Bobbie Nickel
@bobbienickel.bsky.social
UCLA Bruin and former newsie, now doing public affairs for Visit Seattle. All activity here is my own.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
SDOT just announced they'll be completing the final block of the Beach Drive SW Healthy Street on Alki Point, finally connecting the multiuse path to 63rd Ave SW. This block was not included in the original project, installed in 2024.
Work will start before the end of the year.
Work will start before the end of the year.
November 13, 2025 at 12:33 AM
SDOT just announced they'll be completing the final block of the Beach Drive SW Healthy Street on Alki Point, finally connecting the multiuse path to 63rd Ave SW. This block was not included in the original project, installed in 2024.
Work will start before the end of the year.
Work will start before the end of the year.
Went to Mexico City for a wedding this weekend and saw similar digital ads kiosks to those which Downtown Seattle is getting next year. Didn’t see any local ads or people using WiFi.
November 11, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Went to Mexico City for a wedding this weekend and saw similar digital ads kiosks to those which Downtown Seattle is getting next year. Didn’t see any local ads or people using WiFi.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
This is incredible. King County elections is now saying they have 45,000 ballots left to count. If Wilson gets exactly the same margin of those as she got today she'll take the lead by... 20 votes!
Katie Wilson made big gains on Bruce Harrell in today's vote count. The count probably makes her the slight favorite at this point, but no one's declaring or conceding anything. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Katie Wilson gains on Bruce Harrell as mayor’s race goes down to the wire
Incumbent Bruce Harrell's lead is now down to less than two percentage points. He and Katie Wilson are separated by 4,300 votes.
www.seattletimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
This is incredible. King County elections is now saying they have 45,000 ballots left to count. If Wilson gets exactly the same margin of those as she got today she'll take the lead by... 20 votes!
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
The Salt & Straw next to the First & Pike plaza is finally open! Excited to see how this helps activate the pedestrian plaza year round
November 7, 2025 at 11:19 PM
The Salt & Straw next to the First & Pike plaza is finally open! Excited to see how this helps activate the pedestrian plaza year round
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Per King County elections, expect around 30,000 ballots in Seattle's drop today. Seems likely this thing is headed to next week.
November 6, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Per King County elections, expect around 30,000 ballots in Seattle's drop today. Seems likely this thing is headed to next week.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
New turnout numbers in Seattle suggest that only about half the ballots are in, with nearly 55 percent of voters in the city casting ballots. Two thirds of those are drop box votes (rather than mail-in), and the numbers now suggest that only about half the ballots have been counted.
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
New turnout numbers in Seattle suggest that only about half the ballots are in, with nearly 55 percent of voters in the city casting ballots. Two thirds of those are drop box votes (rather than mail-in), and the numbers now suggest that only about half the ballots have been counted.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
King County elections confirmed to me that so far they’ve only counted ballots up to those submitted Monday or early on Election Day, and none from drop boxes. Wednesday reflects basically a wrap up of what they started counting Tuesday.
The general wisdom is that Wednesday is a continuation of election night and Thursday is when the lefty trend shows up. Nonetheless, this gives Harrell a bigger cushion heading into tomorrow and Friday.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gained another point on progressive challenger Katie Wilson in today's ballot drop, which added about ~21,000 ballots. She trails by 8 points.
Expected bigger counts tomorrow and Friday, which are typically more progressive-favoring. Comeback still possible.
Expected bigger counts tomorrow and Friday, which are typically more progressive-favoring. Comeback still possible.
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
King County elections confirmed to me that so far they’ve only counted ballots up to those submitted Monday or early on Election Day, and none from drop boxes. Wednesday reflects basically a wrap up of what they started counting Tuesday.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Update: Barnes & Noble has confirmed they'll return to downtown Seattle in April at 520 Pike St.
