What’s Behind the Recent Decline in Overdose Deaths in Seattle? While Seattle’s outgoing mayor and city attorney credit drug arrests and prosecutions, public health evidence suggests other causes. @andyengelson.bsky.social reports. publicola.com/2025/11/26/w...

Staffers Say Sound Transit Refused to Bargain on Return-to-Office Policy, Use of Consultants But Sound Transit says they’re bargaining “in good faith,” and that staffers should have known they couldn’t work from home indefinitely. publicola.com/2025/11/25/s...

This week on PubliCola: An interview with Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson, a deep dive on the federal cuts that could leave thousands homeless, the city council adopts a budget that pushes off hard choices, and much more. publicola.com/2025/11/22/t...

Jam-packed Afternoon Fizz today, featuring the homelessness authority's "learning" trip to a religous recovery program in Baltimore, the latest on the next Seattle City Council president, Katie Wilson's plan to jerk-proof the Mayor's Office, and more. publicola.com/2025/11/21/h...

Council Adopts Harrell's Budget With Minor Changes, Setting Up Huge Deficits for Incoming Mayor Wilson The "audit the budget" crowd piles on more than $50 million in new spending, using new taxes to expand or start new programs and backfill an ongoing shortfall. publicola.com/2025/11/21/c...

Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson! We discuss homelessness, the budget deficit, bus lanes, police accountability and more with Seattle's next mayor. publicola.com/2025/11/20/s...

Seattle Nice sat down with Mayor-elect Katie Wilson this week to talk about her vision for the city, including her ambitious plan to shelter thousands of people and address the massive budget deficit outgoing mayor Bruce Harrell left for her to deal with. Listen and subscribe:

The Post-Election Budget: Council Protects Sweeps Team, Raises Permit Fees, and Bans Spending on Harm Reduction publicola.com/2025/11/19/t...

County Executive-Elect Zahilay's Mass Layoff Proposal Shocks Some Longtime Staff The layoffs aren't unusual for a new executive, Zahilay's team says—it's just that the county hasn't had a new leader in 16 years. publicola.com/2025/11/18/c...

Seattle Nice: Did Katie Wilson Win or Did Bruce Harrell Lose? And is Erica a hypocrite for not obsessing over Wilson's lack of experience? publicola.com/2025/11/17/s...

Federal Funding Changes Could Create Thousands of New Homeless Seattle Residents A deep dive into changes the Trump Administration is making to funding for homeless housing and services, and what local leaders and organizations are doing to prepare. publicola.com/2025/11/17/f...

Wilson Wins In a Squeaker (That Should Not Have Been This Close) Wonder if incumbent Bruce Harrell will call her "Mayor-Elect Wilson" or if he'll keep referring to his successor as "this person" and "she." publicola.com/2025/11/12/w...

Homelessness Authority Makes Potentially Controversial Hire, Harrell's $5,000-a-Week Consultant Speaks Out Today's Afternoon Fizz. publicola.com/2025/11/11/h...

Mayor Katie Wilson? It's Sure Looking Likely! Wilson surges in the final big batch of ballots that remained uncounted, moving above 50 percent. publicola.com/2025/11/11/m...

Katie Wilson Leads Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell by 91 Votes We're in hand-recount territory. publicola.com/2025/11/10/k...

This Week on PubliCola: November 8, 2025 Election updates, shakeups at the police department, and much more in a PACKED week of local news. publicola.com/2025/11/08/t...

Friday Fizz: Latest Ballots Trend Toward Wilson, Barnes Moves Controversial Cop Out of East Precinct, Harrell Says Shaming Sex Buyers Works Today's Afternoon Fizz. publicola.com/2025/11/07/f...

Amid Federal Cuts and State Austerity, The City Must Step Up and Pass a Budget that Puts People First In a guest post, City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck says the budget should prioritize people who stand to lose most during state and federal cuts. publicola.com/2025/11/06/a...

With Half the Ballots Still Uncounted, This Mayoral Election is an Open Contest Katie Wilson needs to get about 54 percent of the outstanding ballots to close the gap with incumbent Bruce Harrell. publicola.com/2025/11/06/4...

We recorded the latest episode of Seattle Nice this morning, before today's ballot drop widened Mayor Bruce Harell's lead over Katie Wilson by about 7,000 votes, but our analysis still stands: We don't know wtf is going to happen in the Seattle mayor's race, but we have our theories!

Police Chief Shon Barnes Fires Two of SPD's Top Civilian Staff The two longtime SPD command staff were reportedly shut out of major decisions in favor of Barnes' inner circle. publicola.com/2025/11/05/p...

Uncertain Outcome in Mayor's Race While Progressive Council, City Attorney Candidates Celebrate Wins publicola.com/2025/11/04/u...

As Mayor, Harrell Paid for Luxury Upgrades on City Trips, Including a $12,000 Flight and a $1,000-a-Night Hotel Now he wants voters to believe he represents the working class—and that his opponent, renter Katie Wilson, is an out-of touch-elite. publicola.com/2025/11/04/h...

Seattle Nice: Closing Arguments in the Mayoral Election, and a $5,000-a-Week "Outreach" Consultant It's our last podcast before the Tuesday election! publicola.com/2025/11/03/s...

When Washington DC Looks Away, King County Must Make Sure Our Neighbors Can Eat In a guest post, King County Councilmember @girmayzahilay.bsky.social says the county must provide food assistance to people losing SNAP benefits during the shutdown. publicola.com/2025/11/03/w...

This Week On PubliCola: November 1, 2025 Exclusive election reporting, a Seattle City Attorney debate, SPD participates in Trump's "Operation Take Back America," and more. publicola.com/2025/11/02/t...

