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Elections & Endorsements

Lake Union and the Seattle skyline at sunset

Op-Ed: Prop 1A Is Seattle’s Opportunity to Lead on Climate Justice

The rents and temps are too damn high. Seattle’s social housing developer can help -- with Prop 1A funding. Vote yes on Prop 1A by February 11.
Bruce Harrell in a suit standing at a lectern. MLK Labor’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow is to the left and OSE Director Jessyn Farrell to the right. A hazy Seattle skyline is in the background from Queen Anne vantage.

Op-Ed: Harrell Seeks to Derail Social Housing with Deceptive Campaign Mailer

Seattle voters received Prop 1B campaign mailers riddled with lies about social housing. Don’t be fooled. Vote for Prop 1A.
A graphic should a bar chart with compensation with a few blocks above one million dollars being taken out to fund social housing buildings. A construction crane make the move and a seal says Seattle Social Housing Developer.

Prop 1A Ballots Have Arrived, Determining Social Housing’s Future in Seattle

Seattle Proposition 1A would tax excess compensation to fund mixed-income social housing. The Urbanist endorses a yes on 1A vote and urges you to vote by the February 11 deadline.
Solomon is a bald black man wearing eyeglasses and a dark suit. He stands in front of the Seattle City seal with his hand raised for his swearing in.

Seattle Council Appoints Mark Solomon to Fill District 2 Vacancy

The Seattle City Council has selected SPD crime prevention coordinator Mark Solomon to fill the District 2 vacancy created by the resignation of Tammy Morales earlier this month. He'll serve through November.

Sara Nelson Restarts the Debate About Allowing More Housing in SoDo

The idea of encouraging more residential development around Seattle's stadiums had been put on ice in 2023 with the adoption of a citywide maritime and industrial strategy. Nelson's bill reignites that debate just as the council starts to consider the Comprehensive Plan.

The Urbanist Endorses Burien’s Measure 1 as Real Minimum Wage Boost

Burien residents should vote for Measure 1 because it will actually raise pay for low-wage workers. The Burien City Council has sought to muddy the waters, but their alternative is riddled with exemptions and a tip penalty that will largely erase the benefit to workers.
Barnes is a black man with glasses pictured posing in a police uniform.

Harrell Taps Top Madison Cop for Chief, Fires Diaz for Lying

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has tapped Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes for top cop. Demoted former police chief Adrian Diaz, meanwhile, was sent packing for lying to investigators over his romantic relationship with his chief of staff.
Tear gas rises near the East Precinct building on E. Pine St. on Monday, May 1, as police disperse a crowd of protestors. (Photo by Ethan Campbell)

Harrell Proposes Rollback of Restrictions on Police Weapons for Crowd Control

The Seattle City Council is preparing to pass new crowd control legislation in January that would largely defer to police over use of "less lethal" weapons. These weapons are still very dangerous and should be tightly regulated, critics contend.