Kevin Nichols
@kevinnichols.org
Issaquah City Councilmember. PhD scientist and data nerd who e-bikes to meetings to try and build a more affordable future. Previously: COVID tests, Gates Foundation, bubble physics. Personal account.
This is what an abundance mindset looks like in transit planning. We won't fight for a perfect station alignment. We won't bog things down in process. We'll be flexible (even if it's bright blue, IYKYK). We want to be the example other cities follow and approach planning with a fierce urgency of now
NEW STORY // Issaquah Pitches Case for Keeping Its Light Rail Line on Track
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/11/i...
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/11/i...
Issaquah Pitches Case for Keeping Its Light Rail Line on Track » The Urbanist
# The $5.6 billion to $6.3 billion light rail line between South Kirkland and Issaquah is currently set to open by 2044 but could see further delays. Newly elected Mayor Mark Mullet wants the project ...
www.theurbanist.org
February 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
This is what an abundance mindset looks like in transit planning. We won't fight for a perfect station alignment. We won't bog things down in process. We'll be flexible (even if it's bright blue, IYKYK). We want to be the example other cities follow and approach planning with a fierce urgency of now
Lots to learn from Bothell’s dad:
What's going on in Bothell 👇
NEW STORY // Bothell Housing Boom Brewing in Wake of Recent Zoning Reforms
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/07/b...
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/07/b...
February 8, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Lots to learn from Bothell’s dad:
Reposted by Kevin Nichols
What's going on in Bothell 👇
NEW STORY // Bothell Housing Boom Brewing in Wake of Recent Zoning Reforms
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/07/b...
By Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/07/b...
Bothell Housing Boom Brewing in Wake of Recent Zoning Reforms » The Urbanist
# Pre-applications for new housing units in Bothell last year topped 1,000 for the first time in recent history, a big indicator of interest following major changes to Bothell's zoning code in 2024. S...
www.theurbanist.org
February 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
What's going on in Bothell 👇
We appointed Paul Adair to the Issaquah council last night. On housing affordability: "More supply and more density is the only way you can start tackling this problem." You can watch his interview question responses here: youtu.be/luu5nzJ7c7I?...
I'm really excited to see Paul join the council!
I'm really excited to see Paul join the council!
Issaquah City Council Meeting January 20, 2026
YouTube video by City of Issaquah
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 7:14 PM
We appointed Paul Adair to the Issaquah council last night. On housing affordability: "More supply and more density is the only way you can start tackling this problem." You can watch his interview question responses here: youtu.be/luu5nzJ7c7I?...
I'm really excited to see Paul join the council!
I'm really excited to see Paul join the council!
When I was running for Issaquah council, a story I often brought up was the corner candy store where I grew up that is illegal to build in Issaquah today. Bad on its own, but representative of our broader land use problems. Hope this gets passed into law, and hope cities even comply in advance!
Good news for neighborhood cafes!
That said, it has provisions allowing cities to regulate parking, signage, hours of operation, and square footage, which could be misused by oppositional-defiant jurisdictions.
I’d also like to see the bill include explicit reference to last year’s parking reform.
That said, it has provisions allowing cities to regulate parking, signage, hours of operation, and square footage, which could be misused by oppositional-defiant jurisdictions.
I’d also like to see the bill include explicit reference to last year’s parking reform.
The Washington House just approved HB 1175, which would legalize neighborhood corner stores & cafes statewide. The bill was sent directly to the House floor after being approved in committee last session.
A last minute amendment dropped suburbs with fewer than 5,000 people. The vote was 94-2.
A last minute amendment dropped suburbs with fewer than 5,000 people. The vote was 94-2.
January 16, 2026 at 10:30 PM
When I was running for Issaquah council, a story I often brought up was the corner candy store where I grew up that is illegal to build in Issaquah today. Bad on its own, but representative of our broader land use problems. Hope this gets passed into law, and hope cities even comply in advance!
It's prefiling season in Olympia. Not much big housing stuff filed yet, but some interesting technical fixes are trickling in. These aren't THE solution to the housing crisis, but they're still worth pushing. HB 2151 is an interesting case study in how regulatory friction stacks up. #waleg 🧵 1/8
December 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
It's prefiling season in Olympia. Not much big housing stuff filed yet, but some interesting technical fixes are trickling in. These aren't THE solution to the housing crisis, but they're still worth pushing. HB 2151 is an interesting case study in how regulatory friction stacks up. #waleg 🧵 1/8
Just published the latest W-NOMINATE ideological scores for WA State legislators! This measure shows where lawmakers fall on the political spectrum based on their voting patterns, not rhetoric. See the full visualizations: wagraphs.com/W-Nominate/ #WALeg 🧵1/5
WA State Legislature - W-NOMINATE Analysis Results
wagraphs.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Just published the latest W-NOMINATE ideological scores for WA State legislators! This measure shows where lawmakers fall on the political spectrum based on their voting patterns, not rhetoric. See the full visualizations: wagraphs.com/W-Nominate/ #WALeg 🧵1/5
The Upthegrove Normalization is this election's hottest way to spot outliers in progressive WA issues. Take a precinct, and see if it over or under-performed Upthegrove, the progressive Public Lands candidate. For example, look at this map of Seattle Prop 1 (transit) after Upthegroveing it.🧵(1/5)
December 6, 2024 at 8:01 PM
The Upthegrove Normalization is this election's hottest way to spot outliers in progressive WA issues. Take a precinct, and see if it over or under-performed Upthegrove, the progressive Public Lands candidate. For example, look at this map of Seattle Prop 1 (transit) after Upthegroveing it.🧵(1/5)