The Seattle City Council is considering crafting a "local hire" ordinance that would require construction companies to hire local workers for city-backed projects. Arguments for the oridance don't want city tax dollars going to outside workers while arguments against the ordiance point out the lack of skilled labor in the immediate area. A coalition of interest groups including buiilders, workers and policy experts did come up with a broad set of recommendations after months of meetings this year.
Seattle City Council member Sall Clark, who chairs the council committe taksed with coming up with a solution, said that it will ultimately be up to the city to make sure there are enough skilled workers if the Council decides to mandate local hires.
