SEATTLE — A proposal for a Seattle tax on capital gains fell short Thursday for the second time this week, failing to secure majority support from the City Council. That means the city won’t enact Councilmember Cathy Moore’s 2% tax on investment-sale profits above $262,000 annually. In rebuffing the proposal, some of her council colleagues said the timing wasn’t right. The idea could resurface in the coming year and could stand a slightly better chance of passing then, because a council seat will change hands next week when recently elected Alexis Mercedes Rinck replaces Tanya Woo. “We will continue to have this conversation,” Moore said Thursday, making the case that Seattle will need additional revenue from well-off residents to balance its budget in the long term and to provide struggling residents with a robust social safety net. “It’s a conversation we can’t afford not to have.” The decision on the capital gains tax came Thursday alongside an 8-1 vote to formally adopt Seattle’s 2025 budget. The council passed a modified version of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s budget plan, agreeing to plug a general-fund deficit and increase spending on priorities like police largely by redirecting a chunk of JumpStart payroll tax revenue previously earmarked for affordable housing. Council President Sara Nelson backed the new budget, praising her colleagues for working with Harrell to focus on public safety. Councilmember Tammy Morales cast the only vote against it, saying she couldn’t endorse its cuts to jobs and programs, as well as its deficit-closing approach. The vote against Moore’s capital gains tax was 6-3. The proposal had received a 4-4 vote during a budget committee meeting Tuesday and had advanced to Thursday’s full council meeting with a “do not pass” recommendation. On Thursday, Moore, Morales and Dan Strauss voted yes. Nelson, Rob Saka, Maritza Rivera and Bob Kettle voted no. So did Joy Hollingsworth, who had voted yes Tuesday, and Woo, who had abstained Tuesday. Moore introduced her proposal this month after the Nov. 5 election saw Washington voters affirm a similar tax at the state level, rejecting a ballot initiative that sought to repeal it. The state’s tax passed the Legislature in 2021 and took effect last year after surviving a court challenge. It taxes profits from the sale or exchange of stocks, bonds and other investments, excluding retirement accounts and real estate. It initially applied to gains above $250,000 and is calibrated to grow with inflation. Moore, who represents North Seattle’s District 5, said her city tax would be identical to the state’s version, except with a 2% rate rather than 7%. She made her proposal part of the council’s budget deliberations, saying the revenue could be used to fund rental, homebuyer and food assistance. In opposition, Woo said a more thorough stakeholder discussion about the proposal was necessary. Nelson said Seattle residents want to see City Hall achieve results with existing revenue before raising and spending more. “I do think we need to build back public trust,” the council president said. In support, Morales described the tax as a responsible step to diversify the city’s revenue options. She said the council had an opportunity to show spending restraint this year and instead added to Harrell’s budget. Morales said she hoped Mercedes Rinck would bring “a different balance” to the council when sworn in. Mercedes Rinck defeated Woo in a special election on Nov. 5 and campaigned as an advocate for progressive revenue.Accomplished Leader Brings Expertise in Finance and Tribal Governance SAN DIEGO , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indigenized Energy, a Native-led organization building sustainable solar energy systems with Tribes nationwide, has announced the appointment of Lorilee J. Morsette , MS, THRP as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Morsette previously served as President of National Accounts for Tribal Markets at Mutual of America Financial Group and led HR operations for nearly 600 employees at the Nisqually Indian Tribe in Olympia, Washington . As COO, Morsette will oversee program delivery, finance, human resources, technology, and will ensure operational excellence. The newly created COO role is integral to scaling the organization's impact in 2025 and beyond. In April, Indigenized Energy, along with its partners the MHA Nation-Three Affiliated Tribes and the Tribal Renewal Energy Coalition, were awarded $135.5M in Solar for All funding by the EPA. A Suquamish and Chippewa-Cree from Rocky Boy, Montana , Morsette brings a visionary approach informed by the historical challenges faced by Indian Country. Morsette said, "Joining Indigenized Energy allows me to combine my expertise in financial services with my deep commitment to advancing opportunities for Native Americans. Our community's strength lies in our autonomy, and Indigenized Energy stands as a beacon of hope towards that goal. Together, we are Native-led, driven by our shared values, and contributing to a future where all voices and spirits thrive." Morsette's leadership adds depth to Indigenized Energy's executive team, which already excels in solar technology and tribal relations. Her presence is a milestone for Native women in leadership: women hold only 15% of C-suite roles in the finance sector and 18% in the solar industry, with Native American women representing a fraction of these figures. Cody Two Bears, Founder and CEO of Indigenized Energy said, "If we wrote a COO job description that called for expertise in corporate finance, management, Tribal governance, and values that align seamlessly with our own, and then looked for a Native American woman, we never would have found that. We cast a wider net and fortunately, connected with Lorilee at a time when she was open to a bold new leadership opportunity. Her appointment is a testament to the right timing and shared vision. I have no doubt." About Indigenized Energy With a mission focused on developing innovative and practical energy solutions, Indigenized Energy endeavors to support tribal autonomy, economic development, and environmental stewardship through clean energy initiatives. Indigenized Energy is registered as a charitable corporation in North Dakota and is a fiscally sponsored project of Mission Edge San Diego, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in San Diego. Our Federal Tax ID # 27-2938491. https://www.4indigenized.energy/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indigenized-energy-names-lorilee-j-morsette-as-chief-operating-officer-302334331.html SOURCE Indigenized EnergySaudi Arabia’s ROSHN launches first residential community in Makkah
