Politics and Government

Men in suits at a table with a white background.

Bellevue Council Hopefuls Square Off at Forums on Safety, Environment, and Downtown

With ballots for the November general election set to go out in just two weeks, local voters will soon be tasked with selecting elected...
Councilmember Nelson talked a TV reporter at a Westlake Park press conference in summer 2023.

Why Reactionary Conservatives Get a Free Pass from Local Press

“You gaslight yourself by being crazy.” - Judy Gemstone This week’s sequence of congressional slap fights scraped the edge of a devastating government shutdown and...
Seattle Pacific Medical Center is a brick art deco building atop Beacon Hill dating backed to 1932.

285 Reasons Seattle’s Zoning is an [Unfunny] Joke

Strangely, it is very difficult to answer the question: "How many zones does Seattle have?" That alone suggests an uncomfortable answer. The Seattle Municipal Code...
Mayor Harrell at a podium with people behind him. He is talking about funding programs for the homeless.

Harrell’s 2024 Budget Leaves Big Questions on Safety and Looming Shortfall

Durable solutions to police accountability, public safety, drug treatment, and homelessness all remain elusive and vaguely defined. On Tuesday, Mayor Bruce Harrell released his 2024...
Parkgoes sit on the ampitheater at Bellevue's Downtown park with skyscrapers in the background.

2023 General Election Endorsements

2024 is a critical year for the City of Seattle. It’s a comprehensive plan year. It’s the year we’ll shape and pass a new...

Sunday Video: City Council Forum 2 on Housing and the Seattle Comp Plan

On Wednesday, the eight Seattle City Council candidates in open seat races faced off in a forum held at First Baptist Church. Questions were...

Video: City Council Forum 1 on Housing and the Seattle Comp Plan

On Tuesday, Seattle City Council candidates squared off in the first forum of the general election season at the First Baptist Church in First...
Color banners head by campaign volunteers for MLK Labor canvases.

Urbanist Action: Volunteer to Put Our Candidates Over the Top

In just two months, voters will elect a new Seattle City Council, and the race is on for candidates to make their closing pitches....