Politics and Government

Space Needle shrouded in wildfire smoke from Oregon and California in late summer 2020.

Carbon Notes May Help Seattle Council Make Smarter Climate Decisions

I woke up coughing this weekend--no, not from Covid-19--from wildfire smoke that’s settled on Seattle like a clammy yellow shroud. Last Friday was a better...
Protestors gather behind a police barricade at the East Precinct building, chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot,” on Sunday, May 31.

Court Monitor Bobb Helped Create Seattle’s Police Reform Mess

Former Mayor Mike McGinn contends Monitor Merrick Bobb's top-down approach doomed Seattle's police reform efforts from the start--long before SPD's recent fall from grace...
A large contingent of police barricaded 4th Avenue with their bicycles, blocking a route out of Westlake Park. (Photo by Robert Cruikshank)

Seattle Police Fleecing City with Overtime, Report Shows

As Seattle pored over its police department budget this year, one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was $30 million in planned...
Mayor Jenny Durkan gave soon-to-retire Police Chief Carmen Best some flowers to express her gratitude during a press conference about blocking police budget cuts in the Norm Rice room at City Hall. (Seattle Channel)

Mayor Durkan Vetoes Rebalancing Package Decrying Police Cuts, ‘Irresponsible’ Investments

Mayor Jenny Durkan again reached for her veto pen today, nixing the entire rebalancing package passed on August 10th. The Seattle City Council was...

U.S. City Governments, Seattle Included, Not as Left as Reputation

For the last few years, and in the run up to the November election, American cities led by Democratic councils and mayors have seen...

2020 August Primary Election Results: Early Returns

As of 8pm this evening, the early returns for the 2020 August Primary have been posted. Counting will continue over the coming weeks, usually...
Mayor Durkan flanked by the American flag and Washington state flag.

Durkan Vetoes $86 Million in Covid Relief Citing Fiscal Restraint

After Mayor Jenny Durkan vetoed a Covid relief package saying it depleted the City's rainy day fund, Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda fired back that...
A picture of Kirsten Harris-Talley in a yellow outfit.

2020 Endorsement Questionnaire: Kirsten Harris-Talley, LD37-2

The Urbanist Elections Committee invited state legislature candidates in the Seattle metropolitan region to fill out our questionnaire to participate in our endorsement process....