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3 crazy policies brewing in Seattle
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Four years have passed since the chaotic summer of 2020, when lawless “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ) activists took over 14 city blocks in Seattle. That doesn’t mean that crazy ideas have stopped brewing in the Pacific Northwest.
Although national headlines may no longer be dominated by the CHAZ encampment’s drug use, violence and attacks on police officers, three troubling trends are percolating in Seattle with potentially catastrophic economic ramifications.
First, ignoring the concerns of the business community, Seattle’s progressive City Council passed an unwise law forcing delivery platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats to pay delivery drivers over $26 per hour.
Just as people grew tired of CHAZ in the summer of 2020, Seattle residents are losing confidence in their elected officials. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Dubbed the “PayUp” ordinance, that mandate translates to roughly a $60,000 annual salary, far exceeding the starting salaries of critical workers like EMTs, whose average wage in Washington state is around $24 per hour.
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Instead of the economic boost promised by that ordinance’s supporters, the early results have proven devastating.
Namely, demand for delivery services plummeted after its implementation. As one driver told King-5 Seattle, “I’ve got nothin’… I’m not gonna sit here for hours for one frickin’ order.”
Moreover, it’s not just workers who are suffering — it’s also the small businesses in local communities. According to DoorDash, Seattle retailers have lost more than $14 million in revenue on their platform between February and May this year.
Data from the Washington Alliance for Innovation and Independent Work further showed Seattle businesses that rely on third-party delivery apps have lost more than $28 million in revenue to date — a number that rises every day the PayUp law remains on the books.
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As those negative consequences took hold, nearly 8 in 10 Seattle voters supported repealing or revising the mandate, with affordability remaining a huge concern amidst record inflation.
The City Council, however, wasn’t done assessing new taxes and fees. Starting in January, delivery platforms will also be slammed with a new 10-cent per-order fee for online deliveries.
A second disturbing trend percolating in Seattle is the effort to prevent measures to correct the PayUp ordinance’s consequences. Instead, the city’s activist City Council continues to pull every lever and bend every rule to maintain control and implement its agenda.
Less than six months after PayUp took effect, wiser members of the Council, led by President Sara Nelson, recognized the damage of the new law and prepared to reduce the minimum wage for delivery drivers to $19.97 — in line with Seattle’s hourly minimum wage.
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Unfortunately, the anti-business left mobilized the city’s Ethics and Elections Commission to try and bar two of the council members who advocated for that commonsense reform from voting on the legislation — successfully forcing one council member to recuse herself.
The so-called “violations” of the council members in question? Family connections to the restaurant and hospitality industry created an alleged “conflict of interest.” By that logic, any city council member with a business background wouldn’t be able to vote for any broad policies that could help local businesses.
Cowering to that vocal minority of radical activists, the Seattle City Council has nevertheless now gone on the record as unable to support local businesses.
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Third but not least, King County, in whose jurisdiction Seattle falls, raised its minimum wage to a nationwide high of $20.29. Washington already had the highest minimum wage requirement at $16.28, but that was insufficient for the activists who run Seattle’s local government. The compromise bill that would reform the delivery superwage also sets the new wage at a minimum of $19.97 an hour.
Other states offer similar precautionary lessons.
Two states to the south, California imposed a $20 minimum wage (up from $16) at fast-food restaurants starting in April, and already the economic catastrophe is piling up. According to analysis from a leading trade group, 10,000 jobs have been eliminated in the first two months alone.
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To meet those increased costs, restaurants have scaled back hours and reduced operations. Some iconic restaurants have even been forced into bankruptcy. The consequences have been so dire that even extremist California Gov. Gavin Newsom delayed a $25 an hour mandate for health care workers — a mandate that he had previously supported.
To be sure, we all support the well-being of the workers whom these laws claim to benefit. Costs continue to rise and people are hurting, and no one supports the idea of hard-working people unable to make financial ends meet due to no fault of their own.
However, punishing companies with arbitrary and unfair taxes or singling out one industry with a super wage only exacerbates the pain for everyone.
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Just as people grew tired of CHAZ in the summer of 2020, Seattle residents are losing confidence in their elected officials. Last year, for example, the election of a trio of moderates flipped control away from the progressives.
Let’s hope common sense prevails. In four years, these regressive taxes and fees will be viewed in the same way that lawless encampments on city streets look today — a relic from a bygone era that belongs in the dustbin of history.
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San Francisco, CA
Sold-Out SF Marathon 2026: The Races, Routes and Road Closures (Plus How to Watch It All) | KQED
Everything you need to know about the 2026 San Francisco Marathon weekend on July 25-26, including the route, the road closures and whether it’s too late to sign up.
If you still want to sign up for the SF Marathon, you still have time. (AN Studio/Getty)
Keep reading for the 2026 SF Marathon route, which streets will be closed, where to find public transit changes and how to watch from the sidelines if you’re a spectator.
