Erica C. Barnett
@ericacbarnett.bsky.social
Seattle-based reporter, cofounder (with @joshfeit.bsky.social) and editor of PubliCola.com, and author of Quitter: A Memoir of Drinking, Relapse, and Recovery
She/her, Latina, Texan
She/her, Latina, Texan
how many times has the Seattle Times run a "compassion is great, but" editorial arguing for a lack of compassion at this point? we get it, you think homelessness should be illegal, find literally anything else to talk about. (Also, no Seattle neighborhood has been "destroyed," good god.)
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
how many times has the Seattle Times run a "compassion is great, but" editorial arguing for a lack of compassion at this point? we get it, you think homelessness should be illegal, find literally anything else to talk about. (Also, no Seattle neighborhood has been "destroyed," good god.)
Reposted by Erica C. Barnett
This week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ericacbarnett.bsky.social discuss:
▶️ Mayor-elect Katie Wilson's transition
▶️ KC Exec Zahilay's staff review
▶️ Council hands a budget of Harrell's priorities to Wilson
▶️ Pipeline spill raises safety concerns
▶️ Is ICE using local surveillance in WA?
▶️ Mayor-elect Katie Wilson's transition
▶️ KC Exec Zahilay's staff review
▶️ Council hands a budget of Harrell's priorities to Wilson
▶️ Pipeline spill raises safety concerns
▶️ Is ICE using local surveillance in WA?
Week in Review: November 28, 2025 - with Erica Barnett
Seattle Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay are shaping their administrations. Wilson cuts deputy mayors to one, while Zahilay reviews 100 jobs. The city budget adds $50M...
officialhacksandwonks.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This week-in-review, @finchfrii.bsky.social and @ericacbarnett.bsky.social discuss:
▶️ Mayor-elect Katie Wilson's transition
▶️ KC Exec Zahilay's staff review
▶️ Council hands a budget of Harrell's priorities to Wilson
▶️ Pipeline spill raises safety concerns
▶️ Is ICE using local surveillance in WA?
▶️ Mayor-elect Katie Wilson's transition
▶️ KC Exec Zahilay's staff review
▶️ Council hands a budget of Harrell's priorities to Wilson
▶️ Pipeline spill raises safety concerns
▶️ Is ICE using local surveillance in WA?
between this and a whole editorial waxing nostalgic about the wheat penny, the Seattle Times editorial board continues to be relevant and timely
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
Would dressing better improve air travel? Pass the pie and discuss | Editorial
Here is a topic of conversation for Thanksgiving gatherings: Should we dress better while traveling by air?
www.seattletimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
between this and a whole editorial waxing nostalgic about the wheat penny, the Seattle Times editorial board continues to be relevant and timely
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
lol of course they blamed the Albanians
(microtargetnig for those familiar with regional Balkan stereotypes)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
(microtargetnig for those familiar with regional Balkan stereotypes)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Dubrovnik, Known for Its Beauty, Faces a Mound of New Trash
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 AM
lol of course they blamed the Albanians
(microtargetnig for those familiar with regional Balkan stereotypes)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
(microtargetnig for those familiar with regional Balkan stereotypes)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson just announced her transition team, with 61 members overseeing different policy areas. Transition teams are largely an expression of values and policy focus, although I expect some of these folks will end up in the administration. publicola.com/wp-content/u...
publicola.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson just announced her transition team, with 61 members overseeing different policy areas. Transition teams are largely an expression of values and policy focus, although I expect some of these folks will end up in the administration. publicola.com/wp-content/u...
After an absolute barrage of official press releases leading up to the election (an average of one per weekday between October 1 and November 3), Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell just broke his official silence for the third time in the three weeks since the election, announcing he's signed the budget.
Mayor Harrell Signs City of Seattle’s 2026 Budget into Law - Office of the Mayor
Seattle – This week, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the City of Seattle’s 2026 budget into law, totaling $8.9 billion in appropriations overall and $2.0 billion toward General Fund priorities. Passed una...
harrell.seattle.gov
November 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
After an absolute barrage of official press releases leading up to the election (an average of one per weekday between October 1 and November 3), Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell just broke his official silence for the third time in the three weeks since the election, announcing he's signed the budget.
