Robert Cruickshank
@robertcruickshank.com
Digital Strategy for California YIMBY, Chair of Sierra Club Seattle. Personal account -- what you see here represents my own opinions, for better or worse.
This needs to become a central tenet of the progressive movement for the rest of this century. That economic response was good and the political response would have been good had that response been led by younger, competent people who understand the value of comms.
"the economic response to the pandemic really worked. Indeed, there is a good case that it was the most successful example of countercyclical policy in US history." jwmason.org/slackwire/at...
At Groundwork: Lessons from the September Jobs Report – J. W. Mason
jwmason.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 AM
This needs to become a central tenet of the progressive movement for the rest of this century. That economic response was good and the political response would have been good had that response been led by younger, competent people who understand the value of comms.
Lizza and Nuzzi decided that maintaining certain personal relationships was more important than protecting kids’ lives from a dangerous lunatic.
Hey, congratulations to all of Olivia Nuzzi’s horny media critic defenders. Heckuva job!
November 27, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Lizza and Nuzzi decided that maintaining certain personal relationships was more important than protecting kids’ lives from a dangerous lunatic.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Why there never was a Vibecession in one chart.
It’s always been about the prices of essentials.
It’s always been about the prices of essentials.
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Why there never was a Vibecession in one chart.
It’s always been about the prices of essentials.
It’s always been about the prices of essentials.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
The pattern of Harrell using the Mayor's office to boost his campaign is clear as day for anyone who wants to look.
November 27, 2025 at 12:01 AM
The pattern of Harrell using the Mayor's office to boost his campaign is clear as day for anyone who wants to look.
This is a truly excellent list of Seattle’s leaders, with many accomplished progressive champions. A great start for the Wilson administration!
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 9:38 PM
This is a truly excellent list of Seattle’s leaders, with many accomplished progressive champions. A great start for the Wilson administration!
Once again I ask what Democrats in Congress are doing to stop this. Because it doesn’t look like they’re doing much at all.
“I had to take our baby from my crying wife’s arms ...”
“It’s insane to have them rip our family apart ... Whoever is directing this has completely lost touch with their mission to the country.”
this is what losing humanity looks like ...
“It’s insane to have them rip our family apart ... Whoever is directing this has completely lost touch with their mission to the country.”
this is what losing humanity looks like ...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Once again I ask what Democrats in Congress are doing to stop this. Because it doesn’t look like they’re doing much at all.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Definitely thought Seattle was the right answer and am thrilled to see us on top.
youtu.be/qAxA3dwhEE8?...
youtu.be/qAxA3dwhEE8?...
Top 10 US Cities That Are Becoming More City-Like
YouTube video by Ray Delahanty | CityNerd
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Definitely thought Seattle was the right answer and am thrilled to see us on top.
youtu.be/qAxA3dwhEE8?...
youtu.be/qAxA3dwhEE8?...
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Is Portland finally getting its walking and biking mojo back? I hope so. We used to look to Portland for inspiration... but it's been a minute. A spirit of friendly competition between West Coast cities helps everyone strive to achieve more.
It's all happening! From downtown to the eastern city limits, PBOT has a lot of cool stuff in the hopper.
bikeportland.org/2025/11/20/n...
bikeportland.org/2025/11/20/n...
N Willamette, Broadway, Montavilla and more: PBOT shares exciting project updates
2026 is going to be a great year for Portland's bike network.
bikeportland.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Is Portland finally getting its walking and biking mojo back? I hope so. We used to look to Portland for inspiration... but it's been a minute. A spirit of friendly competition between West Coast cities helps everyone strive to achieve more.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
The VP of our country went on television and explained that the fascist viewpoint on housing is to oppose building new housing, scapegoat immigrants, and pretend that you can solve homelessness by arresting people and re-distributing their now empty homes to "by rights" Americans.
sometimes you just need to take a step back and marvel at the absurdity that is the left-NIMBY mindset
these are not normal, rational people. they have descended into a bespoke form of madness
these are not normal, rational people. they have descended into a bespoke form of madness
November 26, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The VP of our country went on television and explained that the fascist viewpoint on housing is to oppose building new housing, scapegoat immigrants, and pretend that you can solve homelessness by arresting people and re-distributing their now empty homes to "by rights" Americans.
So…Noem is going to prison for quite a long time, for many reasons, leading off with this:
The first official confirmation that Noem herself made the decision not to turn the planes around. A couple hundred men were tortured as a result — and soon after, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Trump admin’s Alien Enemies Act process was a total violation of due process.
BREAKING:
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
November 26, 2025 at 2:34 AM
So…Noem is going to prison for quite a long time, for many reasons, leading off with this:
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Want to support the peaceful movement for #Cascadia autonomy? Read my latest essay and then sign up for alerts from @cascadiademocratic.bsky.social www.cascadia-journal.com/what-next-fo...
What next for Cascadia?
If you've been reading this newsletter for a while you know I'm more than a little outspoken about the need to consider autonomy or outright independence for Oregon and Washington as the US continues ...
www.cascadia-journal.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Want to support the peaceful movement for #Cascadia autonomy? Read my latest essay and then sign up for alerts from @cascadiademocratic.bsky.social www.cascadia-journal.com/what-next-fo...
LA would get even more responses than just 19% if it were actually affordable. It’s got a perfect climate and lots of economic opportunity. It should house 3x-4x its current population and bring more political power to CA while being more affordable and sustainable.
