Kate Macfarlane
@katemacfarlane.bsky.social
Seattleite. Likes: maps, dogs, plants, ice cream, walkable cities. Dislikes: fascist takeovers, climate change, most zoning, beets
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
Fill out those ballots, Seattle people, and get it in a drop box by 8 pm Tuesday. kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
Ballot drop boxes - King County, Washington
kingcounty.gov
November 3, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Fill out those ballots, Seattle people, and get it in a drop box by 8 pm Tuesday. kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elec...
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
Immigration officials arrested a mother outside an Issaquah child care center Thursday, after they stopped her while she was driving to the Spanish-language immersion preschool, the school’s director says.
Immigration officials detain woman outside Issaquah immersion preschool
www.seattletimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Immigration officials arrested a mother outside an Issaquah child care center Thursday, after they stopped her while she was driving to the Spanish-language immersion preschool, the school’s director says.
I’m doing this! Reach out if you want to help
My first baby batch of whistle kits!
These are going to #Burien tonight to be handed out a candidate forum for airport-impacted communities
These are going to #Burien tonight to be handed out a candidate forum for airport-impacted communities
October 22, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I’m doing this! Reach out if you want to help
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
Seattle No Kings from the monorail
October 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Seattle No Kings from the monorail
Seattle showed up today!
We got there late and missed the rally, but the march was massive, joyful, and multigenerational.
Also totally non-violent as far as I could tell. We marched towards the end of the parade and didn’t see any graffiti or smashed windows
We got there late and missed the rally, but the march was massive, joyful, and multigenerational.
Also totally non-violent as far as I could tell. We marched towards the end of the parade and didn’t see any graffiti or smashed windows
October 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Seattle showed up today!
We got there late and missed the rally, but the march was massive, joyful, and multigenerational.
Also totally non-violent as far as I could tell. We marched towards the end of the parade and didn’t see any graffiti or smashed windows
We got there late and missed the rally, but the march was massive, joyful, and multigenerational.
Also totally non-violent as far as I could tell. We marched towards the end of the parade and didn’t see any graffiti or smashed windows
Is anyone in Seattle making and distributing whistle kits? I want to help do this locally
ICE is already here and snatching people, but nowhere near the scale of Chicago or LA. Yet.
For Seattle 3D printers, the WA hotline number is 844-724-3737 (@waisn.bsky.social)
ICE is already here and snatching people, but nowhere near the scale of Chicago or LA. Yet.
For Seattle 3D printers, the WA hotline number is 844-724-3737 (@waisn.bsky.social)
3D printers: WE NEED YOU! If you have a printer, start making whistles for your community. Volunteers of ours have been printing and passing them out across communities, over 200 have been handed out so far!
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Is anyone in Seattle making and distributing whistle kits? I want to help do this locally
ICE is already here and snatching people, but nowhere near the scale of Chicago or LA. Yet.
For Seattle 3D printers, the WA hotline number is 844-724-3737 (@waisn.bsky.social)
ICE is already here and snatching people, but nowhere near the scale of Chicago or LA. Yet.
For Seattle 3D printers, the WA hotline number is 844-724-3737 (@waisn.bsky.social)
Seattle crows, welcome to the war on cars
October 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Seattle crows, welcome to the war on cars
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
In the clothing industry, the term CMT stands for "cut, make, trim." It means you are paying someone to cut, make, and trim the garment. Essentially, it's your manufacturing labor cost without taking into account the cost of material.
The CMT price for making a shirt in the US is about $35.
The CMT price for making a shirt in the US is about $35.
October 12, 2025 at 9:38 PM
In the clothing industry, the term CMT stands for "cut, make, trim." It means you are paying someone to cut, make, and trim the garment. Essentially, it's your manufacturing labor cost without taking into account the cost of material.
The CMT price for making a shirt in the US is about $35.
The CMT price for making a shirt in the US is about $35.
Bruce Harrell likes to bluster about standing up to Trump
But behind the scenes, SPD is collaborating with ICE, and Harrell’s trying to hide it until after the election
ICE wants data? No prob, that will take 4 days
Journalist question about data sent to ICE? Sorry, best we can do is 4 months
But behind the scenes, SPD is collaborating with ICE, and Harrell’s trying to hide it until after the election
ICE wants data? No prob, that will take 4 days
Journalist question about data sent to ICE? Sorry, best we can do is 4 months
NEW: Seattle Police Prioritizing ICE’s Records Requests Over Citizens’
www.hardpressed-info.com/seattle-poli...
www.hardpressed-info.com/seattle-poli...
