Commentary

An aerial photo of Downtown Bellevue in 2023 on a sunny day, with blue Lake Washington in the foreground

2025 Is Poised To Be the Year of the Eastside

East Link light rail expansions set the stage for boosting housing and transforming streets to overcome car dependence. The next year will be a pivotal, signaling whether Eastside cities are executing an urban transformation or falling back into old exclusionary patterns, ceding regional leadership back to the other side of the lake.

What’s at Stake in Seattle and Washington State Elections

Election Day 2024 is upon us, and the outcome will have a huge impact on the lives of residents in Seattle and Washington state. Here's a quick rundown of what's on the ballot and what the outcome could mean.

Progressive PAC Helps Rinck Keep Fundraising Pace in Seattle Council Race

A pro-Woo PAC pumped $70,000 into the race Friday as a last ditch effort to swing the election. So far, Alexis Mercedes Rinck had been able to keep pace, with help from the Progressive People Power PAC.

Bremerton’s Recent Street Upgrades Miss the Mark on Safety

Recently completed Bremerton street projects have fallen well short of modern safety standards. The projects fail to shorten crosswalk distances, slow traffic speed, or protect cyclists with more than paint.

The Seattle Times’ Credibility on Transportation Levies Has Run Out

The editorial board of Seattle's only remaining daily newspaper has an abysmal track record when it comes to supporting the Seattle transportation levy. Voters should take their recommendation with a boulder of salt.

Rinck’s Momentum Points to Seattle Voter Realignment, not Simply Even-Year Bump

Seattle voters are backing progressives and rejecting the centrist coalition that swept into power in 2023,. But it was a swing in voter preferences rather than demographics that propelled the progressive Rinck in the primary.

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.
A half dozen police and a medic team talk to a person in a wheel chair across from Pioneer Square Station. A police cruiser and ambulance are parked along Third Avenue.

Harrell Cuts Social Safety Net to Fund 16% Boost to SPD

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2025 budget would cut elsewhere to fund a 16% increase to the Seattle Police Department. The cuts to affordable housing and social services could backfire, undermining public safety and homelessness response.