Income taxes legal: A state appeals court says the Washington ban on net income taxes is unconstitutional ($) but also maintains invalidation of Seattle’s income tax.
Saving affordable housing: Berlin’s next move to preserve affordable housing units is to buy them.
Green remodel: The historic Smith Tower has just been certified as LEED Platinum thanks to green upgrades.
Public banking: Could public banks help California fund affordable housing?
Langley SkyTrain: TransLink has provided an update on planning for SkyTrain service to Langley.
Starting up in the city: Startups are abandoning suburbs for cities with good public transportation systems.
Accessible transit: CityLab talks about how transit could be designed more accessible for the visually impaired.
Bleak numbers: In the first half of 2019, early data indicates more than 100 serious injuries and fatal traffic incidents in Seattle ($).
Airbnb wins: Airbnb lobbyists strike a blow against statewide land use regulation of vacation rentals in California.
Rolling back parking regs: Houston is moving forward with parking minimum regulation elimination in two more city center districts.
Tulip tower kiboshed: London’s mayor has blocked a proposed “tulip” tower from being built.
Controversial project: What will the Central District’s Chateau Apartments be replaced with?
Elevated rail?: Bill Savage makes the case for elevated light rail and why it would make communities in Seattle more beautiful.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.