PubliCola

Ann Davison Promised to Resolve Cases Faster and Punish the Most Serious Violators. Did She Deliver? - PubliCola By Andrew Engelson A PubliCola analysis of Seattle Municipal Court data reveals that, in the three and half years Ann…

Ann Davison Promised to Resolve Cases Faster and Punish the Most Serious Violators. Did She Deliver? @andyengelson.bsky.social reports that Seattle's city attorney has performed poorly on her own metrics, including aggressive prosecutions and "meaningful resolutions."
publicola.com/2025/08/11/a...

This Week on PubliCola: August 10, 2025 - PubliCola A huge election upset led this packed week, which included two podcasts (plus two-thirds of Seattle Nice on KUOW!) By…

This Week on PubliCola: August 10, 2025

A huge election upset led this packed week, which included TWO podcasts (plus two-thirds of Seattle Nice on KUOW!)

publicola.com/2025/08/10/t...

Another Tree Petition, Another Council Staff Departure, and Another Round of Election Results - PubliCola 1. More than 400 people have signed a Change.org petition imploring the city to “Save Three Sisters Park in Ballard,”…

Packed Afternoon Fizz, featuring news from City Hall, the latest election results, and a petition to "save" some trees that aren't actually threatened by a nearby development.

And: Sandeep, Joy Hollingsworth, and I join Bill Radke on this week's KUOW Week in Review!

publicola.com/2025/08/08/a...

My website is hosted on Wordpress, and I have lots of options for supporting my work, from Venmo to Paypal to mailing me a check: PubliCola.com/support

🚨🚨Seattle Nice: Election Results Emergency Edition!🚨🚨 - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett We recorded this week’s Seattle Nice podcast on Wednesday, just before the afternoon drop of results…

🚨🚨Seattle Nice: Election Results Emergency Edition!🚨🚨

So what just happened? We break it all down on this week's podcast.

publicola.com/2025/08/07/%...

Donate to PubliCola Help support PubliCola by donating or sharing with your friends.

Support PubliCola with a one-time or monthly contribution:
www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=...

Council Amendments to Comprehensive Plan Show Competing Priorities - PubliCola The comprehensive plan sets rules for how Seattle develops in the future, including where the city will allow its renter…

Did you know some council members want to slash development to protect homeowners, force redesigns if new housing threatens a tree of ANY size, and give the city HOA-like authority to dictate the type of siding on some houses? We read the comp plan amendments so you don't have to.

In Anti-Incumbent Rout, Progressive Candidates Lead In All Local Races - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett and Andrew Engelson Call it the “Fuck Trump” effect. That, at least, was the most common…

In Anti-Incumbent Rout, Progressive Candidates Lead In All Local Races

publicola.com/2025/08/05/i...

Seattle Nice: Seattle Sues Trump, Camping Ban Proposed, Business Tax Hike Heads to Ballot - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett On this week’s episode, we discussed the broader implications of a proposed ballot initiative that would…

This week's Seattle Nice episode featured a trifecta of topics: Seattle Sues Trump, Camping Ban Proposed, Business Tax Hike Heads to Ballot

publicola.com/2025/08/04/s...

Business Tax Will Be on November Ballot, Despite Council Objections Over Spending "Buckets" - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Over objections from some council members that the proposal was “rushed” or that it funds the…

Business Tax Will Be on November Ballot, Despite Council Objections Over Spending “Buckets”

"Buckets begets buckets," Bob Kettle said, arguing it would be better to ask voters to raise taxes to pay for whatever comes up.

publicola.com/2025/08/05/b...

New Forecast Reduces City's Projected Revenue Shortfall to $150 Million - PubliCola The change comes largely from the shift from a “pessimistic” to “baseline” revenue forecast scenario. By Erica C. Barnett…

New Forecast Reduces City's Projected Revenue Shortfall to $150 Million
The change comes largely from the shift from a "pessimistic" to "baseline" revenue forecast scenario.
publicola.com/2025/08/04/n...

