PubliCola

This Week on PubliCola: March 1, 2026 - PubliCola Staff call for civil rights office shakeup, CARE chief says police contract hobbles her team’s ability to respond to crises,…

This Week on PubliCola: March 1, 2026

Staff call for civil rights office shakeup, CARE chief says police contract hobbles her team's ability to respond to crises, state elevator reform bill advances, and much more.

publicola.com/2026/03/01/t...

Seattle Nice: Are These Three Local Controversies All About Union Power? - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett This week’s podcast, as I promised last week, featured just me, Sandeep, and David, and guys:…

Seattle Nice: Are These Three Controversies All About Union Power?
We discuss backlash over the mayor's new pick at City Light, the police guild's stranglehold on alternative first response, and city workers' effort to remove their boss for what they call discriminatory behavior.

In Rare Tragedy, Man Dies Inside Rainier Beach Library Branch - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett A 41-year-old man died at the Rainier Beach library just after 3pm February 13 after library…

In Rare Tragedy, Man Dies Inside Rainier Beach Library Branch

The man, who staffers initially thought had overdosed, died of chronic alcohol use, according to the county.

publicola.com/2026/02/27/i...

Former City Department Director Broke Election Law; City IT Director Resigns; LGBTQ Advocates Call for Removal of Civil Rights Director - PubliCola 1. Seattle’s IT director since September 2024, Rob Lloyd, step down on March 27. “Leading IT and our dedicated teams…

Former City Department Director Broke Election Law; City IT Director Resigns; LGBTQ Advocates Call for Removal of Civil Rights Director

Three stories in today's Afternoon Fizz.

publicola.com/2026/02/27/f...

Elevator Followup: Reform Bill Watered Down - PubliCola By Josh Feit The state legislature got stuck on the second provision of the elevator reform bill we reported on…

Elevator Followup: Reform Bill Watered Down

The bill would still allow smaller elevators in many new buildings, reducing costs and making missing-middle housing more viable.

New from
@joshfeit.bsky.social

publicola.com/2026/02/27/e...

SPD's National Recruitment Push Includes Police Chief's Alma Mater; Chief Attended Tiny Desk Concert with Security In Tow - PubliCola 1. Seattle Police Department officers are traveling across the country on a college recruitment tour, including a five-day trip this…

SPD’s National Recruitment Push Includes Police Chief’s Alma Mater; Chief Attended Tiny Desk Concert with Security In Tow

Today's Morning Fizz.

publicola.com/2026/02/25/s...

Police Contract Has Prevented Unarmed Crisis Responders From Doing their Jobs, CARE Chief Says - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett During a tense meeting of the Seattle City Council’s public safety committee on Tuesday, Community Assisted…

Police Contract Has Prevented Unarmed Crisis Responders From Doing their Jobs, CARE Chief Says
Police have said their contract bars the CARE team from responding to calls outside private businesses, along with other explicit restrictions. The result: cops still respond to most crisis calls.

Staff Call for Removal of Civil Rights Office Director, Citing "Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and Mismanagement" - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Three years ago, before the City Council unanimously appointed Derrick Wheeler-Smith as director of the city’s…

Staff Call for Removal of Civil Rights Office Director, Citing “Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and Mismanagement”

publicola.com/2026/02/23/s...

This Week on PubliCola: February 21, 2026 - PubliCola Mayor Wilson walks back opposition to surveillance cameras, Councilmember Lin wants to repeal stadium district housing law, state commission deals…

This Week on PubliCola: Mayor Wilson walks back opposition to surveillance cameras, Councilmember Lin wants to repeal stadium district housing law, state commission deals a blow to public defense, and more.
publicola.com/2026/02/21/t...

I was on @kuow.org's Week In Review, discussing the proposed millionaire's tax, Mayor Katie Wilson's State of the City address, and whether local efforts to create friction for ICE are useful or merely performative. With host Bill Radke, Republican consultant Randy Pepple, and KUOW's Maleeha Syed.

