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PubliCola

@publicola.bsky.social

2.2K followers 250 following 300 posts

Seattle's trusted source for breaking news, political analysis, and investigative reporting since 2009. From your friend ericacbarnett.bsky.social

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PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 1h

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future
In a guest post, Sound Transit board member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci says it's time to consider light-rail options that don't require digging a second tunnel through downtown Seattle.
publicola.com/2025/10/08/t...

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future - PubliCola

By Claudia Balducci It’s no secret that our region needed high-capacity transit yesterday — or better yet, four decades ago.…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 1d

SPD Chief Puts Cop Who Called 2020 Protesters "Cockroaches" In Charge of East Precinct
Mike Tietjen, who was promoted over a gay acting commander, the subject of multiple complaints in 2020, including an incident in which officers taunted a trans woman.
publicola.com/2025/10/07/s...

SPD Chief Puts Cop Who Called 2020 Protesters "Cockroaches" In Charge of East Precinct - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett The Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, located at 12th Ave. and East Pine St. in the…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 1d

Seattle Nice: Harrell Talks Tough on Food Deserts and Homelessness

New episodes every week!

publicola.com/2025/10/06/s...

Seattle Nice: Harrell Talks Tough on Food Deserts and Homelessness - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell has issued a fusillade of official announcements in the weeks leading up to…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 4d

This Week On PubliCola: October 4, 2025
A shadow councilmember, more turmoil at the homelessness authority, and so, so much election news
publicola.com/2025/10/04/t...

This Week on PubliCola: October 4, 2025 - PubliCola

A shadow councilmember, more turmoil at the homelessness authority, and so, so much election news By Erica C. Barnett Monday,…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 5d

Post Office Delays Could Result in Uncounted Ballots; Harrell's Budget Boosts Graffiti Spending 36 Percent

Today's Afternoon Fizz:

publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...

Post Office Delays Could Result in Uncounted Ballots; Harrell's Budget Increases Graffiti Spending 36 Percent - PubliCola

1. Mail processing delays could result in more invalidated mail-in ballots this year, and elections officials are advising voters to…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 6d

Harrell's "Emergency" Legislation on Covenants that Limit Grocery Store Sizes Won't Address Seattle's Food Deserts

Both of the city's examples of sites with restrictive covenants were redeveloped as grocery stores.

publicola.com/2025/10/02/h...

Harrell's "Emergency" Legislation on Covenants that Limit Grocery Store Sizes Won't Address Seattle's Food Deserts - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Yesterday—fresh off a campaign debate at which he asserted that “Trump will walk all over” his…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 6d

Homelessness Agency Director Gets Sternly Worded Letter and "Executive Coach" After Investigation Into Racial Bias Complaints

Only one governing board member voted no, saying he thought "further action is warranted."

publicola.com/2025/10/01/h...

Homelessness Agency Director Gets Sternly Worded Letter and "Executive Coach" After Investigation Into Racial Bias Complaints - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On Friday, the governing board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, made up mostly of…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 8d

Seattle Nice: Harrell's Election-Year Budget, King County's RealPage Ban, and Mayor Pete's Endorsement

It's our latest weekly podcast!

publicola.com/2025/09/30/s...

Seattle Nice: Harrell's Election-Year Budget, King County's RealPage Ban, and Mayor Pete's Endorsement - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On this week’s episode of Seattle Nice, we discussed Mayor Bruce Harrell’s election-year budget proposal,…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 8d

Former Councilmember Moore Edited Legislation, Wrote Interview Questions for Her Potential Successors, After Leaving Council
Moore's post-council activities have largely involved Maritza Rivera, her former council ally.

publicola.com/2025/09/30/f...

Former Councilmember Moore Edited Legislation, Wrote Interview Questions for Her Potential Successors, After Leaving - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Former City Councilmember Cathy Moore, who quit the council, effective July 7, after serving just a…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 8d

Black-Led Group Responds to Mayor's Claim They "Darkened" His Skin; Real Estate-Backed Harrell PAC Tops $1 Million; Police Chief Disparages PubliCola

Today's Afternoon Fizz:

publicola.com/2025/09/29/b...

Black-Led Group Responds to Mayor's Claim They "Darkened" His Skin; Real Estate-Backed Harrell PAC Tops $1 Million; Police Chief Disparages PubliCola - PubliCola

1. On Friday, Mayor Bruce Harrell accused his opponent, Katie Wilson, of “darkening” his photo in a social media post, blaming…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 11d

This Week on PubliCola: September 27, 2025

Cascade PBS Ditches Local News, Harrell Budget Pushes off Tough Choices, Right-Wing Activist Tests Anti-Trans Messaging, and More

publicola.com/2025/09/27/4...

This Week on PubliCola: September 27, 2025 - PubliCola

Cascade PBS Ditches Local News, Harrell Budget Pushes off Tough Choices, Right-Wing Activist Tests Anti-Trans Messaging, and More By Erica…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 11d

Councilmember Rivera Questions 2026 Funding for CARE Team, LEAD Diversion, and Equitable Development Initiative

And it's just week 1 of this year's budget deliberations!

publicola.com/2025/09/26/c...

