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Support Housing Throughout Seattle
The Seattle City Council is earnestly taking up the major Comprehensive Plan update and permanent middle housing legislation over the coming months. We have created a template letter that you can send to all City Councilmembers with a few clicks. It outlines ways to improve proposed policy and regulations.
On Wednesday, Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck unveiled a proposal overhauling the city's Business and Occupation tax that she hopes to put the levy before voters this November, if she can win over her colleagues. Dubbed the Seattle Shield Initiative, it would exempt more small businesses, but raises taxes on the rest.
Recent Posts
Seattle Council Candidates Spar at Mobility and Housing Forum
Check out the key takeaways from the Seattle City Council candidate forum focused on mobility and housing issues that happened earlier this month. An urbanist consensus emerged among some, but not all issues.
Repeal Referendum Campaign Targets State Parking Reform, Transit-Oriented Housing Law
Safe Eastside, a group with a long track record of attacking facilities for people exiting homelessness, is turning its attention to major pieces of state housing reform approved in 2025. They have until July 26 to collect more than 150,000 signatures to get a repeal referendum on the ballot in Washington state.
Get Your Tickets for ‘Urbanism on the Eastside’ Panel July 6th
RSVP to The Urbanism on the Eastside Panel and join representatives from across the Eastside as they answer questions about housing, land use, and transportation.
Central Puget Sound’s Transportation Funding Gap Tops $78 Billion Through 2050
Despite heavy attention on challenges funding transportation at the state level, shortfalls are projected to hit transit agencies and city transportation networks hardest. With few tools available to raise progressive transportation revenue at the local level, the future looks bleak without reform.
Op-Ed: Restoring Seattle’s Community Court Is Good, Pre-Filing Diversion Even Better
Reviving community court isn’t a simple fix for Seattle’s criminal legal system — pre-filing diversion programs are more effective, cost less money, and avoid the harmful consequences of prosecution. Here's one Seattle City Attorney candidate's plan.
Issaquah Eyes New I-90 Bridge to Connect to Future Light Rail...
The preferred concept for an I-90 bridge in Central Issaquah would cost at least $110 million, and is seen as an essential component of creating a more connected neighborhood around a future light rail station. Councilmembers are wary about jumping in with both feet.
Op-Ed: Seattle Council Should Scale Up Neighborhood Centers in Growth Plan
On Monday, June 23, the Seattle City Council is holding a public hearing on the One Seattle growth plan. Housing advocates must defend the 29 neighborhood centers in the plan and push to add more. Jazmine Smith lays out the case for these eight additions.
Get Your Tickets for ‘Urbanism on the Eastside’ Panel July 6th
RSVP to The Urbanism on the Eastside Panel and join representatives from across the Eastside as they answer questions about housing, land use, and transportation.
Join The Urbanist for June Events, Eastside Forum on July 6th
Headlining our June events, we urge folks to attend the Seattle Comprehensive Plan public comment session on June 23. The Urbanist is also hosting an "Urbanism on the Eastside" panel on Sunday, July 6.
June 4th Seattle Candidate Forum to Focus on Transportation and Housing
The Urbanist will be co-hosting a Seattle candidate forum on June 4th in Beacon Hill along with allied housing and transportation organizations. It will be a fantastic chance to hear from candidates for Seattle Mayor and City Council. RSVP today!
More events posts »
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Repeal Referendum Campaign Targets State Parking Reform, Transit-Oriented Housing Law
Safe Eastside, a group with a long track record of attacking facilities for people exiting homelessness, is turning its attention to major pieces of state housing reform approved in 2025. They have until July 26 to collect more than 150,000 signatures to get a repeal referendum on the ballot in Washington state.
Get Your Tickets for ‘Urbanism on the Eastside’ Panel July 6th
RSVP to The Urbanism on the Eastside Panel and join representatives from across the Eastside as they answer questions about housing, land use, and transportation.
Issaquah Eyes New I-90 Bridge to Connect to Future Light Rail...
The preferred concept for an I-90 bridge in Central Issaquah would cost at least $110 million, and is seen as an essential component of creating a more connected neighborhood around a future light rail station. Councilmembers are wary about jumping in with both feet.
More Eastside Coverage posts »
Op-Ed: Seattle Council Should Scale Up Neighborhood Centers in Growth Plan
On Monday, June 23, the Seattle City Council is holding a public hearing on the One Seattle growth plan. Housing advocates must defend the 29 neighborhood centers in the plan and push to add more. Jazmine Smith lays out the case for these eight additions.
Harrell Official Minimizes Cuts to Housing Growth Centers as ‘Very Small’
After dozens of blocks were dropped from the One Seattle housing growth plan, planner Michael Hubner downplayed the changes as minimal. The Seattle Planning Commission painted the move as pushing the city is headed in the wrong direction.
Judge Dismisses Last-Ditch Challenges of Draft Seattle Growth Plan
Quick decisions by a King County Superior Court ruled that two separate challenges to the One Seattle Plan's environmental review will have to wait until the Seattle City Council makes a final decision on the growth plan.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
An Audio Recap of The Urbanist’s ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel
Want a deep dive on the latest in Seattle housing policy? The Urbanist has you covered. Check out this recording and transcript of our April housing panel with experts.
Urbanist Reporters Appear on Hacks and Wonks Podcast
The Urbanist's contributing editor Ryan Packer and reporter Amy Sundberg appeared on back-to-back episodes of the Hacks and Wonks podcast this week. Be sure...
Ryan Packer Talks Vision Zero, Traffic Safety on Hacks and Wonks...
Ryan Packer broke down local "Vision Zero" traffic safety campaigns on a recent episode of the Hacks and Wonks podcast.
More podcast episodes »