Mayor Katie Wilson: "If We Turned Off the Cameras, It Would Become More Difficult to Solve Many Crimes" - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Seattle Nice went in-depth with Mayor Katie Wilson this week, in a packed interview about her…

Mayor Katie Wilson: "If We Turned Off the Cameras, It Would Become More Difficult to Solve Many Crimes"

This one's a must-listen.

publicola.com/2026/02/20/m...

City Council Proposal Would Repeal Law That Allowed Housing Near Stadiums - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin will introduce legislation later this week to repeal a law that…

City Council Legislation Would Repeal Law Allowing Apartments Near Stadiums
Last year, a state hearings board ruled that the law was invalid. The city could appeal or attempt a fix, but there appears to be little appetite for either option.
publicola.com/2026/02/19/p...

Seattle Nice Interviews Progressive Legislator-Turned-Chamber Leader Joe Nguyen - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Our guest on Seattle Nice this week isn’t a politician—he’s a former politician-turned-Seattle Chamber leader, and…

Seattle Nice Interviews Progressive Legislator-Turned-Chamber Leader Joe Nguyen

Listen to a preview of our latest episode!

publicola.com/2026/02/18/5...

State Ruling Represents a Blow to Public Defense; Settlement In SPD Killing of 23-Year-Old Will Cost Taxpayers Millions - PubliCola 1. The state Public Employee Relations Commission ruled earlier this month that King County was not required to bargain with…

State Ruling Represents a Blow to Public Defense; Settlement In SPD Killing of 23-Year-Old Will Cost Taxpayers Millions

Today's Afternoon Fizz.

publicola.com/2026/02/17/s...

This Week on PubliCola: February 14, 2026 - PubliCola Nine stories you may have missed this week. By Erica C. Barnett Monday, February 9 Bill Targeting Sex Buyers…

This Week on PubliCola: February 14, 2026

Nine stories from PubliCola you may have missed this week.

publicola.com/2026/02/14/t...

Homelessness Authority Rescinds Tiny House Village Grant, Gives Money to Salvation Army Instead - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett The King County Regional Homelessness Authority has rescinded a $3 million grant it gave the Low…

Homelessness Authority Rescinds Tiny House Village Grant, Gives Money to Salvation Army Instead

LIHI worked to secure the funds in Seattle's budget. KCRHA said the nonprofit took too long to secure a site.

publicola.com/2026/02/13/h...

New Councilmember Dionne Foster Tells Seattle Nice: Police Cameras "Should Be Turned Off and Come Down." - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Our guest for this week’s episode of Seattle Nice (don’t worry, we’ll get back to our…

New Councilmember Dionne Foster: Police Cameras "Should Be Turned Off and Come Down."

Listen to the latest episode of Seattle Nice!

publicola.com/2026/02/13/n...

Review Finds Multiple Police Failures Preceded Violent Response to Counteprotests During Anti-LGBTQ Event in May - PubliCola Police didn’t engage with community before the anti-LGBTQ event, weren’t familiar with Capitol Hill and its history, and referred to…

Review Finds Multiple Police Failures Preceded Violent Response to Counteprotests During Anti-LGBTQ Event in May

Police didn’t engage with community before the anti-LGBTQ event, weren’t familiar with Capitol Hill and its history, and referred to protesters as “transtifa,” the report found.

Family of Jaahnavi Kandula, Pedestrian Killed by SPD Officer in 2023, Reaches $29 Million Settlement with City - PubliCola In an incident that sparked widespread outrage, police guild leader Daniel Auderer joked that the 23-year-old student was only worth…

Updated tonight: @andyengelson.bsky.social reports for PubliCola that the city of Seattle has reached a settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, the 23-year-old killed by a speeding SPD officer, totaling at least $29 million.

publicola.com/2026/02/10/c...

ACLU Drops Lawsuit After City Attorney Evans Drops Blanket Affidavit Against Judge; Council Gets New Central Staff Director - PubliCola 1. City Attorney Erika Evans and the ACLU of Washington jointly announced this week that the ACLU is dropping…

ACLU Drops Lawsuit After City Attorney Evans Drops Blanket Affidavit Against Judge; Council Gets New Central Staff Director

Today's Afternoon Fizz!

publicola.com/2026/02/10/a...

