The Urbanist
@theurbanist.org
Advocacy journalism for better cities.👩🦽👨🦯🚶🚴♀️ 🚎 ⛴️ 🚊 🚆 🏙️
Based in the Seattle metro area.
Read our coverage on theurbanist.org. 📰
Based in the Seattle metro area.
Read our coverage on theurbanist.org. 📰
Reposted by The Urbanist
Co-sign with every fiber of my being. Thanks for doing great work, @alexis4seattle.bsky.social ❤️
An amendment on deck to Seattle's 2026 legislative agenda from Alexis Mercedes Rinck would prioritize the issue of condominium reform and updated elevator standards when it comes to potential housing reforms.
December 9, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Co-sign with every fiber of my being. Thanks for doing great work, @alexis4seattle.bsky.social ❤️
Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail's arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federal Way.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail » The Urbanist
# Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail's arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federa...
www.theurbanist.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail's arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federal Way.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
The Shoreline Management Act basically bans this, doubly so because it’s attached and urban.
I know Americans overly romanticize Europe but I still think moving to a little house on a canal in the Netherlands could solve like 82% of my problems
December 9, 2025 at 4:17 AM
The Shoreline Management Act basically bans this, doubly so because it’s attached and urban.
😎
A federal judge today struck down the Trump administration’s halt on approving new wind farms on federal lands and waters. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/c...
Federal Judge Finds Trump’s Halt on Wind Energy Is Illegal
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:08 AM
😎
State Senator Rebecca Saldaña announced a bid for the open King County Council District 2 seat in the 2026 election, positioning herself in the progressive lane and pledging to fight back against Trump attacks and defend the working class.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay’s Former County Council Seat » The Urbanist
# State Senator Rebecca Saldaña announced a bid for the open King County Council District 2 seat in the 2026 election, positioning herself in the progressive lane and pledging to fight back against Tr...
www.theurbanist.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:08 AM
State Senator Rebecca Saldaña announced a bid for the open King County Council District 2 seat in the 2026 election, positioning herself in the progressive lane and pledging to fight back against Trump attacks and defend the working class.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Reposted by The Urbanist
See you tomorrow?
One week until The Urbanist Winter Holiday Party! Join us Dec. 9 for an evening of connection, policy talk, and celebration with speakers Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Dionne Foster, Paul Charbonneau, and Rocco DeVito. Get your ticket soon!
Two Weeks Until The Urbanist’s Winter Holiday Party » The Urbanist
# Get your ticket to The Urbanist's annual holiday party while supplies last. Our speaking program on December 9 will feature Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and other urbanist leaders and...
www.theurbanist.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
See you tomorrow?
Station names may have been approved a long time ago, but locals don’t seem to be letting it ago. 👀
On the press tour last week, when I brought up the fact that people might confuse Federal Way Downtown with, uh, Downtown Seattle, the reaction from the ST folks was mostly, "Well, we approved those station names a long time ago."
www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/s/...
www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/s/...
From the Seattle community on Reddit: Light Rail Airport Signage is Now HORRENDOUS!
Explore this post and more from the Seattle community
www.reddit.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Station names may have been approved a long time ago, but locals don’t seem to be letting it ago. 👀
NEW STORY // Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay’s Former County Council Seat
Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay’s Former County Council Seat » The Urbanist
# State Senator Rebecca Saldaña announced a bid for the open King County Council District 2 seat in the 2026 election, positioning herself in the progressive lane and pledging to fight back against Tr...
www.theurbanist.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:05 AM
NEW STORY // Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay’s Former County Council Seat
Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/r...
Reposted by The Urbanist
HUD update: "intentional chaos" sounds about right.
HUD has withdrawn the Notice of Funding Opportunity for homelessness program announcing the news during a hearing in a lawsuit by @naehomelessness.bsky.social against new rules that preclude low-barrier housing and require agencies to implement discriminatory rules. www.hud.gov/hud-partners...
