Amy Sundberg
@amysundberg.bsky.social
SF/F and YA writer, reporter at @theurbanist.org, publisher of Notes from the Emerald City. She/her. Send tips on Signal (amysundberg.92)
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Amy Sundberg
@amysundberg.bsky.social
· Nov 9
Signal boosting this Bluesky starter pack of Seattle News and Journalists: go.bsky.app/MdNLsYQ
This has been on my mind. He hasn't set up Katie Wilson for success budget-wise.
if I HAD been in town today I probably would have asked outgoing Mayor Harrell why his budget for next year sets up a huge fiscal cliff for incoming ,ayor Wilson, using one-time funding for long-term needs and assuming nine-figure deficits starting in next year's budget cycle
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
This has been on my mind. He hasn't set up Katie Wilson for success budget-wise.
"I believe that our city should be able to tackle big challenges and take on big, ambitious projects, and I believe it is a very bad thing when people begin to lose faith in the ability of their government to be responsive and effective and to deliver results to its constituents." Katie Wilson
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"I believe that our city should be able to tackle big challenges and take on big, ambitious projects, and I believe it is a very bad thing when people begin to lose faith in the ability of their government to be responsive and effective and to deliver results to its constituents." Katie Wilson
Oh my gosh, just realized the One Seattle slogan might go away now.
November 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Oh my gosh, just realized the One Seattle slogan might go away now.
I planned to stay in bed to recover from yesterday's Covid shot...but I guess I'll be going to a certain Wilson press conference instead.
Hoping for chairs! 🤣
Hoping for chairs! 🤣
November 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I planned to stay in bed to recover from yesterday's Covid shot...but I guess I'll be going to a certain Wilson press conference instead.
Hoping for chairs! 🤣
Hoping for chairs! 🤣
Several local cities have paused their Flock license plate cameras due to concerns of ICE accessing the data and issues arising from the camera recordings being public records.
NEW STORY // Washington Cities Question Use of License Plate Readers Citing Federal Overreach
Story by Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/13/w...
Story by Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/13/w...
Washington Cities Question Use of License Plate Readers Citing Federal Overreach » The Urbanist
# A recent University of Washington report on data security issues with automatic license plate readers has been creating waves among law enforcement agencies using the technology, including Lynnwood,...
www.theurbanist.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Several local cities have paused their Flock license plate cameras due to concerns of ICE accessing the data and issues arising from the camera recordings being public records.
"What we learn from the billionaires’ insistence on Tisch is that, while they’ll merely grumble about a leftist agenda on the cost of living—and, potentially, higher taxes—they are not prepared to brook dissent on the running of the policing machine."
Zohran showed that a socialist can take City Hall—but the ruling class still forced him to keep Jessica Tisch at the NYPD. For Zohran to fight the police unions and win, the Left has to build power beyond the ballot box.
New from me for The Nation:
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
New from me for The Nation:
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
If We Want Mamdani to Beat the NYPD, the Left Must Build Power
We won’t be able to push Mamdani, or anyone else, to undermine police power unless we become a force to be reckoned with.
www.thenation.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"What we learn from the billionaires’ insistence on Tisch is that, while they’ll merely grumble about a leftist agenda on the cost of living—and, potentially, higher taxes—they are not prepared to brook dissent on the running of the policing machine."
'In limiting spending on long-term housing to just 30 percent of the $3.5 billion in aid — from about 90 percent this year — the Trump plan would deal a crippling blow to a movement called Housing First."
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
'In limiting spending on long-term housing to just 30 percent of the $3.5 billion in aid — from about 90 percent this year — the Trump plan would deal a crippling blow to a movement called Housing First."
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
🚨🚨 Just in: Katie Wilson has expanded her lead in the Seattle mayor race. She is now leading by 1,976 votes, which means that the race is no longer in automatic recount territory.
🚨🚨 Just in: Katie Wilson has expanded her lead in the Seattle mayor race. She is now leading by 1,346 votes.
November 12, 2025 at 11:27 PM
🚨🚨 Just in: Katie Wilson has expanded her lead in the Seattle mayor race. She is now leading by 1,976 votes, which means that the race is no longer in automatic recount territory.
