, we are excited, too.)

2. City Council Advances Stricter Sentencing for Theft

Swiper no swiping! After last night's Bellevue City Council meeting, those habitually committing theft within City limits may want to reconsider.

In a strong 6–1 vote, councilmembers ultimately directed staff to draft an ordinance establishing mandatory minimum sentencing for repeat theft offenders. Check out our advocacy team's letter to the group before the meeting below, as well as the recap of what's next.

3. AI for Small Biz: Thanks, Meta!

More than 80 Bellevue Chamber members joined us in the Spring District last week for a fast‑paced, hands-on, and practical conversation on how to move from experimenting with AI to putting it to work across real business processes.

4. In the Red, from the Get-Go

The very first revenue forecast of the 2025–27 biennium shows Washington’s budget deep in the red, and as per usual, our President & CEO Joe Fain has a whole lot to say about it.

"Back in session, business groups and some legislators warned that a razor-thin $2 million ending balance was not sustainable. This forecast proves the point," he writes. "If downside risks materialize — tariffs, federal funding shifts, high interest rates, global instability — the state could face multi-billion-dollar shortfalls coming on the heels of largest tax increase in state history."

5. Citywide Food Drive: Essentials for All

This fall, the City of Bellevue and nearly two dozen partners are collecting food and hygiene products at locations throughout the city as part of the Essentials for All food and hygiene supplies drive.

Donations will be collected between October 1 and November 15, and the list of the most-needed items can be found at the link below.

Collection locations will include …

• Bellevue Aquatic Center

• Crossroad Community Center

• Highland Community Center

• North Bellevue Community Center

• Robinswood Tennis Center

• South Bellevue Community Center

• City Hall

• Mini City Hall @ Crossroads

Member News:

• Networking for Nonprofits: Our members over at First Fed Bellevue are hosting a Bellevue Nonprofit Networking Mixer on September 26! Learn more and get tickets here.
• KC Exec’s Small Biz Awards: Bellden Cafe is a finalist for the King County Executive’s 2025 Small Business Awards under the “Workforce Development Small Business of the Year” category. See the other finalists here. 
• Home Field Advantage: Good news for the Venn diagram of Chamber members and football fans: We’ve got discounted Seahawks tickets. Using this unique link, folks can snag their own tickets in the 300-level at select games.