Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 8h

“Ultimately, the paper trail shows how haphazardly the decision-making was taking place, out of public view, in a way that belies any sort of deliberative process that the City is claiming it will follow moving forward for the project’s ‘phase 2.’”

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 16h

A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scenes as the public was kept in the dark about the upgrades.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 18h

What the records show:
-Major elements of the LWB redesign, like the changes at Orcas Street, nearly went out for construction before being killed by the Mayor's Office
-Parks staff were continuing to negotiate over individual elements of the project as late as early June.

Drawing showing the changes planned for S Orcas Street and LWB

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 11h

“…negotiating on individual elements behind the scenes while the public was kept in the dark about what was happening.”

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 11h

“The emails and Microsoft Teams chats confirm that Parks and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) staff continued to work on the upgrades for months after a December community meeting on the project…”

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 16h

A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scenes as the public was kept in the dark about the upgrades.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 11h

This is how expanding I-5 through the Nisqually Delta will be framed when it's inevitably approved

MTC Bay Area @mtcbata.bsky.social · Sep 5

Today’s passage of AB 697 marks a major advance for long-running efforts to start work on a suite of projects to enhance North Bay marshlands and wildlife habitats, reduce flooding, improve traffic flow along Highway 37, and introduce transit service between Vallejo and Novato.

Legislature passes bill paving way for Highway 37 improvements

Today’s passage by the California State Senate of Assembly Bill 697 — sponsored by the Solano Transportation Authority, authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson of Solano County and passed by the Assemb...

mtc.one

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 13h

The County Council just took a unanimous 9-0 vote to establish the Broadway Facility fund, paving the way to opening a Crisis Care Center on Capitol Hill.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 16h

The King County Council is hearing public testimony on the Capitol Hill crisis care center right now, ahead of a final council vote approving funds for the facility.

Just like in committee, testimony has been heavily weighted against the center so far.

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 12h

The County Council also just took a 8-0 vote just now approving a small number of property condemnations that will finally allow the RapidRide I between Renton and Auburn to move into construction.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/09/k...

King County Council Unsnags RapidRide I Line After Property Disputes » The Urbanist

# After considering a broader slate of property condemnations to keep the RapidRide I Line on track for a 2027 opening, the council is poised to approve a compromise measure much narrower in scope.

www.theurbanist.org

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 15h

The "but hardly surprised" inside the em dashes here really encapsulates the vindictive meanness that has been characterizing the Harrell campaign since the primary.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 17h

Bruce Harrell's campaign has decided to start calling Katie Wilson a quitter because she dropped out of Oxford six weeks before graduating.

I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. My parents, hard-working city employees, overcame racial bias and financial hardship to create a better life for my brother and me, just as Joanne and I have done for our children.

For my family, like most Americans, a college education isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a gateway to financial stability, opportunity, and family pride.

So I was shocked — but hardly surprised — to read in The Seattle Times that my opponent dropped out of Oxford just weeks before graduation because she was turned off by “careerism.”

As the Times notes, her story reflects “no small amount of privilege.”

In Seattle, we celebrate educational advancement and career opportunities.

This program is rooted in an initiative I started while on our City Council for South Seattle youth from disadvantaged communities–the kind of kids whose families work hard to send their children to local college, let alone Oxford–and these kids don’t quit to make a political statement because they value the opportunity.

When things get tough in our city, or when forced to compromise, will Katie quit and walk away?

At a time when Trump is threatening violence in our cities, and our economy is fragile, we need a Mayor who understands and prioritizes the challenges facing our families, and who will fight for our future.

I’ve never taken access to education or opportunity for granted, and I’ll never quit on Seattle.

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 16h

The King County Council is hearing public testimony on the Capitol Hill crisis care center right now, ahead of a final council vote approving funds for the facility.

Just like in committee, testimony has been heavily weighted against the center so far.

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 16h

A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scenes as the public was kept in the dark about the upgrades.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 16h

"The fire marshals’ association filed for an emergency change to the state’s building code that would mandate a five-foot wide pathway to any dwelling that doesn’t face a street, alley, or parking lot."

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 20h

The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to the state building code that would require 5-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the requirement as overkill, adding another obstacle to housing.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/f...

Fire Marshals Target Backyard Cottages with Proposal for Wider Pathway Requirements » The Urbanist

# The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to Washington state building code that would require five-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the r...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 17h

NEW // Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug

By Ryan Packer

via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Andrew Engelson @andyengelson.bsky.social · 20h

In my latest for @theurbanist.org I look at a debate between Washington fire marshals, home builders, and housing activists over stricter regulations for backyard cottages. Marshals say 5-foot access is needed, while architects and activists say that's overkill. www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/f...

