This Week on PubliCola: February 9, 2025
Forcing Seattle's hand on housing, misleading mailers on social housing, and a plan for housing near the stadiums.
Monday, February 3
Two Stranger Reporters Resign After Investigation Into Allegations of Ethical Breaches
After a weeks-long investigation into allegations of dishonesty and bullying, two Stranger reporters resigned last week. The union that represents editorial staff at the paper declined to mobilize on their behalf and both the union and Stranger management said they were satisfied with the outcome.
Social Housing Is a Homelessness Solution
In an op/ed urging a vote of “yes” to Proposition 1A, the social housing measure on the February 11 ballot, the homeless shelter providers SHARE and WHEEL argue for mixed-income public housing—and against an alternative measure that "raids the JumpStart tax proceeds for $10 million a year and restricts the funded housing” to traditional low-income apartments.
Tuesday, February 4
Seattle Nice Interviews New City Council Appointee Mark Solomon
On this week’s episode of the Seattle Nice podcast, we interviewed new Seattle Councilmember Mark Solomon about whether he’ll vote to reduce density in the comprehensive plan, what restrictions there should be on less-lethal weapons like blast balls, and his goal of moving “negative activity” away from places like 12th and Jackson.
Wednesday, February 5
The City Council Should Restore Affordable Housing to the Stadium District
In a guest editorial, representatives from the city’s stadiums argue that it’s past time to allow housing south of downtown, as the city’s plan for industrial land originally called for. The council is considering legislation that would make housing legal in the stadium district, where offices are already allowed.
Thursday, February 6
Councilmembers Claim City Didn’t Do “Broad Engagement” on Comprehensive Plan
After homeowners complained that the new comprehensive plan allows too much density near single-family houses, councilmembers called for slowing down the process to hear their concerns, arguing that advocates for apartments—and the renters who live in them—have had too much sway over the plan so far.
Misleading Mailers Inaccurately Imply Social Housing Is for the Rich
A series of anti-social housing mailers have argued, using dubious math, that mixed-income social housing would mostly be for people making “up to $144,000” and that almost none of it would be for low-income people.
Friday, February 7
New State Bills Could Force Seattle to Reform Parking, Historical Landmarking Rules
Two new bills would, if passed, stymie Seattle’s anti-housing status quo. The first would eliminate minimum parking requirements in some residential areas in Seattle (and impose the same modest restrictions on parking mandates that are in our proposed comprehensive plan statewide). The second would bar cities from landmarking buildings without the owner’s consent and set the minimum age for landmarks at 40 years (in Seattle, it’s 25).