Legislators in Washington sink their teeth into pandemic-era issues for schools By Dahlia Bazzaz, The Seattle Times
Published: January 25, 2021, 8:16am
Share: The Capitol Building in Olympia. (iStock.com)
As they launched into their full-fledged pandemic legislative session earlier this month, lawmakers in Washington state had no shortage of education issues to sort through.
More than 60 bills related to K-12 schools are in the works already, including proposals to maximize the role of school counselors, change truancy policies and reopen school buildings. Heading into the session, lawmakers and state executives said their priorities would be focusing on supporting student mental health, granting financial flexibility to school districts and expanding access to the internet.
Amazon Launches $2 Billion Housing Fund to Make 20,000 Affordable Homes Available for Working Families in 3 Cities
Jan 16, 2021
Amazon this month unveiled a new Housing Equity Fund, investing more than $2 billion to preserve and create over 20,000 affordable housing units in three communities where the company has thousands of employees Washington State’s Puget Sound; Arlington, Virginia; and Nashville, Tennessee.
Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund will help preserve existing housing and help create housing developments through below-market loans and grants to housing partners, public agencies, and minority-led organizations.
The Fund seeks to “ensure that moderate- to low-income families can afford housing in resource-rich communities with easy access to neighborhood services, amenities, and jobs,” according to a news release.
Amazon will direct $2 billion in loans and grants to secure affordable housing near three American cities where the company employs thousands of workers, the tech giant announced Wednesday.
In a first step in the Puget Sound region, Amazon is promising $185.5 million, mostly in loans, to the King Co
By Mark Melbourne
Jan 7, 2021
Amazon has pledged billions of dollars in financial aid to go toward the funding of low-income housing in three cities it has major operations.
Based in Seattle, Washington, the online retail giant also does big business in Arlington, VA and Nashville, Tennessee. All three cities will be the beneficiary of $2 billion in loans and grants to secure affordable housing.
According to the Seattle Times, Amazon has announced it would give over $185 million to the King County Housing Authority in Washington state in an effort to purchase apartment buildings and keep the rents low.
CEO Jeff Bezos said the money will “help local families achieve long-term stability while building strong, inclusive communities.” Stephen Norman is the executive director of the King County Housing Authority. He pointed out that affordable housing too often involves renovation which creates higher rents, thereby worsening the economic and racial segregation.