Continuum of Care Program | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Continuum of Care ProgramOverviewThe Continuum of Care (CoC) Program (24 CFR part 578) is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for eff...
www.hud.gov
December 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
HUD update: "intentional chaos" sounds about right.
NEW STORY // Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail » The Urbanist
# Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail's arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federa...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NEW STORY // Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/t...
Reposted by The Urbanist
Rinck's amendment also adds additional passenger-only ferries as a priority in the transportation section.
December 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Rinck's amendment also adds additional passenger-only ferries as a priority in the transportation section.
Reposted by The Urbanist
An amendment on deck to Seattle's 2026 legislative agenda from Alexis Mercedes Rinck would prioritize the issue of condominium reform and updated elevator standards when it comes to potential housing reforms.
December 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
An amendment on deck to Seattle's 2026 legislative agenda from Alexis Mercedes Rinck would prioritize the issue of condominium reform and updated elevator standards when it comes to potential housing reforms.
Reposted by The Urbanist
Redmond City Council Vice President Jessica Forsythe has filed with the PDC to run for the state legislature, challenging incumbent Amy Walen in the 48th LD.
A pro business moderate, Walen is clearly vulnerable, having just lost a race for the 48th's seat in the state senate by 17 points.
A pro business moderate, Walen is clearly vulnerable, having just lost a race for the 48th's seat in the state senate by 17 points.
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Redmond City Council Vice President Jessica Forsythe has filed with the PDC to run for the state legislature, challenging incumbent Amy Walen in the 48th LD.
A pro business moderate, Walen is clearly vulnerable, having just lost a race for the 48th's seat in the state senate by 17 points.
A pro business moderate, Walen is clearly vulnerable, having just lost a race for the 48th's seat in the state senate by 17 points.
"Stephen Weber, the chair of the advocacy group Friends of Portland Streetcar and a former member of Portland’s now disbanded Streetcar Citizens Advisory Committee, has called the Brookville purchase a '$12 million mistake.'"
At first glance, a streetcar deal with Portland appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Škodas for ones that are essentially brand new, but significant issues could follow them to Tacoma.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma » The Urbanist
# At first glance, the deal appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Skoda streetcars for ones that are essentially brand new. But the Brookville cars leaving P...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"Stephen Weber, the chair of the advocacy group Friends of Portland Streetcar and a former member of Portland’s now disbanded Streetcar Citizens Advisory Committee, has called the Brookville purchase a '$12 million mistake.'"
"The three cities filed a petition for judicial review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent ruling that 31 planned projects, including a second terminal, would not have a significant environmental impact on nearby communities." www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...
Storm grows over Sea-Tac Airport expansion plans
Plans to expand Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including a new terminal, are tapping into enduring concerns that increased traffic at Sea-Tac hurts nearby neighborhoods.
www.seattletimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"The three cities filed a petition for judicial review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent ruling that 31 planned projects, including a second terminal, would not have a significant environmental impact on nearby communities." www.seattletimes.com/business/loc...
At first glance, a streetcar deal with Portland appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Škodas for ones that are essentially brand new, but significant issues could follow them to Tacoma.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma » The Urbanist
# At first glance, the deal appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Skoda streetcars for ones that are essentially brand new. But the Brookville cars leaving P...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
At first glance, a streetcar deal with Portland appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Škodas for ones that are essentially brand new, but significant issues could follow them to Tacoma.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Reposted by The Urbanist
The second phase of the Thomas Street corridor upgrade, which will replace the temporary street plaza / traffic diverter at 5th Ave N and Thomas with a permanent one, is out for advertisement by SDOT right now.
December 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The second phase of the Thomas Street corridor upgrade, which will replace the temporary street plaza / traffic diverter at 5th Ave N and Thomas with a permanent one, is out for advertisement by SDOT right now.
“Obviously, affordability is a big theme of the campaign. But another big theme is just government that works — and I really think that our public transit system is such a big part of people's daily experience of government.” usa.streetsblog.org/2025/12/08/i...
