Josh Putnam
@jputnam.bsky.social
Corporate marketing manager by day. Husband, Dad. Geeky cyclist, photographer, tinkerer, foodie for fun. Personal account, doesn't reflect employer or city views - please use company or council email addresses for any of that.
To be fair, they'd also have to hear it if they unanimously want to overturn the 5th C's obvious error. Now that one circuit is bound by such specious logic, SCOTUS should restore national uniformity. (I happen to think they should uphold a century of established practices, too.)
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
To be fair, they'd also have to hear it if they unanimously want to overturn the 5th C's obvious error. Now that one circuit is bound by such specious logic, SCOTUS should restore national uniformity. (I happen to think they should uphold a century of established practices, too.)
USPS tracks delivery date for Election Mail.
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
USPS tracks delivery date for Election Mail.
Go to what polls? I haven't had a polling place in decades, the entire state votes by mail with bipartisan support.
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Go to what polls? I haven't had a polling place in decades, the entire state votes by mail with bipartisan support.
That's why ballots are returned as Election Mail rather than BRM, isn't it?
faq.usps.com/s/article/El...
faq.usps.com/s/article/El...
USPS.com FAQs
faq.usps.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
That's why ballots are returned as Election Mail rather than BRM, isn't it?
faq.usps.com/s/article/El...
faq.usps.com/s/article/El...
Surely, if there was any concern with this, Congress would have addressed it in the statute they're citing?
It's not like this is something new — here in Washington, the postmark law is older than Chuck Grassley.
How many times has Congress amended voting laws without redefining this?
It's not like this is something new — here in Washington, the postmark law is older than Chuck Grassley.
How many times has Congress amended voting laws without redefining this?
November 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Surely, if there was any concern with this, Congress would have addressed it in the statute they're citing?
It's not like this is something new — here in Washington, the postmark law is older than Chuck Grassley.
How many times has Congress amended voting laws without redefining this?
It's not like this is something new — here in Washington, the postmark law is older than Chuck Grassley.
How many times has Congress amended voting laws without redefining this?
Here in Washington, postmark date has been settled law since 1933, with bipartisan support through decades of updates to election laws. It's absurd that a postmark date would be valid for legal acts, paying taxes, etc., but not for the date a voter casts his ballot into government hands.
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Here in Washington, postmark date has been settled law since 1933, with bipartisan support through decades of updates to election laws. It's absurd that a postmark date would be valid for legal acts, paying taxes, etc., but not for the date a voter casts his ballot into government hands.
Here in Washington State, postmark date has been the law for nearly a century, since 1933. It's baked into the process, with a predefined schedule for validating ballots cast on time, postmarked on time, and received after Election Day — an extraordinarily transparent system with detailed tracking.
November 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Here in Washington State, postmark date has been the law for nearly a century, since 1933. It's baked into the process, with a predefined schedule for validating ballots cast on time, postmarked on time, and received after Election Day — an extraordinarily transparent system with detailed tracking.
The claim that using the postmark date is "recent" is absurd. Here in Washington State, that's been the rule since 1933 — nearly a century of settled law — ballots must be mailed by Election Day, or received by election day if sent by any method other than the Post Office.
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The claim that using the postmark date is "recent" is absurd. Here in Washington State, that's been the rule since 1933 — nearly a century of settled law — ballots must be mailed by Election Day, or received by election day if sent by any method other than the Post Office.
Don't suppose you have prepared presentation materials for this scenario?
August 29, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Don't suppose you have prepared presentation materials for this scenario?
We're a pre-WWI plat that had been in walking distance of the Interurban Railroad when streets were laid out. Arterials had sidewalks before WWII, but side streets were never designed for everyone to be driving everywhere at 25+ mph.
August 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
We're a pre-WWI plat that had been in walking distance of the Interurban Railroad when streets were laid out. Arterials had sidewalks before WWII, but side streets were never designed for everyone to be driving everywhere at 25+ mph.
But could these few short blocks off the arterials become shared streets?
They're often used that way anyway — kids play in the streets, families set up basketball hoops, etc.
Could towns use the shared streets law to restore the original character of streets laid out before AASHTO and MUTCD?
They're often used that way anyway — kids play in the streets, families set up basketball hoops, etc.
Could towns use the shared streets law to restore the original character of streets laid out before AASHTO and MUTCD?
August 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
But could these few short blocks off the arterials become shared streets?
They're often used that way anyway — kids play in the streets, families set up basketball hoops, etc.
Could towns use the shared streets law to restore the original character of streets laid out before AASHTO and MUTCD?
They're often used that way anyway — kids play in the streets, families set up basketball hoops, etc.
Could towns use the shared streets law to restore the original character of streets laid out before AASHTO and MUTCD?
Reading over the law itself, I'm wondering how it might apply to a very different context than dense urban areas.
Many older towns have narrow residential streets with no sidewalks. The cost to install accessible sidewalks would be prohibitive for current residents.
Many older towns have narrow residential streets with no sidewalks. The cost to install accessible sidewalks would be prohibitive for current residents.
August 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reading over the law itself, I'm wondering how it might apply to a very different context than dense urban areas.
Many older towns have narrow residential streets with no sidewalks. The cost to install accessible sidewalks would be prohibitive for current residents.
