If only there were an online publication that combined timely news reporting, knowledgeable analysis of urban policies, and concern for equity—and also wasn’t afraid to jump into the fray and take a stand on controversial issues.
Oh wait, that exists! It’s called The Urbanist!
There are two things I especially appreciate about The Urbanist. First, the website is an important resource for grassroots organizations like the Transit Riders Union (TRU). We don’t have money to hire staff dedicated to policy and research, or the time to attend every local government committee meeting. It’s great to know that we can visit The Urbanist for insightful, well-researched commentary on current issues from land use and transportation to homelessness and city politics.
Second, the folks at The Urbanist don’t just write, they participate actively in campaigns that shape the future of Seattle and our whole region. When TRU was building a coalition to challenge Washington’s regressive tax system by passing our state’s first income tax in over 80 years, or to raise revenue for affordable housing and homelessness by taxing big business, The Urbanist was there to lend their platform and their voice. Now we’re working together in the MASS (Move All Seattle Sustainably) Coalition, leading the fight to improve Seattle’s multimodal transportation infrastructure.
I know from my experience with TRU that raising funding to sustain a principled, people-powered organization while also fulfilling the mission you care about is a lot of work. The Urbanist deserves your support. I’m proud to donate to The Urbanist and I hope you will too.
2019 Subscriber Drive
Katie Wilson is General Secretary of the Transit Riders Union, a Seattle-based organization advocating for improving transit quality and making access more equitable.