We’ll also give an overview of all the weekend’s events and races themselves if you’re feeling spontaneously athletic (or want to meet people) and decide to sign up for a race at short notice.
And important to flag — several of these races now allow dogs.
Jump straight to:
What is the SF Marathon route, and when are the races?
The 26.2-mile main event — the full SF Marathon — is on Sunday, July 26. The full marathon starts at 5:15 a.m. on Embarcadero Street at Market Street and finishes on Embarcadero Street at Howard Street.
You can check out a map of the entire course on SF Marathon’s Strava account, which also includes elevation levels and first aid/water stops.
Is it really too late to sign up for the full marathon and 1st half marathon?
Yes, the full marathon — and the popular 1st half marathon over the Golden Gate Bridge — are both sold out.
According to officials, the spots went out “faster than ever” this year. But you can still join the waitlist and hope for the best.
“Spots do open up,” the website reads. “Plans change, runners defer, and entries become available again. When they do, the right wait list is the best way to secure yours.”
What are my other options for races around the SF Marathon that weekend?
Your other options for races during the SF Marathon weekend that are still accepting sign-ups include:
The City Half Marathon (Sunday)
This is the race where you get to run through San Francisco’s neighborhoods. It’s 13.1 miles with a 3.5-hour time limit and starts at 8:30 a.m. from MLK Jr. Drive at Golden Gate Park to Embarcadero at Howard.
Race fee:$303.74
The Alexi Pappas SFM 10K (Sunday)
This race is named after the Bay Area’s own Olympian Pappas and is a flat 6.2 miles that starts at 7 a.m. from The Embarcadero at Market Street to the Embarcadero near Washington Street. Dogs are now welcome for this race.
Race fee: $164.04
5K race (Saturday option)
This 5k allows your dog to run with you along the Embarcadero waterfront. Starting at 8 a.m, this is a 3.1-mile course with an hour limit.
Race fee: $120.04
5K race (Sunday option)
Dogs are also allowed at this Embarcadero waterfront race, but the race isn’t a loop like the Saturday option, instead starting at The Embarcadero at Market St. and ending at Embarcadero at Washington Street. This 3.1-mile race starts at 9 a.m. and has an hour limit.
Race fee: $118.94
Looking for something more family-friendly and chill? There is Sebastian’s 1K Mad Dash on Saturday, which is a little under a mile. It starts at 9 a.m., starting and finishing at Embarcadero and Washington. The race fee is $28.75.
If you can’t make it to San Francisco, you can join the race virtually by registering on the SF Marathon’s app. It’s $110.15 to join, and you’ll need to download the SF Marathon tracking app to follow your progress.
Which streets will be closed to cars and public transit for the SF Marathon?
The SF Marathon website breaks down which city streets will be closed for races at what time, along with some recommended detours.
There will be closures along The Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf and in the Marina District. However, rest assured that vehicle traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, which is on the route, will remain open in both directions throughout the marathon.
A lot of SF Muni lines will also be rerouted due to marathon weekend events.
SFMTA has not yet updated its guidance for this year, but you can peek at the 2025 list of route alterations, changes and closures to get a sense of what’s to come.
Where can I cheer the SF Marathon runners on?
Are you a good friend cheering on a runner? Make sure you know which race they are running in, and then look at the above section to check out the times and routes.
You can also track a runner’s progress using the SF Marathon app using a bib number.
Where can I find my pictures and results after the race?
Participants will have their pictures emailed to them a few days after the event — or on the race results and photos page on the SF Marathon website.
I need to bail. Can I defer my SF Marathon registration until next year?
Bailing? The people on the waitlist will thank you!
You can defer your registration to next year for a $39 fee, and the last day to do so is July 24. (That’s also the last day to convert your in-person race into a virtual one, if your plans have unexpectedly changed.)
Keep in mind that registration is nontransferable, and you cannot give or sell your bib to someone else.
What will the weather be like in San Francisco for the marathon?
Check the weather forecast again before you head out, as San Francisco weather can turn on a dime — and keep in mind that the National Weather Service forecasts the weather a week out.
Historically, the temperature around the courses is usually around 64°F, according to the SF Marathon website.
Whether you’re planning to participate in a race or just spectate, be sure to drink plenty of water well before going out.
You can also be strategic about how to combat heat by cooling your body’s pulse points, such as your neck, inside your elbows, and behind your knees, to bring quick relief. In case things get toasty, KQED has a thorough guide on how to stay safe during a heat wave.
The full marathon has 14 hydration stations, which include water, electrolytes, medical assistance, and toilets. The SF Marathon encourages runners to bring refillable water bottles that are 50 gallons or less.
What’s the best way of traveling to the SF Marathon starting line that morning?
If you’re trying to get to the race for the full marathon’s 5:15 a.m. start time on Sunday, remember: BART service does not start early enough to get you there, and you’ll miss your race.