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Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic ‘forever chemicals’RIPLEY, W.Va. (WV News) -- As Mike Randolph prepares to step away from the job he has held for the past 12 years, he says he has pondered what to say. “I really don’t have any words of wisdom,” he said. What he has to share, instead, is a life of hard work, dedication, family, friends and service. One of his fondest memories is growing up on Tug Fork. “Being part of the Willing Workers 4-H Club was a big part of my life,” he said. “I hope our 4-H kids can go to camp today and have those valuable, fun times we had.” And maybe they’ll be blessed just like Randolph was. When he was about 16 years old, he met another 4-H member, Nancy Austin. “As soon as I saw her, that was it for me,” he said. “We got married on August 28, 1968.” That year was also momentous for another reason. Young Mike Randolph was drafted into the United States Army. “We got married before I had to leave,” he recalled. “I spent a year in Saigon, then the next 18 months at Fort Hood in Texas.” Serving from 1968 to 1971, Randolph left with the rank of Specialist 5 (E-5). Coming back to his home county, he worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways. “We crushed a lot of rock,” he said with a smile. He then went on to work for the West Virginia Department of Mental Health at the Colin Anderson Center in St. Mary’s in the procurement office. “That was a pretty big job,” he said. “There were a lot of supplies and contracts involved.” Taking advantage of the GI Bill, which paid for a college education, Randolph decided to use his business skills and get a degree in that field at WVUP (then Parkersburg Community College). “My goals were pretty simple,” he said. “I wanted an education, get a good job, make a living and take care of my family.” Looking back on his early married life, he had to laugh. “We were so young,” he said. “I think Nancy and I grew up with our oldest boy.” Never one to sit still, Randolph sold insurance at one point. He also managed the Ripley pool and mowed lawns one summer. “My son contracted to do some mowing,” he said. “He got a full-time job, so I took it on and finished it. I’ve always been a worker.” Like many folks, he also worked at Kaiser Aluminum for a couple of years. “I lived up to the nickname I got in college,” Randolph said with a chuckle. “They called me ‘butterfly’ because I was always finding jobs and constantly busy.” Randolph finally landed on the job that he would keep for 15 years, Hartley Manufacturing. “I was the Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs Manager,” he said. “It carried a lot of responsibility.” In that position, he conducted the orientation sessions for all the new workers and, more importantly, wrote the procedures manuals. “At its peak, there were 175 employees, and I knew them all by name,” he said. During that time, Randolph was the Safety Professional of the Year for West Virginia in 1996 and served as the President of the West Virginia Safety Council. When the company was sold, Randolph left his position and, in his words, “took a little time off.” That time off involved remodeling the home Nancy’s mom had left to her on Jim’s Ridge and where they live today. “She definitely was a collector of glassware and bottles,” he said. “There was a lot there. One of the best parts of taking on that remodel was having my good friend Corky McCorkle helping me. I caught him in between building houses, and he helped me a lot.” When it was time to return to the workforce again, Sheriff Mike Bright reached out with a position as a process server for his department. This job was different every day, and it suited Randoph perfectly. “No two days were the same,” he said. “It was a great job that I truly enjoyed. I met a lot of good people. Not everyone who is served is a criminal. There are all kinds of reasons for that to happen.” Through the years, Randolph became interested in government. When he and his family lived on Simmons Drive, he ran for mayor of Ripley. Later, he ran for Jackson County Commission for the first time. “It must not have been my time,” he said. “I got beat both times. Roy Guthrie won mayor, and Joe Pitts got the commission seat.” But while working for the county, Randolph said the commission was the position that most drew him. In 2012, he again entered the political ring, resigning as a process server in order to campaign without conflict. “I didn’t want anyone to think I was using that position to influence anyone to vote,” he said. Although he had competition in both the primary and general elections, he won his first six-year term on the Jackson County Commission. He was re-elected in 2016 to serve another six years and chose not to run for a third term. “When I first took office, our county was facing some tough economic times,” he said. “Things sure have changed in the last few years with the new businesses coming in. We’re poised on the cusp of some mighty big things happening.” In his 12 years as commissioner, Randolph said progress was made because all three commissioners worked in one direction. “Bottom line is we want to make Jackson County the best, safest place to live, work and raise a family,” he said. When he looks back, a few things stand out as accomplishments. One is the four water extension projects that have occurred, affecting several county residents and businesses. “I’m proud of the new law enforcement building in Ripley,” Randolph said. “We also added new EMS stations in Ravenswood and Kenna and renovated the one in Ripley.” When asked what he considered the greatest addition in his 12 years, Randolph doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the Greene Center,” he said, “Transforming the former grade school into this community center that is constantly being utilized made a tremendous impact on southern Jackson County. I’m so proud of those folks and all they’ve been able to do.” Randolph looks forward to fishing more often and enjoying retirement but leaves with mixed feelings. “It’s hard to leave all the good people I work with, from the other commissioners to the elected officials and their staffs,” he said. “I am humbled and so proud to have been able to serve the citizens of Jackson County.”
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pauseNational Philanthropic Trust Welcomes New Trustees Warren Thaler and Tamara Watts
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