Politics and Government

Downtown Seattle wall with City Hall sign on it and buildings in the background.

Seattle Budget Amendments Advance Design Review Reform and Comp Plan Outreach

The Seattle City Council has prepared more than 200 amendments to Mayor Jenny Durkan's 2022 budget proposal. Among them are amendments that would initiate...
"Trash, tents and needles in our parks and playgrounds. We can help the homeless *and* have our parks back. Vote Bruce for Mayor," read the top line of the mailer. Next to a head shot of Bruce Harrell a quote is included: "Fore me, the status quo is completely unacceptable. I don't want anyone to have to live in a tent or in their car."

Disingenuous vs. Bad Faith: Arguments and the Way We Receive Them

Recently, I got called out in a discussion where I labeled something a “bad faith” argument. We were talking about the last Seattle City...

Everett Takes Stock of Findings on a Possible Transit Merger, Charts Next Steps

A merger of Everett Transit with Community Transit that would significantly increase transit service in the region may still have legs. Everett policymakers have...
A photo shows a man with greying black hair and mustache on the left side of the screen and a woman with shoulder length black hair and a red shirt beneath jacket on the right side of the stage.

NPI Poll Finds Uphill Fight for Progressives in Seattle General Election

A poll completed by Change Research for the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI) indicates plenty of reasons why supporters of progressive candidates in Seattle's general...

Seattle Times Rescinds Kathy Lambert Endorsement Over Racist Mailer

The King County Council could get a shakeup this election, and those odds went up last week as Republican incumbent Kathy Lambert lost her...

Redistricting Maps Show Aggressive Republican Gerrymandering as Deadline Approaches

Washington State's redistricting process is off to the most contentious start in 40 years as Republicans propose aggressive gerrymanders of Seattle and the state...
A photo of the Seattle City Hall with tall glass buildings illuminated at dusk in the background.

Lack of Clarity in Seattle City Code Harms Renters

Parallel to Governor Inslee’s housing stability bridge program and Mayor Durkan’s extension of Seattle’s eviction moratorium, the Seattle City Council passed a series of...
A screenshot of a virtual Seattle City Council meeting with photos of all nine councilmembers displayed.

New Seattle Legislation Advances Renter Protections Against Economic Eviction

On Monday, the Seattle City Council had a busy -- and consequential -- day of voting on council bills related to renters' rights in...