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Let's Make #Homes4WA
Washington faces a deep housing affordability crisis that has only continued to worsen. It’s time for Washington State to face this crisis head on with legislation. Let your legislators know we need their help to house everyone.
The Seattle Social Housing Developer smashed projections and pulled in more than double the amount expected from a recently voter-approved "excess compensation tax." Social housing advocates' priority bill at the state legislature is also making significant progress.
Recent Posts
South King Bus Network Revamp To Boost Weekend Service by 72%
The service boost will come in part from the restoration of 80,000 service hours that have been suspended since 2020. With the new network, Metro takes a big step toward a more frequent, all-day network in South King County.
Op-Ed: Why HB 2442 is a Lifeline for Cash-Strapped King County
King County is staring down a fiscal cliff that threatens to dismantle the services our communities rely on most. Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa lays out the case for passing House Bill 2442 to give counties another revenue tool to address their fiscal challenges.
SDOT Bike Corral Plan Draws Fire in Pioneer Square
The City of Seattle is planning 21 on-street bike corrals in place of illegal parking spots abutting intersections. But a debate over the aesthetic impact on Pioneer Square could overshadow the proposal's benefits and derail the project.
Seattle Superbowl Victory Parade Spurs Ridership Records for Transit and Scootershare
Sound Transit tallied a record-smashing day, exceeding 200,000 boardings on Link light rail during Seattle's victory parade day. Lime added nearly 60,000 rides on its shared scooters and e-bikes.
Sound Transit ‘Building Blocks’ Set Stage for Major Decisions this Spring
Hoping to avoid simply delaying projects or shortening lines, Sound Transit has been looking high and low for potential cost savings. Those options are set to be contemplated at a March 18 board retreat that will set the stage for major decisions in the months ahead.
Wilson Sketches Affordability Agenda in State of City Speech
On Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson pledged to attack affordability on four different fronts: housing, childcare, food, and small business opportunities. It was her first State of the City speech since taking office seven weeks ago.
ICE’s Tacoma Detention Center Targeted in New Lawsuit Alleging Abuses
A new lawsuit against the Northwest ICE detention center in Tacoma underscores the abusive conditions detainees face, which has also been alleged in numerous investigative reports. Meanwhile, some local cities are seeking to block ICE’s plans to expand detention facilities in the region.
Urbanist Podcast: Crosslake Light Rail + ICE-Triggered Constitutional Crisis
In this episode of The Urbanist Podcast, our newsroom discusses what the crosslake 2 Line opening will means for the region, what removing Claudia Balducci as System Expansion Committee Chair means for Sound Transit, and what the region is doing to address a constitutional crisis created by Trump's illegal campaign of mass deportation.
Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle
In this podcast, The Urbanist newsroom previews Washington's state legislative session and breaks down the huge setback dealt to the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project, a highway boondoggle with a ballooning budget. Plus, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson since she's been installed in office.
Urbanist Podcast: New Year, New Mayor, New Budget
Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm kick off the new year by breaking down Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's inauguration and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's budget proposal, which included deep cuts to public education, while also queuing up a millionaires income tax for 2029.
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Join Us for February Urbanist Socials and Waterways Presentation March 3rd
The Urbanist is hosting social meetups on February 19 (in Seattle) and February 26 (in Redmond). We're also hosting a talk on the Seattle Waterlines Project on March 3 in Capitol Hill.
Join Us for Our January Socials and North Sound Election Debrief
Join us for our January socials in Seattle and in Redmond, plus a special North Sound event recapping the 2025 election and looking to the political battles ahead.
Two Weeks Until The Urbanist’s Winter Holiday Party
Get your ticket to The Urbanist's annual holiday party while supplies last. Our speaking program on December 9 will feature Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and other urbanist leaders and newly elected officials.
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