What’s Behind the Recent Decline in Overdose Deaths in Seattle?
While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes.
@andyengelson.bsky.social reports.
publicola.com/2025/11/26/w...
While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes.
@andyengelson.bsky.social reports.
publicola.com/2025/11/26/w...
What's Behind the Recent Decline in Overdose Deaths in Seattle? - PubliCola
While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes. By Andrew…
publicola.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
What’s Behind the Recent Decline in Overdose Deaths in Seattle?
While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes.
@andyengelson.bsky.social reports.
publicola.com/2025/11/26/w...
While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes.
@andyengelson.bsky.social reports.
publicola.com/2025/11/26/w...
Staffers Say Sound Transit Refused to Bargain on Return-to-Office Policy, Use of Consultants
But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from home indefinitely.
publicola.com/2025/11/25/s...
But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from home indefinitely.
publicola.com/2025/11/25/s...
Staffers Say Sound Transit Refused to Bargain on Return-to-Office Policy, Use of Consultants - PubliCola
But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from…
publicola.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Staffers Say Sound Transit Refused to Bargain on Return-to-Office Policy, Use of Consultants
But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from home indefinitely.
publicola.com/2025/11/25/s...
But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from home indefinitely.
publicola.com/2025/11/25/s...
WA AG Nick Brown is suing HUD over changes to its homeless housing grant program that could put thousands of currently housed people on the street in the Seattle area alone. The changes eliminate most funding for permanent housing and impose right-wing ideological requirements on programs.
AG Brown sues over HUD policy that would put more people into homelessness | Washington State
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness with abrupt changes that wi...
www.atg.wa.gov
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
WA AG Nick Brown is suing HUD over changes to its homeless housing grant program that could put thousands of currently housed people on the street in the Seattle area alone. The changes eliminate most funding for permanent housing and impose right-wing ideological requirements on programs.
New Gallup poll shows that just 54% of Americans say they drink alcohol—"the lowest Gallup has recorded since first measuring alcohol use in 1939," per a press release. The trend coincides with growing understanding that even moderate drinking is unhealthy.
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
New Gallup poll shows that just 54% of Americans say they drink alcohol—"the lowest Gallup has recorded since first measuring alcohol use in 1939," per a press release. The trend coincides with growing understanding that even moderate drinking is unhealthy.
How's that 30 by 30 goal going, guys?
(30 by 30: A police department goal of having a recruit class that's 30 percent women by 2030)
(30 by 30: A police department goal of having a recruit class that's 30 percent women by 2030)
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
How's that 30 by 30 goal going, guys?
(30 by 30: A police department goal of having a recruit class that's 30 percent women by 2030)
(30 by 30: A police department goal of having a recruit class that's 30 percent women by 2030)
I briefly thought the Seattle Times' "save print newspapers only" columnist was advocating for online news, but nope: The bill he supports would fund only websites run by print publications or nonprofit news outlets, setting a standard for online news that no print outlet has to meet.
Another WA legislative push to support local news
Washington legislators may consider two different ways to support the state's local news industry in 2026.
www.seattletimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I briefly thought the Seattle Times' "save print newspapers only" columnist was advocating for online news, but nope: The bill he supports would fund only websites run by print publications or nonprofit news outlets, setting a standard for online news that no print outlet has to meet.
"Reducing drunk driving won't solve the problem," says Republican whose campaign the alcohol industry helped fund. Funny how, for bought and paid for poltiicans, the solution is always solving problems after the fact instead of trying to prevent them. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/lets...
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"Reducing drunk driving won't solve the problem," says Republican whose campaign the alcohol industry helped fund. Funny how, for bought and paid for poltiicans, the solution is always solving problems after the fact instead of trying to prevent them. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/lets...
Reposted by Erica C. Barnett
@tromano.bsky.social wrote an oral history of the Village Voice. @ericacbarnett.bsky.social & I will be interviewing her tonight at Elliott Bay. 7pm. Free. Here's the Village Voice from the week I was born. Stokely Carmichael's original "Black Power" exhortation and also the Beatles on the cover.
