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Downgraded from a full audit and long delayed, the Office of Inspector General’s six-page mutual aid review did not assess if outside police forces patrolling the streets of Seattle would be required to follow SPD bias policies, be held to SPD force review policies, and be accountable for their actions through the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) complaint process. 

Seattle Breaks Ground on West Coast’s First Residential Highrise of 2024

As a new 45-story apartment tower goes up at elephant car wash site, Seattle is building apartments at a rapid pace – but a slump may be on the way.

Op-Ed: Unclogging Seattle’s Water Permit Gauntlet Would Help Address Housing Crisis

Onerous requirements for new water infrastructure that go further than Washington state law are a part of the problem when it comes to encouraging home building in Seattle.

Will Puget Sound’s Official Transportation Plan Get a Badly Needed Refresh?

Several high profile officials are pushing for the next update to the central Puget Sound's Regional Transportation Plan to be more transformative than it might otherwise have been. The plan sways which projects get grants.

Sunday Video: What’s Good And Bad About Amtrak and Via Rail?

Riding the rails from New York City to Toronto and then eventually onward to London, Ontario, Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes...

The Urbanist Breaks the Stories You Care About Around The Region

The Urbanist is in the midst of our fall membership drive. The coming months are some of the most pivotal the region has seen in recent memory.

Op-Ed: Higher Wages Are Needed Part of Seattle’s Housing Affordability Solution

The Fight for $15 has been won. Now housing affordability is Seattle’s biggest challenge. Repealing wage standards would be a setback.

Amtrak Advances Major Seattle Rail Yard Expansion

Amtrak is updating its Seattle rail yard to handle an expanded modern fleet of trains via a newly announced $300 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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An evening shot of Esterra Park on NE Turing St

The Urbanist Teams Up with Eastside Urbanism for October Monthly Meetup...

We’re headed to Redmond for our October meetup while we hunt for a new Seattle venue for our monthly socials. Please join The Urbanist and...

Join for The Urbanist’s RapidRide G Line Opening Celebration

The Urbanist is hosting an opening day celebration for the RapidRide G Line, which commences service early Saturday morning. Our event is from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at Stoup Capitol Hill.
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Join The Urbanist for Our Monthly Meetup Tonight

Join The Urbanist for our monthly meetup tonight (August 22nd) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Stoup Capitol Hill.

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An evening shot of Esterra Park on NE Turing St

The Urbanist Teams Up with Eastside Urbanism for October Monthly Meetup...

We’re headed to Redmond for our October meetup while we hunt for a new Seattle venue for our monthly socials. Please join The Urbanist and...

Mercer Island Plans to Densify Town Center… With a Big Catch

In response to state law, Mercer Island is poised to upzone some of the blocks closest to transit. But new affordability mandates may negate the move.

Op-Ed: Bellevue Can Lead the Region on Street Safety

Bellevue is positioned to lead on traffic safety so long as it makes investments in safer roads. This fall's budget is a great time to start.

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Seattle’s Growth Plan Keeps Most of the City Unaffordable, County Committee...

Seattle's 20-year growth plan doesn't do enough to ensure that lower income residents will be able to access the vast majority of the city's residential neighborhoods, according to King County's Affordable Housing Committee.
The intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Othello Street.

Single Family Zones Are Biggest Culprits in Displacement of Black Seattleites

Seattle's single family areas have seen their Black population plummet by 9,126 since 1990. Meanwhile, "urban village" neighborhood have added more than 8,000 Black residents in that span. Why then is low-density zoning expected to blunt displacement?

Will Seattle Embrace Multiplexes in Single Family Zones Despite Weak Proposal?

Seattle needs to allow more housing in today's single family zones if it's serious about its housing crisis. Strict multiplex size restrictions need to go from the Mayor's growth plan.

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Ryan Packer in a bike helmet along a bike path with an autumn-colored tree behind

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.
Photo of Rian Watt wearing a t-shirt from the National Civil Rights museum and an unbuttoned button down shirt. He is smiling slightly.

Rian Watt Talks Primary Results on Hack and Wonks Podcast

The Urbanist's Senior Advisor Rian Watt discussed primary election results and the latest happenings at Seattle City Hall on a August 9 episode of...

Urbanist Publisher Doug Trumm Discusses Transportation Levy on Hacks & Wonks...

The Urbanist’s Publisher Doug Trumm was recently on Crystal Fincher's Hacks and Wonks podcast to discuss the Seattle transportation levy proposal, which came in well short of where safe streets advocates were pushing the mayor to go. The episode is a good primer on the levy debate.

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