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Politics and Government

Urbanist Election Committee Endorses Alexis Rinck for Seattle Council

We see in Alexis Mercedes Rinck the moxie to fight, the savvy to collaborate, and the backbone to stand up to the powerful people getting in the way of progress. Read on to see The Urbanist Election Committee's case for re-electing Rinck.
Constantine sits at fishbowl desk with a U-ring of seated boardmembers around him and a video screen with the members joining online.

Sound Transit Hires Constantine as CEO in Unanimous Vote

Dow Constantine will leave his post as King County Executive and take over as Sound Transit's CEO on April 1, after the agency's board of directors approved the hiring in a unanimous vote Thursday. Constantine takes over at a tenuous time, with projects budgets bursting at the seams.
Evans is a light-skinned Black woman with curly hair standing in front of a red wall.

Prosecutor Erika Evans Stresses Federal Experience in Seattle City Attorney Bid

“I'm the only candidate in this race with line-level prosecutorial experience, including the Republican incumbent, at both the city and federal levels,” Erika Evans said. Check out the rest of our interview with the third challenger taking on Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison this fall.

State Budget Proposals Focus on Highway Expansion in Both Chambers

While the Washington State Senate budget includes additional taxes on e-bikes and fees for public transit, the House budget includes cuts to transit and climate work. Both budgets are in agreement on the need to double down on a number of highway megaprojects.
A sign reads Resilient communities on the lectern in the lobby of city hall and people stand behind the speaker holding signs saying a protest JumpStart commitments and invest on Seattle's future.

Op-Ed: Seattle Voters Want Progressive Change, Data Shows

A recent Change Research poll found progressive Alexis Rinck is the only Seattle municipal official with a positive approval rating. In contrast, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Council President Sara Nelson, City Attorney Ann Davison were all under water. Precinct results for the recent social housing funding measure indicate widespread progressive buy-in as well.

Sound Transit Picks Dow Constantine, Elevating Board Insider to CEO

The Sound Transit Board of Directors revealed today its CEO pick is King County Executive Dow Constantine, who has served on the board for 16 years. Constantine has been a controversial candidate, with some observers seeing a seasoned executive who helped build the agency and others a borderline case of nepotism.

House Committee Waters Down Parking Reform Bill to Placate Local Opposition

Issaquah Rep. Victoria Hunt added long implementation timelines and additional exemptions to Washington's parking reform bill as it passed out of Local Government Committee on Friday. Bill sponsors still tout the policy's significant potential to reduce costs for homebuilding.

Op-Ed: Adam Smith Is Responsible for Trump’s Victory, Not the ‘Left’

Defending the rich and blaming progressives for losses is a throughline in U.S. Rep. Adam Smith's long career, and it's gotten Democrats nowhere. Despite his recent efforts to again blame the Left, Smith and his corporate-friendly New Democratic coalition bears the blame for Trump's win, Austin Field argues.