GEE & URSULA

Would you be OK with an Amazon fulfillment center in your neighborhood?

Apr 12, 2021, 3:18 PM | Updated: Apr 13, 2021, 7:23 am

Amazon...

(AP)

(AP)

Amazon is considering building fulfillment centers in three Seattle locations according to a Seattle Times report, including two near the Mount Baker light-rail station, and one in Interbay. Part of the thrust is that putting those fulfillment centers in centralized locations will enable more efficient delivery of packages.

KIRO Radio’s Ursula Reutin posed a question to co-host Gee Scott: “Would you be OK with a fulfillment center being put in down the street from your house?”

“I’m gonna go ahead and be OK with the fulfillment center being in the neighborhood,” Gee responded. “How could I not be excited about the local economy? … That means that there will be some more local businesses that will get more money.”

New Amazon Fulfillment Center to open in Arlington

As the Times reports, there’s been concern from housing activists that one of the locations could displace space for affordable housing on Rainier Avenue.

For Ursula, an additional concern is the character of the neighborhood changing, and she doesn’t care about packages being delivered any faster at this price.

“Well, I could say no to this much more easily than I would say no to a smaller business in my neighborhood. A fulfillment center would completely change the character of a neighborhood — having all those trucks and those deliveries. Even to this date right now, there’s a number of trucks going through our neighborhood because everyone, apparently, on my street loves to order from Amazon,” she said.

Seattle weighs differing approaches to homeless crisis in wake of pandemic

“Let’s just talk in Seattle. There are some neighborhoods where you can barely get through the middle of your street because there’s parking — no one has garages — so there’s parking on both sides of the street. And now you’re going to have delivery trucks, like fleets of them, coming out,” she said. “… I’m OK to wait a few days for that delivery.”

Gee asked Ursula where she’d put a fulfillment center instead.

“In wide open spaces,” she said, laughing.

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee and Ursula Show

Gee & Ursula

Pierce County Council candidate Brenda Lykins...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘They just want good government’: Pierce County Council candidate says voters are tired of us-versus-them politics

Brenda Lykins holds a big lead in the race for the Pierce County Council's District 7 seat.

4 hours ago

Democrat...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘People’s bills got bigger than their bigotry’: Political analyst explains Democrats’ election surge

MS NOW political analyst Jason Johnson offered a blunt explanation for Democrats’ election gains.

5 hours ago

wa millionaires tax...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I’ll veto right here’: Gov. Ferguson promises Gee he’ll reject any move to lower WA millionaires’ tax threshold

Gov. Bob Ferguson offered more than a renewed promise to block any attempt to lower Washington’s millionaires’ tax threshold.

13 hours ago

RV (2)...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I don’t believe you’: Ursula slams Mayor Wilson’s RV permit veto as Gee questions the cost

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson vetoed the centerpiece of the Seattle City Council's plan to crack down on RVs parked on city streets.

1 day ago

...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Do not put it in a mailbox’: Steve Hobbs urges WA voters to use ballot drop boxes before the Election Day deadline

While Washington voters must return ballots by Nov. 3, Secretary Hobbs emphasizes the importance of drop boxes for timely voting.

1 day ago

i-5 crash move over law...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Are we more reckless or more distracted?’: Gee and Ursula weigh road safety after three I-5 crashes involving troopers

Drivers crashed into Washington State Patrol vehicles on I-5 three times in 10 days, with the latest collision occurring Sunday near the Kent-Des Moines exit.

2 days ago

Would you be OK with an Amazon fulfillment center in your neighborhood?