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Politics and Government

Seattle Council and Mayor Not Asking the Hard Questions about Police Recruitment

City leaders are weighing laxer hiring standards rather than improving SPD culture and accountability systems. For the new Seattle city councilmembers to make good on...
a new seven story apartment building and a side street

Seattle Council Rejects Morales’ Affordable Housing Bill

After her bill failed Tuesday, Councilmember Morales said: "My Connected Communities legislation would have produced more affordable housing, commercial affordability, and anti-displacement measures right now. I’m incredibly disappointed in its failure to pass today."
Morales wears a yellow blazer and glasses.

Seattle Land Use Committee Rejects Morales’ Equitable Development Bill

Chair Tammy Morales appeared flabbergasted as she initially failed to get a second to her motion to introduce her bill providing incentives for affordable housing.

Heroes and Zeroes of the 2024 Washington State Legislature

Check out our top ten lawmakers who distinguished themselves for good and bad from the 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature.
Three officers standing around a squad car

New Seattle Police Contract Punts on Accountability, Delivers Big 23% Raise

Mayor Harrell's contract would make Seattle police the highest paid in the region, but no more accountable. The long-awaited new proposed contract between the City...

Shaun Scott Aims to Succeed Retiring Rep Chopp as Progressive Champion in Olympia

Shaun Scott sat down with The Urbanist to make his case for the 43rd Legislative District seat and lay out his top priorities in office, which included funding affordable housing, grappling with Long Covid, and advancing civilian emergency response alternatives.

Local Labor Leaders Hope to Sustain ‘Year of the Union’ Momentum

2023 was a banner year for union organizing nationwide and locally, but much work remains in 2024 to sustain gains and expand on them. And corporate bosses are not taking this without a fight.

Join Us for Urbanist Panel Breaking Down 2024 Washington State Legislature Session

The "Year of Housing 2.0" at the state legislature yielded less progress than expected. Our March 26 virtual event will conduct an autopsy.