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City Advances Affordable Housing Strategy; Businessed Urge Feasible Incentives and Faster Permiting
City Advances Affordable Housing Strategy; Businessed Urge Feasible Incentives and Faster Permiting

On October 28, the Chamber’s PLUSH group met with the City of Bellevue’s Office of Housing to review the city’s affordable housing strategy update, discuss the mixed-use areas housing rezone, and flag permitting and critical areas issues that directly affect delivery timelines Continue Reading

Date posted10/28/2025


East King Chambers Align on Housing, Transportation, and Budget Priorities Ahead of 2026 Session
East King Chambers Align on Housing, Transportation, and Budget Priorities Ahead of 2026 Session

On October 23, the East King Chambers Coalition convened to refine its 2025 legislative agenda, with housing supply, transportation and last‑mile connections, public safety, energy, and tax policy at the forefront. The coalition emphasized practical solutions that keep the Eastside competitive Continue Reading

Date posted10/23/2025


5 Things You Need to Know This Week: City Happenings, Spooky Shenanigans
5 Things You Need to Know This Week: City Happenings, Spooky Shenanigans

1. Candidate Forum, Recapped: The Next KC Exec At our October session of Chamber Lunch, we hosted a fast-moving King County Executive candidate forum with King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay. Spoiler alert: We asked the hard questions so you don't have to! Moderated by... Continue Reading

Date posted10/22/2025


King County Executive candidates tackle safety, housing, transit at Chamber Lunch
King County Executive candidates tackle safety, housing, transit at Chamber Lunch

On October 16, 2025, the Bellevue Chamber hosted a fast-moving King County Executive candidates forum with Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay. Moderated by John Carlson (Kemper Development Company), Sahar Amini (Habitat for Humanity Seattle–King County), and Chris Daniels (KOMO News) Continue Reading

Date posted10/21/2025


PLUSH Committee chimes in on MFTE discussion
PLUSH Committee chimes in on MFTE discussion

Ahead of the Bellevue City Council meeting on October 21, the Chamber's PLUSH Committee submitted the following letter regarding the City's MFTE policies, and naturally, made some suggestions along the way. Read the letter below, and meet the PLUSH Committee here! Continue Reading

Date posted10/20/2025


Bellevue City Council removes endorsement of property tax and REET expansion
Bellevue City Council removes endorsement of property tax and REET expansion

If you blinked near the end of last night's (Oct. 14) Bellevue City Council meeting, you might've missed the plot twist. In a last-minute amendment, Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis asked colleagues to remove a line in the city's draft state legislative agenda that referenced modifying property tax " Continue Reading

Date posted10/15/2025


5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Eastside Youth Mentor Applications, Gift Guide Submissions
5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Eastside Youth Mentor Applications, Gift Guide Submissions

1. Now Playing: The Chamber Events Season It's full steam ahead over here, so let's reflect on the most recent big event we put on, and hopefully, get a few more butts-in-seats for tomorrow's Chamber Lunch. Last month? ELC. Our Eastside Leadership Conference was earlier this month, and we've got... Continue Reading

Date posted10/15/2025


EBRT Kickoff: World Cup 2026 plans, opportunities, & what’s next for Bellevue
EBRT,
EBRT Kickoff: World Cup 2026 plans, opportunities, & what’s next for Bellevue

On October 9, 2025, the Chamber’s Executive Business Roundtable opened the 2025 to 2026 season with a full house, fresh coffee, and a countdown clock. Seattle’s Fifa World Cup CEO, Peter Tomozawa took the mic alongside Seattle Sounders alum Brad Evans, and the room got a first-hand look Continue Reading

Date posted10/13/2025


Deputy Mayor Malakoutian, Rep. Salahuddin brief New Executives on budgets & housing
Deputy Mayor Malakoutian, Rep. Salahuddin brief New Executives on budgets & housing

A full room of new executives joined us to meet the people who help set the rules of the road in our region. Bellevue City Councilmember Mo Malakoutian and State Representative Osman Salahuddin, who represents the 48th Legislative District, compared notes on city and state roles Continue Reading

Date posted10/13/2025


Federal priorities, state agenda on the table at Policy Council
Federal priorities, state agenda on the table at Policy Council

At the October 8 Policy Council meeting, the Chamber hosted Paul Graves, President of Enterprise Washington, for an election update before reviewing the East King Chambers Coalition’s 2025 state agenda and previewing our federal priorities. Continue Reading

Date posted10/13/2025


Budgets & Results: Are higher taxes getting results?
Budgets & Results: Are higher taxes getting results?

At a Chamber-hosted discussion moderated by Kevin Wallace, regional experts examined whether Washington’s recent tax increases are delivering outcomes for residents, students, and employers. Continue Reading

Date posted10/8/2025


5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Bellevue’s rise, KidsQuest’s takeover
5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Bellevue’s rise, KidsQuest’s takeover

1. Chamber Lunch: King County Executive Candidate Forum We hosted the Bellevue City Council candidates a few weeks ago — watch the video recording here if you missed it — and for October, we are taking things to the County level. Thursday, October 16 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ W... Continue Reading

Date posted10/8/2025