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.
King County Executive Dow Constantine is not seeking a fifth term, but County Councilmember Claudia Balducci is seeking to grab the baton and carry the initiatives he leaves behind over the finish line. She will face numerous challengers in what is sure to be a crowded primary.
The Seattle City Council again voted against completing the Center City Streetcar. But it remains a prudent investment, vastly improving the Seattle Streetcar network and First Avenue walkability.
On Tuesday, progressive advocates rallied at Seattle City Hall to make a last-ditch defense to reverse a $330 million JumpStart cut that would deplete affordable housing funding. Tuesday was the last public hearing before Council finalizes the budget next week.
New renderings, created by Neiman Taber Architects, present a vision for voters of what publicly-funded social housing would look like in Seattle. A dedicated funding source for social housing is on the ballot in February via Prop 1A.
Shaun Scott is headed to the Washington State House. Jessica Bateman is headed to the state senate. Alexis Mercedes Rinck won a Seattle City Council seat, and Ryan Mello is the new Pierce County Executive. All were endorsed by The Urbanist.
Progressives are off to a fast start in Washington state early returns. All four Republican-backed statewide initiative repealing progressive legislation are in trouble. Urbanist-endorsed Shaun Scott and Alexis Mercedes Rinck are up big, and urbanist Ryan Mello has a lead in the Pierce County Executive race.
Election Day 2024 is upon us, and the outcome will have a huge impact on the lives of residents in Seattle and Washington state. Here's a quick rundown of what's on the ballot and what the outcome could mean.
Lucid Stew's "Taking Back The Streets Cascadia Edition" analyzes the idea of repurposing I-5 lanes to create a high speed rail line between Eugene and Vancouver, BC, connecting Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and a handful of other cities along the way. A two-hour trip from Seattle to Portland or Vancouver, BC would be possible.