Moore Steps Down, Seattle Council to Appoint Replacement to 16-Month Term
District 5 Councilmember Cathy Moore's announced her resignation today, effective July 7. Moore's departure will queue up a 16-month term for the appointee the Council selects. In November 2026, D5 voters will elect a councilmember to a one-year term.
Former Seattle Police Chief Diaz Sues City, Harrell for Retaliation
Last week, former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz filed a lawsuit against the City and Mayor Bruce Harrell, alleging wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage theft. Beyond the monetary cost, the suit could be yet another political headwind for a mayor facing a tough reelection fight.
Op-Ed: Seattle Council’s Ethics Overhaul Would Be Neither Ethical nor Democratic
Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore announced Friday that she is withdrawing her proposal weakening the City’s ethics rules, pledging to fine-tune the idea and bring it back. Collin Thrower lays out why she is on the wrong track.
Fort Lawton Housing Project Faces a Make-or-Break Moment
The idea of building affordable housing at Magnolia's former Army base has been in the works for two decades. With a key comment deadline passing this month, it's finally set to advance, but several major hurdles loom over the coming months.
Harrell Quietly Pushing Police in Schools, with Possible Levy Funding Infusion
Mayor Bruce Harrell’s $1.3 billion education levy is set to go to the ballot in November, but it could be weighed down by a controversial proposal to put police officers back in Seattle schools. Meanwhile, Harrell’s draft school safety plan has stalled out, which is drawing criticism from school board leaders that the City’s approach is ill-defined.
OPA, Seattle Police Violated Medical Privacy of Protester, Unearthed Investigation Reveals
Important questions remain despite a newly unearthed report, including how police first obtained sensitive medical information, why the City’s inspector general continued to be directly involved, despite recusal due to conflict of interest, and why the Mayor’s Office opted to hire and accept the findings of another external consultant, following the original investigation’s sustained allegations.
June 4th Seattle Candidate Forum to Focus on Transportation and Housing
The Urbanist will be co-hosting a Seattle candidate forum on June 4th in Beacon Hill along with allied housing and transportation organizations. It will be a fantastic chance to hear from candidates for Seattle Mayor and City Council. RSVP today!
Seattle Just Rezoned Entire City — That Was the Easy Part
To meet a state deadline, the Seattle City Council legalized fourplexes or sixplexes across the entire city via the adoption of an interim code Tuesday. The move is just a prelude to a bigger fight over urban density, as Council advances Mayor Bruce Harrell's broader growth plan.