by Kevin Schofield
This weekend’s “long read” is an article published by Noah Smith, looking at the productivity of construction workers and how it’s measured.
The conventional wisdom is that for decades construction productivity has been in a slow decline, in sharp contrast to other intensive industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. This graph from the Economist sums up the picture well:
Continue reading Weekend Long Reads: Deconstructing Productivityby Mark Van Streefkerk
Like all construction trades, carpentry is overwhelmingly male-dominated, literally meaning most of the world has been built “by men for men,” as Melissa Garcia described. With her business La Matriarca Woodworkings, Garica hopes to make a little more of the South End built by women.
Offering carpentry, construction, resin, and custom work, South Park-based La Matriarca has been especially busy this year since more families have been staying in and focusing on home renovations during the pandemic. It’s a challenge Garica welcomes, especially with the support she receives from the community. Through her booming business, as well as future mentorship opportunities in the works, Garcia hopes she can be the visible representation of a queer, POC, Indigenous woman working in the trades that she never saw when she was young.
Continue reading Queer and Indigenous-Owned La Matriarca Woodworkings Honors Matriarchy With Power Tools and Sisterhoodby Carolyn Bick
Conversations around what the City of Seattle is doing to combat its burgeoning affordability crisis have been dominated by discussions of Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) and Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) policies. Some neighborhood groups are concerned these projects will not create the expected amount of affordable housing, while worsening the effects of redlining –– and a report from the City of Seattle supports the notion that the effects of MHA have the risk of disproportionately impacting communities of color.
Continue reading Seattle’s Own Housing Affordability Efforts Could Worsen Displacement