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
West Seattle light rail supporters are going to want to make sure they make it to this event on Monday night hosted by @cmtmosqueda.bsky.social, given the fact that light rail opponents are likely to turn out in spades.
westseattleblog.com/2025/11/west...
westseattleblog.com/2025/11/west...
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: What's next? November 17 'visioning forum' just announced
The West Seattle light rail plan might change when Sound Transit revisits its long-range plan next year. But how? Your next chance to hear what might happen has just been announced - an event at Young...
westseattleblog.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
West Seattle light rail supporters are going to want to make sure they make it to this event on Monday night hosted by @cmtmosqueda.bsky.social, given the fact that light rail opponents are likely to turn out in spades.
westseattleblog.com/2025/11/west...
westseattleblog.com/2025/11/west...
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
SCOOP: ICE is allocating as much as $180 million to pay bounty hunters and private investigators who verify the address and location of undocumented people ICE wishes to detain, including with physical surveillance, according to procurement records reviewed by 404 Media.
ICE Plans to Spend $180 Million on Bounty Hunters to Stalk Immigrants
Newly released documents provide more details about ICE's plan to use bounty hunters and private investigators to find the location of undocumented immigrants.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
SCOOP: ICE is allocating as much as $180 million to pay bounty hunters and private investigators who verify the address and location of undocumented people ICE wishes to detain, including with physical surveillance, according to procurement records reviewed by 404 Media.
I read this quote a year or two ago and was so impressed by it, I read the book. Still think about it.
Mother Night. “This is the only story of mine whose moral I know. I don’t think it’s a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is: We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 AM
I read this quote a year or two ago and was so impressed by it, I read the book. Still think about it.
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
Katie Wilson is now almost certainly Seattle's 58th mayor. We spoke just now: "We’re going to wait for all of the ballots to be counted, but I think we won this race." www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Katie Wilson’s lead grows in race for Seattle mayor
Katie Wilson leads Bruce Harrell by more than 1,300 votes after Tuesday's election update.
www.seattletimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Katie Wilson is now almost certainly Seattle's 58th mayor. We spoke just now: "We’re going to wait for all of the ballots to be counted, but I think we won this race." www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Looks like Seattle will have a new mayor for the New Year! What a race!
I've seen enough.
Congratulations, Mayor-elect Katie Wilson!
Congratulations, Mayor-elect Katie Wilson!
Seattle's mayor race update:
Katie Wilson's lead grows to 1,346 votes over and incumbent corporate-Democrat Bruce Harrell.
Kate Wilson won 61.23% of the 6,121 ballots counted today.
Overall total:
Katie Wilson 50.08% 137,217
Bruce Harrell 49.59% 135,871
Write-in 0.33% 908
Katie Wilson's lead grows to 1,346 votes over and incumbent corporate-Democrat Bruce Harrell.
Kate Wilson won 61.23% of the 6,121 ballots counted today.
Overall total:
Katie Wilson 50.08% 137,217
Bruce Harrell 49.59% 135,871
Write-in 0.33% 908
November 12, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Looks like Seattle will have a new mayor for the New Year! What a race!
🧵. Note that Divest believes 2 of the 3 officers involved in the shooting were rookies. There will be many rookies flooding into SPD from the hiring spree this year.
UPDATE: The Office of Police Accountability has opened an investigation into the three officers who fatally shot a man in SODO on Oct. 30.
While OPA has opened investigations into every 2025 shooting, this one is different. The allegations are "Conformance to Law," not force.
While OPA has opened investigations into every 2025 shooting, this one is different. The allegations are "Conformance to Law," not force.
CW: Shooting/Death
New video of last week's shooting in SODO.
Officers told him to drop his gun. He did. They killed him.
New video of last week's shooting in SODO.
Officers told him to drop his gun. He did. They killed him.
November 11, 2025 at 8:25 PM
🧵. Note that Divest believes 2 of the 3 officers involved in the shooting were rookies. There will be many rookies flooding into SPD from the hiring spree this year.