Fire Marshals Target Backyard Cottages with Proposal for Wider Pathway Requirements » The Urbanist

# The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to Washington state building code that would require five-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the r...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 19h

New records provide more detail than ever before on what was happening in the six months between a packed community meeting and an announcement that safety upgrades on Lake Washington Boulevard would be dramatically scaled back.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 19h

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 8d

Big transit systems should make it easier for low-income residents to qualify for free or reduced-price rides. Good suggestions here.

Progressives should focus on ideas like these, rather than trying to drop fares entirely (which would be fiscally irresponsible, among other problems).

Free and low-fare transit programs fail to reach many in need: report

More outreach programs and automatic enrollment could make these programs accessible to more people, says a report from the Regional Plan Association, a New York nonprofit.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 20h

Metro needs revenue to maintain existing service.

Metro needs more revenue to expand service.

Politicians are proposing ways to eliminate revenue for Metro service.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Looks like Rod Dembowski wants to fully restart the debate about whether King County Metro should go fare free.

This morning he suggested a potential fare free pilot, citing the benefits of increased ridership against the relatively low farebox recovery rate Metro currently has.

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Sounds like Metro and the City of Seattle are playing chicken over a planned downtown circulator bus for the World Cup. The county had allocated $1.5 million for such a service, but had required another partner to fork over at least 60% of the total funding.

Seattle's only budgeted $500K.

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 20h

The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to the state building code that would require 5-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the requirement as overkill, adding another obstacle to housing.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/f...

Fire Marshals Target Backyard Cottages with Proposal for Wider Pathway Requirements » The Urbanist

# The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to Washington state building code that would require five-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the r...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Metro plans to budget an additional 30,000 service hours to weather the impact of Revive I-5 construction closures, ON TOP OF an additional 24,000 service hours to help bus routes that it expects to continue getting stuck in worse traffic.

(Where are those bus lanes, Seattle?)

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Pushing off these major projects does delay a fiscal cliff that had been projected to loom in two years, but doesn't put the problem to bed. Metro currently projects a deficit of around $700M by 2032-33.

CM Rod Dembowski is questioning staff on planned service expansion in light of that fact.

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Reposted by The Urbanist

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

The King County Council is getting a briefing on the proposed two-year Metro budget this morning. The top headline here is the cancellation of the South Annex Base electrification project and a proposed delay on Metro's 2035 zero-emissions deadline.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/24/k...

King County Metro Delays Planned Electrification Work, Pushing Out Fiscal Cliff » The Urbanist

# Pivoting away from full-scale bus base retrofits that go all-in on battery electric buses means that Metro won't face a fiscal cliff until the early 2030s, according to budget writers. Metro's Gener...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 21h

🥳 Congratulations, Ryan! Thank you for your many years of service! 🎉

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 22h

Ten years ago today I published my first story at @theurbanist.org. 886 stories later, here we are. What a wild ride.

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 23h

NEW // Fire Marshals Target Backyard Cottages with Proposal for Wider Pathway Requirements

By Andew Engelson

via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/f...

Fire Marshals Target Backyard Cottages with Proposal for Wider Pathway Requirements » The Urbanist

# The Washington Association of Fire Marshals is proposing changes to Washington state building code that would require five-foot wide access path to accessory dwelling units, but builders paint the r...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 1d

"According to King County’s Affordable Housing Committee, nearly 43,000 units of permanent supportive housing will be needed to meet demand for that type of facility through 2044. Reaching such a lofty goal stands in stark contrast to the prolonged process that played out in Kenmore and Redmond."

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 1d

A 100-unit housing project had been conceived in Kenmore, but was moved to Redmond after community opposition doomed its prospects. Affordable housing leaders see the way Redmond completed the hand-off as a model to be replicated elsewhere.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/06/r...

Redmond Supportive Housing Project Breaks Ground After Kenmore’s Rejection » The Urbanist

# The 100-unit housing project had been conceived in Kenmore, but was moved to Redmond after community opposition doomed its prospects. Affordable housing leaders see the way Redmond completed the han...

www.theurbanist.org

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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 1d

"The city and the county have partnered to dedicate nearly $2 million to provide one-time vouchers to an estimated 30,000 clients in King County who rely on WIC." www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

Seattle, King County offer food vouchers for WIC recipients if shutdown continues

As the federal government shutdown continues, Seattle and King County officials have announced a plan to help families who rely on WIC — a federal food assistance program for mothers, babies, and chil...

www.kuow.org

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