Police Roll Out Expansion Plans for Surveillance Cameras - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Just weeks after rolling out live camera surveillance in the Chinatown/International District, downtown, and along Aurora…

Police Roll Out Expansion Plans for Surveillance Cameras

Live police surveillance, already deployed in three neighborhoods, would expand to include three more areas, including Capitol Hill and around Garfield High School.

publicola.com/2025/07/31/p...

Business Tax Plan Moves Forward, Larded With New Exemptions and Spending Categories - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett The Seattle City Council moved a heavily amended proposal to raise business and occupation taxes on…

Business Tax Plan Moves Forward, Larded With New Exemptions and Spending Categories

The exemptions could lower revenues by more than $10 million, while the new spending categories, including transportation, go far beyond the original intent of the proposal.

publicola.com/2025/07/30/b...

Initiative Would Criminalize Sleeping Outdoors in King County - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Saul Spady—Dick’s Burgers scion, anti-tax election activist (twice over), and KIRO radio fill-in host—has filed an…

Initiative Would Criminalize Sleeping Outdoors in King County

The proposal, backed by burger scion-turned-fill-in-KIRO host Saul Spady, is part of a four-point "plan to end homelessness" that includes a three-strikes law for overdoses.

publicola.com/2025/07/29/i...

Council Finally Seats Renters Commission, New Council Rules Allow Longer Public Comments - PubliCola 1. After an overload of drama last week, the Seattle City Council quietly approved all 14 nominees to the Seattle…

Council Finally Seats Renters Commission, New Council Rules Allow Longer Public Comments
Today's City Council-focused Afternoon Fizz!
publicola.com/2025/07/29/c...

Seattle Nice: Is Trump's Executive Order the End of Housing First? - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Freaked out about the Trump Administration’s latest executive order, which calls for “ending crime and disorder…

Seattle Nice: Is Trump's Executive Order the End of Housing First?

Lisa Daugaard says people should read the fine print before freaking out.

publicola.com/2025/07/28/s...

Council Appoints Juarez to Serve Out Cathy Moore's Term, Accusations Fly Over Democracy Voucher Collection - PubliCola 1. In a vote that was as much of a foregone conclusion as their decision to appoint unsuccessful former candidate…

Council Appoints Juarez to Serve Out Cathy Moore's Term, Accusations Fly Over Democracy Voucher Collection

Today's Afternoon Fizz:
publicola.com/2025/07/28/c...

This Week on PubliCola: July 27, 2025 - PubliCola Renters’ commission appointments thwarted, city attorney blasted in court for refusing to let judge hear cases, and much more news…

This Week on PubliCola: July 26, 2025

Renters’ commission appointments thwarted, city attorney blasted in court for refusing to let judge hear cases, and much more news from this week.
publicola.com/2025/07/27/t...

Harrell's "Emergency Housing" Claims Don't Stand Up to Scrutiny, Council Hopefuls Quizzed on Crime, Renters Commission Appointments Will Get a Vote After All - PubliCola 1. Mayor Bruce Harrell, who’s trying to fight off a strong challenge from labor organizer and Transit Riders Union general…

Harrell's "Emergency Housing" Claims Don't Stand Up to Scrutiny, Council Hopefuls Quizzed on Crime, Renters Commission Appointments Will Get a Vote After All

Today's Afternoon Fizz:

publicola.com/2025/07/25/h...

Renters Commission Appointments Thwarted by Saka and Nelson's Last-Minute Absence from Their Own Committee - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett For 18 months, under former city councilmember Cathy Moore’s leadership, nominees to the Seattle Renters Commission…

Renters Commission Appointments Thwarted by Saka and Nelson's Last-Minute Absence from Their Own Committee

Saka was reportedly in his office during the meeting. Nelson's whereabouts remain unknown.

publicola.com/2025/07/23/r...