Seattle Police Prioritizing ICE’s Records Requests Over Citizens’
HardPressed
www.hardpressed-info.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Bruce Harrell likes to bluster about standing up to Trump
But behind the scenes, SPD is collaborating with ICE, and Harrell’s trying to hide it until after the election
ICE wants data? No prob, that will take 4 days
Journalist question about data sent to ICE? Sorry, best we can do is 4 months
But behind the scenes, SPD is collaborating with ICE, and Harrell’s trying to hide it until after the election
ICE wants data? No prob, that will take 4 days
Journalist question about data sent to ICE? Sorry, best we can do is 4 months
Oh look, another example of Harrell’s terrible management skills
Tiffany Washington, Deputy Mayor for Homelessness, refused to fill hotel rooms that the city paid for. Reason? She doesn’t like the program lead
Not the first time Washington has acted in favor of more homelessness, either
Tiffany Washington, Deputy Mayor for Homelessness, refused to fill hotel rooms that the city paid for. Reason? She doesn’t like the program lead
Not the first time Washington has acted in favor of more homelessness, either
NEW: After paying for hotel rooms to shelter homeless people, Seattle deliberately left them vacant.
By the end of 2024, taxpayers were spending $4,200 a month per empty room at a time when thousands of residents were without a roof over their heads.
By the end of 2024, taxpayers were spending $4,200 a month per empty room at a time when thousands of residents were without a roof over their heads.
Seattle Spent Millions on Hotel Rooms to Shelter Unhoused People. Then It Stopped Filling Them.
Early last year, the city signed a $2.7 million lease extension to continue using a hotel’s rooms as shelter space. Yet despite committing to pay the rent, the city stopped sending people there.
www.propublica.org
October 7, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Oh look, another example of Harrell’s terrible management skills
Tiffany Washington, Deputy Mayor for Homelessness, refused to fill hotel rooms that the city paid for. Reason? She doesn’t like the program lead
Not the first time Washington has acted in favor of more homelessness, either
Tiffany Washington, Deputy Mayor for Homelessness, refused to fill hotel rooms that the city paid for. Reason? She doesn’t like the program lead
Not the first time Washington has acted in favor of more homelessness, either
So mean, and also so ineffective!
Sweeps don’t solve homelessness. They don’t even appease heartless ghouls like Louise Clauss.
Bruce Harrell and Sara Nelson are wasting taxpayer money on this performative cruelty.
Sweeps don’t solve homelessness. They don’t even appease heartless ghouls like Louise Clauss.
Bruce Harrell and Sara Nelson are wasting taxpayer money on this performative cruelty.
October 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
So mean, and also so ineffective!
Sweeps don’t solve homelessness. They don’t even appease heartless ghouls like Louise Clauss.
Bruce Harrell and Sara Nelson are wasting taxpayer money on this performative cruelty.
Sweeps don’t solve homelessness. They don’t even appease heartless ghouls like Louise Clauss.
Bruce Harrell and Sara Nelson are wasting taxpayer money on this performative cruelty.
Instead of directly hiring people to do things, Sound Transit hires companies to hire other companies to hire people to do things.
This is very inefficient! Unfortunately it’s also standard practice in the U.S.
This is very inefficient! Unfortunately it’s also standard practice in the U.S.
I keep going back to this slide shown to the Sound Transit board this month, showing how "capacity building" means consulting firms, more consulting firms, and more subcontractors.
![Capacity building at Sound Transit
18 primes 248 subconsultants
[large chart showing which consultants and subconsultants the agency is bringing on]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6vatl6lhsv3ninhf7n4ssria/bafkreif5aaik2vxgkss3sjp4bosxkiqpgihvlfhw37ohqi6swkzrr2fvri@jpeg)
September 16, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Instead of directly hiring people to do things, Sound Transit hires companies to hire other companies to hire people to do things.
This is very inefficient! Unfortunately it’s also standard practice in the U.S.
This is very inefficient! Unfortunately it’s also standard practice in the U.S.
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
@jayapal.house.gov this is cool but we need you here in Seattle knocking doors for @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social ! (To be clear first we need you to endorse her.)
