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The Urbanist
@theurbanist.org
33K followers 400 following 5.2K posts
Advocacy journalism for better cities.👩‍🦽👨‍🦯🚶🚴‍♀️ 🚎 ⛴️ 🚊 🚆 🏙️

Based in the Seattle metro area.

Read our coverage on theurbanist.org. 📰
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Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
Things happening today:
-Incoming Seattle Councilmember Dionne Foster is getting sworn in
-Alexis Mercedes Rinck is getting sworn in for a full four-year term
-The Seattle Council is voting for a new President (probably Joy Hollingsworth)
-New committee assignments are getting adopted
January 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
A proposal to gradually add dedicated transit lanes and separated bike lanes on a stretch of SR 99 in Lynnwood and unincorporated Snohomish County is one of the biggest moves to come out of Washington's 2021 Complete Streets mandate so far.
www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/06/w...
WSDOT Eyes Major Transformation for SR 99 in Snohomish County » The Urbanist
# While the upgrades wouldn't happen all at once, and would only go in as other maintenance work occurs, the proposed concept sets a strong baseline for one of the state's most dangerous surface highw...
www.theurbanist.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:14 PM
theurbanist.org
NEW STORY // WSDOT Eyes Major Transformation for SR 99 in Snohomish County

Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/06/w...
WSDOT Eyes Major Transformation for SR 99 in Snohomish County » The Urbanist
# While the upgrades wouldn't happen all at once, and would only go in as other maintenance work occurs, the proposed concept sets a strong baseline for one of the state's most dangerous surface highw...
www.theurbanist.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
After becoming infamous in the Washington state senate as a backstop against progressive legislation from 2012 to 2024, Mark Mullet is now Issaquah's mayor.
Mark Mullet at the dias at a city council meeting
January 6, 2026 at 3:20 AM
theurbanist.org
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is again focused on cuts to close a state budget shortfall, estimated at $2.3 billion for 2026. While he did signal support for an income tax on millionaires, his proposal would not begin collecting revenue until 2029.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/05/f...
Ferguson’s 2026 Budget Queues Steep Cuts, Pushes Millionaires Tax to 2029 » The Urbanist
# Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is again focused on cuts to close a state budget shortfall, estimated at $2.3 billion for 2026. While he did signal support for an income tax on millionaires, his pr...
www.theurbanist.org
January 5, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
ericacbarnett.bsky.social
Police chief Shon Barnes just appointed Sarah Smith, a top public safety advisor to former mayor Bruce Harrell (and a deputy of Harrell's public safety director Natalie Walton-Anderson) as his Chief Operating Officer, replacing Brian Maxey.
January 5, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
amysundberg.bsky.social
Of course Mayor Wilson is spending her first Monday in office cleaning up a media mess created by SPOG and Solan. What a shock.
January 5, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
The 2019 library levy promised an extension of open hours to 9pm at most branches four days a week, but we never got there.
nicksattele.bsky.social Nick @nicksattele.bsky.social · 1d
Sad news for Capitol Hill library enjoyers :(
Hours will be reduced at the Capitol Hill library. Tuesdays will close at 6 instead of 8 Wednesdays will open at noon instead of 10am Thursdays will open at 10am instead of noon and close at 6 instead of 8
January 5, 2026 at 6:59 PM
theurbanist.org
👏 👏
nyc.streetsblog.org Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 1d
Mayor Mamdani said over the weekend that he wants the Department of Transportation to add daylighting before someone has been killed rather than wait to ban parking at intersections after a completely avoidable tragedy. nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/01/05/m...
Mamdani: Daylighting Before Death! - Streetsblog New York City
The mayor wants the Department of Transportation to add daylighting before someone has been killed rather than wait to ban parking at intersections after a completely avoidable tragedy.
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
amysundberg.bsky.social
I'm back at work! In this piece I analyze Governor Ferguson's proposed 2026 supplemental budget, which is balanced with cuts cuts cuts and a little help from the state's emergency fund and climate dollars.
January 5, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
gordonofseattle.bsky.social
More good news: Sales at Pike Place Market were up 7.2% in October! Or to quote the PDA's own words the market has had "exceptional sales performance of our tenants." (pikeplacemarket.community.highbond.com/document/fd1...)

📈 So far every month of the pedestrianization pilot sales have been up!
scene from october where people were sitting and walking on the street
January 5, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
organizewithshaun.bsky.social
HB 2100 would prevent these deep cuts to healthcare and higher education; and last week I confirmed with Washington’s Employment Security Department that it could be implemented as soon as 2026.

