A Pew study of 1,654 ZIP codes found low-income neighborhoods saw rents rise 10% faster than wealthy ones during the shortage. But in metros that grew housing stock by 10%+, rent grew slowest in older affordable buildings. cayimby.org/blog/how-blo...

One thing we can do to fix MHA is get rid of the confusing, arbitrary M,M1,M2 system. If two MR lots are identical with the same sized building on them, but one used to be NR while the other has always been MR, the formerly NR one pays nearly double the MHA fees!

This hero risked his life for the benefit of the neighbors around him. He needs help paying his medical bills due to the injuries he sustained from his heroic actions. He also needs a home. Can we find him a permanent home? Donate: www.gofundme.com/f/help-ernie...

Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) is a tax on middle-income families to subsidize rent for low income households. Taxing wealth and wage inequality are far better ways to subsidize housing.

Housing has too many unfunded mandates preventing fair outcomes. Integrated housing (including folks with diff incomes) has many benefits -- It shouldn't cost extra to do the right thing. Let's fund our Mandatory Housing Affordability programs fairly. This may require state legislation! 👀

Thanks to all who came to the Democracy & Housing Social last night! It was great partnering with the 36th District Democrats to learn about how to level-up our policy advocacy in Olympia. And we got to meet Senator Noel Frame who represents the 36th District.

Attention state legislators! How to make condos viable to build? See the new bill in California, AB 1903.

Speaking of historic character, THIS is what the Pioneer Square area looked like when the Americans arrived. Back then it was a Duwamish village known as the "Little Crossing Place." Credit: Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name by David M. Buerge (available at your local library)

Broadly upzoning the entire city would fix this issue. Demand is finite, so spreading it out across all neighborhoods means that each neighborhood sees less immediate change, yet overall growth is sustained.

This is “acceptance phase” thinking: ⬇️ “Seattle is going to grow. Why not set the zoning rules so we incentivize the kinds of urban housing that are super popular” We’ve already been through the “denial” part so let’s move it along Seattle! Trees housing parks health care clean water salmon

Join us next Monday for a democracy-themed social with the 36th District Democrats @ Old Stove! Learn about the platform of the local Democrats & and how we can support their adoption of pro-housing policies. Supplies will be provided to make posters for the next No Kings event. See you there.

We need your feedback on housing in Washington. Commerce opened a survey to gather input to help shape recommendations for a potential state Department of Housing. The anonymous survey is open to anyone who is interested. Take the survey by April 26: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026StateD...

Uninspired. Backward-thinking. Fails to meet the moment. How would you describe OPCD's plan for Northgate? Take their survey today!

Great idea for an event!

☠️ HAPPENING NOW ☠️ Everyone deserves to breathe fresh air where they live. When you use an unfiltered diesel generator to do construction work, it creates a toxic nuisance for the entire neighborhood. #greenwood #pollution #arterials

archive.is/Traj7 Seattle City Light makes homes more expensive through arbitrary hookup fees and delays of up to THREE YEARS per project. It increases housing costs for everyone. Rents go UP for everyone. We need permit shot-clocks & fee-sharing rooted in fairness.

We need to start blowing up council inboxes & public comment, to fix the @seattleopcd.bsky.social plan that only allows social & affordable housing on loud, polluted, & dangerous roads. Mark your calendars, put in your PTO 😭, & bring your friends. ALL HANDS ON DECK for Alternative 5 Corridors.

Washington has scored another first in the nation for statewide legislation to boost housing: Yesterday HB 2228 to legalize scissor stairs passed the Senate 48 - 0, now headed to the Gov's desk. Thank you Rep. Zahn and Sen. Bateman, and also @markusja.bsky.social who got this conversation started!

So we're going to rezone for transit oriented development in a 1-mile walk shed around all link stations? Right?

As YIMBYs, we celebrate inclusive, sustainable, and thriving communities where everyone has a place to call home. Concentration camps are anathema to that vision. We must do whatever it takes to block them. Not in Our Backyards.

Adding homes lowers rents for low-income tenants, even if they do not move into the new homes. Policies that impede the construction of homes - even those marketed as luxury housing - hurt tenants. Design Review is hostile to low-income tenants.

We are hearing the same thing with respect to the Comprehensive Plan, which is continuing to undergo years-long review without any plans to speed up the process. Planning for neighborhoods must be sped up. Design Review should be killed immediately. We didn't vote for the status quo.

