Citing the prospect of "tax shift" and concerns around subsidies for housing, the Maple Valley Council voted 5-2 to pull the plug on a yet to be implemented Multifamily Tax Exemption program. The City will now have to look for additional tools to spur affordable housing or risk state censure.
State Attorney General Nick Brown is suing Tacoma’s ICE detention center operator, alleging “unsafe, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions.” Meanwhile, the Trump administration signed a new contract with GEO Group that erodes detainee protections.
The "affordable ST3" plan still leaves $11-$13 billion in projects unfunded, as Sound Transit board members vow to look for additional revenue and cost savings. With a May 28 board vote fast approaching, the rebalancing proposal looks mostly baked at this point.
KUOW's Soundside recently did a special on Sound Transit system expansion deliberations that heavily featured Urbanist contributing editor Ryan Packer. It's a great primer on the debate about how to best close the agency's $34.5 billion budget gap. Give it a listen!
Riding the bus regularly can help officials make better policy decisions. Nondrivers Alliance wants your help to invite them to participate in the annual Week Without Driving this fall.
To unlock a novel funding source intended to fund 15% of the cost of a new pedestrian bridge, Bellevue needed five different levels of government to sign off. This week, the final vote at the King County Council put the City on the path to approval.
Join The Urbanist and other grassroots organizations for a May filled with advocacy and social gatherings. Among our events: a walking tour in Redmond on May 9 and a Cross Kirkland biking tour on May 17.
Transit advocates will march from Ballard to Smith Cove to draw attention to Sound Transit's plans to jettison this section of light rail, promised in the ST3 ballot measure.
Join The Urbanist and other grassroots organizations for an April filled with advocacy and social hours! Among our events: the Save Ballard Rail march on April 19, our Seattle social on April 23, and our Redmond meetup April 30.
Join The Urbanist and Complete Communities Coalition for a housing rally on April 6, pushing for a bolder Seattle Comprehensive Plan that promotes affordability and abundance.
To unlock a novel funding source intended to fund 15% of the cost of a new pedestrian bridge, Bellevue needed five different levels of government to sign off. This week, the final vote at the King County Council put the City on the path to approval.
Bellevue Transportation Director Andrew Singelakis told city councilmembers he'd like to see spending on vehicle mobility ramp up from 10% to 25% of the city's spending on transportation. That looks to be at odds with Council, which is focused on safety investments.
Completion of the full 2 Line has brought Bellevue so much closer to the rest of the region. That's set to provide Bellevue's slate of elected leaders, transformed to match the city in recent years, with major opportunities to advance progressive citybuilding.
A proposal to close a $34.5 billion gap in the voter-approved ST3 plan is on a fast track to a Sound Transit board vote on May 28. Developed by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, it would prioritize completing the regional rail "spine" while deferring and delaying multiple other major projects.
The City of Everett has maintained its own independent transit agency since 1969, but merging with Community Transit is likely to bring major benefits for the city's transit riders. Thanks to a 2025 change in state law, the move won't require a public vote.
At an April 14 rally in Everett, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin repeatedly stressed that finishing the light rail "spine" to Everett and Tacoma would be their top priority, while backing a plan to defer getting to Ballard.
A proposal to close a $34.5 billion gap in the voter-approved ST3 plan is on a fast track to a Sound Transit board vote on May 28. Developed by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, it would prioritize completing the regional rail "spine" while deferring and delaying multiple other major projects.
Pierce County is set to consider an ordinance on March 24 that would prohibit a new ICE detention facility within its unincorporated areas. On March 3, King County passed just such an emergency ordinance. Advocates hope officials can do more to block illegal detentions.
A new lawsuit against the Northwest ICE detention center in Tacoma underscores the abusive conditions detainees face. Meanwhile, some local cities are seeking to block ICE’s plans to expand detention facilities in the region.
KUOW's Soundside recently did a special on Sound Transit system expansion deliberations that heavily featured Urbanist contributing editor Ryan Packer. It's a great primer on the debate about how to best close the agency's $34.5 billion budget gap. Give it a listen!
The Urbanist newsroom discusses April headlines, like Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson expanding Bicycle Weekends, 300 transit advocates marching to save Ballard light rail from the chopping block, and pushback against a Capitol Hill crisis case center.
The Urbanist newsroom discusses the big opening day for Sound Transit's crosslake 2 Line, how we got here, and what it means for the future of light rail expansion in the Seattle region.
