Doug Trumm
Doug Trumm is publisher of The Urbanist. An Urbanist writer since 2015, he dreams of pedestrian streets, bus lanes, and a mass-timber building spree to end our housing crisis. He graduated from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington in 2019. He lives in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood and loves to explore the city by foot and by bike.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is out as the allegations against him pile up. Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Sue Rahr would be his interim replacement. Diaz faces numerous investigations for an alleged pattern of gender and racial discrimination in his office and sexual harassment.
Moves to cut the minimum wage for gig workers and squeeze Equitable Development Initiative projects for funding will have to wait for a future Seattle City Council meeting after their sponsors tabled the votes.
Today, Sound Transit ruled out late-breaking South Lake Union station alternatives for Ballard Link. Major business lobbied hard for the late "shifted west" additions, but it wasn't enough to win over the board.
The Sound Transit Board is set to vote on betterments policy reform, limiting local jurisdictions' ability to foist costs on the agency. But some boardmembers are accusing the agency of "bullying" and are seeking to water down the proposal.
Seattle already has draft legislation that would go a long toward implementing the state mandate to allow "co-living" micro-apartments this year, but there are some aspects that may need fine-tuning by the city council or another round of legislation next year to comply.
People biking, walking, rolling, and driving through the busy intersection of Dexter Avenue and Thomas Street are now interacting in a new way, with protection that research shows cuts down on the risk of collisions.
The zoning changes could spur construction of up to 1,000 homes, many of them affordable, as part of a new makers district along 4th Avenue S in Georgetown.
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.