@macdiehard.bsky.social
All about solving the housing and homelessness crisis. Join us at http://SeattleYIMBY.org.
Yay!
Mark your calendar for our last Comp Plan Happy Hour of the year!
Join us and @seattleyimby.bsky.social at Perihelion Brewery on December 10th for an “open mic” storytelling session, letter writing, and an update on the final comp plan vote.
futurewise.salsalabs.org/DecemberCCCH...
Join us and @seattleyimby.bsky.social at Perihelion Brewery on December 10th for an “open mic” storytelling session, letter writing, and an update on the final comp plan vote.
futurewise.salsalabs.org/DecemberCCCH...
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Yay!
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Hello Seattle Urbanists — if we want market rate development to happen with all the interest rates and tariffs and other barriers we have to get rid of MHA temporarily to speed up housing. And we have to get rid of minimum parking requirements. Asap.
November 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Hello Seattle Urbanists — if we want market rate development to happen with all the interest rates and tariffs and other barriers we have to get rid of MHA temporarily to speed up housing. And we have to get rid of minimum parking requirements. Asap.
In addition to reform of permitting and building codes, stop making new construction pay out of proportion and excessive fees for water hookups.
Yes, we want a land value tax. Is that something Seattle’s Mayor has power over? Probably not! If you just reply LVT to our posts how is that helpful? What’s the policy proposal to spur more housing in the next year or two?
November 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In addition to reform of permitting and building codes, stop making new construction pay out of proportion and excessive fees for water hookups.
Reform permitting and to extent possible building codes, especially in neighborhood and midrise zones.
Yes, we want a land value tax. Is that something Seattle’s Mayor has power over? Probably not! If you just reply LVT to our posts how is that helpful? What’s the policy proposal to spur more housing in the next year or two?
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reform permitting and to extent possible building codes, especially in neighborhood and midrise zones.
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Wanna stick it to Trump and live up to the Paris Accords, California? Stop driving so much *and* tell your city council's to build bus and bike lanes instead of throwing away money on car infrastructure.
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Wanna stick it to Trump and live up to the Paris Accords, California? Stop driving so much *and* tell your city council's to build bus and bike lanes instead of throwing away money on car infrastructure.
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
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I want an apartment with such good sound insulation that I could be getting slashed in there screaming for help, and not one of my neighbors would hear me.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
The metal image most people have of an apartment is a shit box made of paper mache and twigs where they hear *EVERYTHING* their neighbors are doing.
And frankly they aren't wrong for thinking that! Even in brand new 5/1s, sound insulation is, at best, hit or miss.
And frankly they aren't wrong for thinking that! Even in brand new 5/1s, sound insulation is, at best, hit or miss.
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I want an apartment with such good sound insulation that I could be getting slashed in there screaming for help, and not one of my neighbors would hear me.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
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Trump’s new “affordability” push is basically reversing the tariffs he said would never cause un-affordability.
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Trump’s new “affordability” push is basically reversing the tariffs he said would never cause un-affordability.
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
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amusing chart. it turns out New York City built more housing units in the 1920s than in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s put together www.nyc.gov/content/plan...
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
amusing chart. it turns out New York City built more housing units in the 1920s than in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s put together www.nyc.gov/content/plan...
Convert MHA to funded inclusionary zoning as Portland has done.
6️⃣ Advance a Comprehensive Plan amendment to vastly expand where multifamily housing can be built. Abolish unit limits in neighborhood residential zones. Abolish parking requirements citywide. Reform MFTE to create an 8-year program with no MHA requirements in certain areas.
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Convert MHA to funded inclusionary zoning as Portland has done.
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I live a cross-state life, and I think all Washingtonians need to be invested in Seattle’s success. So here are a few things I would be looking to do if I were Katie Wilson or if I were joining her administration:
I think it’s now safe to call this race.
Progressive urban planner Katie Wilson defeats centrist incumbent Bruce Harrell and will become Seattle’s next mayor.
Progressive urban planner Katie Wilson defeats centrist incumbent Bruce Harrell and will become Seattle’s next mayor.
Seattle's mayor race update:
Katie Wilson's lead grows to 1,346 votes over and incumbent corporate-Democrat Bruce Harrell.
Kate Wilson won 61.23% of the 6,121 ballots counted today.
Overall total:
Katie Wilson 50.08% 137,217
Bruce Harrell 49.59% 135,871
Write-in 0.33% 908
Katie Wilson's lead grows to 1,346 votes over and incumbent corporate-Democrat Bruce Harrell.
Kate Wilson won 61.23% of the 6,121 ballots counted today.
Overall total:
Katie Wilson 50.08% 137,217
Bruce Harrell 49.59% 135,871
Write-in 0.33% 908
November 12, 2025 at 4:27 AM
I live a cross-state life, and I think all Washingtonians need to be invested in Seattle’s success. So here are a few things I would be looking to do if I were Katie Wilson or if I were joining her administration:
Reposted
When we build enough supply of homes so that landlords must compete, renters win.
"The more properties there are, it drives all of us to lower rents and offer concessions" says the property manager pictured here.
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/11/b...
"The more properties there are, it drives all of us to lower rents and offer concessions" says the property manager pictured here.
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/11/b...
Bend's surge of apartment construction flattens rent hikes - The Bulletin
When Ian Gray looked for an apartment to rent in Bend earlier this year, he had something not available only a few years ago: a choice. Gray, who moved to Bend for a job as the city’s first-ever urban...
bendbulletin.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
When we build enough supply of homes so that landlords must compete, renters win.
