Civics and Culture

Of Libraries, Parks, Book Stores, and Cinemas: Tacoma’s Social Infrastructre

In a previous installment, I wrote about the strain put on sidewalks when cities privatize, sell off, fail to maintain, or don’t care to...

Joke’s On You, Seattle!

It’s April Fools' Day. We here at The Urbanist understand division of labor as vital for the creation of vibrant cities. And we know...

Anna Karina 

There's so much police, fire, and medical sprawled out everywhere you'd think it was the parking lot at Bellevue Psychiatric. This place looks like Willowbrook...

The View From Nathan’s Bus: State of the (Seattle) Union

The most lasting advice I received in art school was to "think about how I think." To question why I respond this or that...

Sunday Video: The Wrong Way to Set Speed Limits

https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc Not Just Bikes explains how most speed limits are set on North American streets and road using the 85th Percentile technique as well as...

Acronyms for Action: SLI (Statement of Legislative Intent)

I first heard the word "SLI" when I was approached to provide feedback about the neighborhood council system. As a renter, I had long...

Kindness In the Days of After

We knew each other once, intimately. The trim figure, the vivacious brown eyes and half-smile that just about screams vitality, even when silent. Many...

Radio Segment Online

In case you missed the NPR interview through KNKX, here it is! Just under ten minutes total: Finding Humanity On A Public Bus, by Jennifer...