Seattle and Spokane, Washington, have different tech industries at various stages of their evolution, but they can still learn from each other. At a recent Technology Alliance event, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell discussed the challenges and opportunities facing their cities. Brown highlighted Spokane’s affordability and quality of life, attributing its recent population growth to the rise of remote work. She also touched on Spokane’s efforts to leverage the U.S. Chips and Science Act for economic expansion and address economic inequality and early childhood education. Harrell reflected on Seattle’s growth over the past 15 years, acknowledging that he would have focused more on the impact of the tech boom on housing and affordability if he could go back to 2007.
Brown and Harrell shared their insights on the innovation economies in their regions. Brown emphasized Spokane’s tight-knit tech community and clusters in life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and tech hubs. She also mentioned Spokane’s focus on workforce development, economic expansion through aerospace materials manufacturing, and initiatives like smart grid technology. Harrell talked about Seattle’s success in the gaming industry but raised concerns about the impacts on youth, particularly related to aggressive behavior and bullying, calling for open discussions on these issues. He also acknowledged the importance of addressing housing affordability and social impacts of the tech industry.
In terms of aspirations and challenges, Brown highlighted Spokane’s economic challenges, including a third of families living paycheck-to-paycheck, a tight housing market, and affordability issues. Her biggest aspiration for Spokane is a collective impact initiative for early learning, aiming to improve kindergarten readiness and transform the future of the community. Harrell emphasized the need to address inequities in the tech industry, calling for greater diversity and inclusion. He recommended reading “The End of Race Politics” by Coleman Hughes and encouraged tech and business leaders to think about causes like climate change, income equality, racism, and gender unfairness as they navigate the AI and machine learning space.
Both mayors emphasized the importance of leveraging the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence to address societal challenges. Brown discussed Spokane’s forward-thinking policy on housing and quality of life, while Harrell highlighted the need for open discussions on the impacts of the tech industry on society. They called on the audience of tech and business leaders to consider ways to increase diversity and equity in their organizations and initiatives. Overall, the mayors showcased a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community building in their respective cities, recognizing the need for continued dialogue and action to address the evolving landscape of the tech industry.
