Prop 1A Ballots Have Arrived, Determining Social Housing’s Future in Seattle
Seattle Proposition 1A would tax excess compensation to fund mixed-income social housing. The Urbanist endorses a yes on 1A vote and urges you to vote by the February 11 deadline.
Seattle’s Dual Dispatch Civilian Crisis Responder Program Expands, Despite Obstacles
Seattle's civilian safety department will quadruple in size by hiring 18 additional responders and 3 supervisors. For now, the CARE department is handling a tiny fraction of 911 calls, but that could change in time.
Pollet, Pedersen, and Blethen Assail State Housing Push
In this WALeg report, predictable opposition arises against missing middle housing bills.
Also in this digest:
Important Bills at a Glance.
The Week’s Focus: Condominium Act reforms.
The...
Seattle Council Candidates Spar at Mobility and Housing Forum
Check out the key takeaways from the Seattle City Council candidate forum focused on mobility and housing issues that happened earlier this month. An urbanist consensus emerged among some, but not all issues.
Washington’s First Try at E-bike Rebates Leaves Thousands of Vouchers Unredeemed
84% of Washingtonians offered a $1,200 instant rebate on a new e-bike this spring followed through and made a purchase, compared to just 24% of those who were offered a $300 rebate. The lessons learned during the first rollout of the program are likely to shape the next round of incentives.
The ‘Structural Change’ About to Make Homebuilding More Expensive in Seattle
As Seattle enters an era where fewer builders are lining up to build office towers and residential skyscrapers, the city's permit department is scrambling to catch up. Despite last-minute concerns raised Monday around a 18% permit fee increase, that change is poised to take effect next year.
King County’s Housing First Initiative Boasts High Success Rate
King County's Health Through Housing program provides a road map for exiting homelessness, providing housing first to stabilize people, and it’s working. Newly unveiled 2024 data shows a high rate of success among participants.
Op-Ed: Local Leaders Pioneering a New, Undemocratic Seattle Process
While the Seattle City Council has recently stifled opportunity for public participation and dissent, Seattle Public Schools is even further along, having already adopted many of the same undemocratic practices now seen at City Hall.