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Seattle and other West Coast cities are pushing for the right to clear encampments without offering shelter. But the U.S. Supreme Court would need to overrule the Ninth Circuit decision determining this is cruel and unusual punishment and unconstitutional.
Recent Posts
Seattle Council, Mayor Not Asking the Hard Questions about Police Recruitment
City leaders are weighing laxer hiring standards rather than improving SPD's culture and accountability systems. But SPD's bad reputation could be the bigger drag on hiring – not to mention safety outcomes.
Columbia City Group Pushes for ‘Town Square’ Festival Street
Following the successful implementation of a pandemic-prompted street patio in Columbia City, a group of community members formed Friends of Ferdinand Festival Street and are trying to find a way to make it permanent.
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."
Community Development Counters Eco-Gentrification from Duwamish Valley Cleanup
The Duwamish River is a contaminated Superfund site, but cleanup is underway. Advocates are pushing for community development and affordable housing to reduce displacement as the Duwamish Valley becomes more attractive.
Washington’s Statewide E-bike Rebate Program Is Still on the Way
More than a year after the state legislature allocated $5 million in funding, we still don't have a firm date for when e-bike rebates will be available. But WSDOT says work is still happening behind the scenes and a potential launch date is on the horizon.
Riders Swarm East Link Light Rail on Opening Weekend
After a 90-minute opening ceremony, the 2 Line clocked 35,000 boardings on Saturday. Leaders predicted the line would dramatically transform the Eastside.
How King County’s Basic Income Program Could Fight Poverty and Increase...
Research has showed the promise of guaranteed basic income programs to interrupt the cycle of poverty, and participants in King County's pilot program told The Urbanist that it had helped them improve their circumstances.
Join The Urbanist for an East Link Opening Party
If you’ve been waiting for this as long as we have, please join us to celebrate, ride East Link, and come hang out at our afterparty at Goose Pub for beverages and food with fellow urbanists on April 27.
Join The Urbanist for Our Monthly Meetup on April 18
Our in-person meetup is at Stoup Capitol Hill every third Thursday of the month from 5:30pm to 7ish. On April 18, we'll again discuss the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
Get Plugged In with The Urbanist’s New Local Events Calendar
The Urbanist’s new Local Events Calendar is the one-stop shop for finding events from a variety of organizations across the region. Readers can subscribe to the calendar so they never miss an opportunity to connect.
More events posts »
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Riders Swarm East Link Light Rail on Opening Weekend
After a 90-minute opening ceremony, the 2 Line clocked 35,000 boardings on Saturday. Leaders predicted the line would dramatically transform the Eastside.
An Urbanist Guide of Things to Do in Downtown Bellevue
If you're detraining at Downtown Bellevue Station and looking for entertainment and sustenance beyond malls and without burning a crater in your wallet at...
East Link TOD: Microsoft Grows Around Redmond Technology Station, If Not...
A huge Microsoft Campus "Refresh" redevelopment is underway next door to Redmond Technology Station. It will add three million square feet of office space, but not much housing and no highrises.
More Eastside Coverage posts »
Op-Ed: Building the Seattle We Want with the Growth We’ll Have
Seattle's proposed 20-year growth strategy could certainly use improvement. Here are suggestions to promote housing abundance, fight exclusion, and curb climate pollution.
Planners Proposed Bigger Upzones Before Harrell’s Team Intervened, Records Show
A paper trail from fall 2023 shows that Mayor Harrell's office overruled his planning department and cut transit corridor upzones and halved the number of proposed "neighborhood centers" before release of the growth strategy.
Urbanist Leader Rian Watt Talks Housing Crisis on Hacks & Wonks...
The Urbanist's Executive Director Rian Watt appeared on Crystal Fincher's Hacks and Wonks podcast on April 9 to talk about the housing crisis. He offered three fixes for the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
The Urbanist Podcast: Vote Up to the End
It's time to vote for Seattle City Council, a housing levy, and elected positions all over King County. The Urbanist has published its general...
Guest Podcast: Recycling America’s Railroads into Trails
The Urbanist Podcast is on summer break so we thought we'd share with you a guest podcast on a topic near and dear to...
The Urbanist Podcast: All About 2023 Primary Endorsements
Primary election ballots are arriving in the mail and due by August 1st. In the run up The Urbanist Elections Committee has been hard...
More podcast episodes »