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We’re headed to Redmond for our October meetup while we hunt for a new Seattle venue for our monthly socials. Please join The Urbanist and Eastside Urbanism for a joint October meetup at the Jack Sprat / Pizza Poggio cafe inside Esterra Park in Redmond. The meetup will be held on Thursday, October 24th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Drinks and food are available, and it's a short walk from the...

King County Metro Faces Looming Fiscal Cliff

King County Metro is projecting a significant budget shortfall by 2028 if its current spending plan is maintained, thanks to lagging sales tax revenue, increased costs, and ambitious fleet electrification plans.
Officials stand in front of a red RapidRide bus with golden shovels with a scoop of ceremonial dirt.

J Line Breaks Ground, Delivering Bus and Bike Upgrades by 2027

The groundbreaking for the RapidRide J between Downtown, Eastlake, and the U District marks the last RapidRide project scheduled to open in Seattle this decade.
A half dozen police and a medic team talk to a person in a wheel chair across from Pioneer Square Station. A police cruiser and ambulance are parked along Third Avenue.

Harrell Cuts Social Safety Net to Fund 16% Boost to SPD

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2025 budget would cut elsewhere to fund a 16% increase to the Seattle Police Department. The cuts to affordable housing and social services could backfire, undermining public safety and homelessness response.
A pergola shelters a street cafe on Ballard Avenue, with a person biking by in the street.

Policy Lab: Why Are Seattle Restaurants So Expensive?

Seattle service workers are set to get a major wage hike when a tip exemption to the minimum wage is phased out. Overall, this will be a positive for the restaurant industry and will not raise prices nearly as much as alarmists claim.

Harrell Officials Downplay Impact of Permitting Staff Cuts

City officials have insisted that the staff cuts for SDCI in next year's budget will not impact permit approval times. Staff are not convinced.

Lynnwood Link Brings Huge Ridership Boost to Community Transit’s Swift Network

All three Swift Bus Rapid Transit routes operated by Community Transit saw double digit increases in ridership following the extension of light rail into Snohomish County, including a 36% jump for the Orange Line.

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An evening shot of Esterra Park on NE Turing St

The Urbanist Teams Up with Eastside Urbanism for October Monthly Meetup...

We’re headed to Redmond for our October meetup while we hunt for a new Seattle venue for our monthly socials. Please join The Urbanist and...

Join for The Urbanist’s RapidRide G Line Opening Celebration

The Urbanist is hosting an opening day celebration for the RapidRide G Line, which commences service early Saturday morning. Our event is from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at Stoup Capitol Hill.
An Urbanist banner standing in a corner of a brewery with a few dozen people gathered chatting.

Join The Urbanist for Our Monthly Meetup Tonight

Join The Urbanist for our monthly meetup tonight (August 22nd) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Stoup Capitol Hill.

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An evening shot of Esterra Park on NE Turing St

The Urbanist Teams Up with Eastside Urbanism for October Monthly Meetup...

We’re headed to Redmond for our October meetup while we hunt for a new Seattle venue for our monthly socials. Please join The Urbanist and...

Mercer Island Plans to Densify Town Center… With a Big Catch

In response to state law, Mercer Island is poised to upzone some of the blocks closest to transit. But new affordability mandates may negate the move.

Op-Ed: Bellevue Can Lead the Region on Street Safety

Bellevue is positioned to lead on traffic safety so long as it makes investments in safer roads. This fall's budget is a great time to start.

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Seattle’s Growth Plan Keeps Most of the City Unaffordable, County Committee...

Seattle's 20-year growth plan doesn't do enough to ensure that lower income residents will be able to access the vast majority of the city's residential neighborhoods, according to King County's Affordable Housing Committee.
The intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Othello Street.

Single Family Zones Are Biggest Culprits in Displacement of Black Seattleites

Seattle's single family areas have seen their Black population plummet by 9,126 since 1990. Meanwhile, "urban village" neighborhood have added more than 8,000 Black residents in that span. Why then is low-density zoning expected to blunt displacement?

Will Seattle Embrace Multiplexes in Single Family Zones Despite Weak Proposal?

Seattle needs to allow more housing in today's single family zones if it's serious about its housing crisis. Strict multiplex size restrictions need to go from the Mayor's growth plan.

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Ryan Packer in a bike helmet along a bike path with an autumn-colored tree behind

Ryan Packer Talks Vision Zero, Traffic Safety on Hacks and Wonks...

Ryan Packer broke down local "Vision Zero" traffic safety campaigns on a recent episode of the Hacks and Wonks podcast.
Photo of Rian Watt wearing a t-shirt from the National Civil Rights museum and an unbuttoned button down shirt. He is smiling slightly.

Rian Watt Talks Primary Results on Hack and Wonks Podcast

The Urbanist's Senior Advisor Rian Watt discussed primary election results and the latest happenings at Seattle City Hall on a August 9 episode of...

Urbanist Publisher Doug Trumm Discusses Transportation Levy on Hacks & Wonks...

The Urbanist’s Publisher Doug Trumm was recently on Crystal Fincher's Hacks and Wonks podcast to discuss the Seattle transportation levy proposal, which came in well short of where safe streets advocates were pushing the mayor to go. The episode is a good primer on the levy debate.

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