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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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typewriteralley.bsky.social
Also Kelli Curtis will continue serving as Kirkland's mayor for another two years. Neal Black will be deputy mayor.
typewriteralley.bsky.social Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 5h
Shilpa Prem has been sworn in as a member of the Kirkland City Council, replacing longtime councilmember Penny Sweet and keeping that council seat in progressive hands after a contentious election.
Shilpa Prem being sworn in with her family. The caption on screen reads Kirkland City Council position 3
January 7, 2026 at 4:03 AM
theurbanist.org
NEW STORY // Joy Hollingsworth Takes Helm in Seattle Council Shakeup

Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/06/j...
Joy Hollingsworth Takes Helm in Seattle Council Shakeup » The Urbanist
# District 3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth will head the Seattle City Council following a progressive wave election, and will be tasked with managing several distinct factions. Her first task was na...
www.theurbanist.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:57 AM
theurbanist.org
NEW // Op-Ed: Why Kitsap County Can’t Stop Sprawling

Op-ed by Travis Merrigan via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/06/o...
Op-Ed: Why Kitsap County Can’t Stop Sprawling » The Urbanist
# Washington State is forcing Kitsap County to re-do its Comprehensive Plan for lack of low-income housing, ignoring wildfire risk, and neglecting safe streets requirements. The do-over is a chance to...
www.theurbanist.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
Bothell Mayor Mason Thompson @masonthompson.bsky.social was just elected to another two year term as mayor. Now serving as deputy mayor will be Jenne Alderks @jennealderks.bsky.social.
January 7, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
Bellevue Councilmember Mo Malakoutian will serve as the city's next mayor, after a unanimous vote just now.
January 7, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
We have to talk about Alexis Mercedes Rinck's speech today.
January 7, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
"Our neighbors want to be able to raise their families here, and have access to good schools and safe neighborhoods.

Our neighbors want the buses to come on time.

Our neighbors want to build the damn trains.

Our neighbors want to feel safe crossing the street."

-Seattle CM Dionne Foster
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
theurbanist.org
🚨 A new prefiled bill for the 2026 session of the Washington State Legislature would refer a constitutional amendment to the People to allow the legislature to redistrict congressional districts mid-decade by simple majority vote if another state gerrymanders its congressional districts mid-decade.
HJR 4209 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
January 7, 2026 at 12:05 AM
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typewriteralley.bsky.social
-Parks, Civil Rights: Juarez
-Public Safety: Kettle
-Transportation, Waterfront, Seattle Center: Saka
January 6, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by The Urbanist
typewriteralley.bsky.social
2026-2027 Seattle Council Committee Chairs are as follows:
-Finance, Native Communities, Tribal Gov: Strauss
-Governance, Utilities: Hollingsworth
-Housing, Arts, Civil Rights: Foster
-Human Services, Labor, Econ Dev: Rinck
-Land Use, Sustainability: Lin
-Libraries, Education, Neighborhoods: Rivera
January 6, 2026 at 11:38 PM
theurbanist.org
It's official: Hollingsworth replaces Sara Nelson as Seattle City Council president.
typewriteralley.bsky.social Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 11h
D3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth will be Seattle City Council President for the next two years following a unanimous vote just now. There were no other nominations.
January 6, 2026 at 10:14 PM
theurbanist.org
Okay, online hivemind: What are the lowest hanging fruit for quick fixes for safe streets in Seattle?
nyc.streetsblog.org Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 11h
Mayor Mamdani brought an end to the Williamsburg Bridge "bump," which he described as a "veritable gauntlet of cycling punishment." This is only the beginning of a $70-million overhaul of this section of Delancey that will start this fall. nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/01/06/g...
Grab a Shovel: Mayor Mamdani Begins Fix of Williamsburg Bridge Shitshow - Streetsblog New York City
Hizzoner gets his hands dirty to make a quick fix, with more to come.
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:12 PM
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
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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