Thank you Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal for firing up our Jackson Heights canvass this afternoon and joining us to knock on doors in the world's borough.
September 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
@jayapal.house.gov this is cool but we need you here in Seattle knocking doors for @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social ! (To be clear first we need you to endorse her.)
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
Dreaming of a more equitable and affordable Seattle? You can help make it a reality! Sign our letter to city council supporting all the amendments to the city's once-in-a-decade planning update that would make homes more affordable for everyone: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Tell City Council To Pass A Bold Comprehensive Plan
The Seattle City Council has a once-in-a-decade chance to address our housing shortage and affordability crisis.
The Comprehensive Plan—Seattle’s regular update that determines how many homes can be...
actionnetwork.org
September 8, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Dreaming of a more equitable and affordable Seattle? You can help make it a reality! Sign our letter to city council supporting all the amendments to the city's once-in-a-decade planning update that would make homes more affordable for everyone: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
Seattleites: one more public hearing for more housing through the Comp Plan on Friday. Rally at 1pm at City Hall (pizza too!), remote testimony starting at 9:30, can sign up for in-person testimony 3pm-6:30pm.
September 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Seattleites: one more public hearing for more housing through the Comp Plan on Friday. Rally at 1pm at City Hall (pizza too!), remote testimony starting at 9:30, can sign up for in-person testimony 3pm-6:30pm.
My family says “ABR” to describe when someone is confidently incorrect.
It stands for Authoritative But Wrong (and yes we know, that’s the joke)
You can use it to call out someone in the moment (“that’s ABR”) or to describe a person or situation (“Sara Nelson was ABR again today”)
It stands for Authoritative But Wrong (and yes we know, that’s the joke)
You can use it to call out someone in the moment (“that’s ABR”) or to describe a person or situation (“Sara Nelson was ABR again today”)
September 12, 2025 at 12:43 AM
My family says “ABR” to describe when someone is confidently incorrect.
It stands for Authoritative But Wrong (and yes we know, that’s the joke)
You can use it to call out someone in the moment (“that’s ABR”) or to describe a person or situation (“Sara Nelson was ABR again today”)
It stands for Authoritative But Wrong (and yes we know, that’s the joke)
You can use it to call out someone in the moment (“that’s ABR”) or to describe a person or situation (“Sara Nelson was ABR again today”)
If you need more examples of the dysfunction of Seattle City Council under Sara Nelson…
Seattle Council currently interrogating city's housing office about why they haven't spent city housing money faster. Bob Kettle just lauded the city's new transportation plan, which replaced more detailed mode plans with a more bullet-pointy high-level document and saying we need that for housing
September 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
If you need more examples of the dysfunction of Seattle City Council under Sara Nelson…
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
I wrote a rant that addresses EVERY Seattle anti-housing "tree advocate" talking point I have ever seen.
It's long but honestly not THAT long lol. I will be very, VERY happy if 5 people read it.
Come be one of them :)
blog.moreparksmoreneighbors.org/page/anti-ho...
It's long but honestly not THAT long lol. I will be very, VERY happy if 5 people read it.
Come be one of them :)
blog.moreparksmoreneighbors.org/page/anti-ho...
Anti-housing, self-proclaimed "tree advocates" are missing the forest for the trees - or worse
“I have to wait HOW long?!”
One of the five neighborhood kids gathered around me threw their dirt-caked hands up in disbelief. They were gardening for the first time ever and simply refused to believe...
blog.moreparksmoreneighbors.org
September 8, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I wrote a rant that addresses EVERY Seattle anti-housing "tree advocate" talking point I have ever seen.
It's long but honestly not THAT long lol. I will be very, VERY happy if 5 people read it.
Come be one of them :)
blog.moreparksmoreneighbors.org/page/anti-ho...
It's long but honestly not THAT long lol. I will be very, VERY happy if 5 people read it.
Come be one of them :)
blog.moreparksmoreneighbors.org/page/anti-ho...