'I'm Always on the Bus': How Transit Advocacy Helped Katie Wilson Become Seattle's Next Mayor — Streetsblog USA
"I really think that our public transit system is such a big part of people's daily experience of government," says the incoming mayor of the Emerald City.
usa.streetsblog.org
December 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
“Obviously, affordability is a big theme of the campaign. But another big theme is just government that works — and I really think that our public transit system is such a big part of people's daily experience of government.” usa.streetsblog.org/2025/12/08/i...
Reposted by The Urbanist
The bleak reality of transit vehicle manufacturing in the US: two major transit agencies being forced to swap vehicles (including some with major reported defects directly from the factory) to keep their systems running.
This morning we have more details on the proposed streetcar swap between Portland Streetcar and Sound Transit's T Line in Tacoma, including issues with Portland's Brookville cars that make the deal much more easily understood in terms of its benefit to PDX.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma » The Urbanist
# At first glance, the deal appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Skoda streetcars for ones that are essentially brand new. But the Brookville cars leaving P...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The bleak reality of transit vehicle manufacturing in the US: two major transit agencies being forced to swap vehicles (including some with major reported defects directly from the factory) to keep their systems running.
NEW STORY // Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma » The Urbanist
# At first glance, the deal appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Skoda streetcars for ones that are essentially brand new. But the Brookville cars leaving P...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
NEW STORY // Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Reposted by The Urbanist
This is the first confirmation that I've gotten that roadway closures during World Cup games next year will include the entirety of 1st Ave S between Dearborn and Edgar Martinez.
Those 4th Ave S bus lanes are going to have to step up their game.
Those 4th Ave S bus lanes are going to have to step up their game.
December 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is the first confirmation that I've gotten that roadway closures during World Cup games next year will include the entirety of 1st Ave S between Dearborn and Edgar Martinez.
Those 4th Ave S bus lanes are going to have to step up their game.
Those 4th Ave S bus lanes are going to have to step up their game.
Reposted by The Urbanist
This morning we have more details on the proposed streetcar swap between Portland Streetcar and Sound Transit's T Line in Tacoma, including issues with Portland's Brookville cars that make the deal much more easily understood in terms of its benefit to PDX.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Sound Transit Brokers Streetcar Swap Between Portland and Tacoma » The Urbanist
# At first glance, the deal appears to be heavily lopsided in favor of Sound Transit, which will trade aging Skoda streetcars for ones that are essentially brand new. But the Brookville cars leaving P...
www.theurbanist.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This morning we have more details on the proposed streetcar swap between Portland Streetcar and Sound Transit's T Line in Tacoma, including issues with Portland's Brookville cars that make the deal much more easily understood in terms of its benefit to PDX.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/08/s...
Reposted by The Urbanist
Pretty clear it's going to be Rebecca Saldaña versus Toshiko Hasegawa when it comes to the race for a permanent replacement for Girmay Zahilay on the King County Council.
A press release just now declares Hasegawa is "strongly considering" a run and Saldaña has signaled she will announce soon.
A press release just now declares Hasegawa is "strongly considering" a run and Saldaña has signaled she will announce soon.
December 8, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Pretty clear it's going to be Rebecca Saldaña versus Toshiko Hasegawa when it comes to the race for a permanent replacement for Girmay Zahilay on the King County Council.
A press release just now declares Hasegawa is "strongly considering" a run and Saldaña has signaled she will announce soon.
A press release just now declares Hasegawa is "strongly considering" a run and Saldaña has signaled she will announce soon.
Reposted by The Urbanist
Cities need more big-ass art.
December 8, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Cities need more big-ass art.
NEW STORY // Op-Ed: Looking Back at the Movement That Elected Katie Wilson
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/07/o...
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/07/o...
Op-Ed: Looking Back at the Movement That Elected Katie Wilson » The Urbanist
# John Burbank looks back to a series of progressive victories that paved the way for the most significant mayoral victory in Seattle over the past 100 years, with Katie Wilson about to take office.
www.theurbanist.org
December 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
NEW STORY // Op-Ed: Looking Back at the Movement That Elected Katie Wilson
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/07/o...
Op-Ed by John Burbank via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/07/o...