Many older towns have narrow residential streets with no sidewalks. The cost to install accessible sidewalks would be prohibitive for current residents.
I realize, in my other replies, I forgot to note that yes, I am a city council member, though this account is personal, not for city business.
August 28, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I realize, in my other replies, I forgot to note that yes, I am a city council member, though this account is personal, not for city business.
Had a question for shared streets, small cities, and infrastructure cost. Many small cities have old neighborhoods with narrow streets and poor/no sidewalks. They're facing huge costs to meet ♿ accessibility. Would a shared street, open to wheeled pedestrians, meet access standards?
August 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Had a question for shared streets, small cities, and infrastructure cost. Many small cities have old neighborhoods with narrow streets and poor/no sidewalks. They're facing huge costs to meet ♿ accessibility. Would a shared street, open to wheeled pedestrians, meet access standards?
If you're digging for legislative history, session law is retained as-passed regardless of what other changes are made in future bills.
leg.wa.gov/state-laws-a...
leg.wa.gov/state-laws-a...
Session laws
leg.wa.gov
August 21, 2025 at 5:08 AM
If you're digging for legislative history, session law is retained as-passed regardless of what other changes are made in future bills.
leg.wa.gov/state-laws-a...
leg.wa.gov/state-laws-a...
Most cities started with Commerce's model ordinance, which used bill number and session law number. Makes it clear exactly which version of the RCW is driving the municipal code changes. Session law number doesn't change if RCW is later renumbered.
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
Tier 1 and 2 Cities Middle Housing Model Ordinance_FINAL_24-0123.pdf | Powered by Box
deptofcommerce.app.box.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Most cities started with Commerce's model ordinance, which used bill number and session law number. Makes it clear exactly which version of the RCW is driving the municipal code changes. Session law number doesn't change if RCW is later renumbered.
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
Here's an example from Commerce on HB 1110. Model ordinance starts on p. 2, using bill number and session law references.
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
Tier 1 and 2 Cities Middle Housing Model Ordinance_FINAL_24-0123.pdf | Powered by Box
deptofcommerce.app.box.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Here's an example from Commerce on HB 1110. Model ordinance starts on p. 2, using bill number and session law references.
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/2l4yetpany...
Net new legislation can be referenced by bill number and/or session law, as long as it's unambiguous.
August 21, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Net new legislation can be referenced by bill number and/or session law, as long as it's unambiguous.
If it's a revision to existing RCW, city code often adopts RCW ”as amended"so changes are automatically effective. E.g., "... in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 36.73 RCW as it now exists or is hereafter amended."
August 21, 2025 at 4:41 AM
If it's a revision to existing RCW, city code often adopts RCW ”as amended"so changes are automatically effective. E.g., "... in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 36.73 RCW as it now exists or is hereafter amended."
So I was wrong to bike commute for all those years because it was faster and less expensive?
August 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
So I was wrong to bike commute for all those years because it was faster and less expensive?
Should WSDOT and Puyallup post those legal unmarked crosswalks closed, consolidate to one marked crosswalk?
It's always frightening to see a pedestrian frogger through traffic along there. The intersection at 44th doesn't post either of the unmarked crosswalks closed across River Rd. Same at 62nd.
It's always frightening to see a pedestrian frogger through traffic along there. The intersection at 44th doesn't post either of the unmarked crosswalks closed across River Rd. Same at 62nd.
August 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Should WSDOT and Puyallup post those legal unmarked crosswalks closed, consolidate to one marked crosswalk?
It's always frightening to see a pedestrian frogger through traffic along there. The intersection at 44th doesn't post either of the unmarked crosswalks closed across River Rd. Same at 62nd.
It's always frightening to see a pedestrian frogger through traffic along there. The intersection at 44th doesn't post either of the unmarked crosswalks closed across River Rd. Same at 62nd.
If an all-way stop is out, would a raised crosswalk allow continuous flow at safe speeds while emphasizing the crosswalk?
August 18, 2025 at 2:25 AM
If an all-way stop is out, would a raised crosswalk allow continuous flow at safe speeds while emphasizing the crosswalk?
Would our energy codes allow that much glazing? Have often heard that as a reason for smaller window area on newer homes.
August 18, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Would our energy codes allow that much glazing? Have often heard that as a reason for smaller window area on newer homes.
Genuine question: what's the support for the headline statement that protesters summoned them?
Has Waymo released identies of the accounts who called them? Your article is silent on identifying who called.
Protesters? Someone hoping they'd drive through the protesters? Monkeywrenchers?
Has Waymo released identies of the accounts who called them? Your article is silent on identifying who called.
Protesters? Someone hoping they'd drive through the protesters? Monkeywrenchers?
June 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Genuine question: what's the support for the headline statement that protesters summoned them?
Has Waymo released identies of the accounts who called them? Your article is silent on identifying who called.
Protesters? Someone hoping they'd drive through the protesters? Monkeywrenchers?
Has Waymo released identies of the accounts who called them? Your article is silent on identifying who called.
Protesters? Someone hoping they'd drive through the protesters? Monkeywrenchers?
2029 - so we might have single stair reform in place outside Seattle by the time they start building?
April 17, 2025 at 5:11 AM
2029 - so we might have single stair reform in place outside Seattle by the time they start building?