City
Alki Foundation to Dissolve
The Alki Foundation, the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, will announce tomorrow that it plans to dissolve and form a new political action committee, called the Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy, with a wider membership and broader powers to lobby and give money and other campaign support directly to candidates. In a press release sent out the afternoon after this post was originally published this morning, the Chamber announced that the PAC already has 40 businesses as members.
The Alki Foundation is a 501(c)4 nonprofit, a status that limits its ability to get involved directly in campaigns. Instead, the group holds candidate forums, interviews candidates, and makes "recommendations" (not endorsements) to its membership.
Under its new status as a political committee, the group (whose name will be announced tomorrow) will be able to give money directly to candidates and, communications VP George Allen says, "engage more thoroughly in dialogues with political leaders [and] drive more resources toward candidates that are interested in economic growth and job development." Allen says the group has been talking for decades about what to do with the foundation, which is limited not just by its nonprofit status but by its name, which Allen says many people find confusing.
The "new organization," Allen says will be " broad and deep [and include] all types of businesses," not just the public affairs companies that have dominated Alki in the past.
In addition to the tunnel referendum, the families and education levy, and the veterans and human services levy, residents could be asked to vote on a seawall measure, two different license-fee increases to pay for Metro transit, and a levy to study light rail expansion. Additionally, five city council members are up for reelection this year, along with four county council members.
The chamber will go public with the details of the new group tomorrow at 1:30, in Interbay.
The Alki Foundation is a 501(c)4 nonprofit, a status that limits its ability to get involved directly in campaigns. Instead, the group holds candidate forums, interviews candidates, and makes "recommendations" (not endorsements) to its membership.
Under its new status as a political committee, the group (whose name will be announced tomorrow) will be able to give money directly to candidates and, communications VP George Allen says, "engage more thoroughly in dialogues with political leaders [and] drive more resources toward candidates that are interested in economic growth and job development." Allen says the group has been talking for decades about what to do with the foundation, which is limited not just by its nonprofit status but by its name, which Allen says many people find confusing.
The "new organization," Allen says will be " broad and deep [and include] all types of businesses," not just the public affairs companies that have dominated Alki in the past.
In addition to the tunnel referendum, the families and education levy, and the veterans and human services levy, residents could be asked to vote on a seawall measure, two different license-fee increases to pay for Metro transit, and a levy to study light rail expansion. Additionally, five city council members are up for reelection this year, along with four county council members.
The chamber will go public with the details of the new group tomorrow at 1:30, in Interbay.
