The Urbanist
@theurbanist.org
Advocacy journalism for better cities.👩🦽👨🦯🚶🚴♀️ 🚎 ⛴️ 🚊 🚆 🏙️
Based in the Seattle metro area.
Read our coverage on theurbanist.org. 📰
Based in the Seattle metro area.
Read our coverage on theurbanist.org. 📰
The 2 Line full cross-lake opening is March 28. Boardmember Balducci just pulled back the curtain.
January 23, 2026 at 6:28 PM
The 2 Line full cross-lake opening is March 28. Boardmember Balducci just pulled back the curtain.
"This project taught another generation the meaning of the word plinth," Sound Transit boardmember Claudia Balducci joked, referring to a major cause of project delay.
January 23, 2026 at 6:14 PM
"This project taught another generation the meaning of the word plinth," Sound Transit boardmember Claudia Balducci joked, referring to a major cause of project delay.
Katie B. Wilson has just taken her oath of office and been sworn in as Seattle’s 58th mayor.
January 2, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Katie B. Wilson has just taken her oath of office and been sworn in as Seattle’s 58th mayor.
The Mayor of Seattle website cutover seems to have been completed. It now shows Katie Wilson as mayor. seattle.gov/mayor
January 2, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The Mayor of Seattle website cutover seems to have been completed. It now shows Katie Wilson as mayor. seattle.gov/mayor
The related Mayor of Seattle page on Wikipedia was also updated this morning around 2:30am local time. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_o...
January 1, 2026 at 5:32 PM
The related Mayor of Seattle page on Wikipedia was also updated this morning around 2:30am local time. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_o...
Wikipedia users got to work quick on updating Seattle mayoral details. The change on the Seattle page was made at 8:20am GMT today (12:20am local time). (And no, we didn't do it.)
January 1, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Wikipedia users got to work quick on updating Seattle mayoral details. The change on the Seattle page was made at 8:20am GMT today (12:20am local time). (And no, we didn't do it.)
The bill text is now live! lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
December 31, 2025 at 7:20 PM
The bill text is now live! lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Also, an opportunity for a Grinch sleigh ride? 🤔
December 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Also, an opportunity for a Grinch sleigh ride? 🤔
Pike Place at peak performance. 🎄
December 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Pike Place at peak performance. 🎄
Bellevue at peak car-free performance. ❄️
December 18, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Bellevue at peak car-free performance. ❄️
Welcome to station codes. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya...
December 6, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Welcome to station codes. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya...
In addition to serving as Zahilay's chief of staff while he was a councilmember, Rhonda Lewis served as Chief of Operations for King County Executive Dow Constantine and as City Administrator of Tukwila.
December 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
In addition to serving as Zahilay's chief of staff while he was a councilmember, Rhonda Lewis served as Chief of Operations for King County Executive Dow Constantine and as City Administrator of Tukwila.
Nimco Bulale ran for a vacant LD37 State House in 2022, but finished third, behind victor Chipalo Street.
Bulale recently joined Seattle Foundation as a grant officer. She founded South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm supporting grassroots orgs through grant writing & capacity building.
Bulale recently joined Seattle Foundation as a grant officer. She founded South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm supporting grassroots orgs through grant writing & capacity building.
December 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Nimco Bulale ran for a vacant LD37 State House in 2022, but finished third, behind victor Chipalo Street.
Bulale recently joined Seattle Foundation as a grant officer. She founded South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm supporting grassroots orgs through grant writing & capacity building.
Bulale recently joined Seattle Foundation as a grant officer. She founded South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm supporting grassroots orgs through grant writing & capacity building.
Lin's message resonated across D2. His opponent Adonis Ducksworth only won a handful of precincts.
This WA Community Alliance map shows precincts Lin won in green, with only a few orange beachheads for Ducksworth. www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/02/k...
This WA Community Alliance map shows precincts Lin won in green, with only a few orange beachheads for Ducksworth. www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/02/k...
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Lin's message resonated across D2. His opponent Adonis Ducksworth only won a handful of precincts.
This WA Community Alliance map shows precincts Lin won in green, with only a few orange beachheads for Ducksworth. www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/02/k...
This WA Community Alliance map shows precincts Lin won in green, with only a few orange beachheads for Ducksworth. www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/02/k...
Seattle's new District 2 City Councilmember Eddie Lin just finished his swearing in ceremony. He won 68% of the vote last month.
December 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Seattle's new District 2 City Councilmember Eddie Lin just finished his swearing in ceremony. He won 68% of the vote last month.
Gussying up seven lane surface highways with parallel planter strips and medians isn’t enough for station areas. The transportation paradigm has to be different. It has to be designed for pedestrians first.
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Gussying up seven lane surface highways with parallel planter strips and medians isn’t enough for station areas. The transportation paradigm has to be different. It has to be designed for pedestrians first.
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Without that thumbnail, we would have had to click to confirm that the story wasn’t plausibly about central business district usage…
November 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Without that thumbnail, we would have had to click to confirm that the story wasn’t plausibly about central business district usage…
“The forecast is comprised of revenue estimates for the current biennium (2025–27) which began July 1, 2025, and the next biennium (2027–29). It also includes a small adjustment for the 2023–25 biennium that ended on June 30.”
November 19, 2025 at 12:09 AM
“The forecast is comprised of revenue estimates for the current biennium (2025–27) which began July 1, 2025, and the next biennium (2027–29). It also includes a small adjustment for the 2023–25 biennium that ended on June 30.”
Someone updated the Decision Desk HQ article on Wikipedia to reflect their big flub. (No, it wasn’t us.)
![On November 6th, 2025, Decision Desk HQ projected Bruce Harrell as the winner of the 2025 Seattle mayoral election, but then retracted it the next day. A spokesperson for Decision Desk HQ stated it was due to receiving incorrect data on the number of remaining ballots, but this was disputed by King County elections. [17]Harrell's opponent Katie Wilson would ultimately win the election.[18]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4cehxdx5hfam37oos3yh5tta/bafkreifowtlrocmeazmoiejte75346crs46o5wcmo6raoe7wia7hn6ehhy@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Someone updated the Decision Desk HQ article on Wikipedia to reflect their big flub. (No, it wasn’t us.)
Decision Desk HQ’s Wikipedia page got updated about their trigger happy Seattle mayoral race projection.
![On November 6th, 2025, Decision Desk HQ projected Bruce Harrell as the winner of the 2025 Seattle mayoral election, but then retracted it the next day. A spokesperson for Decision Desk HQ stated it was due to receiving incorrect data on the number of remaining ballots, but this was disputed by King County elections.[17]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4cehxdx5hfam37oos3yh5tta/bafkreigm5rylwzv5hfwsvfkxv6kshxupji4eb3iwlyom6jm3g4xddygmxq@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Decision Desk HQ’s Wikipedia page got updated about their trigger happy Seattle mayoral race projection.
Harrell said he has eye for talent and is rattling off names thanking his campaign team and cabinet members.
November 13, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Harrell said he has eye for talent and is rattling off names thanking his campaign team and cabinet members.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell just conceded to progressive challenger Katie Wilson at a ceremony at City Hall.
Wilson won by about 2,000 votes in a close race.
Wilson won by about 2,000 votes in a close race.
November 13, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell just conceded to progressive challenger Katie Wilson at a ceremony at City Hall.
Wilson won by about 2,000 votes in a close race.
Wilson won by about 2,000 votes in a close race.