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Update: Barnes & Noble has confirmed they'll return to downtown Seattle in April at 520 Pike St.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Extremely Seattle-specific potential drag names:
-Henny Regrade
-Elliott Bae
-Sharon Space Needles
-Hoeing Field
-Tuck Willa
-Madison Park
-Henny Regrade
-Elliott Bae
-Sharon Space Needles
-Hoeing Field
-Tuck Willa
-Madison Park
November 4, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Extremely Seattle-specific potential drag names:
-Henny Regrade
-Elliott Bae
-Sharon Space Needles
-Hoeing Field
-Tuck Willa
-Madison Park
-Henny Regrade
-Elliott Bae
-Sharon Space Needles
-Hoeing Field
-Tuck Willa
-Madison Park
Critical overnight workforces exist in every city with wildly limited food, transit, restroom, and safety options. Sometimes a daysider will fill in and get a taste, but for a mayoral candidate to do so voluntarily is smart. He’s tapping into a whole other economy here.
For New Yorkers who work the night shift, it can be nearly impossible to participate in political life of our city.
So tonight we’re bringing this campaign to them — starting with taxi drivers waiting at LaGuardia.
So tonight we’re bringing this campaign to them — starting with taxi drivers waiting at LaGuardia.
October 31, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Critical overnight workforces exist in every city with wildly limited food, transit, restroom, and safety options. Sometimes a daysider will fill in and get a taste, but for a mayoral candidate to do so voluntarily is smart. He’s tapping into a whole other economy here.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Big news: Alexis Rinck's Better Bus Lanes budget amendment officially has five co-sponsors, giving it majority support on the city council.
Flanked by a crowd of transit advocates, Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced a "Better Bus Lanes" campaign on Wednesday, demanding expanded and improved bus lanes on the city's busiest routes.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/23/r...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/23/r...
Rinck Launches ‘Better Bus Lanes’ Campaign with Transit Advocates » The Urbanist
# Flanked by a crowd of transit advocates, Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced a
www.theurbanist.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Big news: Alexis Rinck's Better Bus Lanes budget amendment officially has five co-sponsors, giving it majority support on the city council.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Lime is offering two free 30-minute rides with the code VOTE2025 in the app for voters to get to and from their nearest polling location or drop box. www.instagram.com/stories/lime...
October 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Lime is offering two free 30-minute rides with the code VOTE2025 in the app for voters to get to and from their nearest polling location or drop box. www.instagram.com/stories/lime...
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Moody's chief economist says Washington State is either already in a recession or at high risk of one. I remain concerned that Seattle's revenue forecast last week may be overly optimistic.
fortune.com/2025/10/24/r...
fortune.com/2025/10/24/r...
These 2 states will determine if the U.S. slips into a recession while one more enters the danger zone, top economist says | Fortune
“This state-level picture mirrors the national trend: The U.S. economy is not in recession, but it is struggling to avoid one.”
fortune.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Moody's chief economist says Washington State is either already in a recession or at high risk of one. I remain concerned that Seattle's revenue forecast last week may be overly optimistic.
fortune.com/2025/10/24/r...
fortune.com/2025/10/24/r...
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Given the Link light rail's rapid expansion, Seattle now has the fastest transit ridership growth of any major US metro area, beating out the continued recovery of DC
October 25, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Given the Link light rail's rapid expansion, Seattle now has the fastest transit ridership growth of any major US metro area, beating out the continued recovery of DC
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
"NATIVE LAND": For the first time since buying the Uncle Sam Billboard property for $2.5M this summer, the Chehalis Tribe has updated its message. “Let’s goooooo,” wrote Tribal Chairman Dustin Klatush. 📸: Otto Rabe
Link to FB page: www.facebook.com/thecentralia...
Link to FB page: www.facebook.com/thecentralia...
October 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"NATIVE LAND": For the first time since buying the Uncle Sam Billboard property for $2.5M this summer, the Chehalis Tribe has updated its message. “Let’s goooooo,” wrote Tribal Chairman Dustin Klatush. 📸: Otto Rabe
Link to FB page: www.facebook.com/thecentralia...
Link to FB page: www.facebook.com/thecentralia...
