Imagine what this would have looked like if Durkan fully got her way and Lorena González hadn't amended the STM up to 0.15%.

NEW // Test Your Wits with The Urbanist Crossword for November 16 Crossword by William Holland via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/16/t...

If Clyde Hill can declare an emergency and block a developer from taking advantage of the middle housing code they already approved, it seems like Seattle should be able to declare an emergency and end apartment bans.

NEW STORY // Op-Ed: Making Seattle Neighborhoods More Accessible by Design Op-ed by @matthutchins.bsky.social via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/16/o...

As the Sound Transit Board of Directors approach the point of grappling with how to rebalance the entire Sound Transit 3 package, transit advocates are urging them to look for new solutions outside of project delays or cancellations. Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/14/b...

Seattle's scootershare and bikeshare program continues to boom, setting a new ridership record in 2025. At the same time, the program could be at risk of falling victim to its own popularity, with increasing calls to beef up regulations. Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/15/s...

NEW STORY // ‘Build the Damn Trains’ Campaign Pushes Sound Transit Toward Creative Solutions Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/14/b...

NEW // Seattle Scootershare Ridership Continues to Surge, as Critics Make Regulatory Push Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/15/s...

NEW STORY // ‘Build the Damn Trains’ Campaign Pushes Sound Transit Toward Creative Solutions Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/14/b...

Decision Desk HQ’s Wikipedia page got updated about their trigger happy Seattle mayoral race projection.

Trump Admin is planning to ask Congress to dramatically cut funding for transit as part of the 2026 infrastructure law. The proposal would eliminate the transit account, which funds billions of dollars in capital expenses. It would also prevent states from “flexing” roads funds for transit.

Catching up on the Seattle city council's long day of budget committee votes today to discover that an amendment from Rob Saka that would have diverted $200,000 from SDOT's crosswalk markings program to free-floating scooter and bike corrals was rejected.

FYI I just got word that this event was pushed a week.

Two-time failed Kirkland council Catie Malik is keeping it classy by implying that later voters are not "informed" ones, and already declaring her intention to run for another seat in 2027.

Visit Seattle has launched a new marketing campaign hoping to bring more locals downtown this fall and winter, with a new "Perks Pass" through February offering discounts at hotels, restaurants, museums and other businesses.

22 days!

US Congress is already discussing reauthorizing transport programs funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Our team @urbaninstitute.bsky.social recommends how Congress should use new legislation to improve effectiveness, environmental sustainability, & access in the transport system ⏬

"On Sunday, November 16, the agency is also suspending 1 Line service between Capitol Hill and Stadium to replace a cracked rail north of Westlake."

Some big King County Metro Access paratransit news today. kingcountymetro.blog/2025/11/14/e...

🤝 #thisisyourcity

Today the Seattle City Council is set to amend the guardrails on the 2020 voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure again, allowing them to tap into those funds for another purpose that is not direct transit service funding. In this case, it's to pay for a "Chief Transit Security and Safety Officer."

“'The Wilson administration will have new ideas. You will have a new vision,' Harrell said. 'By winning the election, they have earned that right. We must listen to the young voters...'"

My first formal remarks as mayor-elect: When I say, “This is your city,” I mean you have a right to be here, no matter your background. But I also mean that we have a collective responsibility to this place and each other. #thisisyourcity

Bluesky praise for Seattle. We'll take it. ☺️

Voter turnout in the Seattle election has reached 55.95%. That's the highest mayoral election voter turnout this century for the city, besting even the 2009 election when there was 54.99% voter turnout.

On Thursday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell conceded the election to progressive challenger Katie Wilson at City Hall. His speech vacillated between a conciliatory tone that extended an olive branch to his successor and a few defiant moments. Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/14/h...

Most counties in the US are losing people. While out-migration is a factor, new research suggests that falling birth rates are a major part of this phenomenon. Once people move out, they aren't being replaced. Read more: www.upjohn.org/research-hig... #Econsky

“Now show it in the rain,” is a comment that pops up in our feed occasionally, as if the country that cycles 18 billion kilometres while experiencing 217 days of precipitation each year grinds to a halt every single time the skies open. There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad infrastructure.