SPD Drug Arrests Were Part of Trump's Anti-Immigrant "Operation Take Back America" Police Chief Shon Barnes thanked "our federal partners" for facilitating the arrests of 10 accused drug traffickers, all with Hispanic surnames. publicola.com/2025/10/31/s...

Homelessness Authority Cuts 28 Positions, Including Deputy CEO, Finance Director, General Counsel, and Emergency Services Director Agency CEO Kelly Kinnison said the cuts address a "top-heavy" org chart. publicola.com/2025/10/31/h...

Harrell Campaign Paid a Consultant $5,000 a Week for “Outreach and Engagement,” Won’t Say Why The payments, for "community outreach and engagement," are more than four times what Harrell pays his chief political consultant every month. publicola.com/2025/10/30/h...

A Closer Look at Mayor Harrell's Rickety 2026 City Budget Proposal Harrell's budget relies on fiscal tricks, general-fund backfills, and big deficits to fund increases in cops, graffiti teams, and shelter beds. publicola.com/2025/10/28/a...

City Official Used Internal Teams Chat to Solicit Department Directors’ Contact Info on Behalf of Harrell Campaign At least 21 department directors gave OED Director Markham McIntyre their contact information, which he used to solicit support for their boss’s campaign. publicola.com/2025/10/27/c...

Seattle's Nicest City Attorney Debate Seattle Nice moderated a debate between the two candidates for city attorney, and you're all (belatedly) invited! publicola.com/2025/10/27/s...

This Week on PubliCola: October 25, 2025 New police contract boosts rookie salaries to almost $120,000, Harrell blasts Katie Wilson's housing plan, controversial cop still in charge at East Precinct, and much more. publicola.com/2025/10/25/4...

Sara Nelson Said She "Chuckled" At Opposition to Police Surveillance, Burien City Manager Files Complaint About Accurate Quote Today's Afternoon Fizz: publicola.com/2025/10/24/s...

Harrell, Wilson Disagree Over Whether Formerly Homeless People Can Thrive In "Workforce" Housing The mayor says it would be a "disaster" to move formerly homeless people into vacant units next to "teachers and baristas." His opponent says plenty of homeless people just need homes.

Tietjen Still at East Precinct, Harrell Overheard Discussing Tip Credit Rollback, Mayor’s Budget Preserves Cut to Tenant Services Three stories for ya in today's Afternooan Fiaa: publicola.com/2025/10/23/t...

ONLY AT PUBLICOLA: New Police Contract Will Boost Starting Salaries to Almost $120,000—a 42% Pay Increase in Just Five Years The contract reportedly includes only minimal concessions on police accountability. The city just bumped starting salaries to $104,000—the highest in the state—last year.

Ex-Police Chief Diaz Seeks to Toss a Third Judge from His Case, County Council Candidate Claims Planned Parenthood Endorsement After Losing it Over Anti-Trans Views Today's Morning Fizz! publicola.com/2025/10/20/e...

This Week On PubliCola: October 18, 2025 The election, the city budget, a shoplifting bust at Marshall's, and much more in this week's roundup. publicola.com/2025/10/18/t...

SPD Can't Find Funds to Recruit Women While Spending $3 Million on Macho Ads; Affordable Housing Tax Will Pay for Police Surveillance Instead; Pro-Harrell PAC Goes Low Today's Morning Fizz: publicola.com/2025/10/17/s...

Free tonight? Wanna learn more about the race for city attorney in Seattle? Join Seattle Nice and the Urban Community Councils of Seattle for a public forum and live show taping from 5:30-7:30 in South Lake Union! Forum starts at 6pm; details and RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-ci...

"It Was Cold": Mothers Who Lost Children to Gun Violence Say Harrell Ignored Their Pleas for Help “What mothers go through in crisis is not a one-time opportunity—it’s ongoing." publicola.com/2025/10/16/i...

Seattle Nice: CoLEAD Brings a New Approach to 12th and Jackson Listen to our conversation with Nichole Alexander, the Purpose Dignity Action outreach director who's working to house and help people around one of the city's most challenging corners. publicola.com/2025/10/14/4...

Seattle Spent Thousands on "Organized Retail Theft" Operation at Marshall's, Arresting Five and Recovering $400 in Merchandise The operation involved at least 10 officers and suspects were jailed for up to a week for stealing knit caps, sweatshirts, and a pet toy. publicola.com/2025/10/14/s...

Harrell Says King County Public Health is "Failing Us," Talks Tough on Trump, and Muses About an AI Wall Where You Can Ask MLK What He Had for Breakfast The mayor talks to a friendly audience at event sponsored by Seattle's police union, We Heart Seattle, and the Discovery Institute.

This Week on PubliCola: October 11, 2025 Controversial cop promoted, then demoted, by new police chief, Harrell says he has a plan for addressing food deserts and potential federal troop invasion, and more. publicola.com/2025/10/11/t...

Banishment Orders and Mandatory Addiction Assessments Haven't Helped Drug Users, Court Records Show The city now sends public drug users to jail and releases them after a brief assessment, dropping charges if they avoid arrest for 60 days. This costly approach appears to be ineffective.

Reversing Decision, SPD Removes Controversial Captain Tietjen from East Precinct Police Chief Shon Barnes blamed PubliCola's story, "internal leaks," and "a lack of comprehensive input" from others for the controversy.

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future In a guest post, Sound Transit board member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci says it's time to consider light-rail options that don't require digging a second tunnel through downtown Seattle. publicola.com/2025/10/08/t...

SPD Chief Puts Cop Who Called 2020 Protesters "Cockroaches" In Charge of East Precinct Mike Tietjen, who was promoted over a gay acting commander, the subject of multiple complaints in 2020, including an incident in which officers taunted a trans woman. publicola.com/2025/10/07/s...