It’s wild that we spend years, with significant community engagement, to draft comprehensive plans, and we don’t automatically update zoning codes to match those plans. Instead, American planners often need to restart years of new battles to change zoning. This system has so many veto points

This is why we can’t have nice things. I’m happy to see our largest city taking stock of its barriers to creating housing. Now, let’s see action to make it feasible to build the housing we so desperately need.

This meeting is tomorrow at 5pm and the East DRB only has 3 members, meaning there will likely be an outside sub. We need people to show up and bombard them with support so they don’t bike shed this into 2026

Together, we've secured more than two dozen state and local policy wins this year, steadily reshaping daily life for the better. Sightline's Fall Fund Drive kicks off today, and your support can fuel the research, strategy, and case-making that turn ideas into action: sightline.org/donate

Happy to share WA’s experience advancing pro-housing policy with bi-partisan leaders from across the country. Thank you @arnoldventures.bsky.social for organizing this peer learning opportunity. Our housing shortage is a solvable problem. Inspired to see progress happening across the country.🏘️

The American Library Association kicked off this year’s Banned Books Week on Oct. 5. The celebration — if that's the right word for it — goes until Oct. 11. But people from states where book bans are more common than they are in Washington are finding help in Seattle year-round.

seattle - CM rivera's amendment 102 is a poison pill that does not protect tree canopy, and will curtail housing in wealth neighborhoods this will push more development into areas that don't have trees - increasing exposure to heat islands please sign & boost actionnetwork.org/letters/amen...

A week after the Bainbridge Island council voted to downsize a planned affordable housing project planned by LIHI near the state ferry terminal, supporters of the project have shown up in force to tonight's council meeting to push for retaining the full project. www.theurbanist.org/2025/08/22/b...

🎉 Shoreline, WA abolishes parking mandates city-wide!!! Expect a new red dot to show up on our Mandates Map very soon! parkingreform.org/resources/ma...

This is the type of city level proactive, pro-housing action we need to address our housing shortage. Kudos to @alexis4seattle.bsky.social for your vision and leadership.👏

this = things + love to see

Thanks for the opportunity & conversation, @natebowling.com!

Another reason why Bothell is pretty great!

In Boston this July 4th. 🎆Spent the day touring the Freedom Trail. Remembering our country’s history and why we fought for freedom from kings & tyranny. May we be independent again. Happy Independence Day!🇺🇸

“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills…that will allow many development projects to avoid rigorous environmental review and, potentially, the delaying and cost-inflating lawsuits that have discouraged construction in the state.” #CEQA www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...

This is a very good listen. 🎧 Shout out to @jessdbateman.bsky.social for getting statewide parking reform passed!

“Well, the proof is in the permits.”— ‪@andersem.bsky.social www.sightline.org/2025/06/04/o... Oregon’s Zoning Reforms Are Working—But They Need Some Upgrades | Sightline Institute

Montana just passed a bipartisan housing overhaul. No more costly parking mandates for small homes, a greenlight for six-story single-stair apartment buildings in all commercial areas, and fairer rules for manufactured homes and ADUs. More choices, less red tape, lower costs. Let’s go!

This amendment is up for a vote TOMORROW, and it's likely to be very close. If you care about ST3, consider giving public comment either in person or by calling in, or emailing [email protected] asking to reject any amendment from CM Rivera adding additional requirements to light rail permits.

@seattletimes-rss.bsky.social I was actually the prime sponsor of the bill you mention I co-sponsored. 😉 It was a technical follow up bill to HB 1110 with very minor tweaks. (1/3) www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...

After taking a quick break after session I’m starting to think about housing policy for next session. What’s on your pro-housing wishlist? 📋✅

Parking reform will unlock housing opportunity in WA. Excited to see other states pass statewide parking reform!

These "tree action" folks are wrong. As @jazzyspraxis.bsky.social and I wrote last month, building more homes in Seattle is precisely how you protect trees and save orcas.

Congratulations to Bremerton! Opposition to parking reform is a mile wide but an inch deep.

The only reason we have been successful passing pro-housing policies is because people showed up to support them when it mattered. You make the difference! Please sign up or attend in-person.

Signup for this morning's virtual public comment session on the interim middle housing ordinance is now open. The meeting starts at 9:30am. www.seattle.gov/council/comm...

Sunday Video: The Housing Tax Crisis www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/18/s...

The biggest threat to Seattle’s tree canopy (according to the City’s own study) is the construction of single family homes. Middle housing is conducive to our climate & housing goals. Like so many anti-housing arguments, this too is a red herring.

@davina425.bsky.social We did a thing.:)

Oversight & accountability for cities is essential to meet our housing production goals. Bummed I couldn’t make the bill signing due to a day job conflict, but so happy to have this bill signed into law! It’s about time.

How should elected officials divine voters’ preferences about building more homes: through broad-based polls or the 12 people who show up at a community meeting on Tuesday night and yell for hours? Hard to say…

The disrespect for Congress and the law is glaring - and for our nation a threat to our public safety.

Building parking as part of a housing project is expensive – adding up to $20,000 for each space. I signed SB 5184 to establish limits on the number of parking spaces cities and counties require for housing projects, ensuring projects do not have excess parking.

We passed parking reform & it’s been signed into law by the Governor! Less parking = more housing.

We need to create housing for the present and the future. Our public processes prioritize the past. www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/03/p...

Something has got to be done here to protect state laws. It is just too much whack-a-mole fighting the relentless NIMBYism of “local control” that caused the housing crisis to begin with. Attn @jessdbateman.bsky.social @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social

1/ Washington’s 2025 legislative session has concluded, and slate of land use/housing bills are headed to the Governor’s desk to become law. Big wins for infill, homeownership, and housing affordability. Here’s what passed — and who led the charge. 👇

Housing abundance is possible & it’s a policy choice.

There is more work to be done to address our housing crisis & I am proud of the work we did this session. We came into the 2025 declaring housing one of our top priorities. Check out how we did. senatedemocrats.wa.gov/blog/2025/04...

NEW STORY // Bellevue Commission Recommends Watered-Down Middle Housing Code www.theurbanist.org/2025/04/29/b...

Before session, I provided @governorferguson.bsky.social a proposed housing action plan. It contained a bold and comprehensive set of recommendations warranted by a problem as big and urgent as the housing shortage in Washington state. (1/5)

NEW STORY // Rent Stabilization Makes It Across the Finish Line at Last Minute www.theurbanist.org/2025/04/28/r...

Two years ago, parking reform of this magnitude would not have been possible. Pro-housing advocates have changed the narrative and demanded action. Thank you!

This is big: @jessdbateman.bsky.social's Housing Accountability Act, a major step forward in holding local jurisdictions accountable for following state housing laws, just passed the House 78-19! www.theurbanist.org/2024/01/04/h...

NEW STORY // City of Seattle Prevails Against Housing Growth Plan Appeals www.theurbanist.org/2025/04/12/s...

Why should you be concerned about Trump “accidentally” deporting people who have zero criminal record? Because if he can do it to them — and ignore judges when they tell him to stop — he can do it to anyone he wants.

More and more people are saying it: housing policy is climate policy.

Onward and upward!