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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 5d

"If you set different rules, people will change how they play the game."

Thanks to those who made it to yesterday's *Hot Seat* w researcher Shannon Grimes! Our latest democracy and elections work/quips/analysis are always available via newsletter: sightline.org/newsletters

A group of people in discussion, seated in a colorful classroom

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 6d

TODAY at 4! 🌶️

Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 13d

In one week! Join us Thursday, Oct 2, at El Centro De La Raza to ask Sightline senior researcher Shannon Grimes your burning elections questions!

Shannon will overview #RankedChoiceVoting, #ProportionalRepresentation, and Seattle's #DemocracyVouchers.

Save your spot at: www.sightline.org/hotseat/

Hot Seat in Seattle: RSVP Below | Sightline Institute

Hot Seat in Seattle: RSVP Below Looking for clear, actionable ideas for a stronger democracy? Join us in Seattle on October 2 for Sightline’s next Hot Seat, where senior researcher Shannon Grimes will...

www.sightline.org

Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 6d

How should this fictional town elect its nine-person city council?

www.sightline.org/2025/09/23/f...

A town outline with mixed color dots representing voter breakdown: 20% grey, 25% orange, 55% green

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Montana Free Press @montanafreepress.org · 9d

Part 1 of The Shelter Gap, a three-part series examining barriers to buying, renting and building homes on reservation land and highlighting the community benefits of secure housing.

No roads home: How a chronic housing shortage keeps reservation communities in crisis.

Part 1 of a three-part series examining barriers to buying, renting and building homes on reservation land and highlighting the community benefits of secure housing.

montanafreepress.org

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

FairVote @fairvote.bsky.social · 8d

"I have advocated for #RankedChoiceVoting, but Portland’s changes went beyond what I had imagined. The early outcomes are worth examining as we consider ways to strengthen democracy in Hawaiʻi."

– Former Hawai'i state Rep. Beth Fukumoto on the success of proportional RCV in Portland, OR

Honolulu Civil Beat @civilbeat.bsky.social · 10d

The Oregon city adopted the types of voting changes that we should consider in the islands.

Opinion: Could Portland’s Election Reforms Work In Hawaiʻi?

The Oregon city adopted the types of voting changes that we should consider in the islands.

dlvr.it

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Anna Fahey @trufahey.bsky.social · 7d

Tiny homes on wheels bypass the building permit process required for traditional ADUs, making them far faster + cheaper

With no foundation needed, homes on wheels are a solution to add housing capacity on space-constrained lots while preserving existing trees

www.sightline.org/2025/09/11/h...

Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland | Sightline Institute

Three personal stories showing how small, affordable, and flexible homes on wheels can provide big solutions for Portland families.

www.sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 8d

Thanks for your work!!! 🪑

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Erik @eriklowe.bsky.social · 12d

I co-wrote a column to encourage Spokane residents to participate in Week Without Driving (September 29-October 5).

Please give it a read!

rangemedia.co/spokane-week...

COLUMN: Can you go a week without driving? – RANGE Media

Challenge yourself to get to know Spokane in a new way by joining local electeds and grassroots group Spokane Reimagined in going 1 week without driving.

rangemedia.co

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 8d

29 hand-painted guerrilla benches in Spokane, organized by @spokanereimagined.org #WeekWithoutDriving

Getting there: A Spokane group argues STA should install bus benches, so volunteers made and installed them over the weekend

Ahead of a campaign this week to highlight the challenges faced by those who walk, bike and bus, a Spokane group over the weekend quietly tried to make it a little bit easier to sit.

www.spokesman.com

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

BikeLoudPDX @bikeloudpdx.bsky.social · 8d

Our #WeekWithoutDriving rides

Mon Sep 29 Local groceries
Tues Sep 30 Ride to Vancouver
Wed Oct 1 Farmers Market Lunchtime
Thurs Oct 2 Powells Books
Fri Oct 3 Ride to PDX Airport
Sat Oct 4 Forest Park Bike & Hike
Sun Oct 5 Cost of Car Ownership

@shift2bikes.bsky.social
@americawalks.bsky.social

Text from article that says, "BikeLoud is leading a ride every day from September 29th to October 5th during the Week Without Driving: from a bike ride to the airport, to shopping by bike, to a ride that is focused on the Cost of Car Ownership, all led by Board members or former Board members. Our rides are listed on the Shift2Bikes calendar:

Monday, September 29 Get groceries locally at Maglia Rosa & Sheridan, Joe Perez
Tuesday, September 30 Ride to Vancouver, Martin Chasehill
Wednesday, October 1 Lunchtime at the Farmers Market, Eva Frazier
Thursday, October 2 Buy books locally at Powells, Joe Perez
Friday, October 3 PDX Airport Ride, Kiel Johnson
Saturday, October 4 Forest Park Bike & Hike, Peyton Blackwell
Sunday, October 5 Cost of Car Ownership Ride, Shawne Martinez
Many BikePortland readers already get around without a car. That’s great! You can help"
https://bikeportland.org/2025/09/29/ride-with-bikeloud-during-week-without-driving-397207#comments

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 13d

“When folks have these experiences, they start realizing this system doesn't work for everyone." @codaily.bsky.social

COCC takes part in national Week Without Driving challenge

Central Oregon Community College is joining the national Week Without Driving campaign for the first time, challenging students and staff to go five days without driving themselves anywhere. The effor...

www.centraloregondaily.com

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 13d

“During those years that I didn’t have access to a vehicle I lived 3 minutes from frequent bus service, it’s now 3/4-mile to the nearest bus stop. So to come here I bicycled 3/4-mile to the bus stop, and then came here where, by the way, bicycle parking was a little challenging.”

