This Week on PubliCola: July 27, 2025
Renters' commission appointments thwarted, city attorney blasted in court for refusing to let judge hear cases, and much more news from this week.
By Erica C. Barnett
Monday, July 21
PubliCola Questions: Mayoral Candidate Joe Mallahan
In an interview with PubliCola, mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan, who narrowly lost to Mike McGinn in 2009, said he opposes encampment sweeps, supports an “intervention”-style approach to addiction, and would focus on “respect for women” in an effort to reform the misogynistic culture of the Seattle Police Department.
Tuesday, July 22
Facing a likely budget deficit of $250 million or more, the Seattle City Council has started discussing new sources of money to backfill general fund spending and stave off major budget cuts. The latest ideas, which came up in a budget meeting this week, include borrowing funds from the housing levy (ultimately resulting in the construction of less housing) and preemptively allowing the proceeds from a future business and occupation tax increase to be spent on any purpose.
Wednesday, July 23
Municipal Court Judge Shadid Blasts City Attorney for Refusing to Send Cases to Judge Vaddadi
In an unusual confrontation in open court, Seattle Municipal Court Judge Damon Shadid excoriated the criminal division chief for City Attorney Ann Davison’s office, Fred Wist, for his office’s ongoing refusal to allow Judge Pooja Vaddadi to hear DUI and domestic violence cases. Davison filed a blanket affidavit of prejudice against Vaddadi in 2023, relegating the elected judge to reviewing traffic tickets.
For her entire 18-month term, former councilmember Cathy Moore refused to consider appointments to the city’s Renters Commission, and was working to replace the group with a joint landlord-tenant commission when she resigned. When the vice chair of her committee, Mark Solomon, moved to approve the appointments, two committee members, Sara Nelson and Rob Saka, bailed, depriving the committee of quorum and thwarting their appointments—again.
Friday, July 25
After a public outcry over the thwarted renters’ commission appointments, Council President Sara Nelson announced the full council will consider the nominations next Tuesday. Also, we took a look at Mayor Bruce Harrell’s campaign claim that he oversaw the creation of “3,000 units of emergency housing” and found it wanting. And: The six nominees for the District 5 city council appointment discussed crime and other issues at two public forums; the council will appoint a new colleague, likely former councilmember Debora Juarez, next week.