Politics and Government

Claudia Balducci stands at a lectern with drums next to her and drummers dressed in traditional Japanese garb behind.

Claudia Balducci Wants to Tackle King County’s Challenges Head-On as Executive

In making her case to become the next King County Executive, Claudia Balducci is pointing to her extensive track record of delivering on housing and transportation –– and getting the details right.

Holiday Video: The Problem with Public Hearings

All too often, public hearings increase costs and consume time without meaningfully impacting decisions. Uytae Lee of About Here digs into the history of the public hearing and its utility, and whether another paradigm is worth pursuing.
Construction cranes build more housing near Seattle's Space Needle.

Op-Ed: Cities Must Embrace Housing Abundance to Resist Rise of Authoritarianism

Counteracting authoritarianism and building a bright and welcoming future requires an abundance agenda centering housing growth. Cities like Seattle must lead the way.
Scott and Rinck pose at bus stops. Mello is on a downtown Tacoma street. Bateman is leaning on a marble column at the state capitol.

Four Successful Urbanist-Backed Candidates Pledge Housing, Transit, and Climate Action 

Shaun Scott, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Ryan Mello, and Jessica Bateman will bring progressive urbanist leadership to their respective offices.

Roger Millar’s Departure Leaves Big Shoes to Fill at WSDOT

Washington State's transportation chief Roger Millar is out after eight years, as Governor-elect Bob Ferguson prepares to take office. Widely recognized as a leader in progressive transportation policy, Millar will be tough to replace.

Seattle Council Passes Budget Swiping Affordable Housing Funds to Boost SPD

The Sara Nelson-led Seattle City Council passed their first city budget in an 8-1 vote. It greenlit the mayor’s plan to slash investments in affordable housing and social services and trim 48 staff positions in order to boost police spending by 16% and close a large deficit without raising new taxes.
Washington State Capitol dome at dusk

State Senate Taps Bateman for Housing Chair in Major Committee Shakeup

Big changes are coming to the Washington State Senate in 2025, including the elevation of incoming Senator Jessica Bateman to a high profile post as head of the Housing Committee, a symbol of the continued salience of the issue.
Shemona Moreno is at the lectern with a dozen advocates holding signs in defense of JumpStart investments. Two advocates wear ghost costumes with cop hats representing the ghost cop positions that mayor and council prioritizes for funding.

Seattle Rejects Capital Gains Proposal, but Progressive Tax Time Is Nigh

Progressive challenger Alexis Mercedes Rinck's election win could mean a 5-4 majority for a capital gains tax — or even a supermajority, if Rob “this is the right tax at the wrong time” Saka can be convinced that the time is right. Other progressive taxes are also on the table.