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
"Katie Wilson gets help from her out-of-state parents to help pay for childcare for her young daughter" is not an attack that is going to resonate with any young parents who are grappling with Seattle's expensive childcare
Bruce Harrell's latest campaign email says "Katie Wilson Is Not Who She Says She Is." His evidence: An interview with KUOW in which Wilson—ahem—SAID she and her husband help with child care from her parents.
October 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
"Katie Wilson gets help from her out-of-state parents to help pay for childcare for her young daughter" is not an attack that is going to resonate with any young parents who are grappling with Seattle's expensive childcare
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Seattle-area companies among donors to Trump’s White House ballroom:
Amazon
Microsoft
T-Mobile
Amazon
Microsoft
T-Mobile
These Seattle area companies are helping pay for Trump's White House ballroom
Three companies headquartered in the Seattle area appeared on the White House list of donors to President Donald Trump's ballroom project.
www.seattletimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Seattle-area companies among donors to Trump’s White House ballroom:
Amazon
Microsoft
T-Mobile
Amazon
Microsoft
T-Mobile
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
www.forbes.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Good news: Sales at Pike Place Market were up 9.7% in September! That's four months of solid data showing the pedestrianization pilot is good for business.
Add your ideas for how to keep the momentum going this fall and winter: actionnetwork.org/letters/pike...
Add your ideas for how to keep the momentum going this fall and winter: actionnetwork.org/letters/pike...
October 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Good news: Sales at Pike Place Market were up 9.7% in September! That's four months of solid data showing the pedestrianization pilot is good for business.
Add your ideas for how to keep the momentum going this fall and winter: actionnetwork.org/letters/pike...
Add your ideas for how to keep the momentum going this fall and winter: actionnetwork.org/letters/pike...
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Amazon enjoys an estimated $11 BILLION in state and local subsidies, largely based on expectations of job creation.
Leaked documents show Amazon is working to automate 75% of the companies operations, eliminating 600,000 workers.
Leaked documents show Amazon is working to automate 75% of the companies operations, eliminating 600,000 workers.
Amazon hopes to replace 600,000 US workers with robots, according to leaked documents
Amazon hopes to replace 600,000 US workers with robots, according to leaked documents
They’re taking our jobs.
www.theverge.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Amazon enjoys an estimated $11 BILLION in state and local subsidies, largely based on expectations of job creation.
Leaked documents show Amazon is working to automate 75% of the companies operations, eliminating 600,000 workers.
Leaked documents show Amazon is working to automate 75% of the companies operations, eliminating 600,000 workers.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
New AAA study finds that pedestrian detection systems are only 60% effective at night (which is when most pedestrians are struck).
Lesson: Car tech will not "solve" the crisis in US pedestrian safety. Addressing car bloat, deadly street design, etc is also necessary.
Lesson: Car tech will not "solve" the crisis in US pedestrian safety. Addressing car bloat, deadly street design, etc is also necessary.
AAA: Nighttime Safety Improved with Pedestrian Detection Effective Rates Rising from 0% to 60%
Media B-Roll ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2025) – AAA evaluated vehicles equipped with pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) systems, building on
newsroom.aaa.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
New AAA study finds that pedestrian detection systems are only 60% effective at night (which is when most pedestrians are struck).
Lesson: Car tech will not "solve" the crisis in US pedestrian safety. Addressing car bloat, deadly street design, etc is also necessary.
Lesson: Car tech will not "solve" the crisis in US pedestrian safety. Addressing car bloat, deadly street design, etc is also necessary.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
NEW // Seattle Drug Ordinance Fails to Meet Treatment Promises, Report Says
By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/20/s...
By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/20/s...
Seattle Drug Ordinance Fails to Meet Treatment Promises, Report Says » The Urbanist
# Earlier this month, the King County Department of Defense issued a report showing that the City of Seattle has fallen short on offering diversion and treatment to people criminalized by its new 2023...
www.theurbanist.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
NEW // Seattle Drug Ordinance Fails to Meet Treatment Promises, Report Says
By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/20/s...
By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/20/s...
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
October 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
Seattle No Kings from the monorail
October 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Seattle No Kings from the monorail
Reposted by Bobbie Nickel
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
October 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.