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Transit Riders Union leader Katie Wilson jumped in the race to be the next mayor of Seattle today. Our interview with Wilson covers what's motivating her to run and how she would deliver results where Mayor Bruce Harrell has failed.

Facing Legal Appeals, Seattle Poised to Adopt Stopgap Middle Housing Upzones

An interim ordinance will allow Seattle to meet a state deadline, and decide how to allow four and six units on residential lots around the city. But exactly how to do that will likely be a hotly debated issue on the city council.
Constantine wears a suit and stands at a glass lectern in from of the Downtown Bellevue Station plaza overlook of the station platform below.

Sound Transit Board Advances Secret ‘Candidate C’ as CEO Pick

The Sound Transit Executive Committee approved a secret "Candidate C" as its CEO pick today. It's unclear if that candidate is King County Executive Dow Constantine or another finalist. The committee will seek to negotiate an employment contract and formally approve the hire at the agency's full board meeting on March 27.
Ry stands in front of a Greek column with their arms crossed

Ry Armstrong Lays Out Progressive Contrast Against Mayor Harrell

Last month, actor and union representative Ry Armstrong jumped in the Seattle mayor's race, arguing Bruce Harrell is dropping the ball on a plethora of issues. In their interview with The Urbanist, Armstrong explained what they'd do differently.
A travels down Roosevelt Way next to the protected bike lane. A large seven-story apartment building with a crawfish restaurant on the first floor is on the right.

Op-Ed: Single Family Zoning Is Keeping Seattle Inaccessible to Disabled People

For the last 30 years, Seattle has adopted an urban village approach to growth that has reserved 75% of the city for single-family zoning while concentrating growth into walkable urban centers. This has created de-facto housing segregation, where many people with disabilities can reside only in the minority of neighborhoods classified as urban centers, which are made expensive by their rareness.

Washington House Passes Mosquito Fleet Act, Queuing Potential Foot Ferry Expansion

House Bill 1923, approved by an 87-8 vote by the Washington House of Representatives, would allow more local governments to set up passenger ferry districts to serve riders. It heads to the state Senate.
Lin is an Asian man with glasses and a suitcoat. He holds a coffee cup and sits next two people, one of them his wife.

Eddie Lin Pushes Housing in Council Bid to Represent Southeast Seattle

Eddie Lin is running for Seattle City Council in District 2 and highlighting the issue of housing. Check out our interview with Lin to see what he's all about.

Sunday Video: Why Dutch Klinkers Make For Better Streets

Not only are the Netherlands' brick streets more aesthetically pleasing than typical American streets, the modern klinkers (bricks) that make up most Dutch streets are just more practical. Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes dives into how brick streets are designed and installed, and what makes them better.

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Join The Urbanist for Our March Social Events

Join The Urbanist for one of our many socials for some comp plan advocacy, or join one of the many local urbanist groups doing their own things.
Big Time is an orange building and a turquoise door.

Join The Urbanist for Our February Social Events

Join The Urbanist for our February social events in Seattle, Redmond, and Shoreline. Next up is our Big Time Brewery meetup on February 20.
a group of 15 people under a picnic shelter around a picnic with coffee and pastries on it

Eastside Coffee Outside: Brewing Community, One Cup at a Time

Community members gather every Wednesday morning from 7am to 9:30am in Kirkland for Eastside Coffee Outside. Here's how they came together.

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Newcastle Mayor Pushed to Scrub Climate Change, Equity from City’s Growth...

Newcastle Mayor Robert Clark pushed to remove references to promoting racial and social equity as "vague," "subjective," and "irrelevant," and called climate change "subjective." Many of his recommendations were adopted by the Newcastle Planning Commission.
A red bus lane in the Rainier Valley with a sign reading "buses only, right turns permitted"

Bellevue Pushes to Open Up Bus-Only Lanes to Private Shuttles

Framed as a way to increase the efficiency of new transit lanes being eyed for the RapidRide K Line, the move could give transit agencies across the state less control over one of the biggest tools they have to increase speed and reliability.
A line of eight officials stand in front of banners that say Maintain, Enhance, and Expand.

Constantine’s King County Parks Levy Proposal Would Expand Trails, Programming

On Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled his $1.5 billion proposal to renew the King County Parks Levy, which expires at year's end. The levy funds parks and regional trail expansions, educational programming at partner organizations, and operations and maintenance.

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Facing Legal Appeals, Seattle Poised to Adopt Stopgap Middle Housing Upzones

An interim ordinance will allow Seattle to meet a state deadline, and decide how to allow four and six units on residential lots around the city. But exactly how to do that will likely be a hotly debated issue on the city council.
A travels down Roosevelt Way next to the protected bike lane. A large seven-story apartment building with a crawfish restaurant on the first floor is on the right.

Op-Ed: Single Family Zoning Is Keeping Seattle Inaccessible to Disabled People

For the last 30 years, Seattle has adopted an urban village approach to growth that has reserved 75% of the city for single-family zoning while concentrating growth into walkable urban centers. This has created de-facto housing segregation, where many people with disabilities can reside only in the minority of neighborhoods classified as urban centers, which are made expensive by their rareness.
A jogger crosses an intersection with a large tree on the corner and a row of apartment buildings of various ages.

Op-Ed: 10 Reasons Seattle Adding 30 Neighborhood Centers Is Smart Planning

Keeping all 30 proposed Neighborhood Centers is essential for a more affordable, sustainable, and thriving Seattle. If we chip away at Neighborhood Centers, we’ll be left with the same housing shortages, rising costs, and inequitable growth patterns we’ve seen for decades.

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Transportation

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Land Use/Housing

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Ryan Packer in a bike helmet along a bike path with an autumn-colored tree behind

Ryan Packer Talks Vision Zero, Traffic Safety on Hacks and Wonks...

Ryan Packer broke down local "Vision Zero" traffic safety campaigns on a recent episode of the Hacks and Wonks podcast.
Photo of Rian Watt wearing a t-shirt from the National Civil Rights museum and an unbuttoned button down shirt. He is smiling slightly.

Rian Watt Talks Primary Results on Hack and Wonks Podcast

The Urbanist's Senior Advisor Rian Watt discussed primary election results and the latest happenings at Seattle City Hall on a August 9 episode of...

Urbanist Publisher Doug Trumm Discusses Transportation Levy on Hacks & Wonks...

The Urbanist’s Publisher Doug Trumm was recently on Crystal Fincher's Hacks and Wonks podcast to discuss the Seattle transportation levy proposal, which came in well short of where safe streets advocates were pushing the mayor to go. The episode is a good primer on the levy debate.

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