Walla Walla County proclaims Sep. 29 – Oct. 5 “Week Without Driving” - Elkhorn Media Group

WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla County’s Board of Commissioner have proclaimed the week of September ...Read More

elkhornmediagroup.com

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 13d

#WeekWithoutDriving kicks off Monday, 9/29! From Walla Walla County to Central Oregon Community College in Bend—and beyond!—Cascadians are eager for safer, more accessible streets for all.

Thx for leading, Disability Rights WA and @americawalks.bsky.social!

Week Without Driving - America Walks

What if getting around didn’t require driving a car? Join us for one week to rethink how our communities prioritize cars—and explore how more accessible transportation can connect people, strengthen c...

americawalks.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 13d

In one week! Join us Thursday, Oct 2, at El Centro De La Raza to ask Sightline senior researcher Shannon Grimes your burning elections questions!

Shannon will overview #RankedChoiceVoting, #ProportionalRepresentation, and Seattle's #DemocracyVouchers.

Save your spot at: www.sightline.org/hotseat/

Hot Seat in Seattle: RSVP Below | Sightline Institute

Hot Seat in Seattle: RSVP Below Looking for clear, actionable ideas for a stronger democracy? Join us in Seattle on October 2 for Sightline’s next Hot Seat, where senior researcher Shannon Grimes will...

www.sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 14d

Many Oregon voters are stuck using flawed, outdated winner-take-all voting methods — even though their constitution calls out a better option by name. www.sightline.org/2025/09/23/f...

For Oregonians, Better Elections Are Hidden in Plain Sight | Sightline Institute

The state’s constitution lets localities opt for methods that better reflect their mix of voters.

www.sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 16d

Clean Air Week kicked off yesterday! Check out Electrify Now's weeklong virtual lineup on how we can breathe easier indoors AND out: cleanairweek.substack.com/p/lets-clear...

Let's Clear The Air - Electrify!

Clean Air Week is a week to discuss the dangers of fossil gas pollution to the air we breathe. This week will focus on ways consumers and communities can clean their air through technologies and polic...

cleanairweek.substack.com

Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 18d

See more photos at: www.sightline.org/2013/07/30/w... from Alyse Nelson, Street Use Division Director at City of Seattle

When Your Parking Grows Up | Sightline Institute

A photo essay on what curb spaces can become.

www.sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 18d

Today is #ParkingDay! Advocates worldwide are joyfully reimagining what can become of the SO MUCH SPACE we devote to car storage on our public streets. Throwback to Park(ing) Day 2010, when this little clucker featured in Seattle.

Photo by Seattle Dept. of Transportation, cc.

Chicken all cooped up on the side of the road during Parking Day 2010 in Seattle

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Sun Day @sundayofaction.bsky.social · 26d

Do you care about the future of clean energy? Then we want to see you at Sun Day! Here are 3 ways you can get involved, and help celebrate the power of solar, wind, and renewable energy on September 21 👇🧵

How to take part in Sun Day - different ways you can take action for clean energy on September 21

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Rank the Vote @rankthevoteusa.bsky.social · 20d

"Winner take all" #elections are making too many #voters lose and creating barriers to more competition to represent us. There is a #proportional solution.

youtu.be/5xVbRHGlp_M

Fixing Our Broken Elections

YouTube video by Rank the Vote

youtu.be

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Reposted by Sightline Institute

Sun Day @sundayofaction.bsky.social · 21d

🎊 Sun Day PDX in Portland, OR - Clean energy celebration with parade, Aztec dancers, marching bands and "Sun Ball" celebration: actionnetwork.org/events/sun-d...?

Sun Day PDX

SunDay is a global day of action on September 21st, 2025, celebrating the unstoppable rise of clean energy. We’ll come together to showcase the power of the sun and wind, the energy sources that can p...

actionnetwork.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 21d

We’re in the good company of many other orgs who agree that overly strict regulations are holding back the homes we need. To name just a few: @brookings.edu @weareunidosus.bsky.social @urbaninstitute.bsky.social @naehomelessness.bsky.social @ternerhousing.bsky.social

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 21d

4) Lower administrative barriers

New OR laws allow the state to override local zoning to approve pre-permitted home designs. @andersem.bsky.social

Oregon Decides It Was a Mistake to Let Cities Ban Homes | Sightline Institute

Two laws in Oregon undo 100 years of local zoning to ban homes, opening opportunities for affordable choices, from duplexes to apartments.

sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 21d

3) Spur apartment buildings and townhouses in high-use areas

Also in WA: transit-oriented development finally passed statewide, smartly pairing new homes alongside big transit investments! Third time’s the charm (and *funded* inclusionary zoning is a big charm, too). @danbertolet.bsky.social

Washington Takes Statewide Zoning Reform to the Next Level | Sightline Institute

Find audio versions of Sightline articles on any of your favorite podcast platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and Apple. There’s a healthy competition brewing between states that are taking action ...

sightline.org

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Sightline Institute @sightline.org · 21d

2. Avoid inflexible mandates

One example is parking mandates, which drive up home prices and rents and lock sprawl into law. WA and MT both freed themselves from costly, wasteful asphalt this year – opting instead for flexibility to suit the needs of the property owner. @citizen-cate.bsky.social

How Washington State Won Parking Reform | Sightline Institute

Lessons and strategies for parking flexibility advocates elsewhere.

sightline.org

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