Councilmember Rivera Questions 2026 Funding for CARE Team, LEAD Diversion, and Equitable Development Initiative - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett At the city council’s first meetings on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed budget this week, Councilmember…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 12d

Digging into Harrell's "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point
The mayor says most homeless people in Seattle became homeless somewhere else, so the rest of the county needs to do its fair share. But his talking point is based on skimpy evidence.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/d...

Digging into Harrell's Campaign "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On the campaign trail and in his slickly produced Seattle Channel budget video, Mayor Bruce Harrell…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 12d

Digging into Harrell's "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point
The mayor says most homeless people in Seattle became homeless somewhere else, so the rest of the county needs to do its fair share. But his talking point is based on skimpy evidence.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/d...

Digging into Harrell's Campaign "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On the campaign trail and in his slickly produced Seattle Channel budget video, Mayor Bruce Harrell…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 12d

New Poll Tests Messages on Initiatives Opposing Trans Girls in Sports, Student Privacy
“Biological men are competing in girls’ sports in Washington State, and it’s destroying fairness in girls’ sports,” one of the questions says.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/n...

New Poll Tests Messages on Initiatives Opposing Trans Girls in Sports, Student Privacy - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Some Washington state voters received a poll this week testing messages on two new initiatives…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13d

Mayoral Candidate Wilson Withdraws from KOMO-Sponsored Debate, Citing Sinclair's Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel
The debate will go on, Wilson said, if the right-wing broadcast company reverses its decision to pull the show from its markets, including Seattle
publicola.com/2025/09/25/4...

Mayoral Candidate Wilson Withdraws from KOMO-Sponsored Debate, Citing Sinclair's Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson announced Thursday that she won’t participate in a debate co-sponsored by…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13d

The Siren Song of Forced Treatment
Involuntary treatment should remain an option of last resort, used only in extreme cases of grave disability or imminent harm to self or others, guest columnist Susan E. Collins argues.

publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...

The Siren Song of Forced Drug Treatment - PubliCola

By Susan Collins When big cities struggle with visible addiction, one solution that inevitably resurfaces is forcing people into treatment.…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks, Gordon! Missed this.

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13d

Harrell's Latest Budget Spikes City's Deficit by Piling On New Spending In Election Year
Harrell's 2026 budget includes big new investments in police, the 2026 World Cup, and graffiti removal—plus millions in one-time spending on priorities that require a long-term approach.

Harrell's Latest Budget Spikes City's Deficit by Piling On New Spending In Election Year - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal is an election-year proposal that piles on funding for priorities…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 16d

Cascade PBS Lays Off News Staff, Citing Federal Cuts
The cuts will eliminate the nonprofit's newsroom, as Cascade pivots to focus on video, including coverage of history, food, and the outdoors.
publicola.com/2025/09/22/c...

Cascade PBS Lays Off News Staff, Citing Federal Cuts - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Cascade Public Media, the Seattle-based PBS affiliate that owns the long-running website Crosscut, is laying off…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 16d

City's Growth Plan Update Maintains Seattle's Suburban Character, Including Mandatory Parking

The council's changes mostly doubled down on Mayor Bruce Harrell's slow-growth plan, which advocates criticized for failing to address Seattle's housing crisis.
publicola.com/2025/09/22/c...

City's Growth Plan Update Maintains Seattle's Suburban Character, Including Mandatory Parking - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett A process that started with a year-long delay ended in a cascade of votes on more…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 17d

This Week on PubliCola: September 21, 2025
Seattle's plan for growth, CARE team expansion, and more stories you might have missed this week.
publicola.com/2025/09/21/t...

This Week on PubliCola: September 21, 2025 - PubliCola

Seattle’s plan for growth, CARE team expansion, and more stories you might have missed this week. Monday, September 15 What…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 18d

Harrell Proposes New Sales Tax to Expand CARE Team, Fund Treatment, and Backfill Budget
About half the $39 million would backfill spending on existing programs; the rest would shore up the city's crisis response system and fund new treatment beds.

publicola.com/2025/09/19/h...

Harrell Proposes New Sales Tax to Expand CARE Team, Fund Treatment, and Backfill Budget - PubliCola

About half the $39 million in funding from the sales tax increase would backfill spending on existing programs; the rest…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 20d

Tiny House Village in Southeast Seattle Remains Stalled as Winter Approaches
The village, now whittled down to just 14 tiny houses, has been in the works since 2023. The latest hurdle: A lease agreement between Nickelsville and the city.
publicola.com/2025/09/18/t...

Tiny House Village in Southeast Seattle Remains Stalled as Winter Approaches - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Plans to open a new tiny house village in Southeast Seattle’s Brighton neighborhood, just south of…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 21d

I didn't—I was watching a transportation committee meeting and writing up a story about cops' use of AI, or I would have been there!