Rents are declining nationwide because the United States is building more housing. www.apartmentlist.com/research/nat...

www.seattletimes.com/opinion/diff... Standard NIMBY arguments conjure scarcity: our island is full. There is no more land, water, or fresh air. We counter scarcity with abundance: compact living is GOOD, more housing types are GREAT, & sustainable communities are NECESSARY.

Another today: HB 2304 passed the House 94 - 0! It's a small but key fix to last year's HB 1403 that extends the allowance for the use of 2-10 express warranties to cover liability on condo construction up to four stories and 12 units. Thank you Rep. Taylor! app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...

WA bill HB 2228 to allow scissor stairs passed the House today, 95 - 0! Thank you Rep. Zahn! app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...

Zoning overlays that would require single-stair design to achieve lot coverage limits and preserve green space while allowing additional height... Denver stepping up. Let's pay attention, folks! 👁️👁️ Read: archive.is/YNspf

Seattle renters, it's time to speak up! Share your renting experience with @mayorofseattle. The survey ends Feb 13th. Link in bio. #yourcity #seattle #thisisyourcity #seattlerenters

As we work to make housing more affordable, renters across the city need to keep speaking out. That’s why today we’re launching our Mayoral Renter’s Survey. forms.office.com/g/B1K37QsKtf www.instagram.com/reel/DUY32i7...

This needs to be repeated: Our housing plans should not revolve around "Corridors." Homes belong in neighborhoods. We voted for new leadership on housing. Unfortunately, it has not yet arrived.

🔊 ACTION ALERT 🔊 Send an email TODAY to [email protected], [email protected], & [email protected] telling them to oppose SB5609 This bill would strangle efforts to address affordability, adding several layers of red tape to building homes for people.

Please send a couple emails TODAY to committee members, urging them not to advance #SB5609. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] This bill risks gutting our breakthrough SEPA exemption passed a few years ago to increase certainty for housing development.

Housing 🤝 Transit Let's build something together!

🚨 IMPORTANT 🚨 Historic preservationists are attempting to roll back the critical SEPA exemptions that #waleg passed for infill housing. In other words, #SB5609 would require historic preservation review even for projects that are SEPA-exempt. There’s a hearing tomorrow! Sign in CON now:

NEW: Mayor Wilson has issued an Executive Order to "rapidly bring unhoused people inside and expedite the expansion of shelter and affordable housing." View here: wilson.seattle.gov/wp-content/u...

"U.S. Regulatory Delays in Construction Across Time" www.aeaweb.org/conference/2... "a one-month increase in [construction permit] delays... is estimated to increase house prices two years later by about $25,000."

During his first week in office, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani created a task force to identify and remove barriers that increase costs and slow housing construction. Seattle should follow NYC’s lead and establish a similar task force.

Read our letter to Mayor Wilson on housing priorities for day 1! pdfhost.io/v/qjfyFt9Mbd... Now is the time to act. Although interest rates are not in the Mayor's control, there are many things she can do to improve affordability.

Update on Adams v. Seattle (challenging MHA fees as unconstitutional) The 9th Cir. Court found the case to be premature, as the applicant had not yet applied for a waiver of the fee. For a case to be ripe, someone needs to apply for the waiver and get denied. cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/me...

Ever wondered whether a cargo e-bike can fit a paper shredder in its pannier bag? Yes, it can.

Be there! Tonight

Join us and @futurewise.bsky.social tomorrow (Wed), December 9 at 6:00pm, for a happy hour at Perihelion Brewing! We'll celebrate the housing wins from 2025 and plan our strategy for winning even more next year. What's going on in your neighborhood? Let us know. Hope to see you there!

Rumors of a land value tax proposal this upcoming state legislative session...👀

Lawsuit challenges inclusionary zoning (such as Seattle's MHA program) as unconstitutional pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u... The Constitution "bar[s the] Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole.’"

When you visit a neighborhood famous for its Christmas lights this year, ask yourself: did this neighborhood have racially restrictive covenants? Here's an example from Olympic Manor, famous for its lights. See paragraph 14. Is there a correlation between Lights & Covenants?

😍😍 Xmas list: this building in every Seattle neighborhood.

We’re building a world class team to win an affordable Seattle, and we need your skills and experience! Send us your resume and a cover letter at the link in our bio by the end of the day today! #thisisyourcity

Among the many insights of this article: Pre-modern cities exercised power over their suburbs through customs barriers that imposed duties on goods entering the city. Seattle could exercise dominance over its suburbs through controls like congestion pricing. worksinprogress.co/issue/the-gr...