Instead, the SF Marathon will have shuttles from six BART stations to get you to the starting line. There is free parking at BART stations, and buses will run very early in the morning. Times are subject to change, but the list of BART stations with shuttles is currently:
- Bay Fair (San Leandro) at 3:50 a.m.
- Daly City at 4:05 a.m.
- El Cerrito Plaza at 4:05 a.m.
- MacArthur at 4:05 a.m.
- Millbrae at 4:05 a.m.
- Walnut Creek at 3:55 a.m.
Buses aim to arrive by 4:30 a.m. at the Main Start Line on the Embarcadero. You’ll need to purchase your bus ticket ahead of time, though.
For most food manufacturers, it makes more financial sense to bake, brew, cook or create their product somewhere where the square footage is a little less expensive, like a business park, and to sell it where the rent – and the foot traffic – is higher.
Kent Beidel, who owns a string of mountain-town ice cream parlors called Sundae, did the opposite when he opened his newest and, by far, his biggest location in downtown Denver.
“We wanted to be right in front of people and hear them say, ‘Oh my god, they make the ice cream right here,’” he explained. “It’s backward … it’s hard. But it’s unique, and it’s really cool.”
Sundae opened in early June in a 5,100-square-foot space that includes a retail shop, a waffle cone-making “theater” where people can watch the staff turn out fresh cones, a pint-mixing classroom and a commercial kitchen – visible to customers on three sides through glass windows – that could one day supply multiple stores around Denver.
Beidel is betting those attributes will help the business stand apart from the competition in Denver, where there are already several big names making and selling scoops in multiple locations.
But that’s not the only gamble he took. Sundae is located on Sixteenth Street, the 44-year-old pedestrian mall that has become both a symbol of the city’s urban decay since the pandemic and a beacon of hope for its future after a $175 million renovation.
“Sixteenth Street is interesting,” said Beidel, who has watched it change over the past year since he first signed his lease at 1600 Glenarm Place. “It’s coming back. It still has a way to go, but we are seeing momentum start to build. Even in the last month, the foot traffic and the feeling downtown has perked up. … We are getting great feedback.”
To help, the Denver Downtown Development Authority — as part of a much larger business incentive plan — loaned Sundae $750,000. “It’s a loan,” he said. “We have to pay it back. … But we couldn’t have done this location without that support.”
Beidel has been in the food business for 22 years. Before ice cream, he was the founder of Loaded Joe’s, a restaurant and coffee shop staple in Vail. But in 2016, he sold Loaded Joe’s and took over two former Marble Slab Creamery locations in Vail and Edwards, rebranding them as Sundae. In 2020, he opened a third shop in Glenwood Springs.
“That was our first chance to build from scratch and decide what it should look like,” he explained, adding that Glenwood, which includes a kitchen, eventually began making ice cream for Sundae’s next two locations in Basalt and Snowmass.
To make the ice cream, Beidel said he employs five pastry chefs to create recipes. So, rather than using cheesecake flavoring, for instance, for cheesecake ice cream, Sundae uses all the same ingredients you would use to make real cheesecake.
The cheesecake, by the way, is among Beidel’s favorite flavors, but Salted Cookies & Cream and Caramelized Banana are two of the most popular with customers. Classic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry are also top sellers – “and always will be,” he added.
Next month, Beidel hopes to open the classroom, where people can learn how to make ice cream and then whip up some of their own flavors to take home. And down the road, he plans to open more locations.
But in the meantime, he’s focused on downtown. “Let’s say Denver does really become vibrant again. We have a great product and a great following in the mountains. So, it’s just a matter of time down here.”
Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.
SEATTLE – High pressure continues early this week, leading to more sunshine and warmer afternoon temperatures. Skies will be sunny, warm and dry through the middle of the week.
High pressure continues early this week, leading to more sunshine and warmer afternoon temperatures.
What’s next:
Highs today in the low to mid 80s for parts of western Washington, with highs in central and eastern Washington getting close to 100 degrees. The coast and northern interior will remain in the 70s with mostly sunny skies.
Highs today in the low to mid 80s for parts of western Washington.
Fire Risk Levels
The Fire Risk Levels this week will continue to elevate as we see warming temperatures and increased chance of thunderstorms. East of the cascades is already dry and warm, so the increased chance of new fire starts will be something to watch with the storms.
The Fire Risk Levels this week will continue to elevate as we see warming temperatures and increased chance of thunderstorms. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Looking Ahead:
Temperatures will continue to warm for western Washington through midweek, before we see another low pressure system swing inland Thursday. This low will increase changes of showers and isolated thunderstorms on Thursday, and temperatures will be back to normal for this time of year. This cool down is short-lived as high pressure builds again and highs warm back up into the 80s by the weekend.
Temperatures will continue to warm for western Washington through midweek, before we see another low pressure system swing in Thursday.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the FOX 13 Seattle Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
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