Municipal Court Judge Shadid Blasts City Attorney for Refusing to Send Cases to Judge Vaddadi - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Seattle Municipal Court Judge Damon Shadid excoriated the criminal division chief for City Attorney Ann Davison’s…

Municipal Court Judge Shadid Blasts City Attorney for Refusing to Send Cases to Judge Vaddadi
Ann Davison's office continues to refuse to send DUI and domestic violence cases to elected Judge Pooja Vaddadi, who filed a bar complaint.
publicola.com/2025/07/23/m...

PubliCola Questions: Mayoral Candidate Joe Mallahan - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Joe Mallahan, a longtime T-Mobile executive and entrepreneur who narrowly lost the 2009 mayor’s race to…

ICYMI (and you might have! I didn't post because I'm working remotely and wifi was briefly scarce!), I interviewed Joe Mallahan, 2009 and now 2025 candidate for mayor; you should read it!

publicola.com/2025/07/21/p...

This Week on PubliCola: July 19, 2025 - PubliCola Elections, graffiti, police surveillance, and more. By Erica C. Barnett Tuesday, July 15 PubliCola Questions: Mayoral Candidate Ry Armstrong Ry…

This Week on PubliCola: July 19, 2025
Elections, graffiti, police surveillance, and more.

publicola.com/2025/07/19/4...

Seattle Nice: Is the Progressive Left Back? - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett We had a great time recording the latest episode of Seattle Nice live at the 43rd…

Seattle Nice: Is the Progressive Left Back?
We discuss the upcoming elections at a raucous live taping!

publicola.com/2025/07/18/s...

Election Fizz: City Employees Back Wilson for Mayor, Harrell Slams "Wilson's Defund Movement," and More - PubliCola 1. At a press conference outside City Hall on Thursday morning, the union that represents thousands of City of Seattle…

Election Fizz: City Employees Back Wilson for Mayor, Harrell Slams “Wilson’s Defund Movement"

Also: Tim Burgess says his boss—who's been in office most of the last two decades—is a force for "change"

And: Joe Mallahan has Black friends!

publicola.com/2025/07/17/e...

As Police Roll Out Live Cameras in Purported Crime "Hot Spots," Not Everyone Is Thrilled to Be Under Surveillance - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Police Chief Shon Barnes and Mayor Bruce Harrell touted the uses of new closed-circuit cameras that…

As Police Roll Out Live Cameras in Purported Crime “Hot Spots,” Not Everyone Is Thrilled to Be Under Surveillance
SPD plans to expand the cameras to additional areas, including Capitol Hill and Garfield High School.
publicola.com/2025/07/16/a...

Council Passes New Laws Against Graffiti, Expanding Police Power to Shut Down Businesses for Off-Premises Violations - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett On predictable 7-1 votes (with progressive Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck dissenting), the council passed two pieces…

Council Passes New Laws Against Graffiti, Expanding Police Power to Shut Down Businesses for Off-Premises Violations

publicola.com/2025/07/16/c...

YouTube video by 43rd District Democrats of Washington State 43rd Dems General Meeting

In case you couldn't make it to the live taping of Seattle Nice last night, it's available on the 43rd District Democrats' Youtube channel! Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=El3P...

Seattle Nice: Seattle Solved All the Crime, So We're Talking About Graffiti - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Because there are no other public-safety issues in the city of Seattle, our main topic on…

Seattle Nice: Seattle Solved All the Crime, So We're Talking About Graffiti
Also: A new poll tests whether voters will believe Katie Wilson is the second coming of Kshama Sawant.
publicola.com/2025/07/15/s...

PubliCola Questions: Mayoral Candidate Ry Armstrong - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell has been an elected official for 16 of the last 18 years, and…

PubliCola Questions: Ry Armstrong

The LGBTQ Commission member and Sustainable Seattle leader says they represent a "new generation of leadership" for Seattle.

publicola.com/2025/07/15/p...