Rian Watt, pictured here with Elliott Bay and the Seattle Skyline. He wears a Mariners hat.
Rian Watt became executive director of The Urbanist by vote of the board in June 2023. His title switched to "senior adviser" this month. (The Urbanist)

Cities are complicated places, and the people who live in them are complicated too. It can be hard to cut through all the noise and figure out what it’s going to take to build the kind of communities we all want to live in: vibrant, affordable, safe, and filled with the people that matter to us. All the pieces matter, and it’s not always obvious how the choices we make in land use, or housing, or transportation, or climate, or environmental justice, etc. relate to one another or to the future we’re trying to build.

That’s where The Urbanist comes in. Smart journalism. Committed and effective advocacy. Big-picture vision. Total command of the wonky details. This organization is the complete package and we are so lucky to have it in our city and our region. I’m a proud subscriber and I hope you’ll join me in supporting their essential work.

Rian Watt recently joined The Urbanist’s board of directors and has also served on The Urbanist Elections Committee. The Urbanist’s fall subscriber drive runs until Sunday October 16th. We hope to earn your support! Subscribe below:

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Article Author
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

Rian Watt serves part-time as a Senior Advisor to the The Urbanist's Board of Directors, responsible for a broad portfolio including board management, revenue, and organizational growth. Prior to serving as Senior Advisor, Rian served part-time as The Urbanist's Executive Director from 2023-24, as Chair of the Election Committee from 2019-2023, and on The Urbanist’s Board of Directors.