"The more properties there are, it drives all of us to lower rents and offer concessions" says the property manager pictured here.
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/11/b...
"The more properties there are, it drives all of us to lower rents and offer concessions" says the property manager pictured here.
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/11/b...
Reposted
The number of curable ballots from Seattle has edged downward a little since midday yesterday. There's now just over 1,700 curable ballots, which still skew younger.
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The number of curable ballots from Seattle has edged downward a little since midday yesterday. There's now just over 1,700 curable ballots, which still skew younger.
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So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Balducci is a class act.
With most ballots in, it is clear my colleague Girmay Zahilay has been elected as the next Exec. I called to congratulate and wish him all the best as he begins to transition into this important role. The success of KC depends on his success as Exec, and as a continuing CM I am committed to both.
November 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Balducci is a class act.
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There's lot of challenged ballots in Seattle. Challenged ballots disproportionately skew younger with over half from people under age 45.
November 6, 2025 at 3:28 AM
There's lot of challenged ballots in Seattle. Challenged ballots disproportionately skew younger with over half from people under age 45.
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We’re on the right track! Make sure you track your ballot to confirm it is accepted, NOT challenged. Check our links in bio to do so! More votes will be counted on Monday!
November 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
We’re on the right track! Make sure you track your ballot to confirm it is accepted, NOT challenged. Check our links in bio to do so! More votes will be counted on Monday!
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Bummed about a Claudia. She would have been a better exec.
November 8, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Bummed about a Claudia. She would have been a better exec.
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You can also volunteer to help assist the ballot curing effort! docs.google.com/forms/d/15iZ...
Ballot Curing for Katie Wilson
Fills this form out if you want to help cure ballots!
docs.google.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:43 AM
You can also volunteer to help assist the ballot curing effort! docs.google.com/forms/d/15iZ...
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Verify online that your ballot has been received and counted! ‼️ info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...
King County Elections
Led by Director Julie Wise, King County Elections conducts accurate, secure, and accessible elections for King County's over 1.4 million registered voters.
info.kingcounty.gov
November 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Verify online that your ballot has been received and counted! ‼️ info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...
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1/ Seattle! 2000 ballots need signatures (updates or didn't sign)!! Tell your friends to check their ballot status here: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/... And if you have time between now & Nov. 14, volunteer to help cure votes: linktr.ee/Wilsonforsea... ("Ballot Chasing for Katie Wilson")
November 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
1/ Seattle! 2000 ballots need signatures (updates or didn't sign)!! Tell your friends to check their ballot status here: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/... And if you have time between now & Nov. 14, volunteer to help cure votes: linktr.ee/Wilsonforsea... ("Ballot Chasing for Katie Wilson")
Reposted
I don't just type things up on Bluesky (though the election number crunching and analysis I've been doing is part of my job)—I also have a website, PubliCola.com, where you can read my local coverage and also support my work, which is 100% funded by readers. PubliCola.com/support
Support - PubliCola
If you like the work we’re doing here, and would like to support PubliCola financially, please consider becoming a monthly…
PubliCola.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I don't just type things up on Bluesky (though the election number crunching and analysis I've been doing is part of my job)—I also have a website, PubliCola.com, where you can read my local coverage and also support my work, which is 100% funded by readers. PubliCola.com/support
This is important. We are in the Every Vote Counts phase. Spread the word.
Check your ballot Seattle friends.
You can also sign up for alerts so you know when it’s been counted or if there are any issues.
You can also sign up for alerts so you know when it’s been counted or if there are any issues.
There's lot of challenged ballots in Seattle. Challenged ballots disproportionately skew younger with over half from people under age 45.
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 AM
This is important. We are in the Every Vote Counts phase. Spread the word.
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seattle's design review does not make for better projects. at all.
it does, however, delay projects significantly
in an era where tariffs change almost daily, and interest rates are high...
this delay adds cost, uncertainty, and incredible risk.
it does, however, delay projects significantly
in an era where tariffs change almost daily, and interest rates are high...
this delay adds cost, uncertainty, and incredible risk.
New working paper studying project permitting in Seattle estimates that design review as part of the development process increased review time by 4 to 5 months. Author's model estimates that design review was associated with a 3% decline in the number of units permitted.
static1.squarespace.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
seattle's design review does not make for better projects. at all.
it does, however, delay projects significantly
in an era where tariffs change almost daily, and interest rates are high...
this delay adds cost, uncertainty, and incredible risk.
it does, however, delay projects significantly
in an era where tariffs change almost daily, and interest rates are high...
this delay adds cost, uncertainty, and incredible risk.
Reposted
One thing the mayor-elect could do between now and January 1 is to call on Kathy Hochul to veto the bill on her desk that would ban one-person train operations in the NYC subway. Mamdani was absent the day of the vote, and banning OPTO is incompatible with lower cost (or free) transit.
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
One thing the mayor-elect could do between now and January 1 is to call on Kathy Hochul to veto the bill on her desk that would ban one-person train operations in the NYC subway. Mamdani was absent the day of the vote, and banning OPTO is incompatible with lower cost (or free) transit.
Reposted
We’re still buzzing from the enthusiasm at our election night party. As we await more results, please continue to track your ballot at the link below! Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate what we’ve built together. #thisisyourcity
🗳️☑️: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...
🗳️☑️: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...
November 6, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We’re still buzzing from the enthusiasm at our election night party. As we await more results, please continue to track your ballot at the link below! Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate what we’ve built together. #thisisyourcity
🗳️☑️: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...
🗳️☑️: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/...