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
A Fistful of Loud: Seattle Neighbors Build Whistle Kits to Protect Immigrants From ICE
A Fistful of Loud: Seattle Neighbors Build Whistle Kits to Protect Immigrants From ICE
A grassroots whistle project helps neighbors warn each other of ICE activity and stand up for immigrant safety together in South Seattle.
southseattleemerald.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:09 PM
A Fistful of Loud: Seattle Neighbors Build Whistle Kits to Protect Immigrants From ICE
Eight months ago, Katie Wilson declared her intention to run and all the conventional powers-that-be said she didn't stand a chance of winning.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Wilson now leads in the Seattle mayoral race by 91 votes. Prior to today, Harrell had been leading by 4,300 votes, but this latest vote batch netted Wilson 4,391 votes.
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Eight months ago, Katie Wilson declared her intention to run and all the conventional powers-that-be said she didn't stand a chance of winning.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
I chatted with Erika Evans a few days ago to discuss her vision for the Seattle City Attorney's office.
NEW STORY // Evans Trounces Republican Seattle City Attorney, Shares Plans for Transition
Story by Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/10/e...
Story by Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/10/e...
Evans Trounces Republican Seattle City Attorney, Shares Plans for Transition » The Urbanist
# Seattle City Attorney-elect Erika Evans chatted with The Urbanist about what's next after her resounding victory in the November election, unseating Seattle's lone Republican office-holder.
www.theurbanist.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I chatted with Erika Evans a few days ago to discuss her vision for the Seattle City Attorney's office.
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
NEW: Washington State Rep. Shaun Scott issues statement concerning Roger Wright and Seattle police accountability following a Real Change investigation:
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NEW: Washington State Rep. Shaun Scott issues statement concerning Roger Wright and Seattle police accountability following a Real Change investigation:
I had to double-check to make sure this was a true thing that Elon Musk said. And it is!
November 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I had to double-check to make sure this was a true thing that Elon Musk said. And it is!
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
NEW // Op-Ed: Ferguson Must Back ‘Stand Up to Trump’ Rhetoric with Funding
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/08/o...
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/08/o...
Op-Ed: Ferguson Must Back ‘Stand Up to Trump’ Rhetoric with Funding » The Urbanist
# The Trump administration is gutting health care, child care, and food stamps. John Burbank argues Governor Bob Ferguson should immediately call a special session of the Washington State Legislature ...
www.theurbanist.org
November 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
NEW // Op-Ed: Ferguson Must Back ‘Stand Up to Trump’ Rhetoric with Funding
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/08/o...
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/08/o...
Still trying to adjust to the idea that the Seattle Mayor's race might very well be so close it triggers an automatic recount.
November 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Still trying to adjust to the idea that the Seattle Mayor's race might very well be so close it triggers an automatic recount.
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
Did SPD solve all of the violent crime, property crime, traffic violence, and clear case backlogs in the city that they have capacity to do other agencies’ administrative work?
SPD out here on Northgate shutting down the taco stand between 8th and Roosevelt due to "multiple licensing and health code violations" that they wouldn't provide anymore info about.
November 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Did SPD solve all of the violent crime, property crime, traffic violence, and clear case backlogs in the city that they have capacity to do other agencies’ administrative work?
Reposted by Amy Sundberg
At a time when Latino immigrants are uniquely at risk and many struggle to make a living for fear of ICE raids, why are you focused on the supposed dangers of taco trucks, and do you have any actual evidence—as opposed to conjecture—that anyone has been harmed by taco trucks or Latino fruit vendors?
November 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
At a time when Latino immigrants are uniquely at risk and many struggle to make a living for fear of ICE raids, why are you focused on the supposed dangers of taco trucks, and do you have any actual evidence—as opposed to conjecture—that anyone has been harmed by taco trucks or Latino fruit vendors?
I'm at a fundraiser where I know no one. The combo is sick, but I'm beginning to contemplate pulling out my Kindle.
November 8, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I'm at a fundraiser where I know no one. The combo is sick, but I'm beginning to contemplate pulling out my Kindle.