"Fair Pricing" for Groceries

Weekend Warmup!

Seattle could soon ban"algorithmic-based price discrimination"for grocery shoppers. It's a move that city leaders are pushing in the name of affordability and privacy protection.

In this episode, we'll talk to a City Councilmember who's trying to pass it, as well as an industry leader who has critiques of the ordinance as it's written. We'll also hear from a privacy reporter about what this fight against "surveillance" or "personalized pricing" looks like around the country. 

Plus: Soundside's Weekend Warmup (click for links to events!)

Today on the show: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Councilmember; Amanda Dalton, president and CEO of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association; Alfred Ng, privacy reporter at POLITICO

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go todonate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Seattle could soon ban "algorithmic-based price discrimination" for grocery shoppers. It's a move that city leaders are pushing in the name of affordability and privacy protection.
In this episode, we'll talk to a City Councilmember who's trying to pass it, as well as an industry leader who has critiques of the ordinance as it's written. We'll also hear from a privacy reporter about what this fight against "surveillance" or "personalized pricing" looks like around the country.&nbsp;
Plus: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/topics/soundside/2026-09-16/kuows-weekend-warmup-library-events-art-walk-marathon-and-ghostbusters">Soundside's Weekend Warmup</a> (click for links to events!)
Today on the show: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Councilmember; Amanda Dalton, president and CEO of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association; Alfred Ng, privacy reporter at POLITICO
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside leads the Puget Sound conversation with smart questions, lively debates, and direct access to the region's most influential voices. Timely, insightful, and unmistakably local, it's where the Pacific Northwest comes to dig into the news.

Soundside leads the Puget Sound conversation with smart questions, lively debates, and direct access to the region's most influential voices. Timely, insightful, and unmistakably local, it's where the Pacific Northwest comes to dig into the news.

Soundside

Soundside's David Kroman discusses the pros and cons of a ban on "algorithmic-based price discrimination" for grocery shoppers, and we've got stuff for you to do this weekend!

The debate around Seattle's 'fair pricing' push for grocery shoppers

Front Page - Thursday Sept 24

Debate: City Council District 5

Two candidates are running to represent Seattle’s northern neighborhoods - from Greenwood to Bitterlake, and Crown Hill to Lake City.

The outcome of this race has big implications for the political balance of City Hall and could prove to be the tipping point in continued debates over tax revenue, whether to turn on CCTV cameras as a crime prevention measure, the next stage of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, and the ever looming issue of the city’s budget deficit.

Today on the show: City Council District 5 candidates Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Two candidates are running to represent Seattle&rsquo;s northern neighborhoods - from Greenwood to Bitterlake, and Crown Hill to Lake City.
The outcome of this race has big implications for the political balance of City Hall and could prove to be the tipping point in continued debates over tax revenue, whether to turn on CCTV cameras as a crime prevention measure, the next stage of Seattle&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan, and the ever looming issue of the city&rsquo;s budget deficit.
Today on the show: City Council District 5 candidates Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Two candidates are running to represent Seattle’s northern neighborhoods - the outcome of this race has big implications for the political balance of City Hall.

Seattle city council candidates debate public safety, food deserts, and more

Front Page - Wednesday Sept 23

City Council President Joy Hollingsworth

Budget deficits are an annual trend for post pandemic Seattle. The city is facing a projected $175 million dollar budget shortfall next year. To solve that, the city's socialist mayor has put forward no new taxes. She’s instead calling for cuts to many departments, while adding more police.

Now the ball is in the city council’s court, to amend and pass the budget by the end of the year.

This is just one of the many items the council has on its plate – including housing and public safety initiatives.

Today on the show: Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Budget deficits are an annual trend for post pandemic Seattle. The city is facing a projected $175 million dollar budget shortfall next year. To solve that, the city's socialist mayor has put forward no new taxes. She&rsquo;s instead calling for cuts to many departments, while adding more police.
Now the ball is in the city council&rsquo;s court, to amend and pass the budget by the end of the year.
This is just one of the many items the council has on its plate &ndash; including housing and public safety initiatives.
Today on the show: Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth comes into the KUOW Studio for a conversation with Soundside hosts Libby Denkmann and David Kroman

Council President Hollingsworth on the budget, progressive policies, and mayor's homelessness goals

Front Page - Tuesday Sept 22

SPS Screen Time Limitations

Seattle Public Library part 1

Seattle Public Library part 2

A broken window on the 9th floor of Seattle's Central Library symbolizes a six billion dollar problem. Much of the city’s infrastructure is aging. 

The animal shelter needs renovations, the Fire Department needs a new headquarters – the city even needs new maintenance yards.

And competition for those dollars is going to be pretty intense. The city’s budget is in a tough place and previous ways the city has raised money iwon't be around forever. 

Plus: A new screen time policy at Seattle Public Schools for K-2 students

Today on the show:
Noel Gasca, KUOW reporter
Tom Fay, chief librarian, Seattle Public Library
Rob Gannon, director of administrative services, Seattle Public Library
Keith Harris, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Urban Design & Planning at the University of Washington
Jesse Praeter, library patron
Peter Wheeler, library patron

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

 

 

 

 

A broken window on the 9th floor of Seattle's Central Library <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattles-infrastructure-needs-billions-in-repair-the-library-is-just-the-start/">symbolizes a six billion dollar problem</a>. Much of the city&rsquo;s infrastructure is aging.&nbsp;
The animal shelter needs renovations, the Fire Department needs a new headquarters &ndash; the city even needs new maintenance yards.
And competition for those dollars is going to be pretty intense. The city&rsquo;s budget is in a tough place and previous ways the city has raised money iwon't be around forever.&nbsp;
Plus: A <a href="https://www.kuow.org/education/2026-09-21/k-2-students-no-longer-get-personal-ipads-seattle-superintendent-says-pledging-less-screen-time">new screen time policy at Seattle Public Schools</a> for K-2 students Today on the show: Noel Gasca, KUOW reporter Tom Fay, chief librarian, Seattle Public Library Rob Gannon, director of administrative services, Seattle Public Library Keith Harris, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Urban Design &amp; Planning at the University of Washington Jesse Praeter, library patron Peter Wheeler, library patron
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
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We went downtown to visit a broken window at the Central Library, and all we got was a conversation about bonds and levies.

The debate around Seattle's 'fair pricing' push for grocery shoppers

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