This strikes me as alarmist. (And I’m very anti-Harrell and pro-TRU)
🚩 no actual comparison of current program to new proposal
🚩 misleading statements (esp on rent increase cap, tax impacts, purpose of program)
🚩 process concerns reminiscent of NIMBY playbook
🚩 no actual comparison of current program to new proposal
🚩 misleading statements (esp on rent increase cap, tax impacts, purpose of program)
🚩 process concerns reminiscent of NIMBY playbook
Transit Riders Union @seattletru.bsky.social is raising alarm about Harrell’s proposed changes to Seattle’s MFTE program, calling it a bad deal. Raises everyone else’s taxes for poor affordability targets, eliminates rent increase caps, and not enough for families.
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
MFTE Open Letter.docx
An open letter to Seattle residents and elected officials regarding housing affordability and proposed MFTE update. Seattle needs greater housing affordability. We deserve much better than the MFTE P...
docs.google.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This strikes me as alarmist. (And I’m very anti-Harrell and pro-TRU)
🚩 no actual comparison of current program to new proposal
🚩 misleading statements (esp on rent increase cap, tax impacts, purpose of program)
🚩 process concerns reminiscent of NIMBY playbook
🚩 no actual comparison of current program to new proposal
🚩 misleading statements (esp on rent increase cap, tax impacts, purpose of program)
🚩 process concerns reminiscent of NIMBY playbook
Important context, not mentioned in the article, is the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE). With MFTE, market-rate apartments get a property tax break for renting a certain % of units to income-qualified tenants.
In 2023 Seattle had 6,600 MFTE units—income-restricted homes in market-rate buildings.
In 2023 Seattle had 6,600 MFTE units—income-restricted homes in market-rate buildings.
How Seattle created a bizarre situation where government-subsidized housing costs more than market-rate housing, 11% of it sitting empty and providers can't lower rents.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
September 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Important context, not mentioned in the article, is the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE). With MFTE, market-rate apartments get a property tax break for renting a certain % of units to income-qualified tenants.
In 2023 Seattle had 6,600 MFTE units—income-restricted homes in market-rate buildings.
In 2023 Seattle had 6,600 MFTE units—income-restricted homes in market-rate buildings.
Reposted by Kate Macfarlane
"Get it all on record now. Get the films. Get the witnesses. Because somewhere down the track of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened."
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, Germany, 1945
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, Germany, 1945
August 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
"Get it all on record now. Get the films. Get the witnesses. Because somewhere down the track of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened."
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, Germany, 1945
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, Germany, 1945
Cackling with glee as I compare the early election returns for Seattle’s two incumbent city councilmembers
Sara Nelson: 42k votes, 38%
Alexis Mercedes Rinck: 83k votes, 77%
Nearly twice as many people voted for AMR.
Sara Nelson: 42k votes, 38%
Alexis Mercedes Rinck: 83k votes, 77%
Nearly twice as many people voted for AMR.
August 7, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Cackling with glee as I compare the early election returns for Seattle’s two incumbent city councilmembers
Sara Nelson: 42k votes, 38%
Alexis Mercedes Rinck: 83k votes, 77%
Nearly twice as many people voted for AMR.
Sara Nelson: 42k votes, 38%
Alexis Mercedes Rinck: 83k votes, 77%
Nearly twice as many people voted for AMR.
In an alternate reality, separated by ~8k votes in 2023:
Councilmembers Ron Davis, Maren Costa, Andrew Lewis, Alex Hudson, and Tammy Morales celebrate passing Alt 5 comp plan. Sara Nelson and Cathy Moore, sidelined, complain to each other about civility.
Even-year elections when?
Councilmembers Ron Davis, Maren Costa, Andrew Lewis, Alex Hudson, and Tammy Morales celebrate passing Alt 5 comp plan. Sara Nelson and Cathy Moore, sidelined, complain to each other about civility.
Even-year elections when?
Maritza Rivera proposed an amendment to the comprehensive plan that would allow the city to require builders to go back and create new site plans if ANY tree, including the tiniest sapling, would have to be removed because of the proposed site plan.
August 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
In an alternate reality, separated by ~8k votes in 2023:
Councilmembers Ron Davis, Maren Costa, Andrew Lewis, Alex Hudson, and Tammy Morales celebrate passing Alt 5 comp plan. Sara Nelson and Cathy Moore, sidelined, complain to each other about civility.
Even-year elections when?
Councilmembers Ron Davis, Maren Costa, Andrew Lewis, Alex Hudson, and Tammy Morales celebrate passing Alt 5 comp plan. Sara Nelson and Cathy Moore, sidelined, complain to each other about civility.
Even-year elections when?