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PubliCola

@publicola.bsky.social

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Seattle's trusted source for breaking news, political analysis, and investigative reporting since 2009. From your friend ericacbarnett.bsky.social

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PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13h

Seattle Nice: CoLEAD Brings a New Approach to 12th and Jackson
Listen to our conversation with Nichole Alexander, the Purpose Dignity Action outreach director who's working to house and help people around one of the city's most challenging corners.

publicola.com/2025/10/14/4...

Seattle Nice: CoLEAD Brings a New Approach to 12th and Jackson - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett This week’s special guest on Seattle Nice, Purpose Dignity Action’s Director of Outreach and Special Initiatives…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 14h

Seattle Spent Thousands on "Organized Retail Theft" Operation at Marshall's, Arresting Five and Recovering $400 in Merchandise
The operation involved at least 10 officers and suspects were jailed for up to a week for stealing knit caps, sweatshirts, and a pet toy.
publicola.com/2025/10/14/s...

Seattle Spent Thousands on "Organized Retail Theft" Operation at Marshall's, Arresting Five and Recovering $400 in Merchandise - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Last week, the Seattle Police Department announced it had completed a successful “Organized Retail Theft Operation”…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 1d

Harrell Says King County Public Health is "Failing Us," Talks Tough on Trump, and Muses About an AI Wall Where You Can Ask MLK What He Had for Breakfast

The mayor talks to a friendly audience at event sponsored by Seattle's police union, We Heart Seattle, and the Discovery Institute.

Harrell Says King County Health is "Failing Us," Talks Tough on Trump, and Muses About an AI Wall Where You Can Ask MLK What He Had for Breakfast - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett As readers may know, I’ve spent much of the last month attending Seattle mayoral debates and…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 3d

This Week on PubliCola: October 11, 2025
Controversial cop promoted, then demoted, by new police chief, Harrell says he has a plan for addressing food deserts and potential federal troop invasion, and more.
publicola.com/2025/10/11/t...

This Week on PubliCola: October 11, 2025 - PubliCola

Controversial cop promoted, then demoted, by new police chief, Harrell says he has a plan for addressing food deserts and…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 4d

Banishment Orders and Mandatory Addiction Assessments Haven't Helped Drug Users, Court Records Show

The city now sends public drug users to jail and releases them after a brief assessment, dropping charges if they avoid arrest for 60 days. This costly approach appears to be ineffective.

Banishment Orders and Mandatory Addiction Assessments Haven't Helped Drug Users, Court Records Show - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Since the city reinstated an old law allowing judges to banish people from certain areas if…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 5d

Reversing Decision, SPD Removes Controversial Captain Tietjen from East Precinct

Police Chief Shon Barnes blamed PubliCola's story, "internal leaks," and "a lack of comprehensive input" from others for the controversy.

Reversing Decision, SPD Removes Controversial Captain Tietjen from East Precinct - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Two days after PubliCola exclusively reported that Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes had promoted controversial police…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 6d

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future
In a guest post, Sound Transit board member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci says it's time to consider light-rail options that don't require digging a second tunnel through downtown Seattle.
publicola.com/2025/10/08/t...

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future - PubliCola

By Claudia Balducci It’s no secret that our region needed high-capacity transit yesterday — or better yet, four decades ago.…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 7d

SPD Chief Puts Cop Who Called 2020 Protesters "Cockroaches" In Charge of East Precinct
Mike Tietjen, who was promoted over a gay acting commander, the subject of multiple complaints in 2020, including an incident in which officers taunted a trans woman.
publicola.com/2025/10/07/s...

SPD Chief Puts Cop Who Called 2020 Protesters "Cockroaches" In Charge of East Precinct - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett The Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, located at 12th Ave. and East Pine St. in the…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 8d

Seattle Nice: Harrell Talks Tough on Food Deserts and Homelessness

New episodes every week!

publicola.com/2025/10/06/s...

Seattle Nice: Harrell Talks Tough on Food Deserts and Homelessness - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell has issued a fusillade of official announcements in the weeks leading up to…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 10d

This Week On PubliCola: October 4, 2025
A shadow councilmember, more turmoil at the homelessness authority, and so, so much election news
publicola.com/2025/10/04/t...

This Week on PubliCola: October 4, 2025 - PubliCola

A shadow councilmember, more turmoil at the homelessness authority, and so, so much election news By Erica C. Barnett Monday,…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 11d

Post Office Delays Could Result in Uncounted Ballots; Harrell's Budget Boosts Graffiti Spending 36 Percent

Today's Afternoon Fizz:

publicola.com/2025/10/03/p...

Post Office Delays Could Result in Uncounted Ballots; Harrell's Budget Increases Graffiti Spending 36 Percent - PubliCola

1. Mail processing delays could result in more invalidated mail-in ballots this year, and elections officials are advising voters to…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 12d

Harrell's "Emergency" Legislation on Covenants that Limit Grocery Store Sizes Won't Address Seattle's Food Deserts

Both of the city's examples of sites with restrictive covenants were redeveloped as grocery stores.

publicola.com/2025/10/02/h...