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
@tromano.bsky.social wrote an oral history of the Village Voice. @ericacbarnett.bsky.social & I will be interviewing her tonight at Elliott Bay. 7pm. Free. Here's the Village Voice from the week I was born. Stokely Carmichael's original "Black Power" exhortation and also the Beatles on the cover.
This week on PubliCola: An interview with Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson, a deep dive on the federal cuts that could leave thousands homeless, the city council adopts a budget that pushes off hard choices, and much more.
publicola.com/2025/11/22/t...
publicola.com/2025/11/22/t...
This Week on PubliCola: November 22, 2025 - PubliCola
An interview with Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson, federal cuts that could leave thousands homeless, the city council adopts a budget that…
publicola.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This week on PubliCola: An interview with Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson, a deep dive on the federal cuts that could leave thousands homeless, the city council adopts a budget that pushes off hard choices, and much more.
publicola.com/2025/11/22/t...
publicola.com/2025/11/22/t...
Jam-packed Afternoon Fizz today, featuring the homelessness authority's "learning" trip to a religous recovery program in Baltimore, the latest on the next Seattle City Council president, Katie Wilson's plan to jerk-proof the Mayor's Office, and more.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/h...
publicola.com/2025/11/21/h...
Homeless Authority Praises Religious Program, Katie Wilson Plans to Jerk-Proof the Mayor's Office, and Who Will Be the City Council's Next President? - PubliCola
1. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority has signed a contract with Barb Oliver, the head of tiny house builder…
publicola.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Jam-packed Afternoon Fizz today, featuring the homelessness authority's "learning" trip to a religous recovery program in Baltimore, the latest on the next Seattle City Council president, Katie Wilson's plan to jerk-proof the Mayor's Office, and more.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/h...
publicola.com/2025/11/21/h...
Come listen to us talk about the Village Voice, alt-weeklies, and Tricia's amazing oral history of the Village Voice—the ur-alt weekly) at Elliott Bay TOMORROW NIGHT! We've collectively worked at Seattle's alt-weeklies (there used to be two!) for a billion years, so gossip is guaranteed.
Reminder that I will be in conversation with @ericacbarnett.bsky.social and @mudede.bsky.social on Saturday at Elliott Bay in Seattle. Please come and say hello and listen to us chat alt weeklies and the Freaks Came Out To Write. www.elliottbaybook.com/events/48579...
Tricia Romano w/ Erica C. Barnett & Charles Mudede | Elliott Bay Book Company
Full-service, general bookstore operating since 1973. Frequent author events, cafe, over 150,000 titles
www.elliottbaybook.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Come listen to us talk about the Village Voice, alt-weeklies, and Tricia's amazing oral history of the Village Voice—the ur-alt weekly) at Elliott Bay TOMORROW NIGHT! We've collectively worked at Seattle's alt-weeklies (there used to be two!) for a billion years, so gossip is guaranteed.
Council Adopts Harrell's Budget With Minor Changes, Setting Up Huge Deficits for Incoming Mayor Wilson
The "audit the budget" crowd piles on more than $50 million in new spending, using new taxes to expand or start new programs and backfill an ongoing shortfall.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/c...
The "audit the budget" crowd piles on more than $50 million in new spending, using new taxes to expand or start new programs and backfill an ongoing shortfall.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/c...
Council Adopts Harrell's Budget With Minor Changes, Setting Up Huge Deficits for Incoming Mayor Wilson - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett On Thursday, the Seattle City Council voted (earlier than usual!) to pass the city’s 2026 budget,…
publicola.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Council Adopts Harrell's Budget With Minor Changes, Setting Up Huge Deficits for Incoming Mayor Wilson
The "audit the budget" crowd piles on more than $50 million in new spending, using new taxes to expand or start new programs and backfill an ongoing shortfall.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/c...
The "audit the budget" crowd piles on more than $50 million in new spending, using new taxes to expand or start new programs and backfill an ongoing shortfall.
publicola.com/2025/11/21/c...
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson!