Sex Worker Advocates Demand Action from the City After Prosecutors' Dehumanizing Presentation - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Advocates for sex workers, activated by a brutal, dehumanizing presentation the King County Prosecutor’s Office…

Sex Worker Advocates Demand Action from the City After Prosecutors' Dehumanizing Presentation
The advocates want the city to listen to more diverse perspectives and stop infantilizing and ignoring sex workers who support a peer-led support system, rather than a carceral approach.

Bill Targeting Sex Buyers Would No Longer Result in Immediate Felony Charges - PubliCola But an attempt to decriminalize sex work—another component of the “Nordic model”—failed. By Erica C. Barnett State legislation that would…

Bill Targeting Sex Buyers Would No Longer Result in Immediate Felony Charges
But an attempt to decriminalize sex work—another component of the “Nordic model”—failed.
publicola.com/2026/02/09/b...

Elevating the Affordable Housing Issue - PubliCola By Josh Feit How can we increase affordable housing production? According to Senate Bill 5156, one button we can press…

I have a column up on @publicola.bsky.social about an important piece of city infrastructure. Elevators.

A 14-Point Plan for Mayor Wilson - PubliCola Channeling the original Wilsonian 14 Points, we offer 14 policy suggestions for incoming mayor Wilson. By Erica C. Barnett and…

PubliCola's @joshfeit.bluesky.social has a new Maybe Metropolis column today about a Washington state proposal that would make accessible housing more affordable by reforming elevator standards that too often result in no elevators in new buildings at all.

publicola.com/2026/02/06/e...

Top Advisor to Mayor Wilson Leaves Temporary Job After Ethics Director Reverses Course - PubliCola And: Where was the police chief during last weekend’s spate of deadly shootings? 1. Last Friday, two teenagers were shot…

Top Advisor to Mayor Wilson Leaves Temporary Job After Ethics Director Reverses Course
And: Where was the police chief during last weekend’s spate of deadly shootings?
publicola.com/2026/02/05/t...

Police Department Reverses Course on Public Records After Lawsuit Loss - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett Late last month, a King County Superior Court judge ruled that the Seattle Police Department’s policy…

Seattle Police Department Reverses Course on Public Records After Lawsuit Loss
SPD provides actual disclosure dates to records requesters after a judge rules they were violating state public disclosure law.
publicola.com/2026/02/05/p...

With a Year of Zoning Changes Ahead, Mayor Wilson Can Still Put an Urbanist Stamp on the "One Seattle Plan" - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett The city’s Office of Planning and Community Development rolled out legislation this week that will implement…

With a Year of Zoning Changes Ahead, Mayor Wilson Can Still Put an Urbanist Stamp on the "One Seattle Plan"
publicola.com/2026/02/02/w...

This Week on PubliCola: January 31, 2026 - PubliCola CARE Team Struggles Under Cop Contract Restrictions, SPD Loses In Court, County Prosecutors Post Lurid Photos, and More By Erica…

This Week on PubliCola: CARE Team Struggles Under Cop Contract Restrictions, SPD Loses In Court, County Prosecutors Post Lurid Photos, and More

publicola.com/2026/01/31/t...

New Drug Sensors Lead to Restroom Closures at Four Seattle Library Branches - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett If you need to use the restrooms at the Lake City, Ballard, Capitol Hill, or International…

New Drug Sensors Lead to Restroom Closures at Four Seattle Library Branches
Although fentanyl vapor contains little or no fentanyl, "staff have reported feeling sick" from fumes, a library spokesperson says.
publicola.com/2026/01/30/n...

Police Launching "Neighborhood Resource Centers," Starting in Magnuson Park - PubliCola By Erica C. Barnett The Seattle Police Department is setting up a permanent “Neighborhood Resource Center” at a Seattle Parks…

Police Launching "Neighborhood Resource Centers," Starting in Magnuson Park
The new centers will "maximize police visibility and citizen contact" in the neighborhood where officers shot and killed Charleena Lyles in 2017.
publicola.com/2026/01/30/p...