Harrell's "Emergency" Legislation on Covenants that Limit Grocery Store Sizes Won't Address Seattle's Food Deserts - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Yesterday—fresh off a campaign debate at which he asserted that “Trump will walk all over” his…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 13d

Homelessness Agency Director Gets Sternly Worded Letter and "Executive Coach" After Investigation Into Racial Bias Complaints

Only one governing board member voted no, saying he thought "further action is warranted."

publicola.com/2025/10/01/h...

Homelessness Agency Director Gets Sternly Worded Letter and "Executive Coach" After Investigation Into Racial Bias Complaints - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On Friday, the governing board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, made up mostly of…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 14d

Seattle Nice: Harrell's Election-Year Budget, King County's RealPage Ban, and Mayor Pete's Endorsement

It's our latest weekly podcast!

publicola.com/2025/09/30/s...

Seattle Nice: Harrell's Election-Year Budget, King County's RealPage Ban, and Mayor Pete's Endorsement - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On this week’s episode of Seattle Nice, we discussed Mayor Bruce Harrell’s election-year budget proposal,…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 14d

Former Councilmember Moore Edited Legislation, Wrote Interview Questions for Her Potential Successors, After Leaving Council
Moore's post-council activities have largely involved Maritza Rivera, her former council ally.

publicola.com/2025/09/30/f...

Former Councilmember Moore Edited Legislation, Wrote Interview Questions for Her Potential Successors, After Leaving - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Former City Councilmember Cathy Moore, who quit the council, effective July 7, after serving just a…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 15d

Black-Led Group Responds to Mayor's Claim They "Darkened" His Skin; Real Estate-Backed Harrell PAC Tops $1 Million; Police Chief Disparages PubliCola

Today's Afternoon Fizz:

publicola.com/2025/09/29/b...

Black-Led Group Responds to Mayor's Claim They "Darkened" His Skin; Real Estate-Backed Harrell PAC Tops $1 Million; Police Chief Disparages PubliCola - PubliCola

1. On Friday, Mayor Bruce Harrell accused his opponent, Katie Wilson, of “darkening” his photo in a social media post, blaming…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 17d

This Week on PubliCola: September 27, 2025

Cascade PBS Ditches Local News, Harrell Budget Pushes off Tough Choices, Right-Wing Activist Tests Anti-Trans Messaging, and More

publicola.com/2025/09/27/4...

This Week on PubliCola: September 27, 2025 - PubliCola

Cascade PBS Ditches Local News, Harrell Budget Pushes off Tough Choices, Right-Wing Activist Tests Anti-Trans Messaging, and More By Erica…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 18d

Councilmember Rivera Questions 2026 Funding for CARE Team, LEAD Diversion, and Equitable Development Initiative

And it's just week 1 of this year's budget deliberations!

publicola.com/2025/09/26/c...

Councilmember Rivera Questions 2026 Funding for CARE Team, LEAD Diversion, and Equitable Development Initiative - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett At the city council’s first meetings on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed budget this week, Councilmember…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 18d

Digging into Harrell's "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point
The mayor says most homeless people in Seattle became homeless somewhere else, so the rest of the county needs to do its fair share. But his talking point is based on skimpy evidence.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/d...

Digging into Harrell's Campaign "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On the campaign trail and in his slickly produced Seattle Channel budget video, Mayor Bruce Harrell…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 18d

Digging into Harrell's "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point
The mayor says most homeless people in Seattle became homeless somewhere else, so the rest of the county needs to do its fair share. But his talking point is based on skimpy evidence.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/d...

Digging into Harrell's Campaign "They Aren't From Here" Homelessness Talking Point - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett On the campaign trail and in his slickly produced Seattle Channel budget video, Mayor Bruce Harrell…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 18d

New Poll Tests Messages on Initiatives Opposing Trans Girls in Sports, Student Privacy
“Biological men are competing in girls’ sports in Washington State, and it’s destroying fairness in girls’ sports,” one of the questions says.
publicola.com/2025/09/26/n...

New Poll Tests Messages on Initiatives Opposing Trans Girls in Sports, Student Privacy - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Some Washington state voters received a poll this week testing messages on two new initiatives…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 19d

Mayoral Candidate Wilson Withdraws from KOMO-Sponsored Debate, Citing Sinclair's Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel
The debate will go on, Wilson said, if the right-wing broadcast company reverses its decision to pull the show from its markets, including Seattle
publicola.com/2025/09/25/4...

Mayoral Candidate Wilson Withdraws from KOMO-Sponsored Debate, Citing Sinclair's Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson announced Thursday that she won’t participate in a debate co-sponsored by…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 19d

The Siren Song of Forced Treatment
Involuntary treatment should remain an option of last resort, used only in extreme cases of grave disability or imminent harm to self or others, guest columnist Susan E. Collins argues.

publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...

The Siren Song of Forced Drug Treatment - PubliCola

By Susan Collins When big cities struggle with visible addiction, one solution that inevitably resurfaces is forcing people into treatment.…

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks, Gordon! Missed this.

PubliCola @publicola.bsky.social · 20d

Harrell's Latest Budget Spikes City's Deficit by Piling On New Spending In Election Year
Harrell's 2026 budget includes big new investments in police, the 2026 World Cup, and graffiti removal—plus millions in one-time spending on priorities that require a long-term approach.

Harrell's Latest Budget Spikes City's Deficit by Piling On New Spending In Election Year - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal is an election-year proposal that piles on funding for priorities…