We can’t wait.
January 5, 2026 at 6:18 PM
theurbanist.org
NEW STORY // Ferguson’s 2026 Budget Queues Steep Cuts, Pushes Millionaires Tax to 2029

Story by Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/05/f...
Ferguson’s 2026 Budget Queues Steep Cuts, Pushes Millionaires Tax to 2029 » The Urbanist
# Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is again focused on cuts to close a state budget shortfall, estimated at $2.3 billion for 2026. While he did signal support for an income tax on millionaires, his pr...
www.theurbanist.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
theurbanist.org
NEW // Sunday Video: The 15 Million Home Vacancy Conspiracy Theory Debunked

Sunday video: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/04/s...
Sunday Video: The 15 Million Home Vacancy Conspiracy Theory Debunked » The Urbanist
# Ray Delahanty of CityNerd debunks the myth that vacant homes could single-handedly solve the housing crisis, explaining with data why America doesn't have anywhere close to 15 million homes readily ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
theurbanist.org
NEW // Sunday Video: The 15 Million Home Vacancy Conspiracy Theory Debunked

Sunday video: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/04/s...
Sunday Video: The 15 Million Home Vacancy Conspiracy Theory Debunked » The Urbanist
# Ray Delahanty of CityNerd debunks the myth that vacant homes could single-handedly solve the housing crisis, explaining with data why America doesn't have anywhere close to 15 million homes readily ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
My writeup on yesterday: Katie Wilson Takes Office as Seattle’s Unabashed Urbanist Mayor
www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/03/k...
Katie Wilson Takes Office as Seattle’s Unabashed Urbanist Mayor » The Urbanist
# In remarks after being sworn in as Seattle's 58th mayor, Katie Wilson painted a vision of improving the daily lives of residents that was explicitly urbanist: focused around livability and ensuring ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 3, 2026 at 9:50 PM
theurbanist.org
NEW STORY // Katie Wilson Takes Office as Seattle’s Unabashed Urbanist Mayor

Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/03/k...
Katie Wilson Takes Office as Seattle’s Unabashed Urbanist Mayor » The Urbanist
# In remarks after being sworn in as Seattle's 58th mayor, Katie Wilson painted a vision of improving the daily lives of residents that was explicitly urbanist: focused around livability and ensuring ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
Most of the costs of operating the streetcar network are now hidden inside the Seattle Transit Measure, and it will fall to Katie Wilson to decide whether to keep it that way. Or use that funding for other transit projects.
January 3, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
It's wild that the First Hill Streetcar was a consolation prize for losing a light rail station but Sound Transit only agreed to pitch in on the cost of operating it for less than a full decade.
January 3, 2026 at 10:31 PM
theurbanist.org
“Tacoma is eyeing impact fees to pay for portions of long-planned street upgrades that would have a big impact on the ability for city residents and visitors to get around without a car, including pedestrian and bicycle upgrades…”
theurbanist.org The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 4d
Tacoma's new impact fee regime will charge developers based on expected generation of car trips. Despite work to delicately calibrate the new fees, the proposal still drew criticism when it comes to adding costs to needed housing development.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/02/t...
Tacoma Turns to Builder Impact Fees to Bolster Transportation Funding » The Urbanist
# Tacoma's new impact fee regime, which goes into effect next summer, will charge developers based on expected generation of car trips. Despite work to delicately calibrate the new fees, the proposal ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 3, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Reposted by The Urbanist
mayorofseattle.bsky.social
This is your city — that means that you belong here, you have a right to be here and to live a dignified life, whatever your background and whatever your income. wilson.seattle.gov/2026/01/02/m...
Mayor Wilson Inauguration Speech - Office of the Mayor
Mayor Katie B. Wilson was sworn into office on January 2, 2026. Remarks as written: It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you today. I look out and I see so many people who have pl...
wilson.seattle.gov
January 2, 2026 at 10:27 PM
theurbanist.org
Tacoma's new impact fee regime will charge developers based on expected generation of car trips. Despite work to delicately calibrate the new fees, the proposal still drew criticism when it comes to adding costs to needed housing development.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/02/t...
Tacoma Turns to Builder Impact Fees to Bolster Transportation Funding » The Urbanist
# Tacoma's new impact fee regime, which goes into effect next summer, will charge developers based on expected generation of car trips. Despite work to delicately calibrate the new fees, the proposal ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
"A city that values the pursuits that create beauty and community, whether or not they ever turn into careers. A city that thinks you should have time to read a book and lay on the grass looking up at the clouds." -Katie Wilson
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
"The thing about cities is that there is never just one story to be told about them." - @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 9:31 PM
theurbanist.org
Katie B. Wilson has just taken her oath of office and been sworn in as Seattle’s 58th mayor.
Image of Wilson, her family, and supporters
January 2, 2026 at 7:01 PM