Bluesky: “Obviously the housing crisis is the only reason anyone would choose to live outside of NYC”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
LA would get even more responses than just 19% if it were actually affordable. It’s got a perfect climate and lots of economic opportunity. It should house 3x-4x its current population and bring more political power to CA while being more affordable and sustainable.
Also a @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social idea that is both urgently needed and likely to succeed
Turns out Mamdani's controversial proposal for government-run supermarkets isn't so novel. Other cities also are toying with the idea to bring fresh, affordable food to communities that do not have easy access to it. Good WSJ read (gift link)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Inside Atlanta’s First Government-Funded Supermarket
The goal is for the store to become profitable without any government subsidy within three years.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Also a @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social idea that is both urgently needed and likely to succeed
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
The alternative to an SRO isn't a larger apartment; the alternative is a tent.
Relegalize SROs. Relegalize single stair buildings to enable larger, family sized homes. Legalize townhomes everywhere. Legalize ADUs everywhere. Legalize apartment buildings in more places. Yes to all the homes.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/n...
The ‘New’ Solution for the N.Y.C. Housing Crisis: Single-Room Apartments
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The alternative to an SRO isn't a larger apartment; the alternative is a tent.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Americans yearn for social democracy
Those who say government should increase spending on:
Veterans: 73%
Social Security: 71%
Medicare: 66%
Education: 60%
Medicaid: 57%
Environment: 50%
SNAP: 47%
Defense: 39%
Foreign Aid: 20%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
Veterans: 73%
Social Security: 71%
Medicare: 66%
Education: 60%
Medicaid: 57%
Environment: 50%
SNAP: 47%
Defense: 39%
Foreign Aid: 20%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Americans yearn for social democracy
I’m still using an iPhone 12 I bought in fall 2020. The improvements since then have been merely incremental. At some point I’ll upgrade but there’s no urgency to spend all that money for so little gain.
stupid young people, stop buying a new phone every year if you don't want to be broke. wait no, not like that.
November 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I’m still using an iPhone 12 I bought in fall 2020. The improvements since then have been merely incremental. At some point I’ll upgrade but there’s no urgency to spend all that money for so little gain.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
NEW: Some SPS-related reading for the upcoming holiday weekend, including the new Superintendent's contract, more legal action against SPS for neglecting student safety, and concerns about SPS denying special education services.
Issue 6 -- Holiday Reading
A roundup of the latest SPS news as we go into the Thanksgiving weekend.
thebulletinsea.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
NEW: Some SPS-related reading for the upcoming holiday weekend, including the new Superintendent's contract, more legal action against SPS for neglecting student safety, and concerns about SPS denying special education services.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Funded inclusionary zoning is good!
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Funded inclusionary zoning is good!
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
What she said
Impeach, convict, remove.
And if our current leaders won’t do it, they need to step aside for people who will.
And if our current leaders won’t do it, they need to step aside for people who will.
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
What she said
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
A roundtrip LAX-JFK flight in the late 60s was around $3K in today’s dollars. The people who wore suits on those flights were the people who regularly wore suits. Complaining about informally-dressed fliers is complaining that the wrong sorts of people are flying today.
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A roundtrip LAX-JFK flight in the late 60s was around $3K in today’s dollars. The people who wore suits on those flights were the people who regularly wore suits. Complaining about informally-dressed fliers is complaining that the wrong sorts of people are flying today.
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
Why are we assuming that we want to maintain car volumes? To meet our climate, public health and road safety goals as a city, there is no reason any on or off ramp in #Seattle should require multiple lanes. #Rainier
If you want to be angry, watch (starts at 1:05): youtu.be/Lr-C4k0EEf4?...
If you want to be angry, watch (starts at 1:05): youtu.be/Lr-C4k0EEf4?...
Judkins Park Community Advisory Group Meeting 4
YouTube video by wsdot
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Why are we assuming that we want to maintain car volumes? To meet our climate, public health and road safety goals as a city, there is no reason any on or off ramp in #Seattle should require multiple lanes. #Rainier
If you want to be angry, watch (starts at 1:05): youtu.be/Lr-C4k0EEf4?...
If you want to be angry, watch (starts at 1:05): youtu.be/Lr-C4k0EEf4?...
No new contract yet for Rothrock?! Hopefully they sign him!
NEWS | We have announced our 2025 roster decisions. The roster currently sits at 22 players.
READ MORE ➡️ sndrs.com/rd0fb5lo
READ MORE ➡️ sndrs.com/rd0fb5lo
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
No new contract yet for Rothrock?! Hopefully they sign him!
Reposted by Robert Cruickshank
"In her most specific pledge, she wants a bus lane on Denny for the chronically late No. 8 Metro route."
LET'S GO! 🚌🚌📯
LET'S GO! 🚌🚌📯
This whole article is great but I especially love this: “a lot of people on the progressive left do have a sophisticated understanding of what it’s going to take to deliver on a bold progressive agenda…it’s not just about only talking to your friends and using the mayor’s office as a soapbox.”
Seattle’s next mayor is willing to meet with anyone, including Trump
Katie Wilson wants a mayor's office that reaches out proactively, that has open lines to grassroots organizations and that builds political support from the ground up.
www.seattletimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
"In her most specific pledge, she wants a bus lane on Denny for the chronically late No. 8 Metro route."
LET'S GO! 🚌🚌📯
LET'S GO! 🚌🚌📯