We discuss homelessness, the budget deficit, bus lanes, police accountability and more with Seattle's next mayor.
publicola.com/2025/11/20/s...
We discuss homelessness, the budget deficit, bus lanes, police accountability and more with Seattle's next mayor.
publicola.com/2025/11/20/s...
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson! - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett We had Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson on Seattle Nice this week for a wide-ranging interview about her…
publicola.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson!
We discuss homelessness, the budget deficit, bus lanes, police accountability and more with Seattle's next mayor.
publicola.com/2025/11/20/s...
We discuss homelessness, the budget deficit, bus lanes, police accountability and more with Seattle's next mayor.
publicola.com/2025/11/20/s...
Check out my appearance on City Cast Seattle, a new show about Seattle news and politics! Really enjoyed our time talking about important local issues, including federal funding cuts to permanent housing that could profoundly impact the Seattle region.
What is "Seattle nice"? @ericacbarnett.bsky.social tells us what the phrase means to her.
Listen to today's ep, where we discuss federal changes to homelessness funding that could leave Seattle with a massive shortfall and upcoming shake-ups to city & county government: megaphone.link/CC1649419013
Listen to today's ep, where we discuss federal changes to homelessness funding that could leave Seattle with a massive shortfall and upcoming shake-ups to city & county government: megaphone.link/CC1649419013
November 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Check out my appearance on City Cast Seattle, a new show about Seattle news and politics! Really enjoyed our time talking about important local issues, including federal funding cuts to permanent housing that could profoundly impact the Seattle region.
what a framing choice by the NYT, centering the future reputation of the terrible man
November 20, 2025 at 6:03 PM
what a framing choice by the NYT, centering the future reputation of the terrible man
Just went through spam and saw a pile of emails from Dawn Mason, a longtime Bruce Harrell ally he brought onstage at his election party, calling me "white trash" and a "petty thief," and claiming I went to her house one time univited (a bizarre falsehood she keeps repeating.) Such strange behavior.
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Just went through spam and saw a pile of emails from Dawn Mason, a longtime Bruce Harrell ally he brought onstage at his election party, calling me "white trash" and a "petty thief," and claiming I went to her house one time univited (a bizarre falsehood she keeps repeating.) Such strange behavior.
why the fuck is the seattle times editorial board so concerned with how other people do their jobs
I will never understand this obsession with mandatory in-person work. people are happier when they have some flexibility and aren't chained to a commute!
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
I will never understand this obsession with mandatory in-person work. people are happier when they have some flexibility and aren't chained to a commute!
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
Strong back-to-office policy would help new King County executive | Editorial
Before she turns the government over to Girmay Zahilay, current King County Executive Shannon Braddock ought to bring public employees back to the office.
www.seattletimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:48 PM
why the fuck is the seattle times editorial board so concerned with how other people do their jobs
I will never understand this obsession with mandatory in-person work. people are happier when they have some flexibility and aren't chained to a commute!
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
I will never understand this obsession with mandatory in-person work. people are happier when they have some flexibility and aren't chained to a commute!
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
Our podcast, Seattle Nice, has an exclusive in-depth interview with Mayor-elect Katie Wilson, featuring many of your questions for the city's next mayor! Listen (and subscribe) right here: seattle-nice.beam.ly/episode/mayo...
Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson says Seattle Nice is “Special” | Seattle Nice
Mayor-elect Katie Wilson turned down numerous invitations for national television appearances over the past week, telling Seattle Nice, “That is not my job.”...
seattle-nice.beam.ly
November 20, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Our podcast, Seattle Nice, has an exclusive in-depth interview with Mayor-elect Katie Wilson, featuring many of your questions for the city's next mayor! Listen (and subscribe) right here: seattle-nice.beam.ly/episode/mayo...
No one should ever listen to advice on "how to save journalism" from a company whose entire business model is "keep producing sons"
www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...
www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...
Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen hands reins to son Ryan Blethen
Ryan Blethen succeeds his father, Frank Blethen, who will step down Dec. 31 after four decades in the role.
www.seattletimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 AM
No one should ever listen to advice on "how to save journalism" from a company whose entire business model is "keep producing sons"
www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...
www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...