"When the housing projects are complete, Blakeley Village will provide 1,000 student apartments, and Laurel Village will have 320 apartments for students with families." komonews.com/news/local/s...

NEW STORY // Harrell Concedes to Wilson, Ushering in a New Era in Seattle Story by Doug Trumm via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/14/h...

Congratulations to Girmay Zahilay, new King County Executive, and Katie Wilson, new Seattle Mayor, bringing fresh, youthful leadership to Washington State.

Deportations actually _increase_ housing prices because they shrink the construction industry. The reduction in new houses being built swamps effects from lower demand

The board retreat formats have been: split board members into groups and have them talk about all the projects in the five subareas. It's not clear to me what the next steps are on getting the board members to lead a path forward.

I got official confirmation today that the plan is to leave the new 2 Line signage up permanently despite the fact that the line won't start running into Seattle until spring. Unless a lot of people complain that it's confusing, then ST might rethink things.

I look forward to working closely with Mayor-elect Wilson to address homelessness, improve public safety, and make Seattle and King County more affordable places to live.

It is clear that Mayor-elect Wilson’s campaign platform resonated with deep concerns among voters in Seattle about affordability and the cost of living, issues that our two governments can and should collaborate on to address together.

I called Mayor-elect Wilson to extend my congratulations. It’s been a very long time since King County and Seattle have both elected new leaders at the same time. That means we have an opportunity for a true reset, to try new strategies and form new partnerships to tackle our region’s challenges.

There are certainly some interesting conversations happening among board members at this Sound Transit board retreat...but I can't say I heard any that actually seemed to get into the trade-offs that are going to be need to be grappled with over the coming months.

The Seattle mayoral race is over, but Katie Wilson has further extended her lead in the latest vote count. She leads with 2,018 votes or 0.73%, commanding 50.2% of the total vote. There’s only a small number of curable ballots left to potentially count.

"Wealthy interests poured nearly $2M into a political action committee to prevent my election. Because for some people in our city, the status quo is working exactly as intended. It may look like an affordability crisis to working poor people, but to others, it simply looks like business as usual."

Re the budget deficit: says that they'll be reviewing the budget to be as efficient as possible, open to ending programs that aren't working, will need new progressive revenue "in order to fund our priorities and make sure that we're delivering services to people of Seattle."

"I believe that our city should be able to tackle big challenges and take on big, ambitious projects, and I believe it is a very bad thing when people begin to lose faith in the ability of their government to be responsive and effective and to deliver results to its constituents." Katie Wilson

They’re about as economically adept as the vacant housing conspiracy theory NIMBYs but far far crueler.

Hearing from multiple sources that Teresa Mosqueda is likely going to take over Girmay Zahilay's seat on the Sound Transit board after he takes office as Executive.

This slide goes a long way into showing how 2026 will be the most impactful period of board decisions in two decades. Heck of a time for a brand new Seattle Mayor to join the board, if you ask me. (Neither Wilson nor Harrell are here. Harrell's Deputy Mayor, Jessyn Farrell, is.)

"From this point forward, the focus will sharpen, and the pace will quicken," Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine says as he kicks off the second board retreat of the year, happening right now. Today's exercises are expected to suss out board priorities ahead of the agency-wide financial reset.

Seattle Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson is speaking live. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6KJ...

Did an opposition campaign write this post?

This morning transit advocates from around Central Puget Sound gathered together to bring one message to the Sound Transit board: "build the damn trains." This afternoon the board is holding its first retreat since the announcement of the $30-$40 billion shortfall through 2046.

I-90 light rail update: before the end of the month, 2 Line testing will start extending up to Lynnwood, with out-of-service trains running in between normal trains. Riders won't be able to board, but this will be a preview of what 4 minute headways north of downtown look like.